# The use of favorite songs in advertising **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 18, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032 "2004-03-18T15:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/1 "2004-03-18T15:41:13Z")
I hate hearing songs I love being used to hawk some product. To me, a song is cheapened when it is used to sell something. A piece of art that I could link to a particular person, place, event, emotion, etc. is now etched into my head as linked to a particular gadget or food product. Fuckers. Making things even worse, most of the time the song selected is a complete mismatch. While the song selected might seem right on the surface, a little thought shows it to be inappropriate. Some examples: [ul] [li]The Cure, _Pictures Of You_. Used to sell digital cameras (HP, I think). Seems like a great fit at first, until you realize that the song is about the heartbreak of a lost love.[/li][li]Buzzcocks, _What Do I Get_. A song about being alone and hating it. Somehow twisted to into the joy of camping and getting there via a Toyota SUV.[/li][li]The Smiths, _How Soon Is Now_. Basically the same as above. The signature guitar is used as background to multiple shots of some Nissan. (At least this one has the decency of not using any of the actual vocals.)[/li][li]Modern English, _Melt With You_. A love song, used to sell cheeseburgers.[/li][li]Verve, _Bittersweet Symphony_. This song seems to change meanings on me, depending on my mood and whatnot. It’s never meant “Buy Nike shoes and go out running”.[/li][/ul] I know I’m missing a bunch here. What are the ones that bug the rest of you? ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/2 "2004-03-18T15:51:13Z")
The Beatles, “Revolution,” is probably the most infamous case. Sometimes a song in a commercial boosts the music/career of an artist without really damaging the artist’s image or the song for me. Examples are “Mr Blue Sky” for Volkswagon, “Pink Moon,” also for Volkswagon, and “Jump, Jive, and Wail” for the Gap. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Friendly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr\_Friendly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Friendly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/3 "2004-03-18T16:01:02Z")
Well doubt that many of you will have heard it but the Manic Street Preachers’ “Motorcycle Emptiness” has been _butchered_ in a recent mobile phone ad here in the UK (I think its for T-Mobile not sure though). Bad enough using such a classic song for any commercial purpose but they didnt even use the original, made some AWFUL muzak version which makes me want to grab a gun and climb the clock tower when I hear it. bah! ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/4 "2004-03-18T16:16:55Z")
There’s just so many things wrong with the concept of well-to-do yuppies cruising in their Caddy while the led zepplin lyrics “been a long time since I rocked and rolled” are blasting from the TV speaker. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/5 "2004-03-18T16:27:57Z")
Anything by the Who. Roger and Pete are old. Do you think they’re disappointed? ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/6 "2004-03-18T16:30:07Z")
Yeah, it can be annoying. But I think it also shows how incredibly crappy modern commercial radio is since you can hear much cooler music on commercials than on air… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/7 "2004-03-18T17:05:33Z")
> [@skutir](#): > > Sometimes a song in a commercial boosts the music/career of an artist without really damaging the artist’s image or the song for me. Examples are “Mr Blue Sky” for Volkswagon, “Pink Moon,” also for Volkswagon, and “Jump, Jive, and Wail” for the Gap. It’s funny, i generally hate good songs being ruined in commercials, but i too liked the use of “Mr. Blue Sky” in the VW commercial. It’s just such a catchy tune, and the ad agency combined it with really good graphics. The one that really pissed me off was when a jeans company (Wrangler?) used CCR’s “Fortunate Son” to hawk their product. Of course, they only played the first line or so: “Some folks are born, made to wave the flag Ooh, they’re red, white and blue.” They faded out before it got to the part about : “It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son.” Wankers. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/8 "2004-03-18T17:22:20Z")
Moby’s _Play_ album. Oh, and that Hot Chocolate song “I Believe in Miracles” made me (a vegetarian) spend an entire summer fighting my urges to go buy a chicken sandwich from Burger King. Fuckers. (Please indulge me briefly, I’ve never done this before and don’t like to make a habit of being one of those annoying “I don’t have a TV” people, so I’ll only do it this once: ) Stop watching TV. You won’t be subjected to awful advertising. The fact that I can’t contribute anything to this thread other than things from years ago, makes me very happy indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/9 "2004-03-18T17:36:01Z")
I have yet to forgive Delta Airlines for their flagrant use of Gershwin’s _Rhapsody in Blue._ ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/10 "2004-03-18T17:40:07Z")
> [@cowgirl](#): > > Moby’s _Play_ album. _Play_ bothered you? That’s what the album was _designed_ for. Moby presold every single one of the songs on that album _before_ it was even released. ([cite](http://www.ironminds.com/ironminds/issues/000608/tunes.shtml) I recommend the entire article, it’s all about the OP’s topic) ---
