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An Apple a Day…Keeps Your Song in the #1 Spot on iTunes!
February 10, 2008 - 6:06pm — Cynthia Galindo
I think we all know how much I adore Feist; I’ve got piles of ticket stubs, hours of bootleg audio and I’m pretty sure that I’ve blogged about her incessantly. So you can imagine the overwhelming joy I felt when "Honey, Honey" played during Bette and Tina’s makeup scene! From Season Two to Season Five, Feist has musically moved throughout The L Word, starting off as a relatively obscure Canadian artist and culminating as a Grammy nominee for her latest masterpiece, The Reminder—which, seriously guys, if you don’t have it by now…
With Feist resting comfortable at the top, I think it’s time to redirect my slightly obsessive tendencies to another up-and-coming artist who, like Feist, has skyrocketed into notoriety with the help of an Apple ad.
Her name is Yael Naim. Born in Paris, raised in Israel, Naim—much like Feist—recorded the collection of songs that make up her latest self-titled album in her apartment in Paris. At first glance, the Apple ad made me seriously depressed. For an avid blogger like myself, writing on a four-year-old PC is much like watching a 90-year-old stroke victim cross the street. I mean it’s slightly painful to witness and at the end of the day there’s really nothing you can do but let it happen. Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, I want the new MacBook Air...or any Mac for that matter. After I gawked at Steve Jobs' latest creation, I suddenly realized that I had a particular melody stuck in my head—Naim’s "New Soul." Man, they’re good! After some digging, I discovered that Yael was also responsible for what is quite possibly the sexiest version of a track that's been covered by every band in the known universe, "Toxic" by Britney Spears.
Along with "New Soul" and "Toxic," "Too Long" is another must-download! With Apple by her side, it’s only a matter of time before Yael is in iPods across the globe.
By the way, what did you all think of that B-52s exclusive?! Their never-before-heard track "Juliet of the Spirits" closed out the show. It can be found on their upcoming release, Funplex, which hits stores March 25, 2008—just in time for Dinah Shore Weekend! Who wants to join my carpool?! Most of you have already heard one of the tracks off the new record, "Pump," as they played an early version for us at the Planet in Season Three. So mark your calendars and please go out and support a band who has given the show so many exclusives, created a "safe space" for other amazing artists like The Scissor Sisters and, well, made life in junior high a little more colorful.
See you next Sunday!
With Feist resting comfortable at the top, I think it’s time to redirect my slightly obsessive tendencies to another up-and-coming artist who, like Feist, has skyrocketed into notoriety with the help of an Apple ad.
Her name is Yael Naim. Born in Paris, raised in Israel, Naim—much like Feist—recorded the collection of songs that make up her latest self-titled album in her apartment in Paris. At first glance, the Apple ad made me seriously depressed. For an avid blogger like myself, writing on a four-year-old PC is much like watching a 90-year-old stroke victim cross the street. I mean it’s slightly painful to witness and at the end of the day there’s really nothing you can do but let it happen. Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, I want the new MacBook Air...or any Mac for that matter. After I gawked at Steve Jobs' latest creation, I suddenly realized that I had a particular melody stuck in my head—Naim’s "New Soul." Man, they’re good! After some digging, I discovered that Yael was also responsible for what is quite possibly the sexiest version of a track that's been covered by every band in the known universe, "Toxic" by Britney Spears.
Along with "New Soul" and "Toxic," "Too Long" is another must-download! With Apple by her side, it’s only a matter of time before Yael is in iPods across the globe.
By the way, what did you all think of that B-52s exclusive?! Their never-before-heard track "Juliet of the Spirits" closed out the show. It can be found on their upcoming release, Funplex, which hits stores March 25, 2008—just in time for Dinah Shore Weekend! Who wants to join my carpool?! Most of you have already heard one of the tracks off the new record, "Pump," as they played an early version for us at the Planet in Season Three. So mark your calendars and please go out and support a band who has given the show so many exclusives, created a "safe space" for other amazing artists like The Scissor Sisters and, well, made life in junior high a little more colorful.
See you next Sunday!
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35 Comments
Joan Armatrading is amazing
Joan Armatrading is amazing - I loved her from season 1
Music
I think the music they have been using in the scenes are excellent . I like the words which makes the scenes even more decent.
