Synopsis

Underworld perform "Push Upstairs" amid the misty, rain-soaked landscape of Australia's Blue Mountains. The video combines distant views of the cliffs and valleys with fragmented close-ups of the band and restless, digitally distorted images. Helicopter footage expands the scale of the setting, while bending and twisting effects make the scenery appear unstable and dreamlike. Rather than following a conventional narrative, the clip turns the track into an atmospheric live-performance piece, matching its relentless pulse with weather, movement, and disorienting visual textures.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed in January 1999 while Underworld were in Australia for Big Day Out performances. The band and crew traveled to the Blue Mountains outside Sydney for the shoot.

• The original plan was to film in Scotland, using an epic natural landscape. Australia became the practical choice because the band was already there, making the production less expensive than transporting a crew to the Scottish Highlands.

• The weather changed dramatically before filming. The crew had expected more favorable conditions, but rain and heavy mist reduced visibility on the mountain. The resulting atmosphere became one of the video's defining visual features.

• A helicopter was used to capture footage over the Blue Mountains. These wide shots helped give the otherwise fragmented video a larger sense of space.

• The image-bending and twisting effect was reportedly caused by a post-production glitch. Instead of removing it, the editors kept it because its rhythmic instability suited the track.

• Editing and effects work were completed in Sydney, continuing the video's deliberately improvised production process.

• After the main filming was finished, Underworld also performed a live jam at the location for the crew and a few friends. There was no public audience, and the performance was filmed separately from the promotional video.