Research into music video's

I've been researching into what sort of music video I would like to produce with my group. I'm not particularly interested in the typical, synthetic construction - i'd like to try something arty and a bit more creative!

I watched 'What Makes You Beautiful' by the band 'One Direction'.

The band is clearly a carefully constructed image...

• They're good looking.
• The title name flatters girl fans - what girl doesn't love to be told they're beautiful?!
• The song publishers have taken the recognisable theme 'Summer Lovin' from 'Grease' so there is something identifiable for the audience there already.

It's all rather clever. But just a tad cheesy...I was much more interested in the band Radiohead's approach...

Now here's something much more organic!

• Look how free the lead singer Thom York is in comparison to the obviously choreographed movement in 'One Direction's' video.
• Much more arty approach going on here - the editor has chosen black and white to give the band some edge, which also suits the genre better. 

I researched more into unknown bands such as 'Air'.  I suggested to my group this video:

I love the spacy sound/feel and the cartoons are so creative. It's also got some humour in there with the little toy monkey wearing a top 'sexy boy'. It brings across the artists' sense of humour. However, the instruments are quite synthesized and it would be difficult to create a narrative story line for this song without copying elements from the original video.

So I've moved on to look at PJ Harvey's style. She's a niché artist with a distinctive style, but uses acoustic instruments, particularly bass, to give her tracks a gritty sound. 

She's obviously had a constructed look - the sexy black v-neck dress and red lipstick with high black heeled boots...but she still manages to maintain that slight 'goth/emo' look which I love. I think i'm verging down the route of something dark and slightly 'indie'. PJ Harvey's personality comes through here as really fun, free and careless in this video, yet the video has little narrative - if any. 

I'll be suggesting this artist to my group next...