"
Unfinished Sympathy" is a song by English group
Massive Attack, written by the three band members
Robert "3D" Del Naja,
Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles and
Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, the song's vocalist
Shara Nelson and the group's co-producer
Jonathan "Jonny Dollar" Sharp. The song was released as the second single from the band's debut album
Blue Lines, on the band's Wild Bunch label distributed through Circa Records on 11 February 1991. The single was released under the temporary group name of Massive to avoid a radio ban as its release coincided with the
Gulf War. Produced by Massive Attack and Dollar, the song incorporates various musical elements into its arrangement, including vocal and percussion
samples, drum programming, and string orchestration by arranger
Wil Malone. Upon release as a single, "Unfinished Sympathy" topped the
Dutch Top 40 and became a top twenty hit on the singles charts of countries including Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The single was accompanied by a memorable music video, directed by
Baillie Walsh, featuring a single continuous shot of Nelson walking through a
Los Angeles neighbourhood, oblivious of her surroundings.