Posted by Icky (64.160.22.215) on August 22, 2002 at 23:55:42:
In Reply to: Re: New Topic -- posted by tkent1 on August 22, 2002 at 15:44:29:
Y'know, years ago a friend who was doing editing for T.V. commercials hired me and a few musish'nin' friends to do a couple of background spots for a couple of Apple commercials. We quickly banged out some sound-alike tracks in a few different, generic styles. I gotta tell ya, when those checks come-a rollin in, it's some sweet cake. There's a veeeerrry fine line between "selling out" and payin'the bills. That's all I have to say on the subject.
Icky the $ell-out.
: : well, i guess we could ask Moby about how he feels about this - his new album isn't doing, comparitively, overly well sales wise, and i suspect that this may be due to the 'slight' overkill on the selling of tracks for ads from the Play album. People may simply have had enough. Admittedly the fact that the album isn't particularly any good (personnal opinion)may also have something to do with this. There does seem to be a credibility gap with bands who start their careers by this route also - i do find that i have to work harder to take them seriously if the first time i came across them was in an ad'. I also think that there's a danger that if the advert is rubbish, or is selling a naff product (The recent Gap ads with Daft Punk for instance) , then the band run the risk as coming across as naff too, simply by associatation. This probably works for songs featured in movies and t.v. too.
: Whether you accept the use of a song in a different medium may well depend upon your level of emotional involvement with the particular track, and whether, as above, the new enviroment for the track is any good. On a personnal level I have recently been a little upset by what Cameron Crowe has NOT put in his movies. Though 'Almost Famous' is a fantastic, if Rose-tinted, movie, the lack of any mention of Big Star is criminal. Though, i should point out, that the Director's Cut does go someway to redressing the balence by mentioning alex chilton's mighty Box Tops. I watched Vanilla Sky on video yesterday and thought how great it would have been had 'Baby's Comin' Back' been used in the movie (it fits thematically).
: Anyway - there's some random 'thought bubbles' for y'all. Shame on you for changing the subject ;)
: Also - i read in the nme yesterday that Beck has hired the Flaming Lips to be his touring band for his up-coming u.s. shows. This a good thing, i guess, but i couldn't help but think of the absence of Mr. Roger. Does this mean that 'softcore' may actually be touring? the rumours start here!!!
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: Mr.Tom
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: OK, I was thinking to get away from controversy, but who knows.... I an psyched that The Sopranos will be back for a new season, yay!! And that lead me to thinking about theme music, and then I thought of a certain band, who is using a different name for their movie/tv work and their album/live work and so I was wondering, What do you guys think about writing music or using existing tracks even, in movies/tv? (Otherwise known as: How far can you go before you get labeled a sell-out?) My position has always been that certain songs are part of the "soundtrack to my life" and I never mind hearing them ANYWHERE cause it always gives me a little thrill to come across them unexpectedly -- like Bowie selling computers or cars or whatever....