**Author:** ![Yamirskoonir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c0e974/32.png) [@Yamirskoonir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yamirskoonir)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/11 "2004-03-18T18:22:20Z")
The Transplants’ “Diamonds and Guns” used for Garnier Fructise shampoo and conditioner. WTF? > [@](#): > > Originally posted by **spiralscratch** > The Cure, Pictures Of You. Used to sell digital cameras (HP, I think). Seems like a great fit at first, until you realize that the song is about the heartbreak of a lost love. I agree, although every time I hear that commercial a wave of melancholy sweeps my heart and a tear comes to my eye. I have to stop what I’m doing and catch my breath. Beautiful, just…beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/12 "2004-03-18T18:32:44Z")
The most incongruous commercial I ever saw was a local real estate ad in Anchorage, Alaska. In an effort to get people to buy houses in their new development, the real estate company picked John Phillips’ “California Dreamin’” as their background music. WTF? But I don’t get upset about the music. God forbid the person who…oh, I don’t know…_wrote_ the song make any money for his efforts. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/13 "2004-03-18T20:05:04Z")
I almost cry everytime I see the commercial that uses _Pictures of You_. That song is so fucking special to me, and they’re just whoring it out to sell cameras. Other commercials I feel the same way about include: _Ocean Man_ by **Ween** being used to sell cars, _Lust for Life_ by **Iggy Pop** advertising cruise vacations, and _Go!_ by **Tones on Tail** to sell DOCKERS, of all things. What’s next? **Negativland** hawking Kinko’s (“Remember us? We were sued by U2 and Casey Kasum for violation of copyright law. And speaking of copies…”)? **Tom Waits** ’ _Nighthawks at the Diner_ advertising for Denny’s? **Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds** selling tampons with _Red Right Hand_? So sad. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/14 "2004-03-18T20:37:38Z")
Another sad vote for _Pictures of you_. I just saw that ad the other night for the first time, and was really upset. And why do they insist on using songs that mean the opposite of what they’re trying to sell? Like _Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz_, and _Born in the USA_, and on and on? Sigh. I hate that. And I hardly ever see ads (yay TiVo) so I probably don’t even find out about most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/15 "2004-03-18T20:48:31Z")
They used “Feelin’ Alright” for a cat food commerical. Wtf? Yeah, it’s somewhat annoying, but I’m not going to cry over it. ---
**Author:** ![Dawne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Dawne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dawne)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/16 "2004-03-18T21:02:04Z")
> [@Mr\_Friendly](#): > > Well doubt that many of you will have heard it but the Manic Street Preachers’ “Motorcycle Emptiness” has been _butchered_ in a recent mobile phone ad here in the UK (I think its for T-Mobile not sure though). > > Bad enough using such a classic song for any commercial purpose but they didnt even use the original, made some AWFUL muzak version which makes me want to grab a gun and climb the clock tower when I hear it. > > bah! I totally agree, it was horrible. It was so bad that i barely recognised the tune at first and only noticed it was the same tune when i caught myself humming it. Another ‘bah!’ ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/17 "2004-03-18T22:09:53Z")
> [@skutir](#): > > The Beatles, “Revolution,” is probably the most infamous case. Damn you, Michael Jackson! > [@NailBunny](#): > > …and _Go!_ by **Tones on Tail** to sell DOCKERS, of all things. Urk! Forgot about that one. Also, Dockers or Levi’s had wanted to use the music from a Dead Kennedys’ song a few years ago. I think it was “Holiday In Cambodia”. I believe (going off memory here) that one got tied up in court over ownership rights, with Jello claiming exclusive rights and not wanting it used, while the rest of the band claimed shared rights and wanting to sell it. ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/18 "2004-03-18T23:36:00Z")
Currently, Peter Gabriel’s song [“Big Time”](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/peter-gabriel/big-time.html) is being used to sell Lincoln-Mercury SUVs. Which is hilarious, since the song makes fun of people who are joining in the ‘keep up with the Joneses’ mentality and buying stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/19 "2004-03-18T23:43:20Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > _Play_ bothered you? That’s what the album was _designed_ for. Moby presold every single one of the songs on that album _before_ it was even released. ([cite](http://www.ironminds.com/ironminds/issues/000608/tunes.shtml) I recommend the entire article, it’s all about the OP’s topic) Interesting article, but the horrible design of the website makes me want to start a separate BBQ rant. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032/20 "2004-03-18T23:50:41Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > It’s funny, i generally hate good songs being ruined in commercials, but i too liked the use of “Mr. Blue Sky” in the VW commercial. It’s just such a catchy tune, and the ad agency combined it with really good graphics. The great thing about that commercial was that the first time I saw it was during an annoying reality TV show that my girlfriend was making me watch, and it really hit the spot, like a milkshake after a meal of steamed cabbage and squash. I wish it was still on the air 🙂 My personal pet peeve is the use of Feelin’ Groovy in a (clothing?) commercial. It wasn’t even Simon & Garfunkel’s version, and it was just so pop-ized (need fuel for me mule). The female singer had a decent voice, but so totally wrong for the song. Bleh! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-favorite-songs-in-advertising/235032.md?page=2)