The Art of Selling Out
- Thread starter indra
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The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Admittedly, that was a great commercial. Just perfectly conceptualized and executed.
That's easier to rationalize, as you had a whole generation of people who probably never even heard of Nick Drake, or any of his music.
And his family probably NEEDED the money. Unlike VWilco.
That's easier to rationalize, as you had a whole generation of people who probably never even heard of Nick Drake, or any of his music.
And his family probably NEEDED the money. Unlike VWilco.
Salome
you are what you is
Yeah, because I'm sure Radiohead were focused on HOW they were going to sell the album more than they were on actually writing and recording it.
I don't really see the difference unless you feel that The Stones wrote Start me up, Satisfaction etc focussing on selling the songs to advertisers
again, I don't feel Radiohead 'sold out'
but it just seems to me that if someone really feels that the value of music diminishes when you can't hear the name of a song without thinking about a marketed product (as has been stated by some in this thread) they would -according to this reasoning - have severe issues with In Rainbows
cobl04
45:33
I'd never actually seen it until just then, it's pretty cool! Fits perfectly with one of his best songs.
I forget, do you love or absolutely loathe Wilco? Loathe, if I remember correctly.
I forget, do you love or absolutely loathe Wilco? Loathe, if I remember correctly.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
The difference is that Radiohead was selling their own music, not someone else's product. You're telling me that when you listen to In Rainbows, you can only think of their Pay-What-You-Want website? You may want to see your physician, or a brain specialist.
I like Wilco. I loathe their coronation as some kind of rock saviors.
Salome
you are what you is
aww, you're so cute when you get all grumpy and start getting insulting
I never said that I can only think of Radiohead's marketing schemes when I listen to In Rainbows (this may also be because I have never listened to In Rainbows)
but I also don't start fuming at the mouth when I hear Satisfaction because the Stones felt like taking the opportunity to make more money of the song
I'm sure there is a difference but I still don't really see it
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
I just don't understand what point you're trying to make. You said Radiohead were focused more on marketing their album than making it which is just plain conjecture, and also insulting.
Secondly, you haven't even HEARD In Rainbows, so how can you say that the experience of listening to the music has been tainted? Maybe you shouldn't use an artist as an example, or criticize them with regard to this discussion, when you really don't have an informed opinion about them.
And don't get me wrong; I don't think of Microsoft every time I hear Start Me Up. The music of the Stones, luckily, is good enough to overwhelm that kind of thing. But these commercials still cheapen their work, and lower their integrity, ESPECIALLY when these guys are already multi-millionaires many times over and DON'T FUCKING NEED THE MONEY. If you think that unlimited (government-wise or personal) capitalism is A-OK then there's really nothing further to discuss.
Secondly, you haven't even HEARD In Rainbows, so how can you say that the experience of listening to the music has been tainted? Maybe you shouldn't use an artist as an example, or criticize them with regard to this discussion, when you really don't have an informed opinion about them.
And don't get me wrong; I don't think of Microsoft every time I hear Start Me Up. The music of the Stones, luckily, is good enough to overwhelm that kind of thing. But these commercials still cheapen their work, and lower their integrity, ESPECIALLY when these guys are already multi-millionaires many times over and DON'T FUCKING NEED THE MONEY. If you think that unlimited (government-wise or personal) capitalism is A-OK then there's really nothing further to discuss.
I don't think any of us can say with certainty how much the members of Wilco are worth. I still don't fault them for the campaign considering I've always liked VW ads (the Drake one being a perfect example). This is all, of course, easy for me to say as both a Wilco fan and VW owner.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Your indie cred tank is running somewhere between 1/16th and E.
MadForIt
Refugee
Look, i know you lot despise this man, BUT, watch this interview by GOD and listen to his visions of the future from 2006.
He has some stuff to say about selling out and Oasis & Radiohead near the end which is quite brilliantly accurate!
YouTube - Noel Gallagher Interview -Gonzo Part 4 of 4
He has some stuff to say about selling out and Oasis & Radiohead near the end which is quite brilliantly accurate!
YouTube - Noel Gallagher Interview -Gonzo Part 4 of 4
OP
OP
indra
ONE love, blood, life
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The music for this commercial was originally going to be by The Church.
So I can never watch it without screaming "YOU FUCKING BASTARD STOLE THE CHURCH'S COMMERCIAL!!"
