Synopsis

Scritti Politti perform "Hypnotize" in a stylized studio setting, with Green Gartside at the center and David Gamson and Fred Maher appearing alongside him. The video favors sleek, graphic imagery and tightly edited performance shots over a conventional storyline, matching the song's precise electronic funk. Close-ups, coordinated poses, and an emphasis on the band's polished presentation create a deliberately controlled, slightly artificial atmosphere that reflects the sophisticated pop production of the Cupid & Psyche 85 era.

Factoids & Trivia

• Released in November 1984, "Hypnotize" was the first Scritti Politti video to feature all three members: Green Gartside, David Gamson, and Fred Maher. Earlier appearances had used stand-ins for the instrumentalists.

• The song later appeared on Cupid & Psyche 85, released in 1985, and reached No. 68 on the UK singles chart and No. 43 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco chart.

• The video was included in the 1986 Scritti Politti video compilation, alongside clips for "Wood Beez," "Absolute," "The Word Girl," and "Perfect Way."

• The track's elaborate studio sound involved Fairlight programming by EBN. Gartside recalled that renting a Fairlight in that period could cost about GBP 30,000.

• David Gamson remembered that the mix took roughly two weeks at Sarm West. He jokingly associated the sessions with fumes from a mannequin factory next door, while admitting that detail might not be entirely reliable.

• The single was issued in multiple versions, including long, short, and extended mixes, reflecting the band's interest in treating the recording studio as part of the composition.