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Virtual Insanity#Music video

{{Short description|1996 single by Jamiroquai}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Virtual Insanity

| cover = Virtualinsanity.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Jamiroquai

| album = Travelling Without Moving

| B-side = * "Do You Know Where You're Coming From"

  • "Bullet"

| released = {{start date|1996|8|19|df=yes}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = * 5:40 (album version)

  • 4:04 (single version)
  • 3:46 (radio edit)

| label = Sony Soho Square

| writer = * Jay Kay

| producer = Al Stone

| prev_title = Do U Know Where You're Coming From

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = Cosmic Girl

| next_year = 1996

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity.ogg

| description =

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|OeTFAiYbR9o|"Virtual Insanity"}}}}

}}

"Virtual Insanity" is a song by British funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai, released on 19 August 1996 by Sony Soho Square as the second single from their third studio album, Travelling Without Moving (1996). The song was written by Jay Kay and Toby Smith, and produced by Al Stone. Its music video, directed by Jonathan Glazer, was released in September 1996, garnering ten nominations and winning four, including for Video of the Year, at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. The music video has since become an Internet meme.

"Virtual Insanity" was a number-one hit in Iceland and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. As well as becoming a top-10 hit in Finland, Ireland, and Italy, the song also climbed to number 38 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and becoming one of their biggest US hits. The song also earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.{{cite web |last1=Considine |first1=J.D. |title=Odd Spins; Grammys: Upsets are sprinkled through the Grammy Awards, but Dylan and other veterans get their due.: [Final Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/407010278 |website=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=18 November 2021 |date=26 February 1998|id={{ProQuest|407010278}} }}

==Composition==

The song's lyrics took inspiration from a walk in an underground city in Sendai, Japan, by singer Jay Kay and the band's didgeridoo player, Wallis Buchanan, with Kay writing:{{Citation |title=Jamiroquai - The Story of Virtual Insanity | date=5 December 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6YwZzKzTI |access-date=6 July 2023 |language=en}} "Everything was covered in snow and there was absolutely no one about. [We took] these stairs that led down to this whole underground city … with all the color and noise you get in Japanese streets."{{cite AV media|title=Travelling Without Moving|author=Kay, Jay|others=Jamiroquai|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment|year=2013|id=88691967912|type=liner notes}} The song's title is a play off virtual reality.

Initially recorded as a rough demo, it was only after the label requested a single for Travelling Without Moving that the song was fully realised and was the last track to be properly recorded.{{cite AV media |title=Travelling Without Moving |author=Kay, Jay |type=liner notes |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment |year=2013 |others=Jamiroquai |id=88691967912}} The song has a piano opening with "buoyant keyboards and soaring strings."{{cite magazine |date=10 August 1996 |title=Reviews: Singles |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-08-10.pdf |magazine=Music Week |page=12 |accessdate=1 September 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Gettelman |first=Parry |date=7 March 1997 |title=Jamiroquai: [Metro Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/278907100/6EC341C877574C68PQ/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402225102/https://www.proquest.com/docview/278907100/6EC341C877574C68PQ |archive-date=2 April 2021 |access-date=22 February 2021 |website=Orlando Sentinel |via=ProQuest}} The riff continues throughout the song.

Thematically, the lyrics are concerned with issues like overpopulation, human genetic enhancement, eugenics, and ecological collapse.{{Citation |title=Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity |url=https://genius.com/Jamiroquai-virtual-insanity-lyrics |access-date=21 May 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Meaning of VIRTUAL INSANITY (Jamiroquai) |url=https://www.lyricslayers.com/jamiroquai/19618/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=LyricsLayers.com |language=en}}

The first B-side of the single is the song "Do U Know Where You're Coming From", in collaboration with M-Beat. It was released as a single earlier in 1996. The second B-side of the single is "Bullet".{{Cite web |title=Jamiroquai {{!}} Music {{!}} Singles {{!}} Virtual Insanity |url=https://funkin.com/music/singles/virtual_insanity/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=funkin.com}}