(Hey...I figured I started this thread -- eons ago -- I might as well pop up and comment in it.
)
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
MadForIt
Refugee
intedomine
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
Ultimately, who cares? As long as a band makes good music, they're all in it for money ultimately anyway. Why wouldn't ya be? Better than working some dead-end job with average pay, 9 to 5, without any recognition, and having no time to make music and play gigs. Oasis and Radiohead have proven time and time again that they are capable of making brilliant, resonating tunes. Good on them.
LMP
Blue Crack Supplier
We've gone two pages without talking about Aerosmith? Really?
As an indoor-roller coaster, it's fantastic, and they play my 2 favorite songs of theirs ("Walk This Way" and "Love in an Elevator") but give me a fucking break.
As an indoor-roller coaster, it's fantastic, and they play my 2 favorite songs of theirs ("Walk This Way" and "Love in an Elevator") but give me a fucking break.
cobl04
45:33
SorryThe music for this commercial was originally going to be by The Church.
So I can never watch it without screaming "YOU FUCKING BASTARD STOLE THE CHURCH'S COMMERCIAL!!"
(Hey...I figured I started this thread -- eons ago -- I might as well pop up and comment in it.
haha, i didn't even realise this thread was old.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
BULLSHIT. Maybe that's your value system, but there are some people who are in it because music is a religion to them.
Besides, if you want to be cynical, guys probably start bands to get chicks more than they do to make money. You can't have to be very good to acquire the former.
blueeyedgirl
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
Blokes start bands cos they don't want to be on the dole, work boring office 9-5 jobs, cut their hair short AND so they can get chicks. And make pots of cash. A lot of them do love music too. Doesn't have to negate the appeal of the former.
LMP
Blue Crack Supplier
Well 1 out of 2 ain't bad.
intedomine
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
lol @ there being a "value system" when it comes to something like this.
Just because a band might also be in it for chicks and/or cash doesn't mean that the music they make doesn't require effort and talent.
Ultimately, anyway, when we look at Oasis, fame came to them, they didn't "sell out" in the name of fame fame fatal fame. Noel could have rested on his laurels after (WTS)MG, and stopped churning out song after song, but he kept going 'cause he enjoys making music so much.
I'm sure the lads from Radiohead and Wilco have picked up their fair share of horny, groupie ladies who wanna sleep with someone a tad famous.
Hewson
Blue Crack Supplier
We've gone two pages without talking about Aerosmith? Really?
As an indoor-roller coaster, it's fantastic, and they play my 2 favorite songs of theirs ("Walk This Way" and "Love in an Elevator") but give me a fucking break.
The Rock n Rollercoaster doesn't bother me, "Just Push Play" in a Dodge truck commercial, that bothered me. (And a certain halftime debacle didn't help either).
they also gave a writing credit and, thus, royalties to Anybody Seen My Baby? to K.D. Lang because Jagger's daughter said she thought the chorus had a rough resemblance to Constant Craving... which is something they didn't have to do and Lang herself never asked them to do.
but yes, you can make anybody out to be a sellout if you'd like.
U2 of course aren't sellouts because of the iPod ad because they "took no money" for the advert.
great... they took a percentage of every single U2 iPod that was sold, but they didn't take money for the ad.
sellouts are in the eyes of the beholder...
there's no room for logic in this thread!
Moby.
Irishteen
Blue Crack Addict
I don't get what's so bad about using music in ads I mean tonnes of successful indie bands do it, The Flaming Lips and The Shins get used in beer commercials, Arcade Fire had half of Neon Bible used in various ads, if I thought of stuff like that as selling out I'd think the majority of artists sold out 
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
And you'd be right: the majority of artists HAVE sold out.
Not to sound like some kind of condescending old man, but there was a time when selling your songs for commercials was NOT a widespread practice, and many artists were totally against the idea.
Times have changed; namely people have become greedier and have less integrity.
Not to sound like some kind of condescending old man, but there was a time when selling your songs for commercials was NOT a widespread practice, and many artists were totally against the idea.
Times have changed; namely people have become greedier and have less integrity.
MadForIt
Refugee
why else start a band if it wasnt for the money?
Its better than 9-5 and you get to travel the world
Musicians cant change the world anyways. Just ask Bono.
Its better than 9-5 and you get to travel the world
Musicians cant change the world anyways. Just ask Bono.
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