Political Ad Music: John Edwards in Iowa

I'm not sure if political ads count as "commercial music," but hey, this blog averages a post every six months so surely no one will complain. I just learned, a bit behind in the news, that John Edwards has pledged to cut Congressional health insurance as President if they don't pass a universal health care coverage bill in the first six months of his administration. Check it (source):

On the first day of Edwards' administration, he will submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress, and all senior political appointees in the legislative and executive branches of government on July 20th, 2009 -- unless Congress has enacted universal health care reform.

Even better, his Iowa campaign ad features The Final Countdown, which I have to admit that I didn't know who sang it until writing this entry. Here's a hint.

Their milkshake brings all the boys to the yard

Look! I'm finally posting something here! Only took me a year:


I laugh every single time I see --nay-- even think about this commercial for Hardees' (or, as we call it in the Western United States -- CARL'S JR) milkshakes. Kelis' "Milkshake" has fascinated me ever since my sister and my good friend Amanda burst into syncopated song with these lyrics once when we were getting ready to go see a friend's band play at the local college dive bar by my University. I don't recall having heard it before that moment, but it cemented itself in my head as a fantastic good time song with saucy sass to it.

I love the PG-13 allusions to rap videos in this commercial, what with all the jiggling, um, udders and the cow-hiney slappin'.

And even though I have no idea whatsoever exactly, specifically what Kelis is talking about (I mean, I have some ideas, but then again, maybe I don't want to know what her milkshake is) it's still a definite inane guilty pleasure to dance to this bad boy.

"And they're like, 'It's better than yours'
Damn right, it's better than yours
I could teach you, but I'd have to charge..."

Milkshake (Radio Mix) - Kelis

Who Doesn't Like Bras?

It’s about time to get this blog rolling again. So we kick start it with my favorite blues duo: The Black Keys.



Listen ~ Girl Is On My Mind

Use some of you 25 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more: Black Keys

Hit The Hype Machine to listen to more: Black Keys

Look for more posting in the near furture.

Paint Bombs!

The new Sony Bravia ad I previously mentioned has been launched on the website especially for these Bravia ads: www.bravia-advert.com. After digital wire removal to hid the paint bombs, bright splashes of paint seem to explode mid-air. The mostly because the ONE shot of a weird clown kinda freaks me out- what was the purpose of that shot? I like the bouncing balls commercial better, especialy with Jose Gonzalez backing it musically.

There are some really cool behind-the-scenes photos in the image gallery too:

Back To School v2.0

Couldn't find the commercial, but here above is the video for the song, used by Penney's back in August. Gotta love this band's fast-paced, fun power-pop. Used well in the commercail.

OK GO ~ Do What You Want


Buy It

Back to school v1.0

Now: Who Wants Ice Cream?

Another Intel commercial (I actually typed "video" first), this one featuring "Ice Cream" by the New Young Pony Club.

Listen: Ice Cream
Purchase.

Hybrid

I had this whole thing planned. Ok, I'm lying. This was a request. Cool song. Cool video. Cool car. You dig?

Listen: Grandaddy ~ Nature Anthem

Buy it

Intel "Multiply": Let's Dance

"Why do advertising agencies think that the world is interested in the making of their commercials?" sniffs the YouTube commenter. Well...because people like me want to find out who made the music, of course. The "making of" video didn't actually share the source of the ridiculously catchy song accompanying a just-okay spot (good dancin', though). But I was able to find out here.

[image would go here if blogger was allowing me to upload images currently, but it is not]

Frankly, I don't know what the hell the Intel Core 2 Duo does. I just like the song. Perhaps not the greatest endorsement for the commercial. And, okay, I have the tiniest bit of fear that Carlos Jean's voice could make this song go the way of "Mambo Number 5" in terms of likeability, but what the hell. This is really the first song I've heard in a commercial in a very long time that I've really liked.

So listen: Carlos Jean: Mr. Dabada.

