Question of the Week: What’s the best song ever used for a TV commercial? And what’s the most disappointing?

Local Spins’ Question of the Week (Sept. 30, 2021)

What’s the best song ever used for a TV commercial? And what’s the most disappointing?

This week’s winner of Local Spins merch: Email subscriber Jeff Socia, who responded to the Question of the Week and was entered into a drawing for a Local Spins gift. Sign up for email updates and the weekly newsletter here: https://localspins.com/subscribe-local-spins-mailing-list/

THE READER RESPONSES:

Lukas Schroeder – Easy: Los Campesinos for Budweiser (and I don’t drink Budweiser). Most disappointing, maybe that horrendous Rakuten/Rocket Man mockery.

Aleia Wright – This commercial gives me chills every: “The World is Just Awesome” (Boom De Yada – Discovery.

John VanderHaagen – Volkswagen, “Pink Moon”

Eric William-Neil Engblade – John VanderHaagen beat me to it.

Steve Middendorp – “Bittersweet Symphony” in a Nike commercial was very disappointing, because the band lost control of the song from a b.s. lawsuit by a manager for the Rolling Stones. I couldn’t imagine hearing my own song on TV to sell slave shoes and not even make a penny off the placement. I honestly can’t think of a commercial song placement I enjoyed.

Chad Michael Wedeven – Best: They Might Be Giants’ version of Georgie Fame’s “Yeh Yeh” for Volkswagen. Worst: The Beatles’ “Revolution” for Nike.

Bruce Madden – Alas, there are no best songs used in commercials. None.

Don Alles – Bob Seger for Chevy Trucks: “Like a Rock”.

Jack Clark – I think the iPod nano w/ Feist (1234) worked very well. Certainly caused me to dig into an artists I hadn’t heard of at the time (I did own an iPod, though not sure if this had anything to do with it 🙂 )

Don Julin – Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life” – Carnival Cruise Lines

Craig Carrick – Don Julin. so agree

Matt Drolett – “Revolution” by the Beatles for Nike. “Like a Rock” for Chevy is a close second.

Karen Dunnam – “The William Tell Overture,” for Jeno’s pizza rolls

Jim Weiler – I liked it when Volkswagen used Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” because not a lot of people were familiar with Nick Drake. It’s too long of a list to mention the ones that I was unhappy with.

Daniel P Hudelson – Mac Tonight Sings “Mack The Knife”

Harry Oman – Pete Seeger “Hard Times in the Mill” as a Volvo commercial seriously offended lots of folks. I believe the song is actually by Woody Guthrie.

Larry Zoppa – Rocket Mortgage got a license for saying Rocket can?

Craig Carrick – If I recall, the writer of “The Future’s so Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” (Pat McDonald) turned down a really lucrative deal with a sunglass company, or so the story goes because he didn’t want to be part of all that. And I have worked with Pat and he’s not a rich guy-but he’s a true rock ‘n’ roll guy and he should be tossing TVs out the hotel window instead of cashing in on some big Hollywood commercial. If it was me, I’d have went for the cash! So, my vote goes with Timbuk 3 for the song that didn’t make it!

Mike Thinnes – The biggest one missed was “Shout” by Tears for Fears for Shout Stain Remover. Either ad men in the ’80s were stupid or TfF turned them down.

Jeff Socia – Best: Brandon Calhoun. “That’s What I’m Talking About” for Chevy in the D. Worst: Nirvana. “All Apologies.” T Mobile. Love the song just not there.

Terry J DeBoer – The most of a “reach”: Carly Simon’s “Anticipation” used in a TV commercial for ketchup. I used to think rock ‘n roll was anti-establishment, anti-war, etc. maybe back in the 60s and 70s. But when I heard Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock” used to sell Chevy trucks, I knew those days were over.

AJ Dunning – Always loved this take- I *think* they used this as a Gap ad(?): Red House Painters, “All Mixed Up”

Paul Magnan – Subaru ad featuring local artist Ronn Burke, when he was in The JuJus: “Crossroads.”

Rich Emerson – Not sure about best, but probably one of the most popular is “Like a Rock.” Too many awful ones to even think about.

John Fredericks – Best: Peloton … Ramones, “Blitzkrieg Bop.” Worst: All else, I suppose. Deep well. Best WTAF?? for a non-ad: Trump rally, Village People, “YMCA.” Really?

Kris Blair – “Like a Rock,” Bob Seger for Chevy pickups. I was just a kid but it made me want to be as cool as Seger… and drive a Chevy.

Kevin Fein – Any time the lyrics have to change for the commercial, you’ve got the wrong song and instant cringe. Classic case: Alan Jackson, “Crazy About A Ford” Truck Commercial from 1998.

Michael Packer – Where do I begin! 1987 – “Happy Together” with Golden Grahams

Matt Plichta – The Spiral Starecase, “More Today Than Yesterday” for a Delta faucets ad

Isaac Powrie – “Like A Rock,” Bob Seger. Still think of the ads every time I hear it.

Kyle Rasche – The Iron & Wine M&M commercial was great. Also love hearing Lord Huron in commercials cuz I know my pals are getting paid. Agree with Kevin Fein: As long as they don’t change the work to suit the product, I can celebrate the artist making some money from their song.

Copyright 2021, Spins on Music LLC