4 | Uploaded on November, 4,
2009 | 1 month ago One thing in particular caught my eye, or more accurately, my ear. M. Ward backing a Budweiser commercial? Naturally, this led me on a gratuitously long Google journey of-sorts to uncover the more bizzare/obscure indie-rock + mainstream advertising couplings.
For instance, Joanna Newsom’s “Sprout and the Bean” was the sex music Victoria’s Secret chose in marketing their Dream Angels push-up bra. The newest zombie action video game (how many ARE there exactly??), Left 4 Dead, uses Elbow’s “Grounds for Divorce,” which I believe I also remember hearing in a preview for House. Honda used the friggen’ Great Lake Swimmers (“See You on the Moon”) in promoting their Insight hybrid. My favorite, though — and I feel a little ashamed for not making the connection before — was that Outback Steakhouse re-wrote their theme song to of Montreal’s “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games.” The band was none too pleased.
In the process, I found splendAd, which simplifies the process of “I wonder who sang that?” into a nifty little table that lists a plethora of mainstream commercials and their accompanying musical treats. The site itself is a little crude in terms of organization/layout, but it was an instant add to my bookmarks.
Still a little unsure of how I feel when I hear The Submarines on every other Apple commercial — but it’s undeniable that the potential benefits a lesser-known indie group accrue in signing a lucrative advertisement deal pose a significant challenge to the notion of “selling out.” I’m just sayin’.
