Video games and music videos have a lot in common. They both first came to prominence in the ‘80s, when MTV and Atari were suburban tweens’ twin obsessions. They’ve both come under fire for violent content and/or for being a supposed bad influence on our nation’s youth. And both, at their best, can transport fans of all ages to a magical two-dimensional world.
To celebrate National Video Game Day on Sept. 12 (yes, it’s a thing), we’ve compiled the best video game-themed music videos, from the ‘80s up to now. And all are worthy of multiple plays.
15. Buckner & Garcia feat. Jace Hall – “Pac-Man Fever (Eat ‘Em Up)”
A couple months ago, a new music video for a 2015 remix of Buckner & Garcia’s 1982 arcade-pop classic about having a pocketful of quarters and heading to the arcade premiered on Yahoo Music, in conjunction with the theatrical release of Pixels. True, video games cost way more than a quarter now, and arcades don’t even really exist anymore. But, this video has its old-school charms.
14. Iron Maiden – “Speed of Light”
In a statement, the British metal gods described this video as an homage “to four decades of video gaming, juxtaposed alongside Iron Maiden’s 40 years of incredible visuals centering on their talisman, Eddie, as he travels through space and time to complete his Herculean task.” Sounds pretty cool to us.
13. DJ Yoda featuring Scroobius Pip – “Sega RIP”
“What happened to Sega?” Scroobius laments. Answer: The classic ’90s console has been immortalized, or maybe eulogized, in this angry but ultimately nostalgic rap.
12. Architecture in Helsinki – “Do the Whirlwind”
The members of this Aussie alt-rock collective morph into 16-bit characters, thanks to brilliant pixel artist Paul Robertson, in this adorable clip.
11. New Politics – “West End Kids”
In this recently released tour de force, the Danish pop-rockers battle Fall Out Boy, Mortal Kombat-style, with Panic! At the Disco‘s Brendon Urie at the controls. These guys have got game!
10. James Durbin – “Parachute” (Lyric Video)
This loving and faithful tribute to retro arcade games like Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, and Space Invaders celebrates the American Idol Season 10 finalist’s love of all things ’80s. The clip is just as addictive as the video games it references.
9. Junior Senior – “Move Your Feet”
Danish musicians sure love their video games, huh? There is so much Nintendo goodness in this early-2000s classic by Denmark’s most playful pop duo.
8. Goldfish – “We Come Together”
Brought you by “Fishtendo,” this South African dance duo crams a jillion old-skool game references into this dazzling clip, from Pitfall to Q-Bert to Angry Birds. This one is a real Achievement Unlocked!
7. Gunship – “Revel in Our Time”/“The Mountain” (tie)
Gunship is the weird-science brainchild of Alex Westaway and Dan Haigh, of the British alt-rock band Fightstar. Westaway and Haigh describe their future-shockingly retro project as a “neon-soaked, late-night, sonic getaway drive, dripping with luscious analog synthesizers, cinematic vocals, and cyberpunk values, exploding from the front cover of a dusty plastic VHS case which has lain forgotten since 1983.” Well, that’s apt. Gunship’s two videos from their self-titled album basically look like they’ve been run through Lisa Frank’s graphic design software and turned into Commodore 64 screensavers. And that’s a compliment, by the way.
6. FFS – “Piss Off”
The members of Sparks and Franz Ferdinand come together to form a supergroup. So they turn themselves into video-game ninja warrior avatars to celebrate. As one does.
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Californication”
This eye-popping, 3D-animated tour de force, which was up for Video of the Year at the 2000 VMAs and won for Best Group Video, is RHCP’s most-watched clip on YouTube, with almost 180 million views. We kind of wish this was a real video game.
4. Missy Elliott feat. Da Brat – “Sock It 2 Me”
This opus depicts Missy very appropriately: as a totally badass superheroine. Now that she’s back in action, we’re hoping for a sequel to this Mega Man-inspired, Hype Williams-directed arcade classic.
3. Bloodhound Gang – “Mope”
Oh, $%&, here comes Pac-Man! We don’t think this is quite what Buckner & Garcia had in mind back in ’82, which was obviously a simpler and much more innocent time. Fast-forward to the 2:50 mark to see Pac-Man in his hilarious, but very disturbing, crack-addict decline. (Warning: Pac-Man has not aged well, and he now spews a ton of profanity. Someone needs to wash out his yellow mouth with soap.)
2. The Folk Implosion – “Free to Go”
The indie duo’s Lou Barlow and John Davis superimpose themselves onto Pac-Man, Tempest, Asteroids, Space Invaders, and other ’80s games. This Atari homage probably cost one-trillionth the budget of “Californication” or “Sock It 2 Me,” but watching Barlow and Davis bounce around on a Pong screen? That’s priceless.
1. The Go! Team – “Junior Kickstart”
Ms. Pac-Man is reimagined as a Converse-wearing NYC hipster in this action-movie chase caper. It’s like the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” except starring life-sized Inkies, Blinkies, and Clydes instead of mustachioed ’70s cops. It’s probably the coolest video we have ever seen. Waka waka waka.
