Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

I think that awful commercial that uses "Crum-believable" might be the most atrocious destruction of a song ever.

Everytime I see this thing I am waiting for Simon Cowell to interrupt it with a "Thank you. Thanks. That was appalling."

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

That one was so bad that I called WOY to tell him about it.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

Sunkists bastardization of Good Vibrations was not only criminal but branded a can of corn syrup and flavoring with one of the greatest pop songs of all time.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

Nothing else comes close. That's like taking a dump on the Gioconda.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

How about Carnival Cruise Lines using Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life", a song about drug abuse?

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

Have you ever seen the clothes they call "cruise wear"? You'd have to be on drugs to dress like that IMO.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

I have to mention "Crumb-believable" again.

It is awful. Awful, awful, awful.....

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

MIA's "Galang" is currently being used in a Honda ad.

Anyone who's ever actually listened to that song in full knows that it actually gives a shout-out to BMW.

Obviously there's no mention of BMW in the Honda ad, but my wife and I laugh at it all the same.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

"When a problem comes along, you can 'Swiff' it"

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

The Cars in a circuit city ad.

Makes me cry :cry:

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

I used to love Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" till it got played 80 bazillion times in those Cadillac ads.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

not really commercialization, but on Dragonfly TV (PBS Kids), they usually use the intro to Megadeth's "Peace Sells" when they're seging into something involving athletics.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

Believe it or not, there are times when I think commercialization of a song is a good thing. If an artist is largely unknown (or even sometimes if he is), a well-made commercial can give great exposure. This is the first example that comes to mind, a little-known artist named Jose Gonzalez whose "Heartbeats" was used for a gorgeous Sony ad:

http://www.bravia-advert.com/

Ironically, this was a cover of a song by The Knife, when Gonzalez's own stuff is very good...but still, an ad like this helps both the advertisers (because it's a good ad) and the artist. Pink Moon by Nick Drake in the Volkswagon ad is another one that comes to mind. Beautiful song, beautiful ad.

There are people who think inherently that using music to sell something is selling out. I see the point, but I don't agree. This assumes that commercialization should stick to being commercialization and that's it. I say, if you can get a little great art in there and elevate it, why not?

That said, I agree that most of the examples already mentioned are horrid.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

I really liked the Stones' "Start Me Up" used in the promo for Microsoft's Windows XP. It fit the commercial like a glove.

I also love the Kinks' "Picture Book" used for the photo printer commercial (HP?). Actually, I like all those commercials; they're cleverly done and catch your eye, as the music catches your ear.

"Who Are You" is also great as the theme song for CSI.

I'm trying to think of some I don't like... I know there are some, but nothing's coming to mind at the moment. I think I tend to remember the ones I like and forget about the ones I don't like.

Re: Worst Commercialization of a Song
 

Hearing Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel The Noize" in an Ore-Ida commercial was disturbing.