In the beginning of the song's album version, a sound that is sampled from the 1979 sci-fi horror film Alien appears. It is the sound sequence when the S.O.S. signal appears on the screens of the spaceship Nostromo at the start of the film.{{cite web |title=Alien - Opening Scene |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl2p3pM0NKg |website=YouTube | date=March 2020 |access-date=15 July 2023}} The album version is longer, including the addition of extra vocals and a bridge.{{Cite web |title=Jamiroquai {{!}} Music {{!}} Lyrics {{!}} Virtual Insanity |url=https://funkin.com/music/lyrics/virtual_insanity/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=funkin.com}}

Critical reception

The song received favourable reviews from music critics. Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal viewed it as "cool if lyrically trite".Aberdeen Press and Journal. 20 September 1996. p. 12. Justin Chadwick from Albumism said that the "midtempo, piano-driven groove" finds the singer "lamenting the proliferation of technology at the expense of human connection and preservation of our planet", as best evidenced in the chorus with lines such as, "Always seem to, be governed by this love we have / For useless, twisting, our new technology / Oh, now there is no sound—for we all live underground". He added, "While the song itself reflected Jamiroquai's more mature and polished sound at the time, it was the accompanying video unveiled the following month that became the band's transformative, watershed moment."{{cite web|first= Justin |last= Chadwick |title= Jamiroquai's 'Travelling Without Moving' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective |publisher= Albumism |date= 7 September 2016 |access-date= 16 November 2020 |url= https://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-20-years-of-jamiroquai-travelling-without-moving}} Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "wriggling" and "funk-fortified".{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Dance Trax: 'The Way It Is' Changes Color Under Chameleon|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-09-28.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=28 September 1996|page=30|accessdate=1 December 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}} In 2023, the magazine ranked "Virtual Insanity" number 68 in their list of "The 100 Best Pop Songs Never to Hit the Hot 100", writing, "An infectiously groovy bit of future-fearing Stevie Wonder pastiche from a British funk band — with one of the all-time great music videos, featuring singer Jay Kay getting down with his bad self on a magically-moving dancefloor while wearing a somewhat ridiculous, now-iconic furry hat."{{cite magazine|first1=Katie|last1=Atkinson|first2=Kyle|last2=Denis|first3=Paul|last3=Grein|first4=Jason|last4=Lipshutz|first5=Joe|last5=Lynch|first6=Rebecca|last6=Milzoff|first7=Andrew|last7=Unterberger|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-miss-hot-100-chart/|title=The 100 Best Pop Songs Never to Hit the Hot 100: Staff List|magazine=Billboard|date=24 October 2023|access-date=25 May 2024}} A reviewer from Liverpool Echo noted, "If you stop dancing, and listen to the lyrics, you see a whole new side to singer Jay Kay."Liverpool Echo. 18 October 1996. p. 36. Music Week gave it four out of five, adding, "From its simple piano opening onwards, this gorgeous, immaculately-recorded track doesn't put a note wrong. Further evidence that Jay Kay is maturing musically."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-08-10.pdf|first=|last=|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=10 August 1996|page=12|accessdate=1 September 2021}} Ted Kessler from NME named it a "bittersweet" gem and a "fine" single.{{cite web|first= Ted |last= Kessler |title= Jamiroquai – Travelling Without Moving |url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000880reviews.html |work= NME |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000817200947/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000880reviews.html |access-date= 24 November 2020|archive-date= 17 August 2000}} Sam Taylor from The Observer remarked its "effortless swank".Taylor, Sam (20 October 1996). "Pop". p. 11. The Observer. Aidin Viziri from Salon felt the singer "keeps the party alive with unbridled enthusiasm", "exploring the chaos of modern life".{{cite web|first= Aidin |last= Viziri |title= Sharps and Flats |magazine= Salon |date= 17 January 1997 |access-date= 9 August 2020 |url= http://www.salon.com/music/music970117.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000902202206/http://www.salon.com/music/music970117.html |archive-date= 2 September 2000}}

Music video

File:Jamiroquai Virtual Insanity Music Video.png balancing still as he appears to be propelled towards the camera.]]