U-N-U RADIO
I LOVE FEIST TOO AND SHE'S DEFINITELY IN ROTATION ON U-N-U. THANKS FOR THE POST. I'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LISTEN TO THE NEW CHICK.
Who Knew Toxic could sound so beautiful
When Yael sang toxic, I was amazed. It didn't sound winey, and annoying, it was quite beautiful. I can really feel the and hear the words to the song. That was amazing to hear, it really is a good song, when it is done with some substance.
I didn't like Toxic until I heard Yael sing it.
I didn't like Toxic until I heard Yael sing it. It was beautiful.
Is it weird...
...that I like the covers of "Toxic" more than the actual song?
Nikel Creek did a cover a few years back that I really love, too.
Girl. Writing.
dude, i don't understand why
dude, i don't understand why a tech savvy chick like you is on an old dinosaur computer...it doesn't match your fancy LA indie music lifestyle. :0
Stellar music
Yay :) i love Yael Naim. She deserves more credit and attention for her music.
totally agree!
and I'm kinda thinking/hoping this ad will help!
song title
Does anyone know the name of the song that was playing when Jenny took Adele shopping?
yep!
yeah.. it's "pull shapes" by the pipettes.. pure pop fun!
i cant figure it out...can you help?
ok
so what is the song that plays the first time bette and tina hook up?
you guys have probably said it like a thousand times throughout these posts
but i am just not seeing it
(is it yael naim?)
anyway
i LOVE the pipettes
and im SO happy that they played them!
Great song...
I was wandering the same thing. It's not Yeal Naim, it's Joan Armatrading, the song is Love and Affection. Great song... great scene!
thank you!
thank you so much
wow...wow
I do believe the toxic song by Brittany was in my guilty pleasures on my profile and I can only do her version in the club. :) I was speachless with Yael's version. All I have to say is wow, she is wonderful and there is actually a reason I liked that song, and now I love it!
It's kind of amazing....
it's slightly embarrassing when you realize that Toxic might actually be a good song...lol...have you heard of the Marc Ronson version featuring Tiggers?? check it out, I think you might like it!
great
great music
www.eyeslikealeopard.com
Yael Naim
I totally recommend this album. I have it and it's constantly playing on my iPod.
C.
Feist.
Yeah when Feist's Honey Honey came on last night, I almost cried.
Free Yael Naim download
itunes is offering a free download of the Yael song "Far Far" for a limited time!
http://RoseRollinsFanBlog.blogspot.com
Okay, I'm hooked.
I'm on my way to itunes to buy some Yael Naim.
http://RoseRollinsFanBlog.blogspot.com
yael
love her. looked her up after seeing the MacAir commercial, and i definitely have the three mentioned songs. i've been listening to yael and alice smith a lot lately. and, woohoo!, i've had Feist's Reminder for a while. it's one of the few cds i've actually cared to purchase in the past year. downloading saves money, but i like to give my support to artists on occasion by buying their albums. especially if they're not very mainstream, and they deserve it.
:)
--the world is a vampire...
Real songs in commercials.
I hate advertising that has real songs (and when I say "real songs," I mean songs that aren't jingles) featured in commercials. I am specifically talking about older classic songs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. I'm sorry, but now every time I hear "Sweet Home Alabama," I think of god damned KFC... which no doubt was KFC's goal. Consequently, I have sworn never to eat at KFC again for that simple fact.
Companies are creating a positive association between a song and a product/brand for millions of potential customers when they use these songs in commericals.
A great example: "Our House" by Madness was featured on a Folger's coffee ad not too long ago. I have memories of me (age 6) and my sister (age 11) singing along and dancing to "Our House" with our parents in a long car trip to Maine. That is a pretty warm memory from my childhood. I'm sure tons of other people have positive feelings similar to mine associated with that song. By Folger's using it in an advertisement, I feel like they are purposefully trying to exploit those memories that I have in the name of trying to peddle their coffee.
Does anyone else see where I'm going with this? The bottom line is that companies want to sell things. As stupid as my theory may seem, I think that companies will try any bizarre tactic to sell their things. I do not like the idea of my favorite songs and some of my memories having a brand seared into them.
So in conclusion, using real songs instead of jingles is: 1.) fucking bullshit 2.) blatantly uncreative 3.) lazy 4.) a form of exploitation.
