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normally I get really steamed when I see a commercial with a ridiculously rewritten version of one of my favorite songs…that has been sold to some big company for their tv ad. I guess that television spots are where old songs go to die…and jr high school kids run around singing them, totally unaware of the fact that some young artist years ago poured their soul into that riff and those lyrics…and that they didn’t write that song about crappy hamburgers or minty chewing gum…despite what they just heard on tv…

you remember that nike song from back in the day that talked about “what in the world do you think you are? a superstar? well right you are. well we all–shine–on…” yeah, not a nike song. (instant karma by john lennon.) and remember that panasonic song about those speakers and televisions, about how they’ve “got to admit it’s getting better…” with the two dogs listening? yeah, not a panasonic song. (it’s getting better by the beatles.) what about that song about subaru cars, about how when you drive a subaru, “every day is a winding road?” yeah, not a subaru song. (sheryl crow…)

that’s the way i felt from the first time i saw a target ad with the beatles’ hello, goodbye, spelled hello goodbuy. oh my word. what a horrible, horrible, terrible…horrible misuse of that song. it brings profanity to my mind, and it makes my blood run cold. well, i have to admit that the more of those they do, the more creative they get with the arrangements…and if they weren’t flashing “goodbuy” on the screen, i would actually enjoy listening…

for more reading on “repurposed” commercials, check out this link. if you have any examples that you like or really hate, post them in a comment. i’d love to hear what you think.

Posted on January 22nd, 2008 by adamdeweber
Filed under: music, tv