The first time I watched this commercial a couple weeks ago during Monday Night Football it was literally breathtaking. Something about the contrast between the dark and gloomy and violent picture on the screen with possibly the most gorgeously orchestrated intro to a song I have ever heard was just mesmerizing. Now I still have no desire to go out and buy this new violent video game. But at least now I have heard of it and know what it is, and if I were a big gamer this would have probably moved into the top slot on my to-buy list. This is exactly what a commercial should be. It still blows my mind that we tons of crappy commercials out there when they see how effective a commercial is that is done well. Because not only do people remember the commercial, but in some cases, the commercial takes a leap of its own and makes its way into other medias and then the company gets tons of exposure that they aren’t paying for. So the moral of the story is use a Devotchka song if you make a commercial. Or at least do something creative to help it stand above the rest. Here is the commercial and song for your viewing and listening pleasure.
So other than my addiction to tv on dvd, there hasn’t been hardly any tv watching for me over the past year or two. But with the constant syndication of the Olympics on NBC I have watched more television in the past month than I have in the past year, at least that is commercialized television. And to my delight I discovered that over the past year commercials have developed great taste in music. My buddy JC wrote a couple days ago about the relationship between music and movies. So today I would like to highlight the relationship between music and commercials. Well I actually don’t have a lot to say. We all understand and have even experienced how it works. You see a commercial, you like the song, not only do you look up who sings the song, but you also find yourself thinking about that commercial more often. It’s a win win situation for all. I’m actually surprised it has taken so long for it to catch on the way it has. Because I think most of you all would agree that there have been a plethora of great songs in big name commercials over the past month. So today I am going to highlight some of the ones that I loved the most. And then if you want you can share any that you have seen and loved.
First of all I would say that for the most part the car manufacturers have shown the most improvement in their musical taste. Like for instance the new GM commercial that features the ever so talented Brandi Carlile singing the title track off her most recent album.
Then there is the ever so addictive song by Sea Wolf that is found in the new Chevy Malibu commercial. I seriously cannot get enough of that song. I first heard it over a year ago and it is still in constant rotation on my ipod. For some reason I can’t find that one on youtube. But here is the song.
And I can’t leave out the AT&T Olympics commercial that ever so wisely features a song off of The Crane Wife by The Decemberists, not to mention the incredibly talented Gold Medalist Nastia Luikin. Which this one doesn’t surprise me. AT&T have been filling my sporting event breaks with creative and entertaining commercials for years.
And last but certainly not least, my favorite commercial that I have seen during my many hours of watching the Olympics. The very touching and inspiring Coca Cola commercial that shows tons of athletes from both the Olympics and the Special Olympics bowing to receive their medals. It makes me think of my absolutely fantastic and brilliant little cousin who has down syndrome, and it almost makes me cry every time. And they seriously could not have picked a better song. This song evokes so much emotion out of me even with out the images it accompanies here in the commercial.
Now I realize that unless you are incredibly unpatriotic and have chosen to watch the trash like Deal or No Deal instead of the Olympics, that you have already seen these commercials. But I thought you might enjoy learning who the artists were behind this great marketing scheme. And feel free to let me know if there are any you were disappointed to not see on here. Or if you there was another commercial that you liked the song but didn’t know what it was, maybe I could help you out. Until next time…keep bleeding.
