If I had a Blast Off Country Style 7 inch for every time I had a discussion in college about bands selling out, I would be a rich man. Back then the debate was about bands signing to major labels. Back then I was of the opinion that a band should do what was best for itself and who gives a shit what label they recorded for?
A few years ago, Jeremy and I had an argument about the Apples in Stereo selling one of their songs for a commercial. He was so upset about them selling a song for an ad. Even after the interview with them where they talked about how they had spent the money they received for a crib for their newborn, Jeremy could not be swayed.
Now with commercials serving the function of what radio used to do, it is quite a coup for bands to sell their music to corporations, gain exposure, and pocket up to six figures worth of cash. The Shins got more flak for being gushed over by Natalie Portman in that insipid movie by that Scrubs hack then they did for selling a song to McDonald's.
Since I rarely watch commercials, I'm not terribly afraid of getting sick of songs from overexposure through ads. However I do think it is somewhat lame to sell a song that you wrote for other purposes to push fries or Hummers. I like that Jack White wrote a brand new song for Coke instead of letting them use "Hotel Yorba" or some other song from their catalog to help Coke push their product. But it never really has bothered me that indie bands are selling their songs to corporations. Who cares?
Recently a band has taken selling out to a new level. Of Montreal let one of their songs be re-recorded by an Of Montreal sounding band and change the lyrics from "Let's pretend we don't exist/Let's pretend we're in Antarctica" to "Let's go outback tonight/Life will still be there tomorrow." Plus there's even a new Mother's Day version that goes "Let's go outback tonight/Everyday is Mother's Day." What? I hope they got paid a lot of Bloomin Onion for this nonsense.
Still I don't really care. But SHR thinks that is completely stupid that a band would let their song be rewritten in such ridiculous fashion. For the record, Jeremy is okay with it as long as a crib was bought with some of the money because now that he's a dad of two kids, he's fine with selling out in the name of baby stuff. I might have made that last part up.
Let's Go Outback Tonight
Of Montreal - Wraith Pinned to the Mist
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6 comments:
I hate outback.
I still think it's lame to sell out for cribs even though I have one in my house. If an indie rocker doesn't have the chops to get real paid without pushing fritos or acid washed jeans then maybe they should focus more on songwriting and interesting performances than on sucking at the teat of the corporations. Babies are just as happy to sleep on a pile of discarded happy meal boxes as they are to sleep in a gold plated crib cushioned with the hair of angels. Trust me on this one.
I'd sleep in the crib.
What if we get to see the gold plated crib in question on MTV's Cribs? That would be really trippy.
I knew the game was up at an early age, when I saw Roger "Hope I Die Before I Get Old" Daltrey dressed like Prince Charles on a hunting trip hawking American Express from a stream on his own private trout farm.
Is it really any different from signing for a major label, or is it really that much more whorey?
At least Of Montreal didn't rerecord their own song. I think its better they just sold it and walked away...
What I think is funny is how Outback has changed their whole marketing vibe from an Australlian rulz futball bash you in the face testesterone to this exstential approach. Now eating steak is philosophical statement "Let's forget about tomorrow" hysterical!!!!!! And using some fay indie band in the process. Quite a bold choice.
I wasn't aware it was an of montreal song the first 75 times I heard it (the commercial is in constant roatation in AM radio) and was always floored at the branding shift Outback decided to engage in.
In the 90's I was very "This Notes for You" but now with the music industry in shambles you can't hate oin these artists.
weasel, i do think that it is that much more of an offense than signing to a major in some regards. at least with that, you are just trying to get your music sold rather than getting your music sold pushing another product. then again, who cares? chris is right.
jeremy, i could have sworn i heard a mitten song on the latest hummer ad. sellout.
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