Synopsis

Robert Smith appears in a torn velvet dress, lying on a bed and watching a television broadcast of The Cure performing "The 13th." The boundary between viewer and performer gradually becomes deliberately unstable, with the television set acting as both entertainment and a distorted reflection of Smith himself. Comedian Sean Hughes also appears, adding to the video's surreal, theatrical tone. The unusual presentation matches the song's playful, Latin-influenced arrangement and its place on the stylistically varied album *Wild Mood Swings*.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released in April 1996 to promote "The 13th," the first single from *Wild Mood Swings*, The Cure's first album of new material in four years.

• Sean Hughes, known for his work as a stand-up comedian and actor, makes an appearance in the video.

• "The 13th" represented one of The Cure's most conspicuous stylistic departures. The recording combines Latin percussion, mariachi-style brass, and salsa-influenced elements, a sound reflected in the video's deliberately strange and theatrical visual setting.

• The single was issued in several configurations containing alternate mixes such as the "Swing Radio Mix," "Killer Bee Mix," and "Two Chord Cool Mix," along with the B-sides "It Used to Be Me," "Ocean," and "Adonais."

• The video is notable for using a television performance within the narrative rather than presenting the band in a straightforward performance setting. This gives the clip a self-referential quality, with Smith watching an image of himself and the band while remaining visually detached from it.