Re: Pop Songs In Commercials

["rogerkirk" <rogerkirk@mail.ttlc.net>]

"Sid Schweiger" wrote:

>Uh-huh.  Such indignation over nothing.  Since 
>when is this a matter of artistic integrity?  

Jimmy Page has always been so protective of Zeppelin's songs.  Witness the disco remake of (IIRC) "Whole Lotta Love" (on Atlantic, no less) that was yanked from the market (per Page) so fast it was like it never existed.  He didn't even allow anyone else to record them until Dread Zeppelin came along - artists that he approved of as being worthy.  But then in 2002, Miss Cadillac comes along (with mucho dinero) and Bingo, she's buying the Stairway To Heaven.

>Did you protest as loudly when Microsoft and Ford 
>used "Start Me Up" by the Stones?  

Yes, actually I did.  I thought it was a very poor tasteless use of their music.  I thought the same of Seger's tune for Chevy.

>Are these musicians and writers not entitled to make a living wherever they can?  
Sure, they can if they wish, but the concept is still common and vulgar.  Ranks right up there with colorizing B&W movies.

>Are we pretending this hasn't been going on for
>decades?
I don't have a problem with writing a song to pitch a product (a jingle) in the first place.  That way, I naturally associate the song with the product. But, when an older song is popular and inextricably linked with memories of younger days, I dislike it (and the memories) being used to yank my chain and grab my attention while hawking products.  I refer to it as being "Boomed" - since the concept really took off when they started pitching stuff to us Baby Boomers.

For decades? Just like the world's oldest profession.  Come to think of it, there may be a parallel somewhere here.

Roger