The version of the song used in the video is an edited, jazz version from David Bowie's 2014 greatest hits album Nothing Has Changed. A rock version was re-recorded for Bowie's final studio album Blackstar (2016).
At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals for bandleader Maria Schneider.
The song premiered on 12 October 2014, by BBC Radio 6 Music presenter and Elbow singer Guy Garvey.