Speakeasy Music Playlist
Catchy tunes from TV
A commercial playlist
By Michelle Davey, Staff Writer
May 9, 2008 | 2 p.m.
A great advertisement paired with a catchy song can keep a commercial (and the product) stuck in anyone’s head. For anyone who has been more intrigued with the commercial’s song than its product, here is a selection of familiar tunes.
Rampant commercialism is everywhere. Anyone perusing the Internet gets a hardy dose of pop-ups, flashy advertisements and spam mail encouraging him or her to buy miracle drugs for male enhancement. How can anyone protest, though, when commercialism produces one of the best things about television -- the commercial?
Sure, TV ads can be annoying, but only a person with a heart of stone could sit through the infamous Super Bowl commercials without even a giggle at a Budweiser ad. Many advertisements are accompanied with unremarkable music, but every once and a while, a gem is thrown into the mix – a tune that leaves a viewer’s foot tapping and wondering if he or she can grab that song from Ruckus.
“This is the Day” by The Cranberries – M&M’s
Popping a delicious morsel of M&M candy into the mouth has a startling and immediate result. “This is the day your life will surely change,” boasts the song, and the advertisement is proof of that. Regular people go about their regular business, but they have become M&Ms! You know the old saying: You are what you eat.
I can recall an incident not too long ago when I bought a bag of peanut M&Ms from the vending machine, tossed one into my mouth and had an epiphany (and formed a hard, candy shell around my body) – a commercial playlist for Speakeasy! That will surely get me lots of readers, right?
“Can’t Get it Right Today” by Joe Purdy – Kia Spectra
Oh, tragedy! The people in the advertisement that features this catchy, yet depressing song have just bought a new Kia Spectra. Their gas mileage is so good, they cannot remember which side of the car holds the gas tank. “I guess I’m gonna give up,” Purdy sings while the car owners lament their fates.
The song is so infectious that a viewer might find himself humming it hours after the advertisement has ended and he’s gone back to watching ESPN. A strange combination of a head-bopping melody and a melancholy set of lyrics seems a perfect mesh, especially for potential Kia customers.
“New Soul” by Yael Naim – MacBook Air
The new MacBook Air is certainly a product that overshadows its ad’s song. So thin it fits into an envelope! An envelope, people! I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting my first thought was, “I want that. Now.”
The song features a great piano line that jumps up and down, preparing for Naim’s cheerful voice to appear. The song, memorable like so many ad tunes, infuses the commercial with happiness and encouragement. “Hoping I could learn a bit ‘bout how to give and take,” Naim sings. If any readers want to learn a bit about how to give, feel free to send me one of these amazing notebooks.
“1234” by Feist – iPod Nano
Apple often faces a paradox of sorts when selecting music for iPod commercials. What kind of song should be used to advertise for a contraption that plays songs? Something catchy, obviously. (Is anyone else grasping the theme?)
Feist’s lyrics seem to do the trick as she counts to four a couple of times and sings with deliberate pauses in her lyrics. There’s something so basic about counting aloud that the product suddenly seems a necessity. “Oh, you’re changing your heart,” Feist sings, but it’s more like, “You’re buying a new iPod.” Besides, how can anyone resist the short and fat cuteness of the newest addition to the iPod family? I certainly couldn’t.
“Falling in Love at the Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg - DeBeers
Christmas has been over for quite some time, but who can forget this year’s DeBeers commercial? A man gives his wife her beautiful diamond Christmas gift as they are stopped at a red light on their way home. She is so unsuspecting of his spontaneity that she swoons, and the female viewers swoon with her. “I think that possibly, maybe I’m falling for you,” Pigg sings poignantly as the piano music falls hauntingly with him.
My sisters and I called each other into the living room whenever this ad popped up on our televisions. It had me wondering all winter break how my boyfriend was going to give me my Christmas gift. Turns out he wrapped it up in a box and gave it to me at a predetermined gift exchange time and place. He’s such a spontaneous romantic.
“Stars” by The Weepies – Old Navy
Old Navy commonly portrays happy scenes of people thoroughly enjoying themselves while wearing Old Navy attire, and this Christmas ad is no different. Warmth seeps into the advertisement from the rich and cheerful melody. People open gifts in soft, cozy sweaters as The Weepies sing.
“You’ve got yours and I’ve got mine,” the lyrics say in a perfect embodiment of Christmas commercialism. After all, it’s not about peace and joy, just exchanging gifts.
“Remind Me” by Royksopp - Geico
An oldie but a goodie, this song plays as the worldly caveman makes his way through the airport and sees one of those erroneous and offensive Geico billboards. The tune tinkles along like elevator music, perfectly fitting in to an airport setting. Royksopp’s melody seems to drip sadness right onto the caveman, making his outrage all the funnier.
“Everywhere I go/There’s always something to remind me,” Royksopp sings as if able to read the caveman’s thoughts. The ridiculous Geico caveman commercials lost their novelty pretty quickly, though that hasn’t stopped the insurance company from continuing to produce them. Royksopp’s memorable song is a lifesaver in an otherwise drab advertisement.
I-X Indoor Amusement Park
Well, this one might be more of a local hit, but it is still worth a listen. Northeast Ohio residents know all about this famous indoor amusement park and its infectious jingle. When spring has sprung up in the north, everyone begins to hear the famous tune on the television or radio. Happy children ride exhilarating rides as the lyrics appeal to the viewer’s sense of fun. According to the tune, only squares sit at home while everyone else has a good time: “So cool, so fun/If you’re not here you’re the only one.” I don’t know about you, but I have got to get to the I-X Indoor Amusement Park.
---