Synopsis

The Smashing Pumpkins move through a chain of dark, theatrical spaces in a single fluid shot. Dressed in gothic-inspired clothes and pale makeup, Billy Corgan, James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky pass through rooms, corridors and a crowded rave scene as the visuals shift between slow motion and sudden bursts of speed. The camera appears to glide at a constant pace while the performers and extras move at different speeds, creating an uncanny, dreamlike procession that ultimately exposes the constructed nature of the set.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video premiered on June 1, 1998, shortly before the release of the album "Adore."

• It was filmed as one continuous take, with no conventional cuts between the changing environments.

• The apparent slow-motion and fast-motion effects were created during filming by changing the movement speed of the performers, extras and camera action. The band had to lip-sync at altered speeds so the finished footage would match the song.

• The sets were arranged like a long hallway or a large U-shaped path. Near the end, the camera turns in a way that briefly reveals the production setup and breaks the illusion.

• The clip's visual design helped mark the Pumpkins' shift away from their earlier guitar-heavy image toward the darker, more theatrical aesthetic associated with "Adore."

• The video received the Most Stylish Video award at the 1998 VH1 Fashion Awards.

• In 2025, Billy Corgan said the production cost about $800,000. He also explained that a brief accidental view of the crew and train tracks was kept in the final edit because he preferred the mistake to a cleaner version.