Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" is a stunning tribute to the birth of cinema. Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (who later made Little Miss Sunshine), the video is a direct homage to French film pioneer Georges Méliès and his 1902 film A Trip to the Moon. In an era of growing CGI, they deliberately used the same practical techniques Méliès would have: hand-painted backdrops, puppets, and simple wire-work. This old-fashioned approach perfectly matched the song's grand, orchestral sound and sincere lyrics. It’s a beautiful example of artists looking to the past to create something that felt completely fresh and timeless.