The music video for "Virtual Insanity" was directed by English filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. It was filmed on 12 August 1996 at Academy Films studio in London.{{Cite web |title=Virtual Insanity Official Music Video {{!}} LBBOnline |url=https://lbbonline.com/work/107100 |access-date=19 April 2025 |website=lbbonline.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6YwZzKzTI|title=Jamiroquai - The Story of Virtual Insanity|date=5 December 2022 |via=www.youtube.com; at 3:29}} Glazer was specifically chosen to direct the video due to his work on Radiohead's music video for "Street Spirit (Fade Out)".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6YwZzKzTI |title=Jamiroquai - The Story of Virtual Insanity |language=en |access-date=4 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}} At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards in September 1997, it earned ten nominations and won four awards: Breakthrough Video, Best Special Effects, Best Cinematography, and the highly coveted Video of the Year. In 2006, it was voted ninth by MTV viewers in a poll on music videos that "broke the rules".{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, Jamiroquai performed the song on travelators (which Kay had originally intended for the music video),{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6YwZzKzTI |title=Jamiroquai - The Story of Virtual Insanity |language=en |access-date=4 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoImrCD-QIU |title=Jamiroquai - Behind the Music Chapter 2 - Interview with Jay Kay |date=17 August 2016 |last=JamiroquaiVEVO |access-date=21 May 2024 |via=YouTube}} recreating the famous floor-moving concept with two moving walkways on the stage floor that went in opposite directions. Kay danced on the walkways, with the two bugs crawling through the hall, a bird flying, and red blood all over the floor.{{Cite web |last=Scheerer |first=Mark |date=5 September 1997 |title=Beck, Jamiroquai big winners at MTV Music Awards |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9709/05/mtv.music.awards/ |access-date=7 April 2023 |website=CNN}}

=Content and ideation=

File:Azuma house.JPG by Tadao Ando, 1976. Ando's concrete-based architectural style inspired the set design for the music video.]]

The music video consists mainly of Jamiroquai's singer, Jay Kay, dancing and singing the song in a bright white room with a grey floor. Throughout the video, there are several combinations of plastic-wrapped leather couches and chairs seemingly moving around the room on their own accord, which are the only pieces of furniture in the room, and Kay is seen using a sequence of elaborate dance manoeuvres to avoid being hit by them.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JkIs37a2JE |title=Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Official Video) |date=25 October 2009 |last=JamiroquaiVEVO |access-date=21 May 2024 |via=YouTube}} The video earned recognition from critics for its special effects, ultimately winning an MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects.{{Cite web |title=MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) (1997) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0003172/1997/1/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=IMDb}} The floor appears to move while the rest of the room stays still; in fact, this was the original idea but was later determined by one of Glazer's team that it would cost about £280,000 ({{Inflation|UK|280000|1996|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}; ~US$810,000 in 2024 terms) for the rig alone; the final cost for the entire video was about £150,000 ({{Inflation|UK|150000|1996|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}; ~US$452,000 in 2024 terms). Instead, it is the walls that move, an idea from one of Jonathan Glazer's crew which was initially seen as comically ridiculous by most of Glazer's team but was immediately recognised as brilliant by Glazer, who called up Kay at about 1am to inform him of the idea. Kay, possibly half asleep, did not understand the idea until he arrived at the set and understood Glazer's intention and saw the rig in action.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6YwZzKzTI |title=Jamiroquai - The Story of Virtual Insanity |language=en |access-date=4 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}}

"No computer trickery was used," Glazer said. "What we did was put the whole set on wheels and attach the camera to one wall. The furniture also had little wheels, and we had guys moving the set and the furniture [outside of the frame]. The floor never moved. It was like a magician's trick."{{Cite web |title=Explaining Jamiroquai's Virtual Insanity video |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/06/06/explaining-jamiroquais-virtual-insanity-video/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=EW.com |language=en}}

At some points, the camera tilts up or down to show the floor or ceiling for a few seconds, and when it returns to the central position, the scene has completely changed; this was done to mask the cuts and make it look like a continuous take (when in fact there were a total of four takes).{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoImrCD-QIU |title=Jamiroquai - Behind the Music Chapter 2 - Interview with Jay Kay |date=17 August 2016 |last=JamiroquaiVEVO |access-date=21 May 2024 |via=YouTube}} Other scenes show a crow flying across the room, a cockroach on the floor, the couches bleeding, and the other members of Jamiroquai in a corridor being blown away by wind.

