Inappropriate use of music in commercials.

[I Know How To Do it]

I've noticed over the last few years that the use of certain songs as snippets in commercials have become increasingly bizarre.

Example A:
"Lust For Life" by Iggy Pop and David Bowie for Carnival Cruise Lines.
The song is about a guy who'll do anything for kicks including, "Liquor and Drugs" and having sex in his ear.
Great song, but hardly appropriate for a family adventure....Well I guess it would depend on what your family is like I guess.


Example B:
"There She Goes", Originally by the La's, but they use the version by, Sixpence None The Richer, which is even funnier because they are a self described Christian band. Anyway, they use this song in Feminine hygiene products and Birth Control contraption commercials all the time. Odd thing is that the, "She" in the song is Heroin and how great it feels when you shoot it up.


Example C. "The Revolution Starts Now" by Steve Earle.
Anyone that knows anything about Steve Earle knows that he's a big trouble maker and the Country Music Establishment want nothing to do with him. Think, "John Walker's Blues" that he put out a couple of years ago and all the grief he got over that. In this song, The Revolution, is just what it says, it's about taking back America from the Bush Admin. Well they use it now for Chevy Trucks. I'm Still scratching my head over that one.



And one of the Best examples ever is, "Born In The USA" by Bruce Springsteen. They use this song endlessly at all kinds of, "Patriotic" events. People wave their flags and scream. "I was born in the USA." It's obvious that these people have never actually took the time to read the Lyrics because it's an ANTI-VIETNAM song, and somewhat critical of the USA!


Ok, that's my little pet peeve.
I'm sure you can think of other examples.
It's maddening!

[JimmyJazz]

1. Fortunate Son in a jeans commercial trying to express themselves

as being All-American.

[I Know How To Do it]

3. Yep, I remember that one.

A bunch people playing touch football in their fancy schmancy Jeans.

[JimmyJazz]

9. Hi there! Welcome to DU!

:hi: Notice how neither of us can remember the company :D

[northzax]

17. not so fancy schamncy

I think they were wranglers...(don't call jeans fancy until they hit $75 around here...)

[Beware the Beast Man]

10. Ugh. I hated, HATED the use of that song.

Especially since they editied out the "But when they sing...cannon at you" line.

[Sannum]

2. Someone wanted to use "Ring of Fire"

For a hemmroid aid commercial. Needless to say, the estate of Johnny Cash did not allow that to happen.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

4. other examples

"fortunate son" used in lots of stuff

also a rip off version of jimi hendrix's "star spangled banner" to sale pop tarts with groovy fireworks in the background.

it's a pet peeve of mine as well, what also grates on my nerves is when commercials use "fake" versions of songs so they don't have to pay any royalties or get permission from the record label/artist.

[terrya]

5. "Lust for Life" was in "Trainspotting", right?

Yes...that's REALLY what Iggy Pop had in mind. Advertising for some damn cruise line. Sure, right. :sarcasm:

[ghostsofgiants]

8. Yep, the opening scene with Renton running through the streets

[LynneSin]

6. Rock & Roll for Cadillac

I can't listen to that song anymore and I adore Led Zeppelin

[seemunkee]

7. Chumbawumba for GM

Their lable sold the rights. They took the money and donated it to some anti-corporate groups that are fighting GM.

The Iggy/Carnival cruise commercial always makes me smile.

What about Cadillac using Led Zep.

[yo-yo-ma]

11. nick drake used to sell vw

[NuckinFutz]

12. And here's another

Led Zeppelin used in a Cadillac commercial...particularly where the one where the higher end European sedans are 'dancing' around on a gorgeous ballroom floor, to impeccable classical music. Then here comes the ultimate symbol for the ugly American, crashing the party and making a mess of the floor.

The whole thing just makes my blood boil.

[I Know How To Do it]

13. Just thought of another one

Target had a commercial that used the song, "Good Shit" by Cornershop, but they changed it to, "Good Stuff"

[TlalocW]

14. Happiness Is a Warm Gun for NRA membership commercials

Okay, so that's never happened.

TlalocW

[RedCloud]

15. Write on brothers, write on with the Shick Brothers??? Papermate pen

Makes you wonder, if they will sell us our own revolution.

What about for drywallers eating PBJs?

"Up against the wall, up against the wall, Mother Smuckers!!!"

[mcscajun]

16. Is it maddening, or subversive?

When I come across examples like yours on the TV...I can only shake my head and wonder WHO they are selling to. Anyone who recognizes the tune/lyric gets the disconnnect and judges accordingly. :)

[I Know How To Do it]

18. I think a lot of times it's just a bunch of suits in a boardroom

that try to pick out a song that is supposed to identify with a certain demographic. The problem is they pick out a song from a time frame and don't really bother to read the lyrics or think about what the band represents.

Iggy Pop is a perfect example of that.
I've seen him 3 times and he's a freaking maniac that's capable of doing just about anything on stage. Pulling his pants down, insulting the audience, and I even saw him throw a full water bottle at a guy who broke his leg down in the front of the stage. It hit him right in the face and Iggy just kept singing.

Then I see them using, "Lust For Life" in a Carnival Cruise lines Commercial. I can't help but groan then start laughing.

[skypilot]

19. That SALT 'n' PEPA song "Push it Good"...`

...where it sounds as though they are saying "Pussy good" was recently used in a commercial. I think it was some kind of car commercial. I still think that was kinda strange.

[Squeech]

20. The Who

Pete Townshend has imperiled his immortal soul by licensing vast quantities of his book for car commercials. The dumbest IMHO is some SUV being accompanied by "I'm Free." Every time it comes on, I snarl back, "I'm not free, I cost $37,000!"

I suppose my big ironic fave is the Target commercial from a couple years ago where the soundtrack was Devo's "Beautiful World," notably cropped right before they sing "But not for me!"