(Day in Rock) Welcome to a new feature to
the Day in Rock. Every Friday we will highlight a new "crime again music".
You may ask what is a crime against music, simply put it is when a classic
song is misused (primarily in TV ads to sell crap). This is a heinous crime
on many levels. For one there is usually such a disconnect between the
original meaning of the song and the crap product being sold that it defied
logic. There are a dozen more reasons but we think you can figure them
out on your own. In a perfect world we would punish those responsible by
locking them in a dark room and subject them to a 24/7 rotation of songs
by Kelly Osbourne, Yoko Ono and Courtney Love but since that would probably
violate international torture laws, we have decided to call out the companies
responsible for their crimes.
We start off with an oldie but a goodie
that had previously been highlighted by one of our columnists. The disconnect
in this one is pretty funny but also very sad and it has the honor of being
a double crime against music. We are talking of course about Six Pence
None the Richer's cover of The La's classic "There She Goes". The cover
version in itself is humorous because here we have a "Christian" band covering
a song supposedly about heroin use. To compound this and why it is the
example we use to kick off this series is that this cover was used in advertisements
for birth control pills. Yes a Christian band singing a song about heroin
that was used to sell birth control pills. You can see how this qualifies
as a crime against music and overall good taste! It's just plain wrong
on so many levels. The only thing worse would be a tampon company using
Pearl Jam's "Even Flow" in an ad. (We better not give them ideas, but we
hope Eddie and company would never let their music be degraded at such
a level.) We must stop these crimes against music! So join us each week
as we call out another company for their crimes.
Rant
or Rave? Your turn, post your comments
and thoughts on this news item. But hey keep it clean, we wouldn't want
to have to wash your mouth out with Old Spice.
Posted by Mr Soulman:
Who cares? Do you own the song? Look, artist should, and do, have the right to use or market their properties as they choose to. If they don't do it now that they're alive, their families certainly will. Why are there people like you who think to have the right to dictate how a song is used. Did you write it??? Just because you like the song, or product, doesn't mean you can choose its uses. I may like someones car, but doesn't mean I get to tell that person that "don't drive it in the rain, don't let your friends drive it, don't let anyone take pictures of it, don't put any bumperstickers of radio stations or products/services you like." Please !!!!
Who cares. What you should be writing about is how sexually charged songs are being used in children's products. Last time I checked Olivia Newton John's song "Physical" was about sex, Rick James' "Super Freak" was about sex and some probable prostitute, and Cindy Lauper's "She Bops" was about masturbation. That didn't stop toy makers from using them in their toys like Disney's Tigger, and these other bear toys. That should something you should be writing about.
Who cares if Lionel Richie wants to allow P&G to use his song "Easy" in a dishwasher detergent. Look, you'd do the same if you were in their shoes. But, you're a cynic and find it easier to write and criticise rather than observe the other creative ways of product use. When you come up with a product that can put you and your loved ones in a better financial position, don't forget to throw it back in the closet and let no one look at it.
