Regard transformed the track into an 80s-inspired, disco-pop anthem, adding what Alexander called a "sexy trippy life" to the production.
: Regard is portrayed as a "mysteriously sinister driving force" watching the competition from behind the scenes on television screens.
Written by of Years & Years , the song was born from his real-life experience when an ex-lover tried to re-enter his life in 2019. Alexander felt a confusing pull to rekindle the romance, but ultimately realized that the past was a distorted memory. He described the feeling as a "big illusion," questioning if any part of the original relationship had been real once the "dust settles". The Sound and Visual Concept Regard x Years & Years - Hallucination (Extended Mix)
: Realizing that while a former lover may "look like a vision," their presence is actually a "hallucination" intended to cause pain again.
The story of the collaboration, " Hallucination ," centers on the aftermath of a toxic romance and the surreal moment an "unwanted lustful old flame" attempts to return. The Inspiration Regard transformed the track into an 80s-inspired, disco-pop
The Extended Mix provides more space for the song's central message: a firm warning to "serial heartbreakers". Key lyrical beats include:
The official music video, directed by , translates this emotional confusion into a dystopian "dance to the death": Alexander felt a confusing pull to rekindle the
: Inspired by the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? , the video features Alexander as an "apprehensive contestant" in a grueling, dark dance competition.