Narrative in Music Promos

Synaesthesia

A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a colour.

In songs the narrative rarely is complete and therefore often fragmentary. Fragmentary narratives may help the repeatability of promos.

Andrew Goodwin suggests music promos can interpret/use the meanings created in the song lyric in one of the following ways:

Illustration - the promo illustrates the ideas/narrative in the song lyrics.

An example of illustration with music promos is the music video to Stan by Eminem ft. Dido. This is an example of a music promo that is illustration because throughout the whole of the video it follows a narrative of a devoted Eminem fan trying to get in touch with Eminem, and the song itself explains all about a fan of Eminem who is also trying to get in touch with him and links completely with the promo. Below is the music promo for it:

Amplification - uses a key idea/image from the lyrics and develops it into a concept within the promo. A link remains between the lyric and the promo.

An example for amplification with music promos is the music video to Hardest button to button by The White Stripes. This is an example of a music promo that is amplification because throughout the entire video the performers in it play their instruments such as the drum in time with the music which is acknowledging a key idea from the song, as well as that you can see the singer performing the song.  Below is the music promo for it:

Disjuncture - the promo bears no resemblance to the lyric or its meaning; abstract; often seen as unconventional/'arty' videos; creates a new range of meanings for the song.

An example for Disjuncture with music promos is the music video to Fluorescent Adolescent by the Arctic Monkeys. This is an example of a music promo that is disjuncture because the video has no relation to the lyric or its meaning, the mise-en-scene is unconventional and arty which helps to create a new range of meaning to the song due to the clowns being in there. Below is the music promo for it: