The accompanying music video, directed by Baillie Walsh, was a single continuous shot of Nelson walking through a Los Angeles neighbourhood, oblivious to her surroundings.

The singer Shara Nelson met the members of Massive Attack when they were part of the Bristol sound system collective the Wild Bunch, and sang on their 1986 single "The Look of Love".

[3] While Massive Attack were working on their debut album, Blue Lines, in Bristol's Coach House studio, they overheard Nelson singing the melody to herself.

The Massive Attack member Robert Del Naja said: "I hate putting a title to anything without a theme, but with 'Unfinished Sympathy', we'd started with a jam...

"[5] The orchestral section was originally played on synthesiser, but, according to the Massive Attack member Andrew Vowles, "The synth sounded too tacky, so we thought we may as well use real strings.

"[6] Dollar contacted the music producer Wil Malone to arrange and conduct the strings, which were recorded in Abbey Road Studios, London.

"[8] The song's initial tone is set by "chilled hip hop beats" and samples of a percussion break from "Parade Strut (Instrumental)" by J. J.

[1] As the single was released in the midst of the Gulf War, the word "attack" was temporarily dropped from the group's name at the advice of their record company and management.

[12] Another editor, Mandi James, expanded, "Lush and extravagant, plied with rich strings and roving keyboards, this is music with depth and grace.

Plaintive vocals that smack of Randy Crawford, smart samples liberated from the Mahavishnu Orchestra and all the romanticism of the Pet Shop Boys without the clipped, camp edge.

"[13] Record Mirror also named it single of the week and wrote, "The wisely understated production allows both the beauty of the swelling strings and the emotional pull of the vocals to shine through.

"[14] Melody Maker named "Unfinished Sympathy" its Single of the Year, writing that it would "unquestionably stand as one of the greatest soul records of all time".

[20] The video, filmed on Steadicam, begins with a shot of a street gang before moving to follow Nelson walking along the pavement unaware or uncaring of her surroundings, which include drunks, bikers and disabled people.

[21] As the video progresses, first Daddy G, then 3D (having finished making a call on a public phone booth) and then Mushroom (pushing a cart) can be seen walking several paces behind her, slightly out of focus.

"[3] The performance artist Leigh Bowery was the video's art director; the group later described him as "definitely the most outrageous character", recalling, "Because we weren't part of that London scene, he tried to dress down and go low-key around us.