In a short making-of documentary, Glazer describes how the walls move on a stationary grey floor with no detail, which give the illusion that objects on the floor are moving.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6YwZzKzTI |title=Jamiroquai - The Story of Virtual Insanity |language=en |access-date=4 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}} In several shots, chairs or couches are fixed to the walls so that they appear to be standing still when in fact they are moving. In other shots, the furniture remain stationary on the floor, but the illusion is such that they appear to be moving.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzwY7ii582Y |title=Jonathan Glazer - The Making of Jamiroquai's Virtual Insanity |date=18 June 2011 |last=Jason Wallace |access-date=19 April 2025 |via=YouTube}} Parts of the floor had tape markings as a reference point for Kay, which had to be digitally deleted in post-production, but Kay said he had to improvise parts such as where he does a blind 180-degree spin on his knees to avoid hitting a wall or when he tiptoes past an incoming couch that was about to pin him against the wall; in both cases, it was only upon playing the footage back that he realised how finely he had avoided danger.

In September 2021, a remaster of the video in 4K was premiered on YouTube to promote a new vinyl release of Travelling Without Moving.{{Citation|title=Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Official 4K Video)| date=9 September 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeTFAiYbR9o|access-date=13 September 2021}}

=Popularity=

In 2011, the "Virtual Insanity" video was listed on The 30 All-Time Best Music Videos by Time magazine and was also listed in Forbes 25 Greatest Music Videos of All Time.{{Cite news |last=Levy |first=Glen |date=26 July 2011 |title=Jamiroquai, 'Virtual Insanity' (1997) {{!}} The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2011/07/28/the-30-all-time-best-music-videos/slide/jamiroquai-virtual-insanity-1997/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Jacqueline |title=The 25 Greatest Music Videos Of All Time |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/best-music-videos-of-all-time/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Music Week included the video in its "25 Videos That Changed The World" list in 2006.{{cite journal |title=25 Videos That Changed The World |journal=Music Week |date=2 September 2006 |pages=30-31}}

=In popular culture=

The music video for "Virtual Insanity" has been parodied, referred to, remixed, or imitated in countless music videos, television shows, and internet memes. A TV promo by comedian Chris Rock was made for the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, whereby Rock imitates Jay Kay in a comedic fashion through digital superimposition.{{Citation |title=Chris Rock Jamiroquai parody (1997) | date=3 October 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_d8nNggrVs |access-date=4 April 2023}} In 2007, the video's original director, Jonathan Glazer, uploaded a parody of the video whereby the room was digitally turned into a bathroom and had Jay Kay appear to interact with patrons in a comedic fashion, again using digital superimposition.{{Citation |title=Jamiroquai, Virtual Insanity Toilet version CHECK IT OUT | date=14 March 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU_pzMafqdE |access-date=4 April 2023}}

