CODES AND CONVENTION OF ACOUSTIC POP

MADE BY:

Arooj Tassadaq

To sum up codes and conventions of acoustic pop music videos, I have viewed those 20 acoustic pop music videos I put up on the blog and have found out following eight codes and conventions.

1 An acoustic pop music video is always filmed in isolated environment away from everyone to give main focus to the singer as well as highlight the emotional nature of this genre. Most of these videos are shots in location with water, open fields, forests among groups, besides bonfires, at evenings. The location in most of acoustic videos is natural environment.

Damien Rice in I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE YOU is singing in a very lonely place at edge of water on wood boards.

This is from Ed Sheeran’s THINKING OUT LOUD. The dancer is standing out on the stage and all focus is on her as she is only one there.

Miley Cyrus: THE CLIMB

HELLO by Adele

There are open fields.

Richard Marx’s HAZARD. The house is in a jungle

THE CLIMB by Miley Cyrus

Jason Mraz is sitting in a group around bonfire and singing. Main focus is on him.

LOVE HER by Passenger

SACRIFICE by John Elton. There is use of water in these three screenshots. There is a lot of scenes in many videos besides water and there are shots of water, probably because water signifies peace and calmness.

This is by Ella Handerson: YOURS Even though cities are very busy and lively, here it is gloomy.

Camera movements are slow as acoustic pop shows emotions and requires to show emotions. As well as body movements are captured in slow movements and with closeups of body parts. This is to show intimation specifically. There is movement of the singer towards or away from camera.

Body movements to show intimation:

THINKING OUT LOUD by Ed Sheeran. They are shown dancing, camera focuses on their body movement.