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Songs in Commercials-The Black Keys Peddling the Nissan Exterra
giventoyfly316
Posts: 72
Okay. I'm sitting here watching Bradley beat Kansas 54-43, and feeling happy for the Missouri Valley Conference (I go to WSU, which is in the MVC). CBS goes to commercial, and I see a commercial for the new Nissan Exterra. I recognize the song in the background, initially mistaking it for an Hendrix tune. Then I hear the vocals, and I realize it's the freaking Black Keys. Clear as day, The Black Keys song "Set You Free" from Thickfreakness is the one featured in this commercial.
I know that several UK power pop bands have loaned songs to commercials over the past couple of years. Plus, there was Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" in the cell phone commercials, U2's "Vertigo" for IPod, and scores of others I'm probably forgetting. However, I had this perception of The Black Keys has a hardcore independent band, thought that's very likely because I read too much into all of the talk of their unique recording methods and peculiar set-up as a blues duo. Of course, another prominent independent blues duo is not above doing commercials, unless the story I read about Jack WHite signing with one of the major soda companies to write some or one unique song(s) for a series of ads was wrong.
Commercialism is central to America's free market, though that might seem like a contradiction in terms. Music is a commodity like any other. So, the notion that certain songs or artists shouldn't be subjected or subject themselves to this is perhaps in conflict with economic reality. Nonetheless, I don't like hearing "Hey Jude" in credit card commercials or "Revolution" in Nike ads. I don't get a charge out of Zeppelin's "Rock N' Roll" in car commercials. Of course, The Black Keys aren't The Beatles nor are they Zeppelin. "Set You Free" is by no means a song that defined a generation, and it's also not a song taken from a group that defined a generation. Whereas hearing those other songs in commercials is just depressing, hearing a currently active independent band like The Black Keys in a car commercial is...just weird.
I hope I never hear a Pearl Jam song popping up in a similar setting, be it because the band mismanages funds and finds themselves in need of money in their later years or due to them losing the commercial rights to the songs, "Betterman" used ironically in an online dating service ad and other comedic yet realistic song-company scenarios.
I know that several UK power pop bands have loaned songs to commercials over the past couple of years. Plus, there was Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" in the cell phone commercials, U2's "Vertigo" for IPod, and scores of others I'm probably forgetting. However, I had this perception of The Black Keys has a hardcore independent band, thought that's very likely because I read too much into all of the talk of their unique recording methods and peculiar set-up as a blues duo. Of course, another prominent independent blues duo is not above doing commercials, unless the story I read about Jack WHite signing with one of the major soda companies to write some or one unique song(s) for a series of ads was wrong.
Commercialism is central to America's free market, though that might seem like a contradiction in terms. Music is a commodity like any other. So, the notion that certain songs or artists shouldn't be subjected or subject themselves to this is perhaps in conflict with economic reality. Nonetheless, I don't like hearing "Hey Jude" in credit card commercials or "Revolution" in Nike ads. I don't get a charge out of Zeppelin's "Rock N' Roll" in car commercials. Of course, The Black Keys aren't The Beatles nor are they Zeppelin. "Set You Free" is by no means a song that defined a generation, and it's also not a song taken from a group that defined a generation. Whereas hearing those other songs in commercials is just depressing, hearing a currently active independent band like The Black Keys in a car commercial is...just weird.
I hope I never hear a Pearl Jam song popping up in a similar setting, be it because the band mismanages funds and finds themselves in need of money in their later years or due to them losing the commercial rights to the songs, "Betterman" used ironically in an online dating service ad and other comedic yet realistic song-company scenarios.
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