Now I know how Apple manages to pump up iTunes sales; they play an iPod ad with a certain song so many times that millions of people have no other option but to log on and download that song, just in an effort to get it out of their heads before they snap.Case in point: The current ad for the new iPod Nano plays the song "1234" by Feist. I guess they used the song so Apple could show the different colors of Nano while Ms. Feist counts off in a sing-songy fashion. Also I think they want to show how great a video with a large number of people in it (she uses a large backing chorus on the song) looks on the Nano's itty-bitty screen (though I can barely see it on the ad, but whatever).
It's not a bad song. But because Apple has bought so much commercial time since the new Nano's introduction -- and hasn't produced any other ads -- this Feist ad plays over and over ad nauseum. I saw the ad at least four times during last night's Yankees-Red Sox game alone, and, even though Jay didn't mention it during his live blog, I checked with him via IM and he confirmed that they played the ad so many times during the Emmys that it was about to make him go on a nine-state killing spree.
(Well, not really. But they played it a lot. And Jay was pretty on-edge anyway, having to skip all the fun sports that were on just to live blog the Emmys for us. Three hours of Seacrest would make anyone a bit squirrely. But that's another story...)
But Apple has really done its job. I thought it was a cute but harmless song (I first heard the song when she performed it on Letterman this past summer, and thought the chorus part was fun. That was about it). But now? I'm at the point where I'm thinking, "the next time I'm on iTunes I should download that song." And there's a reason for that. If I don't hear the entire song, the thirty-second snippet Apple gave us in the ad will rattle around in my cranium for months. So it's either download the song or go out and yell at the college kid who's going to serve me my latte tomorrow morning. You can see that I have no choice.
This isn't the first time Apple has made me so batty with one of their ads I had to download a song just to keep me sane. I downloaded "Jerk It Out" from the Ceasars for the same reason, and I heard U2's "Vertigo" so many times that I almost downloaded the song and bought the album; luckily, common sense prevailed there and I waited.
Here's a list of songs that have been in iPod ads. I'm sure at least a few of them are on your own iPods, just because the ads drove you to download those songs just through sheer repetition (would anyone have bought "Cubicle" from Rinocerose if not for those ads? Didn't think so). Which of these songs drove you so nuts that you just had to download them? Let me know in the comments.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-17-2007 @ 12:26PM
tricia said...
I have had that Feist video for months on my computer and will play it every few days. It does stay on your mind, but you know, there are so much WORSE songs you could have in your head!!! It is quite an intriguing video, too. You would probably enjoy it!
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9-17-2007 @ 12:56PM
George said...
http://www.myspace.com/feist
there's your fix. just saved you 99 cents :)
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9-17-2007 @ 12:57PM
1iPete said...
It should have been MTV's video of the year but sadly wasn't nominated for any VMAs.
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9-17-2007 @ 2:24PM
BC said...
Interesting...I watch a lot of TV, but the shows I watch must have the wrong demo, because I haven't seen this ad. When iPod ads come on, I tend to notice the striking visuals but pay no attention to the music. I own two iPods but I doubt that a single song in my collection is hip enough for Apple to use in advertising.
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9-17-2007 @ 2:26PM
Jake Geiser said...
Very few times have I ever bought a song that was on an iPod commercial. I hear them so many times that if I bought them I would get sick of them.
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9-17-2007 @ 2:40PM
Mariah said...
It's been driving me nuts too - so much so that I did download the song (after Googling to find out what it was) during the Emmys.
The iPhone song, "Perfect Timing (This Morning)” by Orba Squara has also driven me to download. It reminds me of a dreamy cover of the Mary Tyler Moore theme song.
Apple has good sense with these commercials - I have about half of those songs on my faux-pod and these aren't really ones I'd stumble onto without iPod commercials.
http://thecourier.typepad.com/popgoestheculture/
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9-17-2007 @ 2:47PM
tv junkie said...
I fell in love with Feist when I first heard her song "Gatekeeper" from the HSBC Direct commercial (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ojsR4fDWAcE)
she also sang the song "My Moon My Man" in the new Verison chocolate commercial as well.
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9-17-2007 @ 2:53PM
AJ said...
I would've live blogged for you...oh well
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9-17-2007 @ 2:54PM
KateGee said...
Why don't you just buy The Reminder - it's a great album. And then go buy some Broken Social Scene too. You'll feel better.
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9-17-2007 @ 3:04PM
fishpatrol said...
Target has the CD for $10, if you can't find it at a local record store. Her first album is different but just as good. The best way to get a song out of your head? Play the next track.
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9-17-2007 @ 3:57PM
Patrick said...
So yesterday I commented on the post made on this site about Chris Crocker pointing out how instead of linking his video posted in his account you linked some random person who had ripped off his video.
Now here with Feist you guys are doing the same thing.
A legal copy of Feist's video can be found through Universal Music Group's Youtube account:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=d3vIv1EwO5A
I don't want to be replying to all the posts on this site with complaints. I'm a big fan of this site and I overall enjoyed this particular post. I just think that people should take the time to find Youtube videos posted legitimately, especially when it's not just an average person, but a professional site like this one.
Peace.
-Patrick (http://www.myspace.com/journeymystery)
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9-17-2007 @ 6:15PM
Jake Geiser said...
The only song I have ever wanted to find from a commercial is the song "idioteque" by Radiohead (off of Kid A) because they would play in the bumpers for the "10 Spot" on MTV. For what ever reason I loved the sound and discovered Radiohead. Best discovery ever.
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9-17-2007 @ 8:35PM
tricia said...
Patrick, that is where I watched the video. So I guess I am legal, right?
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9-17-2007 @ 8:39PM
Jonny Rice said...
I agree with KateGee, go buy The Reminder in its entirety. It's fantastic. Additionally, it's nice to see someone who's not already huge get some of the iPod advert love. (I'm talking to you, Bono and Bob Dylan!)
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9-18-2007 @ 12:50AM
Brent said...
The whole album, which is indeed fantastic (I've listened to it about 1,000,000 times), is available on eMusic in DRM-Free MP3:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Feist-The-Reminder-MP3-Download/11024369.html
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9-18-2007 @ 7:58AM
Nep said...
What the others said. Buy the album. It's brilliant. Then do yourself another favour, and buy "Let It Die", because it's even better!
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