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Virtual Insanity

Jamiroquai

Director
Jonathan Glazer
Release date
1996
Category
Music Video
Genre
Dance, Pop
Country
United Kingdom

The famous moving floor in Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" is a massive optical illusion. The entire 30-ton set was built on wheels, and the camera was bolted to one of the moving walls. This created the sensation that the floor was sliding, while in reality, the room was moving around a stationary Jay Kay. It remains one of the most iconic practical effects in music video history. The concept was inspired by Jay Kay seeing a special walkway in a hotel in Sapporo, Japan, which helped elderly people move around. To prevent the crew and singer from getting motion sick, the massive set could only be moved at a slow pace, about half a mile per hour. The video won four MTV Video Music Awards in 1997, including the prestigious Video of the Year, beating out Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins.