Bizarre musical choices in commercials...
#1
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Bizarre musical choices in commercials...
We've all heard the Buzzcocks doing the whiny teenager "What do I Get" for Toyota, Iggy Pop doing the cold-turkey "Lust for Life" for a cruise line, the Orb's epic duggy masterpiece "Little Fluffy Clouds" in VW ad, Janis Joplin used unironically to hawk Benzes...but today I heard a song that takes the cake:
a muzak version of Joy Division's "Dead Souls" in a Harley Davidson ad.
OK, that's just bizarre. This is a song about suicidal depression, about dead souls that "keep calling me". It's one of the most intense, stripped-bare songs ever recorded and here it is selling V-Rods and Fat Boys.
What the hell? Do advertizing creatives just have a very subversive sense of humor, hoping that some people get the joke while the turn in their work to oblivious bosses?
a muzak version of Joy Division's "Dead Souls" in a Harley Davidson ad.
OK, that's just bizarre. This is a song about suicidal depression, about dead souls that "keep calling me". It's one of the most intense, stripped-bare songs ever recorded and here it is selling V-Rods and Fat Boys.
What the hell? Do advertizing creatives just have a very subversive sense of humor, hoping that some people get the joke while the turn in their work to oblivious bosses?
#3
DVD Talk Hero
I enjoyed DEVO's "Beautiful World" in a Target ad for two reasons. One - the song is ironic...it's really about how it is NOT a beautiful world. Two - using DEVO's brilliant music to one-day sell towels falls totally in line with the theory of de-evolution as laid out by the members.
I think it all boils down to the fact that today's ad executives were the children of the '80s and are simply incorporating their musical tastes into the commercials.
I think it all boils down to the fact that today's ad executives were the children of the '80s and are simply incorporating their musical tastes into the commercials.
#8
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally posted by majorjoe23
I think that hearing the Velvet Underground's "Heroin" in a Nissan commercial was one of the more surreal moments of my life.
I think that hearing the Velvet Underground's "Heroin" in a Nissan commercial was one of the more surreal moments of my life.
Another odd one, not odd in context of the commercial but really unexpected, was hearing Ween's Ocean Man in a car (Honda perhaps?) commercial. The setting was seaside so it was fitting, but man did my head turn when I heard Gene and Dean coming from my TV.
#9
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Originally posted by majorjoe23
I think that hearing the Velvet Underground's "Heroin" in a Nissan commercial was one of the more surreal moments of my life.
I think that hearing the Velvet Underground's "Heroin" in a Nissan commercial was one of the more surreal moments of my life.
#10
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally posted by glasschicken
Blind Melon's "No Rain" in a Pepsi ad. Anyone else think the girl in the hot dog suit is the Bee Girl?
Edit: Holy poop! I'm a member now!
Blind Melon's "No Rain" in a Pepsi ad. Anyone else think the girl in the hot dog suit is the Bee Girl?
Edit: Holy poop! I'm a member now!
I'm tired of hearing Zeppelin hocking Cadillac's.
Can't stand that remake of Right Here, Right Now (originally by Jesus Jones) on the K-Mart commercials either.
#11
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Originally posted by Hiro11
You've got to be kidding me....I haven't heard that one.
You've got to be kidding me....I haven't heard that one.
#13
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THe Lords of Acid (forget what song, but they're all dirty as hell) for Disney's Dinosaur flick. Just the music part, none of the dirty lyrics, but still, odd choice for a kids animated feature.
#14
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iggy pop's "lust for life" is an interesting choice for an inspirational cruise ship commercial. they do, however, conveniently leave out the parts of the song about brain bashing, drug using, liquor consumption, etc.
also, this may be a stretch, but i just saw a camera commercial using the cure song "pictures of you"... seems like an appropriate title for the subject of the advert, but i always considered all the songs from disintegration as being incredibly moody and depressing, if not about suicidal thoughts....
also, this may be a stretch, but i just saw a camera commercial using the cure song "pictures of you"... seems like an appropriate title for the subject of the advert, but i always considered all the songs from disintegration as being incredibly moody and depressing, if not about suicidal thoughts....
#15
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I know some people were upset with the Vans commercial featuring American Nightmare by the Misfits, but I think this is a perfect match. The kids that wear Vans are the same ones that listen to the Misfits, it would not work with any other product.
I love it, as mentioned in earlier post, when the meaning of the song is totally lost on the uninformed. What do you think the backlash would be if Harley owners knew a song about suicide was used to push their hog? How long before some journalist does a big story on this?
I love it, as mentioned in earlier post, when the meaning of the song is totally lost on the uninformed. What do you think the backlash would be if Harley owners knew a song about suicide was used to push their hog? How long before some journalist does a big story on this?
#16
Moderator
As I'm not watching much TV these days, I've yet to see/hear the use of either "Dead Souls" or "Heroin". The risk of doing so is too high. I think I'll just give up all TV as a precautionary measure...
#17
Originally posted by glasschicken
Blind Melon's "No Rain" in a Pepsi ad. Anyone else think the girl in the hot dog suit is the Bee Girl?
Edit: Holy poop! I'm a member now!
Blind Melon's "No Rain" in a Pepsi ad. Anyone else think the girl in the hot dog suit is the Bee Girl?
Edit: Holy poop! I'm a member now!
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Originally posted by Hollowgen
also, this may be a stretch, but i just saw a camera commercial using the cure song "pictures of you"... seems like an appropriate title for the subject of the advert, but i always considered all the songs from disintegration as being incredibly moody and depressing, if not about suicidal thoughts....
also, this may be a stretch, but i just saw a camera commercial using the cure song "pictures of you"... seems like an appropriate title for the subject of the advert, but i always considered all the songs from disintegration as being incredibly moody and depressing, if not about suicidal thoughts....
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by nazz
The Beatles song Revolution with its powerful message being used to peddle Nike tennis shoes is still the biggest travesty for me.
The Beatles song Revolution with its powerful message being used to peddle Nike tennis shoes is still the biggest travesty for me.
The one that got me the same way Joplin's Mercedes Benz one was CCR's Fortunate son to sell jeans. That's so not right.
#23
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Thread Starter
Originally posted by milo bloom
The one that got me the same way Joplin's Mercedes Benz one was CCR's Fortunate son to sell jeans. That's so not right.
The one that got me the same way Joplin's Mercedes Benz one was CCR's Fortunate son to sell jeans. That's so not right.