Synopsis

Crowded House perform "Instinct" within a surreal science-fiction tableau that blends band footage with a strange alien encounter. Two female extraterrestrials and a gleaming golden alien cowboy appear as the video moves through an intentionally bizarre, dreamlike world. The imagery does not follow a conventional narrative, instead matching the song's themes of attraction, uncertainty, and breaking free from old patterns with a playful visual fantasy. The result is an eccentric 1996 promo that feels closer to a miniature sci-fi western than a straightforward performance video.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Instinct" was released in 1996 as one of three new songs recorded for Crowded House's greatest-hits compilation, "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House."

• The video is notable for its unusual cast of characters, including two female aliens and a living golden statue portrayed as an alien cowboy.

• IMDb lists Craig Fong as the Golden Alien Cowboy and Peter Jones among the performers.

• The band reportedly disliked the finished video. It was consequently left off the 2002 compilation DVD "Dreaming: The Videos," despite the collection covering Crowded House's promotional videos through 1996.

• Neil Finn wrote the song in the studio by first recording a nonsense vocal, then building the lyrics around phrases and sounds from that performance.

• An earlier demo was recorded at York Street Studios in July 1995, with Peter Jones on drums.