The video for 'Stay With Me' was made by the award-winning director Mario Cavalli.
As the single showed a more mature direction from erasure, it was decided that the video would follow suit. In the past, erasure have often been seen dressed up and having fun, whereas in 'Stay With Me' we see the artists in a new light.
The video is based around the artwork for the single and album, which consists of fantastic paintings by Ashley Potter. Mario Cavalli and Ashley Potter designed the sets and story board in close collaboration, so that the video becomes literally a moving painting.
Sets, extras, actors and even Andy Bell were all painted to emphasise the oil-painting quality of the video. Light was literally painted onto them in bold yellow and white streaks, which when processed becomes surreal tones of light.
The video was shot on the new state-of-the art format called Digi-Beta, & treated in post-production to resemble 35mm film stock.
The story line revolves around a building of apartments where various scenes of day-to-day life are taking place. Andy Bell is a commentator/voyeur, watching life pass by through windows. The camera never stops moving, going through walls and floors as it spies on people and their relationships with others around them.
Within the building are an old couple who carry on life together as they have done for 50 years, ending each day dancing cheek to cheek. We also see a young married couple echoing the life of the elderly couple as they start their life together.
Sadder scenes are shown in the life of a married couple, the male half of whom is erring with another female in the building. A lonely young mother deals with one child with another on the way, and no man around to help her. These are amongst other poignant scenes of life. The bittersweet mood of the video enhances and complements the song.
It was shot over three days in London, and only Andy Bell appears in it. Vince Clarke has decided to step down from appearing in videos from now on.