Synopsis

Shara Nelson walks steadily down a Los Angeles street, singing while the city carries on around her. She passes street gangs, drunks, bikers, children, and people with disabilities without stopping or reacting. The members of Massive Attack gradually appear behind her, blending into the passing crowd rather than performing for the camera. Shot as one uninterrupted movement, the video turns an ordinary walk into a hypnotic portrait of isolation, self-possession, and emotional distance.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed as one continuous Steadicam shot in Los Angeles, covering a route from South New Hampshire Avenue to West Pico Boulevard.

• Dan Kneece, who operated the camera, was known for his cinematography work on David Lynch's *Blue Velvet*. The camera and film equipment were heavy by modern standards, making the extended moving shot physically demanding.

• Several people seen in the background were not conventional actors. Some were local residents, including the street gang and dog visible near the beginning.

• Performance artist Leigh Bowery served as the video's art director. The group later recalled that he deliberately toned down his usual appearance for the Los Angeles shoot, although his supposedly low-key outfit was still highly conspicuous.

• The production originally planned to end with an aerial view of Los Angeles, but that final image was not used.

• The single was released under the shortened name "Massive" in the United Kingdom because the Gulf War was taking place at the time, and the word "Attack" was considered unsuitable for radio promotion.

• Its simple walking concept and fluid single-shot construction became an important reference point for later music videos, including The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony."