Music Monday: Music in Adverts Edition

The avenue has been silent for a bit too long, issues in the background having got in the way for all of last month. Thus, it’s only fitting I return with a new edition of Music Monday.

Back when Neil Young railed against musicians selling their songs for beer and soda adverts, collaborating in any way with ad agencies and their clients for a campaign was not something one did unless the next words they wanted to hear were “sell-out.” Not so today. In fact, more musicians — especially independent artists — are using the medium to get their message out to the world; the paychecks most likely don’t hurt, either. Make your way inside for this week’s edition of Music Monday, where five recent examples of this phenomenon shall soon grace your ears.

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“Let’s Dance (InFiction String Remix)” – David Bowie: Let’s begin with one of the English singer/songwriter’s biggest hits as reinterpreted by the Los Angeles duo InFiction. The remix can be heard anchoring the campaign for Korean automaker Kia’s new luxury sedan, the Cadenza. The ads feature the car’s pilot arriving to her 20th high school reunion to shake a few old memories out of her former classmates, something that probably can’t happen now due to Facebook increasing grasp upon the masses. You can download your copy of the remix from InFiction’s SoundCloud.

“Tick of the Clock” – Chromatics: Aside from pairing fashion designer John Varvatos with rock icon Iggy Pop for a drive around New York for some reason, the campaign for the Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Edition featured a familiar string of blips in the background. The song from the Portland, Ore. quartet was also featured in the “Drive” movie soundtrack, and can be heard in its full, 14-minute glory on their 2007 album “Night Drive.”

“The Passenger” – Iggy Pop: Speaking of Iggy being a passenger, the 1977 piece co-written with David Bowie for the former’s second solo album “Lust For Life”; the title track alone has been heard anchoring a cruise line advert campaign now and again. The last campaign to use this song, which appeared as the B-side to the album’s only single, “Success,” was Kohl’s in their collaboration with fashion designer Vera Wang for her Simply Vera collection; I actually destroyed one of her pieces — a pair of boots — during New York Fashion Week back in February of 2011 by simply walking in them often.

“So Here We Are” – Bloc Party: Telecoms also use music from indie and mainstream artists in their adverts, and Verizon Wireless is no exception with their use of the English quartet’s double A-side from their 2007 debut “Silent Alarm.” The song can be heard as dozens of people light red and white sparklers while gathering toward a city’s center to promote the telecom’s 4G LTE network.

“Entrance Song” – The Black Angels: Finally, the Austin, Texas band aided Justin Timberlake in the introduction of the latter’s William Rast line of mens- and womenswear to Target shoppers in a brief partnership with the retailer back in 2011. The collection is best known for their premium denim jeans.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Cecil Stoughton.

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