All the good songs are going to the gimmicks
I've never been a huge Applebees fan, but now I'm declaring war.
The restaurant's recent promotion has left me wondering, is there anything sacred anymore?
OK, perhaps I'm being a tad dramatic. But, has anyone else noticed Better Than Ezra's "Juicy" is the eatery's new theme song? The song, originally written about someone's sordid entanglement, starts off, "I got with somebody's date." But just because the song uses the word "Juicy" it plays during a commercial featuring a steak being smothered in mushrooms and cheese. It's just not right, much like ordering a steak at Applebees. BTE probably received a fat sum of money for the rights to the song, but it also cost them something. To me, the song is no longer catchy, funky and original. Now, it's just a sizzling, mushroom-covered piece of Angus.
Other recent disappointments: The Postal Service lending "Such Great Heights" to UPS, as ironic as that is, and Ben Lee's "Catch My Disease" being used by Dell.
Does this bother anyone else?
posted by Stephanie Netherton at 10:25 AM
13 Comments:
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Oh Thomas, while I appreciate you inquiring about my phone number, this is strictly my job and not my personal dating service.
Plus you wouldn't want my number anyway, I never answer my phone AND I don't like Applebees.
above statement...very funny.
i don't mind songs in ads at all. i mean, they need music, why not cool music? you're mostly just bitter because you hate applebee's (who actually does have the worst steaks in the world).
and, this just goes to show that better than ezra isn't obsolete, which i've thought since about 1996.
OK, you're coming from the opposite side of the spectrum on this one Sammy. Since you don't like BTE, it is easy for you to say, who cares.
But, as a music lover, doesn't it bother you that songs are being used for their lyrics when what the artist originally said through the song has nothing to do with Dell computers or steaks?
It seems cheap and watered down. It's not "Juicy" at all.
Stephanie,
These "artists" and/or their record labels make the ultimate decision to sell these songs. It's not like Applebee's Kazaa'ed this tune and slapped it in their ad. They are all big boys and girls looking to make a buck. Music, just like anything else, is ultimately a product that must be sold. Is a song suddenly less masterful just because Applebee's, Chili's, or other chain restaurant of your choosing features it in a commercial? Is Revolution any less of a kick ass tune just because Nike used it in a commercial back in 1987? No. We forget the commercials, they come and go, but the music (if it's truly any good) will endure.
Thomas,
I know the artist has a choice. At some point with musicians, it all comes down to money and I don't blame them for that. But what is hard for me to understand is how an artist becomes OK with their song being used in a commercial featuring a new steak menu? Money, that's how.
I think these commercials manipulate the meaning of the songs. That's all.
Hey steph... you want to go get a manicure after work?
If you want to talk about a real travesty, then talk about the estate of Jimi Hendrix selling his music, name and likeness to advertising companies to sell everything from cars to soft drinks. Just last month a company licensed his name and license to sell an energy drink called Liquid Experience. Shame on them.
Hendrix was not only anti-gimmick, but he isn't even around to defend his name or make his own choice.
The best so far though is Boston Market's use of The Rev. Horton Heat's song Eat Beef in an advertisement. The jokes on them whenever anyone googles the lyrics though. The jingle only used the chorus:
"Eat beef, eat beef, it's a mighty good food."
and left out the verse:
"Look at all the cows in the slaughterhouse yard/ Gotta hit 'em in the head, gotta hit 'em real hard/ First you gotta clean 'em, then the butcher cuts 'em up/ Throws it on a scale, throws an eyeball in a cup."
So... after reading that... who's hungry?
I don't understand why the joke is on them..I want a hamburger real bad now.
I could go for a burger, as long as it's not from Applebees.
With Clear Channel ruling broadcast radio, how else are artists like The Postal Service gonna get any recognition? The artists are doing what they can to get some play.
And then crackhead Courtney Love, sold most of the rights to Nirvana's music last year for $50 million (someone's estate finally made more money in a one-year period than Elvis').
I haven't heard any Nirvana songs in commercials just yet, but it's only a matter of time. However, "Something in the Way" was featured in the movie "Jarhead," but it was actually quite appropriate.
On a side note, I can't believe Courtney still has custody of her child.
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