# Songs that have been warped by use in commercials. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629 "2005-03-28T17:33:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/21 "2005-03-28T21:38:32Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > My first thread and I totally goof. I did confuse the “American Woman” Hilfiger commercial with the “Fortunate Son” Wrangler commercial. Sorry about that. That’s okay. We Dopers are a forgiving lot. The goat, however, may not be so gentle when it is time for your initiation. 😉 It really is a good topic. Other ones that have upset me include using Led Zeppelin to promote Cadillac and using Aerosmith to promote some other car. That sucks. I heard a new commercial using the song “Fever” yesterday. Great songs like that shouldn’t be allowed in commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/22 "2005-03-28T21:41:38Z")
Ford had to delete a line out of “Bohemian Like You” to make it appropriate to sell cars. ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/23 "2005-03-28T23:28:52Z")
I’m still p\*ssed that Coke used Queen’s _I Want To Break Free_ to sell that dreck they call C2. I’m pretty sure Freddy spun in his grave on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/24 "2005-03-29T01:41:43Z")
Yeah, but the falsies he wore in the video probably cashed the check. Didn’t Jaguar or somesuch use ‘London Calling’ a couple of years ago? I seem to recall that gave me a migraine. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/25 "2005-03-29T02:20:12Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I didn’t need to have Bananarama’s “Venus” ruined by becoming a lady’s shaver theme song. I believe Bananarama thoroughly ruined that song long before it was ever attached to a commercial. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/26 "2005-03-29T02:37:23Z")
I remember The Flaming Lips’s “Do You Realize?” was used for a car commercial. It’s got some lush instrumentation, but the song is more about realizing how life is precious because soon you die. I suppose it could be considered happy in a _carpe diem_ sense. Here are some lines: _Do you realize That happiness makes you cry? Do you realize That everyone you know someday will die?_ ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/27 "2005-03-29T03:06:54Z")
Don’t forget about the Reagan campaign in '84 and the use of “Pink House’s” by John Couger Mellancamp. They left out the line that states: “but the simple man baby pays the bills, for the thrills, the pills that kill”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/28 "2005-03-29T03:14:45Z")
The **Yardbirds’ “Over Under Sideways Down”** is being used to sell the Chevy Cobalt. (Actually the song seems to be a remake done by some TV commercial hack band.) I have always loved that song and it’s sad to think it is now being used to sell cars. However, similar to the advertising people thinking that “Fortunate Son” is a fine patriotic song, “Over Under Sideways Down” at first _seems_ to be about the fun of being a young adult, enjoying cars, women, etc. That song comes to a rude awakening, though. If I might be permitted to post _half_ the lyrics, you’ll see my point. * * * Cars and girls are easy come by, in this day and age. Laughing joking drinking smoking, til I’ve spent my wage. When I was young, people spoke for their morality. All the things they said were wrong are what I want to be. Over, under, sideways down; backwards, forward, square and round. Over, under, sideways down; backwards, forward, square and round. _ **When will it end ? When will it end ?** _ * * * That song has a hard-driving upbeat sound - _until_ it reaches the “When will it end” part. It changes to a minor key and sounds incredibly depressing. The point of the song is the realization that you’re _not_ going to be young forever. (I’m sure that is _not_ the message Chevy wants to convey). ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/29 "2005-03-29T03:18:28Z")
The (thankfully) short-lived Beatles’ “Revolution #1” shoe ad. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/30 "2005-03-29T03:22:37Z")
Busch beer using Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” Horrible. I honestly cried the first time I saw one of those commercials. It’s just so… WRONG. ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/31 "2005-03-29T03:23:17Z")
[Good article](http://www.uniquetracks.com/Issues/August2004.html) on the subject. Anyone actually seen this one?: > [@](#): > > AC/DC “Back in Black” for The Gap ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/32 "2005-03-29T03:35:53Z")
Love “Who Are You?” as the CSI theme. And it was great to be introduced to Dirty Vegas even if it took a commercial to do it. I really love music but don’t think it is sacred. The artists made money when the songs first came out. Nobody gave them away and they shouldn’t. I can’t behind the term “selling out”. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/33 "2005-03-29T03:39:07Z")
Or _get_ behind the term either. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/34 "2005-03-29T06:05:20Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > I believe Bananarama thoroughly ruined that song long before it was ever attached to a commercial. The hell you say. I like the original just fine but the Bananarama cover is a great little bubble gum pop song. And the video…genius. Another one that I had pretty well thoroughly repressed until I saw this thread title again: “Over the Rainbow” being used to sell Dial soap. I remember the first time I heard that and I was just _livid_. I don’t think I was the only one as the commercial vanished in very short order. ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/35 "2005-03-29T06:37:28Z")
HP totally f’ed the meaning of The Cure’s “Pictures Of You”. Toyota f’ed the meaning behind the Buzzcocks’ “What Do I Get”. And though thankfully none of the lyrics were used, I cringed every time I heard that signature guitar from The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now” over that Nissan commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/36 "2005-03-29T10:21:08Z")
> [@spiralscratch](#): > > Toyota f’ed the meaning behind the Buzzcocks’ “What Do I Get”. No way! They used that? Geez. Another “Lust for Life” moment! Never saw it (thank you, Jesus). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/37 "2005-03-29T10:38:54Z")
2 things - Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” fell into use as a patriotic anthem, although its lyrics definitely do not support this. Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” fell briefly into use as a high school anthem (Woo! Go Freshmen 1997!) when in fact the song was about unrecoverable pain from some teen tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/38 "2005-03-29T14:20:38Z")
> [@NattoGuy](#): > > Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” fell briefly into use as a high school anthem (Woo! Go Freshmen 1997!) when in fact the song was about unrecoverable pain from some teen tragedy. Wasn’t Green Day’s “Time Of Your Life” about a guy saying goodbye to his girlfriend? Either way, I remember the song was used to death when the class of 2000 graduated from high school. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/39 "2005-03-29T14:50:15Z")
> [@Sample\_the\_Dog](#): > > The (thankfully) short-lived Beatles’ “Revolution #1” shoe ad. They also used Help! for one of the early Friday the 13th movies. After that the song didn’t feel right for decades. I think I still have to watch the movie Help! a few more to see if I can completely wipe the feeling I got from that commercial from my mind. sigh ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629/40 "2005-03-29T15:29:42Z")
I had a long day the other day and I put on some Gershwin to let my mind free itself a bit and a friend came by (I should have locked the door) and asked why I was listening to United Airlines music. It has gone too far… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-have-been-warped-by-use-in-commercials/296629.md?page=3)