There's a fantastic article on CNN today about people who are sick of hearing Train's "Hey Soul Sister" used for commercials and advertisements.
Seeing that article was a relief to me, because I was starting to think I was just being grumpy. When I saw the movie trailer for "Life as We Know It," the new Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel movie, and heard the opening notes of that overplayed, light rock dynamo start to play, I instantly decided not to see the movie.
I get very uptight about music being used to manipulate people. I realize it's not exactly a new trend, but lately, advertisers aren't even being all that creative when it comes to which music they choose to sell their product.
Sometimes there's absolutely no connection between the song and what they're advertising.
The movie trailer for "Shopaholic" featured Rhianna's "Disturbia," selectively cutting out bits of lyrics and just using the music to the chorus.
Why?
Because "Disturbia" has nothing to do with shopping, but it was a hit song. So I guess the producers of the movie figured it was good enough for them.
When "Glee" premiered, it used that old Journey favorite "Don't Stop Believin'" as its signature song. Suddenly you couldn't go into a bar on karaoke night without hearing that song, and every time it would come on, people would shout--"I LOVE GLEE!"
What about loving Journey? It was their song, after all.
People have always liked associating music with something else--movies, life experiences, the Kentucky Derby, etc.
Still, I'm wondering what damage it does to the original song when it bombards us like this. The first time I heard "Hey Soul Sister" I thought it was a cute little song. It wasn't life-changing, but I certainly could have handled hearing it a few more times.
Now, that first "Heeyyyy" sends me searching for the "Off" button on whatever it is that's making that song jump out at me.
I'm not saying I feel bad for Train. I'm sure they've been well-compensated for the fact that their song has become an advertising tool, but I sort of feel bad for...the song.
In many ways, music is a very fragile thing. Most songs can't handle being played on three different commercials and two movie trailers at the same time.
How many great songs have been marred forever by being overplayed and overused?
Why don't retailers and filmmakers just put out a good product? That way they won't need anything nostalgic or evocative to sell it.
Now that would be music to my ears.
Seeing that article was a relief to me, because I was starting to think I was just being grumpy. When I saw the movie trailer for "Life as We Know It," the new Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel movie, and heard the opening notes of that overplayed, light rock dynamo start to play, I instantly decided not to see the movie.
I get very uptight about music being used to manipulate people. I realize it's not exactly a new trend, but lately, advertisers aren't even being all that creative when it comes to which music they choose to sell their product.
Sometimes there's absolutely no connection between the song and what they're advertising.
The movie trailer for "Shopaholic" featured Rhianna's "Disturbia," selectively cutting out bits of lyrics and just using the music to the chorus.
Why?
Because "Disturbia" has nothing to do with shopping, but it was a hit song. So I guess the producers of the movie figured it was good enough for them.
When "Glee" premiered, it used that old Journey favorite "Don't Stop Believin'" as its signature song. Suddenly you couldn't go into a bar on karaoke night without hearing that song, and every time it would come on, people would shout--"I LOVE GLEE!"
What about loving Journey? It was their song, after all.
People have always liked associating music with something else--movies, life experiences, the Kentucky Derby, etc.
Still, I'm wondering what damage it does to the original song when it bombards us like this. The first time I heard "Hey Soul Sister" I thought it was a cute little song. It wasn't life-changing, but I certainly could have handled hearing it a few more times.
Now, that first "Heeyyyy" sends me searching for the "Off" button on whatever it is that's making that song jump out at me.
I'm not saying I feel bad for Train. I'm sure they've been well-compensated for the fact that their song has become an advertising tool, but I sort of feel bad for...the song.
In many ways, music is a very fragile thing. Most songs can't handle being played on three different commercials and two movie trailers at the same time.
How many great songs have been marred forever by being overplayed and overused?
Why don't retailers and filmmakers just put out a good product? That way they won't need anything nostalgic or evocative to sell it.
Now that would be music to my ears.
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