Comments on: The Great 00s Sellout: Coming Soon

By: mccleary

mccleary — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:05:42 +0000

Like you, I can’t even remember when I first accepted the conventional wisdom that artists shouldn’t sell out, but it has never been dumber than in objections to the licensing of good music to commercials. TV would be a much happier place if more commercials featured the Wipers, Telekinesis, Ted Leo, Modern Lovers, etc. If you have to see a commercial at all, why would you wouldn’t you want to hear some Minutemen? Why wouldn’t you want an artist you like to make enough to give up that Thursday night shift at the bar? Maybe they will be able to make more music, right?

Here is a 2008 blog post about Chris Knox selling “It’s Love” to Heineken that ends with a post from Chris Knox himself.

http://www.drawerb.com/2008/04/28/sellout-chris-knox-wtf/

By: clparthemore

clparthemore — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:41:12 +0000

Gaslight Anthem’s Old White Lincoln for obvious associated product.

By: xpadrex

xpadrex — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:59:32 +0000

Motivation matters. Hackles were raised when Volvo used “Love Dance” by the Minutemen. Turns out the money was used to help with D. Boon’s dad’s emphysema. Yet people still called Mike Watt a sellout. Fucking Mike Watt. A sellout. Idiots.

By: pointyallover

pointyallover — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:41:14 +0000

Does anybody remember Volkswagon’s very very short-lived ad that used Psychic TV’s “Roman P.”? …”Are you free? Are you really really really free?”

By: jkdism

jkdism — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:19:03 +0000

"...the emerging white-rock-groups-singing-R&B trend."

Featuring those young whippersnappers like the Who and the Rolling Stones. Though I do take your meaning. It's a good sign that the distinctions are less and less meaningful, and one of the better examples I've seen of both contemporary hip-hop/rock/blues collaboration is definitely the new Blackroc record. Good stuff. While it's certainly the case that some commercials have ruined otherwise-great songs for me, I've always been of the mind that getting bagfulls of money from advertisers is a far less ethically compromising gig than having to deal with, you know, record companies. At least advertisers actually give you the money you earn.

By: justinlogan

justinlogan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:47:17 +0000

You are, of course, neglecting the crowning shame of this phenomenon, the use of Einstürzende Neubauten’s “Total Eclipse of the Sun” to sell Sprint cellphones. This coming from someone who as a young 20 something started a loud argument with Blixa Bargeld backstage at 9:30 club about the virtues of capitalism. Am I wearing a sweater with a collar and chinos right now? Yes I am. But fuck that. If we’re going to do this, we should get them to use ZNS to sell 5 Hour Energy or something…

By: golikehellmachine

golikehellmachine — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:35:38 +0000

Eh, it’s a slow work day. I could do this all day.

By: Spencer Ackerman

Spencer Ackerman — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:33:27 +0000

I haven’t heard that Clean song in forever! What a great NYE treat. And great ideas all.

By: golikehellmachine

golikehellmachine — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:12:26 +0000

Additional suggestions: 1. RAID or Terminex could take "The Nest" by Sons and Daughters. 2. Coke could take "Twist Top" by The Clean. 3. This one's tougher, but Hallmark could reinvent themselves with Husker Du's "Sorry Somehow" 4. I'm still Amazed that Verizon or someone hasn't decided to use some version of "Hanging on the Telephone". Here's L7's version. 5. And finally, Popeye's could use The Slacker's "Fried Chicken/Mary Mary" to push some fried chicken. I'm going to go kill myself now.

By: Statler

Statler — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:10:38 +0000

Isn’t the idea/etymology of “selling out” an artifact of our parents’ generation? I’ve never really been clear about the complaint either. Research!

I’m waiting for the Vatican to appropriate “Now Mary” by the White Stripes. It’s going to be a while, but I’m a patient man. I’d also give Ikea a lot of respect if they could find a way to make Pavement’s “Date with Ikea” work in a commercial setting.

Also, 13 hours until the Year of the Weigel comes to an end.