Aided by an optical illusion-filled music video directed by Ade Edmondson, it received substantial airplay on MTV, and "Hourglass" became the highest-charting hit the band ever had in the United States, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, while reaching number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.

"[2] Originally written as a more dance-style number, the song took on, in the words of Tilbrook, a typical "Squeeze sound".

[2] The single's success was bolstered by a music video directed by Ade Edmondson, who was recruited by keyboardist Jools Holland.

The video featured the band performing the song in a set with surrealist art and optical illusions.

The video received an MTV Award for its Art Direction by Nick Edwards and Clive Crotty.