traditional music in advertisements

Subject: traditional music in advertisements
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 May 08 - 06:35 PM

how do people feel,about hearing traditional music being used in advertisements.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 May 08 - 06:45 PM

Has this ever happened?

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 May 08 - 06:48 PM

On a related note I came across this the other day which left an odd taste in the mouth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTMsFlSw_JI

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 May 08 - 07:28 PM

Magners[Bulmers Cider?] use traditional sounding, song, Galway girl[written by Steve Earle]with pictures of people playing traditional instruments.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 May 08 - 07:29 PM

co written with SharonShannon]Ithink.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 May 08 - 08:05 PM

McDonalds in the UK used Matt Seattle's slow air "Lindisfarne" played by Kathryn Tickell.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Kent Davis
Date: 06 May 08 - 10:35 PM

Golden Grahams cereal changed "Golden Slippers" into: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0H_hqN54Gs

Lemon Pledge furniture polish changed the chorus of a traditional-sounding song, "Lemon Tree", into:
"Lemon Pledge cleans so easy,
Lemon way to make wood glow..."

I don't especially like it, since now I tend to "hear" the advertisement whenever I hear the song. On the other hand, to look at the bright side, advertisements do expose millions of people to songs that, perhaps, they would not otherwise have heard.

Kent

P.S. The originals of both songs are in the Digital Tradition.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Escapee
Date: 06 May 08 - 11:18 PM

The more trad music they use, the less they abuse Beethoven's Ninth.
I once heard " The Minstrel Boy " as the soundtrack of the suburban fulfillment of the American Dream. I guess the producers finally heard the words to the song because it vanished after a week or so on TV. I think it was a commercial for a mortgage company. In general, though, I approve of more use of traditional or folk music wherever it can fit.
Fair winds,
SKP

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Banjovey
Date: 07 May 08 - 02:13 AM

There used to be a yoghurt ad. that used Old Joe Clarke with the words "I know a song that will get on your nerves"

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: pavane
Date: 07 May 08 - 02:46 AM

I am sure I heard 'Dance to your daddy' many years ago, but can't say who used it. Someone selling seafood, no doubt.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 May 08 - 02:47 AM

One AD which I can't remember who is using ' Music For A Found Harmonium ' I would have thought the AD people would use a lot more traditional stuff, no writer to pay and no copyright to pay.

eric

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Splott Man
Date: 07 May 08 - 03:01 AM

I don't think the royalty budget would be an issue for an advertising campaign.

With Music For A Found Harmonium, Patrick Street would have got an arranger's royalty, and Simon Jeffe's estate would have got the writer's royalty.




If it's the people's music, why not let the people hear it?

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 07 May 08 - 03:46 AM

Music For A Found Harmonium is not traditional. It was written only about 20 years ago by Simon Jeffes for the Penguin Café Orchestra and is therefore very much in copyright. I got to hear it used in an ad during the recent Channel 5 series of documentaries about successful singers in order to advertise the junk furniture shop MFI, where it is played by Patrick Street.

As a child (when I used to watch TV, ads and all) I recall the tune of Blaydon Races used for the listings mag The Viewer ( . . . don't be late for Channel 8, be sure and get . . . ) and Cushy Butterfield to sell Newcastle Brown Ale ( . . . it's a fine beer it's a bottled beer . . .).

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Santa
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:15 AM

Is this an indication that the North East paid more attention to its own traditions? Not that either Blaydon races or Cushy Butterfield are "traditional" in the more purist sense normally used on this forum, but I don't want to go down that road.

I don't have any problems with the use of folk music in commercials. If anything, it will bring attention to the music outside of any "ghetto" setting, and thus will be good. Maggie Boyle made a bit of cash out of a VW commercial some years back: good for her - though I don't remember how traditional the song was. Does anyone else remember this more fully?

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: sian, west wales
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:17 AM

Blaydon Races has, I think, been used in a dog food commercial fairly recently. And there's a frozen fish producer which has used,
"thou shalt have a fishy on a little dish-y" for quite a few years now.

Generally, I look on it as an encouraging practice, particularly if the context isn't too 'hokey' or the tunes/songs aren't being used to poke fun at trad/folk in general. Somewhere there's a creative director of an ad agency, or musical director of the production company, upon whose radar trad/folk still shows up.

sian

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:23 AM

Cultural ambience! But is this really traditional music per se? Or just stuff pulled off folk albums for effect? Whatever the case, the researchers must feel their intended demographic is vulnerable to such methods, which in itself is worrying.

