I’ve found some really great musical gems from TV Commercials lately. Either I’m watching too much TV or the creators are not your father’s Mad Men. Here’s a few of my recent favorites:
Powerful Stuff, Sean Hayes – Subaru
Love, Matt White – McDonald’s McRib
Say Hey (I Love You), Michael Franti & Speerhead – Corona
Hey Soul Sister, Train – Samsung 3D TV
Morning Sun, Shayna Zaid & The Catch – Ford Edge
So, does putting interesting and/or appealing music really sell more product? I say it doesn’t hurt and it prohibits me from turning the channel when I hear it come on…so it is certainly creating awareness for these advertisers. And in the advertising business, that is key. Plus, it gives exposure to new artists that might not ever be “discovered”.
Hopes of a reunion of the great ABBA were dashed this week when Benny and Bjorn unequivocally denied rumors of a seventilicious confab of the enigmatic Swedish songbirds.
Over the years, the quartet has reportedly turned down $1billion (yes, that’s a “b”) for a reunion tour. Tthe disco-era fab four won’t hear of reuniting, stating that money is not a factor. Perhaps some of the recent “reunion” tour bands should take heed to observe Benny’s recent quote on the matter:
“We would like people to remember us as we were, young, exuberant and full of ambition.”
Agnetha and Anni-Frid joined Benny and Bjorn at the Swedish premier of the new movie, Mamma Mia — based on the hit musical — and were rightly impressed with the vocal styling of ex-James Bond, Pierce Brosnan.
Ok. Mamma Mia features 22 Abba songs!! In addition to Remington Steele, Oscar-winner Meryl Streep is part of the ensemble cast along with Christine Baranski and the erstwhile Brit, Colin Firth. It seems that the language of ABBA is, indeed, universal.
Of course, this is not the first movie to feature the music of the great ABBA. Their music has been featured in no less than 25 other movies (go figure), including Muriel’s Wedding, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and most recently, the remake of Get Smart.
While ABBA is immortalized on the big screen, back in the real world there will be no Dancing Queen reprise…unless you count mindless covers by would be pretenders.
Thankfully, through the magic of MTV and VH-1, we still have these “real deal” gems, captured for posterity.
I’m starting to get a little excited about the Scorcese Rockumentary, Shine A Light, documenting the Rolling Stones’ Beacon Theatre Concert in ’06. (Even Bill Clinton attended….)
Now, admittedly, I’m not a huge Stones fan as I have thought that they were overrated and over-tauted over the years. I really felt that they rode the coattails of The Beatles and that they never were of the same caliber. However….I have to say that after watching the trailers and some of the videos from Shine A Light, I have a new respect for The Rolling Stones.
Consider this…these guys are nearly qualified for Social Security, I mean, if they were American citizens. At 64, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are simply unbelievable. I have evidenced first hand that many in the Boomer generation are “not your father’s Oldsmobile”, but The Stones are phenomenal. 64, people. That is nearly 20 years my senior.
And, oh so clevah….notice on this YouTube vid who the author is. They don’t restrict embedding. No…they want us to post away. SSSSmmmmarrrttttt.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
On Shattered, the lads show that they are still a force to be reckoned with, thoroughly entertaining perhaps the third generation since they began. Keith Richards sums it up in this short interview clip:
Mick Jagger commands the audience, once again, with Some Girls:
Funny aside regarding Keith Richards. Last weekend, Mini-DD had a friend over and we were watching Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End, when I aptly pointed out to the incredulous teenagers that Captain Teague was the lead guitarist for The Rolling Stones:
Richards is an institution in himself. Even though Lefsetz thinks Keith is a sell-out, I don’t think there’s any such thing. Make some money, Keith. We know where your heart is.
Personally, I think this blues clip of Satisfaction says it all…
or this duet with Norah Jones on Gram Parsons’ Love Hurts:
As previously reported, Martin Scorsese received one of the Kennedy Honors earlier in December. While Scorsese captures and conveys stark and raw glimpses of real life in his films and delves into lesser examined areas of society, he is also an accomplished music aficionado. He not only paints a vivid picture through film, but has incorporated meaningful music in his soundtracks that help to finish the portrait.
In addition to great movie soundtracks, Scorsese directed the infamous concert documentary, The Last Waltz, in1976 that captured The Band’s last concert on Thanksgiving night at the Winterland Ballroom in San Fransisco. The concert included a who’s who of special guests including: Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood and others. If you have not had the opportunity to view The Last Waltz, put it on your New Year’s movie list.
The all-star finale, I Shall Be Released:
Of note: The Band‘s guitarist, Robbie Robertson worked on several Scorsese soundtracks over the years.
Then, there was the 7-part The Blues documentary that Scorsese directed and produced in 2003 that serves as the paramount anthology on the blues genre and highlighted performances like this:
John Lee Hooker
Scorsese is well known and respected as a Director, but his use of music as the message should also be acknowledged. He is partial to the doo-wop of his youth and Italian opera. He mixes in the rock of his prime years with the blues that he adores. Hats off to Marty. Personally, I love a guy who loves DeNiro, Keitel and DiCaprio AND has a definite appreciation for music and the way music can tell the story…you know, throw you back into a certain time, a certain memory. The soundtracks to his movies are an extension of the storytelling and some of his choices are brilliant.
The following includes some of my favorites from Scorsese movies. Click on the links to take you to YouTube.
Marty Scorsese gets people and he gets music. He understands that music kun-NECKs people to events and certain times and uses music to make you truly feel the visual. He appreciates all music and all genres and exposes his electic musical tastes to help tell his stories. He truly is deserving of his Kennedy honor. He uses multiple facets of the performing arts to grab the viewer/listener and gives us all a glimpse of life that we might never have known of, but for his adept storytelling.
Besides, I really dig his American Express commercials…..
Music Maven 