17
Songs for Sale
The state of commercialism reached a new low recently when Victoria’s Secret started to run a lingerie ad featuring Bob Dylan’s “Love Sick.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t immediately think of sex and seduction when I think of that guy. But what’s worse than this questionable juxtaposition of Dylan and scantily clad women is the fact that a bunch of goofy marketing reps actually butchered one of the music legend’s songs by misrepresenting his original meaning. While Dylan’s song is a bitter tale about love gone sour, the commercial would have you think that he wrote it as a tribute to a celestial, half naked hottie wearing a cheesy pair of angel wings. We’re nearing a whole new level of sacrilege, here.
This ad is only the latest in a woeful trend of butchering music for the sake of selling a product. In the early 90’s, Mercedes ran a commercial featuring Janis Joplin’s classic live recording of the satirical “Mercedes Benz.” The song itself is a statement against consumerism and Americans’ obsessive need to keep up with the Joneses. “Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz / My friends all drive Porches, I must make amends.” So goes the beginning of Joplin’s song. In an effort to be ironic, Mercedes opted to play the first verse of the song in a commercial, effectively turning Joplin’s criticism into an endorsement.
In 1999, another car company was pulling the same crap. At the time, Jaguar introduced its latest incarnation of the S-Type, a classic model that was previously discontinued. Jaguar’s marketing angle proclaimed that history repeating is a good thing. Naturally, its marketing reps bought the rights to the Propellerheads’ “History Repeating” featuring the vocals of Shirley Bassey. The song was written with a cynical edge, commenting on society’s inclination to flock to fads and on humanity’s inability to learn from past mistakes. Of course, Jaguar spun the song in the opposite direction and told the world that history repeating–through the revival of a discontinued line of cars–is a good thing.
I’m not against consumerism or marketing. What I am against is the careless disregard that marketers have for the integrity of good music. If you must sell out artists and use their songs in your awful commercials, at least have the decency to remain faithful to the intentions behind their lyrics.
RSS Feed
Hi! I am a big fan of Dylan’s, and while I think that the usage of “Love Sick” in a Victoria’s Secret commercial is cheesy in the least, I think that first of all you are trivializing the song’s sexuality a bit. I mean, put it on, and listen to the way he sings it: his voice sounds desperate, hungry, horny, for all you know he is really dreaming about some curvaceous lovelie, with or without angel wings.
The real atrocity, in my opinion, is the fact that a song by a first-class artist was used in a commercial for a company that produces a third-rate product. For all the hype, the lingerie sold at Victoria’s Secret is poorly designed, tacky, and over-priced. An ad for La Perla that featured the same music would be more appropriate.
I think you should be more upset that the people who own the rights to the songs, potentially Dylan, Joplin’s estate, and the Propellerheads, would allow these companies to use their songs…and profit from it. Perhaps they don’t have as much integrity about their music as we’d like to think.
You’ve both made good points. Natalia, I’ll agree that Dylan’s song is pretty sensual, but my perception of the guy isn’t that of some broken, lovesick man. To me, he’s more of an activist, a man of social awarenessand more recently, a man with a ton of grit. But I’ll give credit where it’s due: his song does convey the feelings that you’ve described.
However, I still think my original point stands. The Victoria’s Secret commercial portrays an image of the ideal female — the hot, unattainable chick that everybody wants. Dylan’s song, while sensual, is about a woman who fundamentally disgusts him. And really, who wants to be the woman that draws scorn from her disgruntled lover?
Tara, I think you’re right to point out the issue of artists and their estates making bank off of royalties. But, while it may be naive of me to mention it, I wonder how much control some musicians have over the fate of their music. I’m sure there have been cases in which record companies have found a way to legally sell the rights to certain songs without an artist’s explicit consent. Dirtier things have been known to happen. But again, good points…both of you.
Actually Rolling Stone recently had a good number of examples showing how music artists have gotten screwed over…you should check it out…
This article was genius. I mean seriously! “Like a Rock”?? What the hell was Chevy thinking?
This doesn’t really go with the theme of the discussion, but Chevy seriously needs to re-vamp its commercial campaigns. Is everyone in their advertising department ASLEEP? Perhaps they should hire Kevin to help them with their image.
James Cobourn died??? Not only do I feel sad at his departure, I also feel sad at the fact that I, apparently, have been living under a rock!
does anyone else sense the sexual tension between KZ and Natalia?
Dude, you had to take it there, didn’t you?
they can change the Chevy commercial to “under a rock”! but that might not sell.
Sexual tension? We’ve only just met! Wait, we haven’t even met properly! I fear I am being discriminated against based solely on the basis of my talking about underwear!
Furthermore, I think changing Chevy’s theme to “under a rock” is a brilliant idea, considering that appears to be the residence of their entire corporate headquarters.
” And while we’re on a tangent, was anyone else saddened when James Cobourn (the “Like a Rock” guy in the Chevy commercials) died last November?
I wanted everyone to read exactly what I just read. That poor bastard (James Coburn). I was very sad when I heard that he died, but I was never truly sad until now.
James Coburn was a Hollywood legend, and in many ways, one of the best supporting actors in film history. He had roles in such movies as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Charade, Our Man Flint, The Muppet Movie, Maverick, and many other movies. He even won Best Supporting Actor against a tough group at the 98 Academy Awards. Yes, he was a great man.
So why I am deeply hurt may you ask? Because Kevin referred to him as “the ‘Like a Rock’ guy in the Chevy commercials”.
Wow.
Deny it all you like, but he really was the “Like a Rock” guy. Kind of like how Paul Newman is “that salad dressing guy.”
Yes, James Cobourn was a Hollywood legend. I’ve known that all along, although I’ve never been too familiar with his work. Forgive me for not being a movie buff.
I was saddened when he died because I remembered him as being very likable, judging by some of the interviews that I’ve seen of his.
And Natalia, don’t mind the insinuations. As you can see, we’re very dramatic around these parts.
And while we’re on a tangent, was anyone else saddened when James Cobourn (the “Like a Rock” guy in the Chevy commercials) died last November?
In ten years, teenagers will hear Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” or The Who’s “Bargain” on the radio, and quip excitedly, “ooh, it’s the Nissan song!” I shake my head in disbelief until I realize that every time I hear Carly Simon’s “Anticipation”, I think of Heinz ketchup. Your point, I think.
speaking of paul newman, was everyone cool with the whole me laughing for an hour thing when nichole made that joke?
Francisco, I thought the joke was great too. I was laughing along with you. Carlos, on the other hand, might have something different to say about the matter.