7 Rock Songs Exploited for Commerce and Conservatism

[Joanne98]

By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, AlterNet
Posted on November 27, 2010, Printed on November 27, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/story/148986/

Since the U.S. government doesn’t support artists like most first-world countries, musicians are increasingly filling their duckets with cross-promo deals from companies. While outside-the-mainstream artists and the towers of commerce have historically had a tenuous relationship, in the choked-income era of the mp3–where it’s increasingly difficult for even prominent groups to make a living off recorded music–more and more musicians have been letting marketers use their tunes for a check. It’s such a frequent occurrence it barely registers as cognitive dissonance these days... the song’s political message is wildly at odds with the capitalist idea being sold. (See: Rolling Stones' latest.) Or, worse, left-wing songs are hijacked by right-wing politicians without permission. In both instances, sometimes the disconnect is so vast, it ends up in the courts. At the very least, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

1. The Beatles and Nike
In one of the earlier and more memorable instances of a song’s perpendicularity to its placement, Nike bought the Beatles’ classic peace advocacy jam “Revolution” for the purpose of hawking running shoes. To be fair, the 1987 clip wasn’t anti-peace, featuring shots of normal humans doing sporty things and being generally healthy... but let’s just say Nike’s co-opting of political sentiment in order to establish cool cred set a precedent. Apple Records, the Beatles’ music group, sued the company for $15 million–Nike had purchased the rights to the song from Capitol Records, which owned the North American rights to the song. Two years later, a settlement was reached out of court, but the concept had done its damage. In an interesting postscript to the story, a 2005 Nike poster mimicked the cover of the first Minor Threat album without permission. (Minor Threat being one of the most political, anti-corporate, do-it-yourself punk bands of the ‘80s.) Dischord Records, the band’s label run to this day by lead singer Ian MacKaye, released a statement:

To longtime fans and supporters of Minor Threat and Dischord, this must seem like just another familiar example of mainstream corporations attempting to assimilate underground culture to turn a buck. However, it is more disheartening to us to think that Nike may be successful in using this imagery to fool kids, just beginning to become familiar with skate culture, underground music and D.I.Y. ideals, into thinking that the general ethos of this label, and Minor Threat in particular, can somehow be linked to Nike's mission.

The poster was removed and the parties settled out of court.

http://www.alternet.org/story/148986/7_rock_songs_exploited_for_commerce_and_conservatism/

[JackintheGreen]

1. Only one problem with the list

The bonus: Johnny Rotten shills butter

Johnny Rotten was ALWAYS about commerce.

[dipsydoodle]

2. "humans doing sporty things"

:rofl:

[LawnKorn]

3. Chrissie Hynde The Pretenders "My City Was Gone"

Rush Limbaugh and his bottomless checkbook bought the rights to use the song and told The Pretenders to go pound sand. Such is the state of affairs when rich right wingers want to get their way.

[MindPilot]

4. Using Led Zeppelin to sell Cadillacs is just plain wrong. n/t

[Enrique]

5. "Fortunate son" in Wrangler jeans commercial

and the way they cut the lyrics was a crime. They used the lines "Some folks are born, made to wave the flag, ooh the red white and blue" but left out the lines "and when they play Hail to the Chief, they point the cannon at you."

:mad:

[yurbud]

6. Janis Joplin's ''Mercedes Benz''?

[Recursion]

7. Tom Waits sued an ad agency over "Step Right Up"

They sampled it without permission and he blew a gasket. Which is especially funny when you consider what the song is about.