Austin Mahone and Pitbull took inspiration from it in the video for their 2014 single "Mmm Yeah",{{cite magazine |last=Dias |first=Bruno |date=13 March 2014 |title=Austin Mahone se inspira no Jamiroquai para o clipe de MMM Yeah |trans-title=Austin Mahone takes inspiration from Jamiroquai for the video for MMM Yeah |url=https://capricho.abril.com.br/entretenimento/austin-mahone-se-inspira-no-jamiroquai-para-o-clipe-de-mmm-yeah/ |url-status=live |magazine={{ill|Capricho|pt}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509222006/https://capricho.abril.com.br/entretenimento/austin-mahone-se-inspira-no-jamiroquai-para-o-clipe-de-mmm-yeah/ |archive-date=9 May 2021 |lang=pt-BR}} and it is one of the many songs parodied in the video for FIDLAR's 2015 single "40oz. on Repeat".{{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Tom |date=3 June 2015 |title=Watch FIDLAR Parody A Stack Of Famous Music Videos |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/watch-fidlar-parody-a-stack-of-famous-music-videos/ |url-status=live |magazine=Music Feeds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810045619/https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/watch-fidlar-parody-a-stack-of-famous-music-videos/ |archive-date=10 August 2016}}{{Citation |title=FIDLAR - 40oz. On Repeat (Official Music Video) | date=2 June 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJy8VgB83OQ |access-date=4 April 2023}} Other notable parodies include a cutaway from the season 14 Family Guy episode "Scammed Yankees", which went viral as an internet meme in 2023 under the portmanteau "Cartermiroquai".{{Citation |title= What's The 'Dancing, Walking, Rearranging Furniture' Meme? Why Is Family Guy's Carter Pewterschmidt All Over TikTok? |date= 31 January 2023 |url= https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/guides/whats-the-dancing-walking-rearranging-furniture-meme-why-is-family-guys-carter-pewterschmidt-all-over-tiktok |access-date=6 June 2023}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arnF_g7_TKE |title=Cartermiroquai |language=en |access-date=4 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}} It was also referenced in the season 11 Robot Chicken episode "May Cause the Exact Thing You're Taking This to Avoid". The music video also inspired a video game entitled Jamiroquai Game, wherein the player must avoid the various objects in the scene, akin to the video.{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Rob |date=13 May 2015 |title=Control virtual Jamiroquai in game based on the "Virtual Insanity" music video |url=https://www.avclub.com/control-virtual-jamiroquai-in-game-based-on-the-virtua-1798279609 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414044552/https://news.avclub.com/control-virtual-jamiroquai-in-game-based-on-the-virtua-1798279609 |archive-date=14 April 2019 |website=The A.V. Club}}

Junya Watanabe of Comme des Garçons presented a men's fall/winter 2022 mini fashion show in tribute to Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" music video.{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=18 January 2022 |title=Jay Kay from Jamiroquai is an unlikely style icon at Junya Watanabe |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/55260/1/virtual-insanity-jay-kay-jamiroquai-aw22-style-icon-junya-watanabe-paris |access-date=19 April 2025 |website=Dazed |language=en}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable"
YearOrganizationAwardResult
rowspan="10" | 1997

| rowspan="10" | MTV Video Music Award

| Video of the Year

| {{Won}}

Best New Artist

| {{Nominated}}

Breakthrough Video

| {{Won}}

Best Direction {{small|(Directors: Jonathan Glazer)}}

| {{Nominated}}

Best Choreography {{small|(Choreographers: Jason Kay)}}

| {{Nominated}}

Best Visual Effects {{small|(Visual Effects: Jonathan Glazer and Sean Broughton)}}

| {{Won}}

Best Art Direction {{small|(Art Director: John Bramble)}}

| {{Nominated}}

Best Editing {{small|(Editor: Jonathan Glazer and John McManus)}}

| {{Nominated}}

Best Cinematography {{small|(Cinematographer: Stephen Keith-Roach)}}

| {{Won}}

International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Europe

| {{Nominated}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • UK CD1 and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Virtual Insanity|others=Jamiroquai|year=1996|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Sony Soho Square|id=663613 2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Virtual Insanity|others=Jamiroquai|year=1996|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Sony Soho Square|id=663439 2}}
  1. "Virtual Insanity" – 4:04
  2. "Do You Know Where You're Coming From" (original mix) – 4:59
  3. "Bullet" – 4:19
  4. "Virtual Insanity" (album version) – 5:40
  • UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Virtual Insanity|others=Jamiroquai|year=1996|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Sony Soho Square|id=663613 5}}
  1. "Virtual Insanity" – 4:04
  2. "Space Cowboy" (classic radio) – 4:01
  3. "Emergency on Planet Earth" (London Rican Mix) – 7:10
  4. "Do You Know Where You're Coming From" – 4:59