I want to see more of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz8fTbLjo9c
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5rQaHpJPmY
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqs7Sy9h81w
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pA0ZljQFgE
or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYoI98nUnjI
For realz, yo. (And I'm sorry for the length of the post.)
I'd like to agree with you
But I can't. Not wholeheartedly, at least. I would love to live in a consumerless society just as much as the next idealist, where I could trade, say, two of my chickens for some of your cow's milk. But come on. Even when I lived in San Francisco and wore flowers in my hair, I never really bought the whole purist's perspective. Not unless you wanna advertise it with a catchy tune that will sell it to me in 30 seconds or less. ;)
I wonder, would you say that pairing music with visuals (like, say, in a movie) is more creative because movies aren't trying to sell anything? Except for themselves of course. Advertisers only want to pluck the same heartstrings and I find some of them to be impressively artistic and innovative, regardless of who might be "selling out" to make them that way. And sometimes even MORE creative than the latest crappy Hollywood rerun that blew a budget in the millions. Still, I think you have a right to sue the shit out of Folgers for ruining your memories.
One more thing, I promise. I just wondered what you think of all the advertisements here on OurChart? Does coming here make a person part of the machine? Just wondering.
I lied - one more thing. A whole lot of older music, and even some music that went unnoticed the first time around, has been reintroduced through commercial use. I'll often revisit whole eras of music, for weeks even, with a little jogging of my memory. So I don't really know how much weight the old exploitation argument can carry.
It's all just another thought by just another devil's advocate. Really all I wanted to do was make it long enough so you wouldn't have to feel sorry for the length of yours for another minute. Good enough? Hope so. Bye now!
www.lezbang.com
Thanks for your thoughts
I realize that we definitely could not live in a society without consumerism. I'm not attacking consumerism or even advertising as a whole. I am just simply stating an opinion that using "popular" music from the past in most commercials is not creative. I also wasn't trying to generalize in my first post, but that's the trend that I have noticed with most commercials... I agree with you that there are some creative commercials, and sadly some that are better than big budget movies. I would say that popular music used in a movie is creative, because the point is to create a memorable scene for the viewer. I have no problem looking at a commercial and receiving the information it's trying to convey and deciding if I will or will not buy a product... I guess what I have a problem with is advertisers trying to pluck my heart strings in order for me to buy their product... does that make sense?
On the other hand, I don't have a problem with a commercial using a new artist's material. That artist just wants to get their name and sound out there, and television is a great way to do it, don't you think? I can admit to hearing a new song from a commercial, looking it up on adtunes.com, and then downloading it. That I am completely guilty of.
Ok, but now a question for you, did you know that there are around 78 million people in the U.S. that are 39-57 in age (which is around 30% of the total population)? Baby boomers are a quite a large part of the population and a huge demographic that advertisers try to target. Older songs used in advertisements aimed towards that age group are a given. So of course a lot of the younger population will not have heard of these songs, but that's irrelevant because they are not the target demographic. Maybe it can be argued that baby boomers are being exploited by those commercials?
And as for the advertisements on ourchart, that is a completely different format of advertising with which I have no problems with (unless they had sound and just immediately started blaring out of my computer speakers, hahaha). Being on ourchart does not make someone a part of the machine any more than driving on an interstate with billboards would. I'm not sure if being part of the machine is so bad, since one could argue that we are all consumers and a part of the circle.
I guess in the end it all comes down to the individual and the power that we are given to ignore or turn off the tv when advertisements come on. I just got digital cable not too long ago and now that I think about it, I pretty much only watch movies now.
And a THOUSAND THANK YOUS my lady, for making your post longer than mine and making me feel a little less douche-y. I realize this is all in good fun and I didn't mean for my first post to come off as serious... did you watch the commericals from youtube I posted?? What did you think of those works of art? Hilarious. Maybe companies should just recycle their old commercials? I completely respect your opinions btw and look forward to your reply :).
Mme Merde
You have a really good name. And you are really nice. Which kind of contradicts your name. Which come to think of it, is what instigated this whole thing. All I really wanted to do was give you shit, Mme Merde. I thought you were asking for it.
But really, I agree with a lot of what you say and am, myself, full of contradictions. I have a bad case of both sides of the story syndrome and so I always go with the side with less representation.
