Synopsis

Matt Bellamy stands on a ledge above a vast opening in a futuristic structure before leaping into the shaft below. He falls through an immense mechanical world, passing Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard as they watch from strange floating pods. The descent continues beyond the structure and into open space, where Bellamy drifts toward an intense white light. As he approaches it, his body appears to dissolve into particles, bringing the surreal journey to an ambiguous end.

Factoids & Trivia

• The original concept involved a person falling through space toward Earth, passing through the planet's center and emerging on the other side. The idea was later adapted into the futuristic shaft seen in the finished video.

• Matt Bellamy spent the shoot suspended and spinning in a harness for extended periods. He later said the experience was exhausting, while production accounts mention bruising and several bouts of vomiting.

• Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard appear in small pods positioned around the shaft. According to the band, much of their filming time involved waiting while Bellamy performed the physically demanding sections.

• Despite its elaborate science-fiction appearance, the video was made largely with miniature sets rather than full computer-generated environments. Two-dimensional compositing was used to combine the elements.

• The starscape backgrounds were created by artist Rob Maggoch at Smoke & Mirrors using Inferno, a high-end visual-effects system of the period.

• "Bliss" was released as a single on August 20, 2001, and became one of Muse's most recognizable videos from the Origin of Symmetry era.

• The single was also notable for being Muse's first release on DVD, including the music video as part of its accompanying material.