# Editing of songs to fit commercials **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545 "2017-01-19T16:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/1 "2017-01-19T16:37:30Z")
This really bugs me. The latest offender is a commercial in which the song is The Zombies’ “She’s Not There”. I suppose only those who know the song have a negative reaction. BTW, I don’t know what the commercial is for. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/2 "2017-01-19T16:54:18Z")
Yeah, it bugs me too. That one is also a particularly jarring edit, IIRC. I think I complained out loud about what a bad edit it was when I heard it. However, I also can’t remember what the commercial is advertising, but I’m kind of good at missing that. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/3 "2017-01-19T17:05:38Z")
Not too long ago, there was a commercial for a phone or phone carrier (the sort with lots of attractive Millennials living exciting urban lives, aided by their phones) that used “Who Needs You” by The Orwells. From the first verse: > [@](#): > > You better help the children > Let 'em have some fun > You better count your blessings > Kiss mama and pa > You better burn that flag > Cause it ain’t against the law Guess which lines didn’t make it into the commercial 😃 It wasn’t too badly edited (they relied heavily on the guitar rift anyway) but knowing what lines were coming up made me laugh to imagine them in the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/4 "2017-01-19T17:59:11Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > This really bugs me. The latest offender is a commercial in which the song is The Zombies’ “She’s Not There”. I suppose only those who know the song have a negative reaction. BTW, I don’t know what the commercial is for. This? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_ZAZD3ylG6Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Coco Mademoiselle, the film with Keira Knightley and Danila Kozlovski – CHANEL Fragrance") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZAZD3ylG6Y) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/5 "2017-01-19T18:02:16Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Not too long ago, there was a commercial for a phone or phone carrier (the sort with lots of attractive Millennials living exciting urban lives, aided by their phones) that used “Who Needs You” by The Orwells. From the first verse: > > Guess which lines didn’t make it into the commercial 😃 Apple - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgXR7YxCIvM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgXR7YxCIvM) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/6 "2017-01-19T18:33:40Z")
[quote=“Duckster, post:4, topic:777545”] This? [/QUOTE] Hmm, it is edited a bit, but there must be a shorter version where there the lyrics are truncated that annoys me more. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/7 "2017-01-19T18:34:06Z")
I did love when they used Dave Mason’s “Feelin’ Alright?” using just those words in the ad. Considering it’s about a bitter breakup (the next line is “Not feelin’ too good myself”), I can see the change, but why not just pick a happier song instead? ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/8 "2017-01-19T18:38:58Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Not too long ago, there was a commercial for a phone or phone carrier (the sort with lots of attractive Millennials living exciting urban lives, aided by their phones) that used “Who Needs You” by The Orwells. I drive my wife nuts by pausing and re-running commercials with our DVR so I can put them through Soundhound or Shazam when I hear a song I like but don’t recognize. That’s how I added “Who Needs You” by the Orwells (and “I Love You” by Said the Whale, and “Don’t Stop” by Ro Malone, etc.) to my iTunes library. I find it interesting which pieces get used for what and why. In commercials for _The LEGO Movie_ and some other subsequent ventures, you’ll hear snippets of Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling”… but you only hear the (fantastic) female vocals - never Flo Rida’s rapping. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/9 "2017-01-19T19:10:05Z")
[quote=“Duckster, post:4, topic:777545”] This? [/QUOTE] This is not too bad. Having Kiera Knightly in a hot-rod wooden boat certainly helps. A local grocery store does a commercial with _She’s Not There_ done in a smooth Jazz, with fruity flutes and stuff. I hated it at first, but, like Athlete’s Foot, it grew on me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/10 "2017-01-19T19:15:25Z")
My absolute favorite in this category is the 2004 Diet Coke commercial featuring Adrien Brody and Lyrics Born’s “Callin’ Out”. When I got around to hearing the full song, and out of how much I loved the sound (damn catchy and funky) of it in the ad, I couldn’t help but LMAO at how freakin’ heavily edited the ad version was. And I mean FREAKIN’ heavily edited… \*\*[First, the commercial.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxVrmd7-zgc) [And now the tune. (Due to the ‘chorus’, a NSFW on this puppy.)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GorpO5MyU)\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/11 "2017-01-19T19:25:46Z")
There is a series of GMC ads that uses the instrumental intro of The Who’s “Eminence Front”. No vocals, but every time I see one of those ads I can’t help but think “It’s a put-on, it’s a put-on.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/12 "2017-01-19T20:00:05Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > There is a series of GMC ads that uses the instrumental intro of The Who’s “Eminence Front”. No vocals, but every time I see one of those ads I can’t help but think “It’s a put-on, it’s a put-on.” 😃 All I can think is “[The Who Sell Out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Who_Sell_Out).” It just took a while… ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/13 "2017-01-19T20:05:43Z")
I’m surprised I’m the first to mention Wrangler Jeans’ ad featuring CCR’s “Fortunate Son” about 15 years ago. They left in the part about how some folks are born made to wave the (American) flag, but they conveniently left out the part where John Fogerty sings “it ain’t me.” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/14 "2017-01-19T20:39:32Z")
And we mustn’t forget Iggy Pop’s _Lust for Life_ as the soundtrack to your family friendly Carnival (?) cruise. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/15 "2017-01-19T21:34:57Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I’m surprised I’m the first to mention Wrangler Jeans’ ad featuring CCR’s “Fortunate Son” about 15 years ago. They left in the part about how some folks are born made to wave the (American) flag, but they conveniently left out the part where John Fogerty sings “it ain’t me.” YES. That, in fact, is what I stopped in here to mention! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/16 "2017-01-19T21:48:03Z")
They do this with “classical” music all the time. How many people have heard the entire _Dies Irae_ from Verdi’s Requiem?.. Though it’s been butchered in countless commercials. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/17 "2017-01-19T21:57:25Z")
I hate to admit that I was actually amused by the Apple Gigantic iPhone Ad, using the Pixies song of the same name. It makes you wonder if the Ad creator did know that the song was about a huge penis when they ended the commercial with the phrase “You’re more powerful than you think” ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/18 "2017-01-19T23:16:03Z")
The [car commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm3A4uKbM6U) with The Dandy Warhols’ “Bohemian Like You” always bugged me. They kept “you got a great car” but for some reason cut out “yeah what’s wrong with it today.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/19 "2017-01-20T00:28:21Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > The [car commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm3A4uKbM6U) with The Dandy Warhols’ “Bohemian Like You” always bugged me. They kept “you got a great car” but for some reason cut out “yeah what’s wrong with it today.” Wow, that’s terrible. It sounds like they edited it with a hammer. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-of-songs-to-fit-commercials/777545/20 "2017-01-20T00:41:09Z")
Don’t forget Target using “Beautiful World” by Devo, despite said world being “not for them.”