Synopsis

Richard Ashcroft moves through a stark, black-and-white city where ordinary reality gives way to disturbing and surreal visions. Along the route, he encounters passionate couples, a wounded angel-like figure, and groups of people struggling to move an enormous building. The imagery creates an atmosphere of social collapse and spiritual unease, while Ashcroft remains a calm, watchful presence within the chaos. The video plays less like a conventional performance clip than an apocalyptic short film built around disorientation, symbolism, and the song's search for meaning.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released in 2002 and was produced by Flawless Films. It runs for approximately five minutes.

• "Check the Meaning" was the first single from Ashcroft's second solo album, "Human Conditions," released in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2002. The single reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

• The song opens "Human Conditions" in its full album form, which lasts just over eight minutes. The single used a shorter edit, while the video is built around the album version's expansive scale.

• The single's CD edition included an alternative video, while the DVD single paired the main video with a live performance of "You on My Mind in My Sleep" recorded at London's Scala on April 18, 2002.

• The video's black-and-white presentation and surreal set pieces helped frame Ashcroft's solo work as something more ambitious than a straightforward rock performance. Contemporary listings also treated the clip as a short film as well as a music video.