Or, WANNABE hit list–
You’ve read my feelings about music being used in commercials.
In a nutshell, I think it’s a complete sell out on the artists’ part and removes any credibility said artist may have had or had been building.
And it’s not just the new guys either–c’mon, Jimi Hendrix selling Verizon Wireless phones?
Tell me, if Jimi weren’t a musician (and still alive) and walked into Verizon Wireless looking for a JOB–he’d be turned away at the door.
But VZW and the holders of Hendrix’ music have no problem taking a song like Fire–the quintessential “i wanna get freaky with you” song–and use it to sell a wireless phone.
I digress-
Stumbled upon a Website that holds the key to either finding which bands are selling out or, for those of you who aren’t morally offended by bands selling their songs to Cadillac, Pepsi, Coke, and any corporate entity under the sun; a site to find the songs that your favorite corporate pigs are using to hock their goods.
Check out SongTitle.info-Music From TV Commercials
It’s a database organized by season/year that lists virtually EVERY song used in a TV commercial over the past couple of years.
Yeah, I will admit every time I hear “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin it makes me want to buy a Cadillac.
However for all of the hit songs I do hear it makes up for the new music I’m introduced to.
I was acquainted with Roykksopp after the Geico commercial. I learned of the Walkmen a few years ago from Saturn. I could go on and on about all the great music from the Mitsubishi commercials.
When I do hear something on TV that I haven’t heard before I’m always Googling to find out who plays that song. Commercials can be a great publicity tool for young and upcoming bands.
I’ll argue this ’til I’m blue in the face–
Sure, the exposure is great.
But what about the credibility of the artist and context of the song?
Back in the day (and it wasn’t THAT long ago) it was BLASPHEMOUS for a rock and roll band to sell a song to a corporation.
Remember (and I’m sure you do) when The Dead licensed a live clip to Budweiser? People were PISSED.
And what about if Phish sold some music to a TV show or corporate interest? Wouldn’t you be disappointed??