Synopsis

The "Charity" video places Skin at the center of a stark, highly stylized performance piece. Against dark, high-contrast imagery, she appears in a striking black rubber straitjacket while the band delivers the song with a tense, physical intensity. The visual language mirrors the track's emotional push and pull, shifting between vulnerability and defiance rather than presenting a conventional narrative. Skin's imposing presence and distinctive look dominate the video, making it an early showcase for the confrontational image that became closely associated with Skunk Anansie.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Charity" was released as Skunk Anansie's third single in August 1995, then reissued in April 1996. The reissue performed better in the UK, reaching No. 20 compared with No. 40 for the original release.

• The black rubber straitjacket became one of the video's most recognizable visual details. Its fetish-inspired styling was later compared with the rubber outfits worn by Michael and Janet Jackson in "Scream," released during the same period.

• Stills from the video were used as artwork for the single releases, extending the video's stark visual identity into the band's promotional material.

• The song appeared on the band's debut album, "Paranoid & Sunburnt." It was written by Skin and Len Arran and produced by Sylvia Massy with Skunk Anansie.

• Skin has continued to describe "Charity" as one of the band's especially rewarding songs to perform live, highlighting its contrast between heavy passages and quieter, more delicate sections.