# I hate commercials when they... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072 "2002-10-06T15:13:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/1 "2002-10-06T15:13:15Z")
…use a really GREAT song, particularly a romantic song…and it winds up trivializing the song!! For instance, “Sometimes When We Touch” is one of the best romantic songs of all time (IMHO), and GEICO went and hijacked it for their own nefarious ends… Anyone else got any examples? ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/2 "2002-10-06T16:47:39Z")
friend drkgntly i wonder how john lennon would feel to hear instant karma pimping nikes ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/3 "2002-10-06T17:26:04Z")
Burger King is notorious for ruining many songs with their commercials from a couple years back. Once they started using Judas Priest’s _You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’_ I knew they had taken things too far and were running out of songs to bastardize in their ads. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/4 "2002-10-06T17:46:28Z")
I like the GIECO commercial with “Sometimes When We Touch”. I forget if that song made it into Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs, but it should have. So wretchedly sappy. I’m glad the GEICO gang found a good use for it. ---
**Author:** ![ghandi5569](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@ghandi5569](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghandi5569)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/5 "2002-10-06T18:13:07Z")
I hate commercials that advertise a new product, but don’t give any description of the actual product. The only example in my head right now is for M-Life. Before it came out, they had all of these commericals with people saying how great MLife was and how it helped them get organized and do all sorts of things. Then the commercial would say for more info go to [MLife.com](http://MLife.com). It was for a cell phone. By AT&T. (Cell phones annoy me and AT&T is one of the most difficult communication companies to get through to, but that’s a rant for another day.) The commericals could have given a hint about cell phones somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/6 "2002-10-06T18:26:00Z")
I swear that I saw a commercial use Creedence’s **Fortunate Son** in a “flag waving” context. I’ve managed to blank the product from my mind, but it was horrendously wrong-headed. Similarly, Mercedes used the Janis Joplin song **(Lord Won’t You Buy Me a) Mercedes Benz**. Once again, how frikkin’ clueless and misguided can advertisers be? The Levis commercial that uses **Playground Love** by Air at least uses it in a proper context, but it’s always annoying to hear a song you like used in a commercial… ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/7 "2002-10-06T23:58:11Z")
I hate when a commercial’s sound volume is twice as loud as the volume of the television show you are watching. I know it’s done on purpose to get your attention. I find it annoying as hell and makes me hit “mute” which is counter to what the advertisers should want. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/8 "2002-10-07T03:15:15Z")
I hate commercials when they… are on the TV. are on the radio. at at the movie theaters (especially!). C’mon, when would you _like_ them? ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/9 "2002-10-07T03:22:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grendel72 \* > **I swear that I saw a commercial use Creedence’s Fortunate Son in a “flag waving” context. I’ve managed to blank the product from my mind, but it was horrendously wrong-headed.** God, I remember that being on all the time, and I’d always think “WTF were they thinking?” Wasn’t it for jeans or something? ---
**Author:** ![airdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@airdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/airdisc)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/10 "2002-10-07T03:26:15Z")
Pepsi used _Born to be Wild_ in one of their commercials. My mom was pissed. And I first heard Led Zepplin on a Tide commercial. Yeah, any company that uses classic songs for their products is damning themselves to the deepest pit of Hell. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Improved\_Scott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f17d59/32.png) [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/11 "2002-10-07T03:32:13Z")
The Nike Ad that used **Bittersweet Syphony** by the Verve, while it was still in the top 40 on the charts freaked me right out. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/12 "2002-10-07T04:04:27Z")
I think Bittersweet Symphony was in the Top 40 _because_ of the Nike ads. IIRC, the song was released several years before the spot aired and didn’t become popular until people heard it during the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/13 "2002-10-07T04:42:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grendel72 \* > **I swear that I saw a commercial use Creedence’s Fortunate Son in a “flag waving” context. I’ve managed to blank the product from my mind, but it was horrendously wrong-headed.** That one bugs me too. They only play one particular part though “Some folks are born made to wave the flag. Ooh that red, white and blue.” This doesn’t quite fit but I haven’t found a place to say it yet. Skittles should go ahead and begin making mystical softcore porn. They’re almost there already. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/14 "2002-10-07T05:23:56Z")
AFAIC, advertising crossed a line that just shouldn’t have been crossed when they put a Clash song in an ad for Boomermobiles. That was just so wrong. As far as ads using old classics and ruining them, there are hardly any left that haven’t been tainted. I’m just getting into old funk and R&B, and man, have they pissed on those songs. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/15 "2002-10-07T06:10:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shy guy \* > \*\* God, I remember that being on all the time, and I’d always think “WTF were they thinking?” Wasn’t it for jeans or something? \*\* It’s for Wrangler jeans. The mind boggles. Personally, I hate commercials with alarm-clock sounds in them… ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/16 "2002-10-07T08:00:52Z")
[slight hijack] The Today show had a back-to-school fashion show recently, and the background music they used was “My Old School” by Steely Dan. IIRC, that song doesn’t really display any ideals for grade school children… ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/17 "2002-10-07T09:35:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Juniper200 \* > \*\*I think Bittersweet Symphony was in the Top 40 _because_ of the Nike ads. IIRC, the song was released several years before the spot aired and didn’t become popular until people heard it during the commercial. \*\* I’m not so sure about that. The Verve’s _Urban Hymns_ was released in 1997? When were these Nike ads aired? FWIW, “Bittersweet Symphony” and _Urban Hymns_ were critical and popular hits in the UK and in Australia in the year of release, without the benefit of those Nike ads, which I presume aired only in the US. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/18 "2002-10-07T15:04:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narrad \* > \*\*I’m not so sure about that. The Verve’s _Urban Hymns_ was released in 1997? When were these Nike ads aired? > > FWIW, “Bittersweet Symphony” and _Urban Hymns_ were critical and popular hits in the UK and in Australia in the year of release, without the benefit of those Nike ads, which I presume aired only in the US. \*\* Actually, IICR, there was a news blurb about how The Verve sold the song right when they released it as a single- the point of the news piece being that some people sold their songs before they were even famous on their own merits. The ads started less than two months after the single hit the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/19 "2002-10-07T15:43:10Z")
I don’t know if it’s _always_ so bad. There’s this car commercial, filmed in a slightly fellini-esque town center. The music is the guitar and flute intro (no words) to “Thick as a Brick” by Jethro Tull. It gives the ad a nice, cheerfully gaelic atmosphere. Hopefully it left a few viewers forgetting about the car and wondering if they could get the music on CD. Then a couple of years back there was this ad for one of those companies that help families with their finances. A familiar folk song is playing in the background. The ad ends, though, before it gets to the most famous line: “Even though we ain’t got money…” ---
**Author:** ![Shah\_Jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shah\_Jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shah_Jehan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072/20 "2002-10-07T16:17:04Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by shy guy \* > \*\* God, I remember that being on all the time, and I’d always think “WTF were they thinking?”_\* Every now and then I still see commercials for a cruise line (I think it’s Carnival) with **Lust for Life** as the soundtrack. Somehow I doubt the ad execs have really listened to that one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-commercials-when-they/131072.md?page=2)