Top 10 Retro Themed Music Videos

#10: “The Ghost of You” (2005) My Chemical Romance

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Fear of loss combined with the suffering inherent to war – a potent combination. Directed by Marc Webb, the music video for “The Ghost of You” is appears to be set in World War II, showing the members of My Chemical Romance as United States soldiers. The video jumps back and forth between a USO dance and a scene reminiscent of the Normandy landings on D-Day, paralleling the song's mournful lyrics with actual scenes of loss and pain. This mixture of elements makes for a compelling – if ultimately tragic – video.

#9: “In Bloom” (1992) Nirvana

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Bizarre yet fascinating is an appropriate way to describe this one. “In Bloom” serves primarily as a parody of live performances on 1960s variety shows, with Nirvana's members in respectable attire and the footage in black-and-white. However, the video takes a turn when Nirvana starts acting out; clips of the band wearing dresses and smashing up the set are inter-cut with the performance at hand. So goes the story: frontman Kurt Cobain wanted to show fans Nirvana's humorous side. However it came into being, we'll certainly never forget this monochromatic marvel.

#8: “Magic” (2014) Coldplay

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Speaking of black-and-white videos, here's one that walks a careful line. Coldplay's video for “Magic” tells a moving tale of a magician's assistant seeking to intervene in the marriage of his employer, a stage magician played by actress Zhang Ziyi. The video's lack of color, simple cinematography and other restrained elements draw from early silent films... while the video's subject matter deals with more contemporary matters such as spousal abuse. This quiet yet effective contrast gives Coldplay's song all the more weight, while building to a heart-warming conclusion.

Between this and “Uptown Funk”, Bruno Mars has shown his talent forretro-style music. “Treasure” has a simple enough premise: Bruno singing to a girl about how wonderful she is, while accompanied by backup dancers. However, it's the style that makes this video incredible – the set, costumes, lighting and special effects draw heavily from 1970s disco music. From Bruno's leopard print shirt to the use of psychedelic visuals, everything is designed to embody the easy energy of disco. We tip our hats to you, Bruno.

The pop song “Candyman”, drawing from jazz, blues and swing influences, has Christina Aguilera as three different versions of herself singing for U.S. officers. As the video jumps from stage performance to diner to aircraft hangar, its roots in World War II-era culture is clear; Christina's “singing trio” act appears to be a tribute to The Andrews Sisters, and the costumes and color palettes feel at home in a ‘40s setting. Combined with the plentiful innuendo and provocative dance, it makes for an all-around engaging video.

#5: “Smooth Criminal” (1988) Michael Jackson

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He's a real moon-walker... so we hear. Originally intended to pay homage to Westerns, the video for “Smooth Criminal” was changed to a 1930s gangster theme after Michael Jackson saw “The Third Man”. The video in question follows Michael as he enters a shady bar, easing the tension of its patrons the only way he knows how: by dancing to a fast beat. From the costumes to the staging of scenes, “Smooth Criminal” truly embodies its era of choice, while also remaining a stylish and memorable sight.

#4: “Hey Ya!” (2003) OutKast

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Nothing says retro like Polaroid pictures. That's just part of OutKast's “Hey Ya!”, which puts singer Andre 3000 in the role of eight members of the band The Love Below, performing for a live studio audience. The setup of the band's stage performance, coupled with occasional black-and-white footage, was meant to pay tribute to the Beatles' 1964 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Add to that the pleasant use of green as a color scheme, and you have a smartly crafted gem of a video.

#3: “First Date” (2001) Blink-182

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Long live the 1970s. Set in the middle of that decade, “First Date” casts the band Blink-182 as stereotypical young adults of the era. Long hair, tight T-shirts, and bell-bottoms abound in this visibly saturated video about the band's travels through a standard suburb. The sheer lived-in and era-appropriate feeling to this video cannot be denied, just as it's hard to deny the song's balance between relaxed lyrics and lively beat fits the visuals.

Intensity pulsates through this video like few others. Directed by Spike Jonze, the music video for the Beastie Boys' song “Sabotage” commences in splendid fashion – with the band, as street cops, chasing down criminals. Reminiscent of popular ‘70s crime dramas, “Sabotage” doesn't yield with its throbbing tempo nor with its quick editing, jumping from action scene to action scene in a snap. The look of the video is fittingly aged yet energetic, and the atmosphere is thick with tension but not to the point of unnecessary grimness. It's played straight, but all in good fun. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Groove Is in the Heart” (1990) Deee-Lite “The End of That” (2012) Plants and Animals “National Anthem” (2012) Lana Del Rey

#1: “Buddy Holly” (1994) Weezer

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It's a tribute like none other. “Buddy Holly”, clearly referencing the famed musician of the same name, also draws influence from another source: the ‘70s television show “Happy Days”. The show's impact can be felt on all fronts – Weezer's professional attire, clips of characters from the series, and even a cameo by cast member Al Molinaro. The entire video embodies the charm and seeming happiness of a bygone time, serving as a beautiful encapsulation of 1950s culture. Courtesy of Spike Jonze, this is a winner. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite retro themed music videos? For more retrospection-based Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.