Or watch the commercial. (Sorry, haven't embedded just yet--working on it).
And while we're at it:
Let's visit Carlos Jean (he seems really friendly).
Let's buy Mr. Dabada.
Let's buy the whole album.

This Bud Select's For You

This song has been used in Bud Select commercials since the Super Bowl. As a huge fan of Tribe Called Quest and Q-Tip, his addition to this ChemBro song is outstanding. Its use in the commercial is clever since Tip mentions a party over here, party over there, which is what I guess Bud Select wants you to think when drinking this beer.

I dig the track but not the beer. But I’ll still watch the ad when it comes on, for the music and for the freaking weird things they use for the logo.

Listen ~ Chemical Brothers ~ Galvanize

Buy ChemBro or visit The Bud Select Website

New Sony Bravia Ad Gets Messy

Sony Bravia is working on another stunningly massive-scale commercial for it's new HD Televisions. The previous version featured 250,000 super bouncy balls tumbling down a steep San Francisco street while Jose Gonzalez's cover of Heartbeats. The new advert features a high-rise being splattered by 18,000 gallons of multi-colored paint. There's a lot of cool pictures of the event on Flickr. No mention from Sony yet as to what the musical inclusion will be.

The 'Balls' ad can be seen below:

*

Watch the 'Making of' video on google.

Brylcreem - Naked

This ad is an old one by now but it still makes me want to buy Brylcreem hair product over those other brands. The song is Black Tounge by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, perfect for their tagline, "All you need is Brylcreem [and not clothes]."

Music: 4/5

Music Appropriateness to Commercial: 5/5

Ad Effectiveness: 3/5 (As if this spot is about the hair. But I did then go to Brylcreem's website and check it out, some points for that.)

Overall: 12/15 or 4/5

Watch the commercial here, buy Brylcreem, and then check out YYYs over at Amazon.

Meanwhile Back At The Pharm ~ V1.0

Pharmaceutical ads are good for one thing, the list of side effects. And this one is especially fun because it is a batch of hip-looking ladies talking during a rooftop party. Completely unbelievable.

The song in the backgound is St. Germain’s Sure Thing.

Music = 4/5 great song that has “yeah, yeah, yeah” in there somewhere, which works with the name of the drug.

Effectiveness = 2/5 being a guy, it does nothing for me, although there are probably some ladies out there intrigued by this pill

Overall = 4/5 I love this ad for the music and it’s complete disregard for real life


Buy St. Germain or get Yaz info

Back to School

As most schools start tomorrow, I figured now would be a good time to rap about Back To School Ads. Last late summer, JC Penney started running a commercial that featured an old school hip-hop song with a chorus of, You can get with this or you can get with that. Nice choice of lyrics for an ad about purchasing clothing from a store with a lot of variety.

Black Sheep ~The Choice Is Yours

Music = 5/5 As I have had this CD in my collection for over 10 years, I would proclaim it a must have classic.

Commercial = 2/5 Outside of the music, I don’t remember too much about the ad.

Overall = 3/5 Nothing special.

Buy Black Sheep or Shop JC Penney

originalmusicopoly

I wanted to post this song but didn't at first because it was written specifically for this commercial. Then I checked the title and subheading for this blog and noticed that nowhere is it specified that the music must be written for an album by an artist prior to the inception of the advert.

Sounds like a new category: Original songs written for or about the product being sold. Volume One.

Here's the product:

Here's the song, in an advertisement called "Song." Click on the 30 second or the original 15 second version. For some reason, I appreciated the candy bar more during the 15 second spot.


No reason to name the product because that would be against their entire campaign. This was reinforced as I noticed in a vending machine this week a candy bar with the label "Satisfy" on the wrapper.

Extra credit: This song reminds me of another song (or maybe combination of songs), but I can't place it. Any ideas?

Cell Phones v3.0

Here is another Verizon ad for their Chocolate phone. It features the song “Love Me Hate Me” by Lady Sovereign. Who has a boastful album coming out on October 17th. This tune is catchy makes a good ad.

