Synopsis

Nicolette moves through the streets of New York in an elaborate, futuristic geisha-inspired outfit, appearing both conspicuous and strangely detached from the city around her. Her journey is intercut with fragmented images and separate, mysterious situations, creating the impression of several narratives unfolding at once. The video avoids a conventional performance setup, instead using stark urban locations, stylized costumes, abrupt editing, and dreamlike visual contrasts. As the strands gradually overlap, the result feels more like a surreal fashion film than a literal story.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Sly" was released on October 17, 1994, as the first single from Massive Attack's second album, Protection.

• The video was filmed in New York City, with some footage shot around Wall Street during winter.

• Its production was described as low-budget, and handheld digital camera work contributes to the video's immediate, unstable feel.

• Nicolette, who performs the song's vocals, is the central on-screen presence rather than the members of Massive Attack.

• The costume and styling give the video a futuristic geisha quality, a visual idea that later resurfaced in related work by the same creative team.

• The song combines Nicolette's hazy vocal with string arrangements associated with Craig Armstrong, helping explain the video's mixture of urban realism and dreamlike imagery.

• "Sly" was included among the group's promotional videos on the 2001 collection Eleven Promos.