I did watch your commercials and I understand the nostalgia in doing things in a simpler, more honest way. Trust me. And I'd rather go to Bill's Pickin' Parlor to hear music than to the local corporate owned stadium any day. I also know how consumerism kills the spirit of so many things, but I often see the rebel fighters as being just as forced and commercialized (and homogenized) as the people and ideas they are fighting against.
Take for example, the Gap. People fought to have the Gap closed down on Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco as if they were fighting to save a poor child's life. It made no sense to me because it was all about condemning one institution for providing your basic tee, while condoning their need to stick out like a sore thumb. Until everyone stuck out like the same sore thumb, together.
Sorry. Tangent. I guess it's just an issue I have when I see people fighting for something because everyone else is fighting for it. Of course everyone hates a society based on exploiting the mindless consumer with commercials and gimmicks. Who in their right mind would like such a thing? But the fight against it is as impersonal as the thing itself, in my opinion. And nothing seems personal to anyone anymore. Still, the memories you tied in to the Folger's commercial were in fact, very personal to you. And that's why you win. If anyone wins in the end.
But your question about musical demographics, I can't answer. I fancy the old almost as much as the new. And I think a large percentage of the music lovin' population does too. I want to hear long lost gems and new world tunes bumping right up against each other. Like walking through city streets. I want to hear all music everywhere I go and then I will be happy. I really don't give a merde if something is being sold in the background.
Nice chattin, Mme Merde. I'm sure everyone just LOVES us for such, nice long ones. I don't care. Do you? It's our right, dammit!
www.lezbang.com
A good example
Real quick. Many of the creative commercials that use music have nothing at all to do with the product. This one could've in fact been made without chocolate in mind at all. Ya know? I dig it a lot and enjoy it for what it is, but it doesn't make me hungry for a Cadbury egg. It makes me consider purchasing a gorilla suit, maybe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnzFRV1LwIo&feature=related
www.lezbang.com
Eff it
Eff it, it's our total right to have foot-long posts. Yeah it's been nice chattin it up with you too.
And I love that commercial, hahahaha. I think admitting that totally discredits my posts above and proves me a hypocrite, lolerz.
***sigh*** Rachel? .....are
***sigh***
Rachel? .....are you single....***sigh***
rovermom :)
Life is a 3D puzzle and everyone has a piece!
NEW! OurChart Photo Assignment and My Blog
Forever Rover
I'll be any old thing you want. Happy Valentines Day if I don't hear from ya!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18331318
Oh and, you should check this song out. I think you'd like it. All you gotta do is push play when you get there.
www.lezbang.com
Happy Valentine's Day , Babe....
Be still my heart, I'm listening to it right now....niiiiccccceeee. Me likey! I'm forever single, too, Rach...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kZl_foxwOLo
May I have this dance?
rovermom :)
Life is a 3D puzzle and everyone has a piece!
NEW! OurChart Photo Assignment and My Blog
Music: a morsel thought...
Quite simply (and as it's rather late my side of the Atlantic)I'm afraid that's what you get when you live in one of the most capitalist and consumer based countries in the world. Tis the same here.
Music
Unsigned artist are what I am looking for .... Edie Carey, Trina Hamlin, Susan Werner, Martine Locke, Ruthie Foster, McKinley Black
with so many seasons it would be nice to see some love go to other hard tourin gals.
As far as the signed artist I agree with Feist love and i am really diggin Brandi Carlile, Tristan Prettyman of course Patty Griffin, Sara Barreilles, Cat Power, Maria Mena
Dar Williams and KD Lang (... how can you not use Upstream)
NIKKI, WHAH, WHAH, WHAH! I
NIKKI, WHAH, WHAH, WHAH! I just can't stand her, she's to Carmen Electra for me.
Funny
I've also been taken by a few commercials lately where I'll stop dead in my tracks to watch when one comes on. The new Honda commercial with Electric Light Orchestra's Hold on Tight makes ya wanna race through time tunnels in a shiny new one. Doesn't it? They're smart, those advertisers. But really, you can be shit with a reel and still hook a fishy if you have a good song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvcyUe4849U
The whole music/art/commercialism issue could be also be reconciled with something you said: "at the end of the day there’s really nothing you can do but let it happen." I'd rather worry about the old man crossing the street than about rich artists selling out to get richer. Ya know?
www.lezbang.com