Stream song in Windows Player

Stream song in Real Player

Other Chocolate Post or Cell Phones v1.0

Pontiac V1.0

GM's Pontiac division has been turning out new vehicles over the past couple of years as fast as they can make commercials for them. Here are a seleciton of current Pontiac adverts, and the music they employ:

Car: G6 Ad: "Google Pontiac" Music: Robbers On The High Street - Japanese Girls
Car: G6 Convertible Ad: "Opposites" Music: Mercury Rev - Secret For A Song
Car: Solstice Ad: "Paint" Music: The Dandy Warhols - I Love You
Car: GTO Ad: "Vapor" Music: Eagles of Death Metal - Flames Go Higher

I’m Gonna Wash That Song Right Outta My Head

As far as shampoo commercials go, there are two kinds: ones with woman swirling their hair to and fro; and ones with woman swirling their hair to and fro. Toss is a Franz Ferdinand song and you got a winner.

Franz Ferdinand ~ Do You Want To

Download the tune and blast it while in the shower.

Buy Franz or Shop L’OReal

VW v2.0

I don’t like to brag about my trendsetting, but I was listening to Nick Drake long before he gained some much deserved attention with this ad. I remember reading some sociological things about this commercial. Something like how wonderful it was to see kids NOT stop at the drunken party. That there is more to being young than drinking under a full moon (although that is enjoyable). That sometimes driving down a winding road with close friends can be the perfect evening, especially when you have Nick Drake on the stereo.

Nick Drake ~ Pink Moon

Music = 5/5

Effectiveness = 4/5

Overall = 4/5 (a subtly brilliant commercial that brings a tear to my eye all these years later)

Buy Nick Drake or Visit VW

Other V-dubs ~ VW v1.0 ~ New Golf

Cell Phones v2.0

I wasn’t able to link the video to this blog but you can visit Verizon’s page and view it. I have to give props to Liane for suggesting this commercial and its song by Goldfrapp. She says it is hell if you are dieting. And I agree.

The Yellow Stereo chimes in also, with remixes et cetera.

Goldfrapp ~ Strict Machine

Music = 3/5 (the song is fun and catchy)

Effectiveness = 0/5 (as a hater of all things cell phones, nothing will ever get me to want to buy one)

Overall = 3/3 (even though I don’t care for phones, this commercial is a joy to watch and its use of the song is quite nice – chocolate pulsing to the beat, etc.)


Buy Goldfrapp or Buy Chocolate

Other Cell Phones ~ Cell Phones v1.0

Volkswagen: New Golf

Volkswagen indeed likes to use popular music to promote their vehicles. This is a new favorite of mine, for the new Golf. Song is Mint Royale's remix of Singin' In The Rain

The band's official video for the track is pretty awesome as well- who doesn't like break-dancing garbage?

Song gets a 4/5 -damn good remix/reversioning of a classic), effictiveness is a 2/5 -Golf is an econmony car, you buy it for that reason, not for the 'cool factor- if you want cool, you get one of these:

2006 VW EOS

Volkswagen's use of commercial music has grown prolific enough that the company has actually released 2 compilation albums of music used to promote their vehicles (for clarification, I drive a VW, and love it).

VW Street Mix - Volume 1

Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Hooverphonic - Renaissance Affair
Charles Mingus - II BS
Styx - Mr. Roboto
Master Cylinder - Jung At Heart
Ben Neill - Turbonium X
Pitchshifter - Subject To Status ad
Fluke - Absurd
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space
Trio - Da Da Da video ad
Velocity Girl - Sorry Again
Psychic TV - Roman P

VW Street Mix - Volume 2 (partial listing)

Moonpools & Caterpillars - Heat
Papas Fritas - Way You Walk video
Imperial Teen - Ivanka
Archer Prewitt - Good Man
Bent - Invisible Pedestrian