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Let's pretend we don't exist

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:29 pm
by ifihadahifi
Okay, It's an old debate. Is licensing your song for commercial purposes selling out, blah, blah, blah.

I'm all for a band, especially small budget bands, getting paid and getting heard. But this morning I heard this go to a new, sad level.

I don't know which song it is, I haven't had a chance to check... but I believe it's Of Montreal. The original lyrics are "Let's pretend we don't exist. Let's pretend we're in antarctica."

BUT...

I heard the song start during an Outback Steakhouse commercial on the radio. I was thinking "Ah! Cool! Someone's getting paid!" and then the lyric change came in. "Let's go to the Outback and forget about tomorrow."

It was a WTF moment.

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:35 pm
by mr_j
nah, i don't think of that as selling out. i mean, the song wasn't made with being in a commercial in mind.

however, i think being a rather unknown band and putting yourself on a prepaid credit card that is aimed at the high school market is *utterly* questionable. selling out? it soured my opinion of the band entirely, because it's the difference between 'artist' and 'careerist.'

but what i think they've done that's really *selling out* is the way they've treated their career. they used the Contemporary Christian market to the hilt for their pre-WB days. and now they've totally turned their backs on 'em, saying that they're not associated and want no affiliation with the people who brought them up in the world. I mean, i know many of you aren't religious, but still, that's rather whorelike, dontcha think?

OMK! THE EiSlEy CrEdIt CArD LOLERZ


but then again, does any of this really surprise you?

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:41 pm
by ifihadahifi
I like the looks on their faces.

Debt is depressing.

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:43 pm
by mr_j
don't feel too sorry for 'em. one of 'em's marrying the lead musician for New Found Glory...

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:33 pm
by aquaphase
don't feel too sorry for 'em. one of 'em's marrying the lead musician for New Found Glory...
Isn't that punishment enough?

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:35 pm
by mr_j
don't feel too sorry for 'em. one of 'em's marrying the lead musician for New Found Glory...
Isn't that punishment enough?
pedals1

pedals 'mother fuckin' 1

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:52 pm
by monet2u
I want a ben credit card and I want it NOW!!!!!

actually I've always avoided the elvis credit card.


I don't really care if music is sold to use in commericals, i've said it before...that's the band's choice it's their music.


Eisely is a jesus band?! :shock:

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:17 pm
by Phyllis
i'm not going to dislike a band for selling their song to a commercial. but it still annoys me when i see a song from a band i like on a commercial. product placement, in general, bugs me.

but the one that really gets me is that commercial for (i guess some kind of radio or something?) where this guy is sitting in some coffee shop, being super hip with his mp3 player and a spoon song comes on and then they CLOSE UP on the mp3 player with the name of the band and song for about 3 seconds. and then they flash spoon's name on the screen again. it felt like they were advertising spoon more than the product they were trying to sell. THAT kind of stuff is annoying. and changing your lyrics to fit in a commercial ad is lame, too.

it isn't going to make me stop listening to a band, or be like "ew they're dumb because they're SELL OUTS" because that is what every band is trying to do. they're trying to be famous and make lots of money, so you can't fault a band for succeeding.

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:00 am
by sam
...and changing your lyrics to fit in a commercial ad is lame, too...
This one does bother me. Using a song in an ad to reinforce the feel of it or whatever is fine. Ads can even be well made and worth something on their own, sometimes. Changing your lyrics is selling out, if only a little.

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:56 am
by rockfan
...and changing your lyrics to fit in a commercial ad is lame, too...
This one does bother me. Using a song in an ad to reinforce the feel of it or whatever is fine. Ads can even be well made and worth something on their own, sometimes. Changing your lyrics is selling out, if only a little.
I don't like it when ads change lyrics. Using original music in an original way is OK. But don't change the whole meaning of the music by changing the lyrics!

PS I thought of L7 when I read the thread title: "When We Pretend That We're Dead." Best female band ever btw. :D

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:16 pm
by zenmomma
We just saw an ad for Mini Bottles of Coke and the music was
Grandaddy's Nature Anthem! I liked it because it made me sing along...

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:27 pm
by Sybil
...and changing your lyrics to fit in a commercial ad is lame, too...
This one does bother me. Using a song in an ad to reinforce the feel of it or whatever is fine. Ads can even be well made and worth something on their own, sometimes. Changing your lyrics is selling out, if only a little.
I think changing the lyrics to sell the product is the very definition of "selling out". I don't blame artists for selling their songs to movies, TV shows and commercials nowadays - it's taken the place of radio play and can really help break an artist, or at least get them some cash. But, if you change the song to fit the product, well, now you're just a jingle writer.

Sybil

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:01 am
by froggorino
...and changing your lyrics to fit in a commercial ad is lame, too...
This one does bother me. Using a song in an ad to reinforce the feel of it or whatever is fine. Ads can even be well made and worth something on their own, sometimes. Changing your lyrics is selling out, if only a little.
I think changing the lyrics to sell the product is the very definition of "selling out". I don't blame artists for selling their songs to movies, TV shows and commercials nowadays - it's taken the place of radio play and can really help break an artist, or at least get them some cash. But, if you change the song to fit the product, well, now you're just a jingle writer.

Sybil
yep -- which isn't in itself bad. but call a spade a spade.

frog"word, sybil"gy

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:42 am
by Steveums
I think changing the lyrics to sell the product is the very definition of "selling out". I don't blame artists for selling their songs to movies, TV shows and commercials nowadays - it's taken the place of radio play and can really help break an artist, or at least get them some cash. But, if you change the song to fit the product, well, now you're just a jingle writer.

Sybil
they're crumbelievable.

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:48 pm
by mr_j
I guess they're not so bad when they're done like this.

anyone remember this one?