Whistle while you work sell out
what’s happening with the hottest indie rock bands and the biggest corporate entities lately is just a little more than interesting, and just a little different than how things were only a few years ago. remember back in the good old days when it was uncool to even attempt to make money? back then, “selling out” was pretty much considered suicide as far as a band’s dedicated fanbase was concerned.
is it cool to sell out now? bands like modest mouse, AIR, the walkmen, and now peter bjorn and john, just to name a few, sure do think so. not to mention all the bands that have scored itunes commercials to help launch their careers. are we all a bit more understanding these days because of the way the industry has shifted? we all know that most of our favorite bands are struggling just to get by, and their labels certainly aren’t doing much to help anyone but themselves survive the whole age of piracy.
if this ad is any indication of where things are heading, get ready to start listening to TV commercials a bit closer. i bet metallica wishes their fans were as understanding, but i guess they represent the old folks…
and we don’t care about the young folks
talkin’ bout the young style
and we don’t care about the old folks
talkin’ ’bout the old style too
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Wow! I actually saw a car commercial with Objects Of My Affection playing last night. Iwas going to post about it but I couldn’t remember the car it was selling it’s soul to.
I, for one, don’t really have a problem with it as long as the commercial doesn’t feature the song as opposed to just using it in the background. I mean there’s “This Is Our Country” and then there’s “Gravity Rides Everything”. There’s a difference and it’s palpable.
Something else to consider is the use of songs in film. You license your song to the wrong scene in the wrong movie and it’s stuck there forever.
I agree with FrazerJames.
It’s good music, which is why it turned up in a commercial anyway. That it’s in the commercial shouldn’t change the fact that it’s still good music.
However, I do always hate when they edit songs (like above). I understand the need to properly soundtrack a 30-second spot, but it always throws me for a loop as I’m trying to sing (or whistle) along in my head.
And the only visual I want to associate with “Objects of My Affection” is this gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxVRhcLXftg
A Beulah track ended up in a Saturn commercial, which was awesome, because it meant they had a little more cash for one more tour.
Brendon Benson’s “Cold Hands Warm Heart” made it’s way into a Ford Fusion commercial, which was awesome, until I realized it was a Ford commercial, and then it was not awesome. It was the opposite of awesome. It was sucky.
But it’s still my favorite BBenson song.
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