I was wondering about those ubiquitous Chevy ads, the "walking on the sun" campaign. Did they buy a Zombies song and re-write it? No, Christopher Caldwell of NY Press explains that it's Smash Mouth, in the process of selling out. (see "In Any Event" down the page) But I don't buy his critique. It's not that these folks don't understand irony; the situation is the height of irony, or what irony used to mean. In fact, it's so ironic it's subversive, but in the wrong direction. Nowadays irony is just the echo chamber of meaninglessness; postmodernism's aversion to any commitment requiring a value judgement. 'Course I knew that years ago, which is why I thought the Clash were a joke even then. Smash Mouth and the admen are all of one condition: nobody sells out anymore; they just buy in. And the moral is: the only thing you have to pay the Zombies is homage.
- alex 8-13-2002 12:33 am

I keep seeing/hearing a local tv ad from a "rockaway" furniture store sampeling a mini quote (read theft) from the ramones : rock-rock rock-a-way furniture (repeat). I think ownership to that riff has returned to the rockaway locals.
- bill 8-13-2002 7:18 pm [add a comment]


This is from Tom Tomorrow's weblog:

The Clash's London Calling is now being used as the soundtrack for...wait for it...a Jaguar commercial.

The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Engines stop running and the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
London is drowning-and I live by the river

Certainly says luxury automobile to me!
- tom moody 8-13-2002 7:34 pm [add a comment]


I stumbled upon this the other night: http://www.songtitle.info/ It is a list of songs used in commercials. The Clash have more than one. Although I'm happy when I think Iggy is making some money from his Carnival Cruises and FTDs.
- chuckney (guest) 8-14-2002 10:19 pm [add a comment]


My favorite is Mitsubishi's TRex add with 20th Century Boy, from 2001. Talk about retro. And since Bolan's dead we can't whine about him selling out. Who's managing the estate? Ringo?
- alex 8-15-2002 1:55 am [add a comment]





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