Synopsis
The Smashing Pumpkins perform inside a surreal, Batman-inspired setting built around a giant cowl and shadowy comic-book imagery. The camera moves through the cowl's eye socket before revealing the band in black costumes, suspended against projected scenes and visual effects from Batman & Robin. Billy Corgan sings without his usual guitar, adopting theatrical, bat-like poses, while the group plays strange, futuristic instruments. The video combines the band's dark gothic-rock mood with the flamboyant visual world of Joel Schumacher's Batman film.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was created as a promotional tie-in for the 1997 film Batman & Robin and uses footage and imagery associated with the movie.
- The band members appear in Batman-like black costumes rather than their usual stage clothes, giving the performance a deliberately theatrical and stylized look.
- The opening shot of the giant Batman cowl leads into the performance through one of its eye holes, framing the band as if they are inside the character's mind.
- Billy Corgan does not play guitar in the video. Instead, he performs with exaggerated arm movements, while the band members use unusual, futuristic-looking instruments.
- Matt Walker appears on drums, making this the only Smashing Pumpkins video to feature him in that role before his departure from the group.
- The video received four MTV Video Music Award nominations in 1997: Best Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.
- The video was later included as a bonus feature on the 2005 special-edition DVD of Batman & Robin and the Batman motion-picture anthology DVD set.
- The song won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1998, despite the film and its soundtrack receiving a much more mixed long-term reputation.