{{col-2}}

  • UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Virtual Insanity|others=Jamiroquai|year=1996|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Sony Soho Square|id=663613 4}}
  1. "Virtual Insanity" – 4:04
  2. "Virtual Insanity" (album version) – 5:40
  3. "Virtual Insanity" (Unreality Mix) – 3:54
  • European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Virtual Insanity|others=Jamiroquai|year=1996|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Sony Soho Square|id=SSQ 663613 1}}
  1. "Virtual Insanity" – 4:04
  2. "Do You Know Where You're Coming From" (original mix) – 4:59

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1996–1997)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=143}}

| 75

{{single chart|Flanders Tip|15|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|15|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|64|chartid=3288|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2018}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-09-14.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=37|date=14 September 1996|page=16|access-date=5 June 2020}}

| 8

{{single chart|Finland|7|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|France|16|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Germany|63|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|songid=3299|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2945899#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (03.10.1996 – 09.10.1996)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=4 October 1996|access-date=5 February 2018}}

| 1

{{single chart|Ireland2|7|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-09-14.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=37|date=14 September 1996|page=18|access-date=26 November 2019}}

| 5

scope="row"|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-09-21.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=38|page=27|date=21 September 1996}}

| 2

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/jamiroquai/jamiroquai-virtual-insanity-18449|title=Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=26 July 2021}}

| 9

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Jamiroquai&titel=Virtual+Insanity&cat=s|title=Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=25 July 2021}}

| 7

{{single chart|Scotland|4|date=19960831|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2018}}
{{single chart|Sweden|32|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|19|artist=Jamiroquai|song=Virtual Insanity|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|UK|3|date=19960831|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|UKrandb|1|date=19960831|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|37|artist=Jamiroquai|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|38|artist=Jamiroquai|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|34|artist=Jamiroquai|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|39|artist=Jamiroquai|rowheader=true|access-date=25 June 2016}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (2012)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|91|artist=Jamiroquai|rowheader=true|access-date=5 June 2020}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1996)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1996|title=Rapports annuels 1996|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=11 October 2018}}

| 81

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-12-21.pdf|title=Year-End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1996|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=51/52|date=21 December 1996|page=12|access-date=5 June 2020}}

| 84

scope="row"|France (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?annee=1996|title=Tops de L'année {{!}} Top Singles 1996|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=17 January 2021}}

| 70

scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1996|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=25|date=2 January 1997|access-date=30 May 2020}}

| 5

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1996|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=18 January 1997}}

| 39

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Jamiroquai|title=Virtual Insanity|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=2019|access-date=30 September 2019|id=7146}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Jamiroquai|title=Virtual Insanity|type=ringtone|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2010|certmonth=12|note=Full-length ringtone|access-date=28 February 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Jamiroquai|title=Virtual Insanity|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=2024|access-date=12 November 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Jamiroquai|title=Virtual Insanity|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|certyear=2021|id=9064-1616-1|access-date=8 October 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|19 August 1996

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|Sony Soho Square

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-08-17.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=17 August 1996|access-date=4 July 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|11 September 1996

|CD

|Epic

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/85472/products/105392/1/|title=バーチャル・インサニティ {{!}} ジャミロクワイ|trans-title=Virtual Insanity {{!}} Jamiroquai|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=29 August 2023}}

scope="row"|United States

|20 May 1997

|{{hlist|Rhythmic contemporary|contemporary hit radio}}

|Work

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1197|pages=36, 42|date=16 May 1997}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Jamiroquai}}

{{MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1996 singles

Category:1996 songs

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Jamiroquai songs

Category:MTV Video of the Year Award

Category:Music videos directed by Jonathan Glazer

Category:Number-one singles in Iceland

Category:S2 Records singles

Category:Songs written by Jason Kay

Category:Songs written by Toby Smith

Category:Internet memes introduced in 2021