Just as long as they leave the real stuff alone, though one would hope Mr Seattle is enjoying the royalty on the McDonald's gig. Nice one, Matt!

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:40 AM

I can remember a reader's question in "

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:46 AM

Again. I can remember a reader's question in "The Viewer" back in 1961 or 62 (it could have been either year as the North East was represented on both occasions)that while watching the broadcast of the F.A.Amateur Cup Final they were aware of the marching band at half time playing "You've Got To Buy The Viewer" and asking why this was.The magazine did point out that the tune was actually an "old North Eastern Folksong called Blaydon Races". Obviously someone was not aware of their own traditions!

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:47 AM

my objection is two fold.
the using of trad music to sell inappropriate consumer goods,[what will we have next,Sam Larner/Harry Cox providing the music for Birdseye fish fingers].
On a purely emotional level,I feel the music is cheapened.,the song/ tune[by its association] becomes spoiled for me.
on the other hand,if it gets anyone genuinely interested in the music that must be good.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:49 AM

I remember how ill I felt when I heard Diamond Day on the T-Mobile add; one of life's cherished little treasures being dragged kicking and screaming into the light of day, although I admit this says more about my own cultural naivety than it does about the corporate cynicism of the ad-men, however so timely!

There will, alas, always be casualties!

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST,The Beer Token
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:52 AM

Both 'Tune For A Found Harmonium' and 'Galway Girl' that are currently being used in ad campaigns are recordings by Sharon Shannon. 'Harmonium' can be found on her first album with the mighty Steve Cooney on guitar and 'Galway Girl' on The Diamond Mountain Sessions.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 07 May 08 - 05:11 AM

I seem to recall that Sharon Shannon calls Music For A Found Harmonium something else and doesn't credit the PCO, claiming that she "picked it up in a session". I was going to say so in my initial post then remembered that in the ad in question, it is actually Patrick Street who are screwing it up (er. . . I mean playing it). Indeed, the website The Session says it's "trad Irish", but then they say that about most tunes. Makes you wonder if ad makers are raiding sites with sloppy accreditation of tunes to try and save a buck on royalties.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 07 May 08 - 05:15 AM

Here it is; the original & best!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJg1NNyke2E

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST,The Beer Token
Date: 07 May 08 - 05:27 AM

Diane, Sharon couples 'Harmonium' with a waltz called 'Retour des Hirondelles'. The sleeve notes read (the first tune, a waltz, was learnt from Dermot Byrne the box player from Co. Donegal and the second is a tune by The Penguin Cafe Orchestra).

Incidentally, on the subject of Dermot Byrne, does anyone else here, other than me, think that Dermot is the best box player in Ireland bar none!

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: strad
Date: 07 May 08 - 05:31 AM

Surely getting traditional style music out to the greater public is a good thing. Maybe even get a few converts away from the eternal search for fame!

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 07 May 08 - 06:34 AM

A recent UK ad for Specsavers featured Una Palliser singing Mo Ghile Mear. You can see/hear it here.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST,Val
Date: 07 May 08 - 12:27 PM

About a year ago, one US company selling SUV's was using the tune for "What shall we do with a drunken sailor" in their commercials. Struck me as an odd match between song & product - you want drunken sailors driving SUV's? (Well, here in the US that probably happens all too often...)

Advertising is intended to at least get you to remember the product. And these days, most of it tries to invoke some specific emotional response as well. That emotion may not have any connection with the use of the product, but Ad Executives have decided that triggering emotions is a more effective way to get people to buy something than detailing features/benefits to the consumer and appealing to logic & reason.

Anyway... use of music that is familiar to the audience is one tool of advertisers. For example, I would guess that the "Drunken Sailor" music for the SUV was intended to make the listener feel happy & rebellious (tying in with the current "pirate" fad), and maybe even a bit cruel (assuming the listeners know the lyrics). This is the mindset the advertisers want people in when they think about buying a vehicle. (kinda scary, ain't it?)

As a general rule, it seems that the history of the music (or background setting, or whatever) is of almost no interest to advertisers. They only think about how the music (or whatever) will impact their target audience. And that audience is usually the mindless consumer who has been brainwashed into not thinking critically before buying a product.

So we should not be surprised that advertisers show no "respect for tradition".

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: irishenglish
Date: 07 May 08 - 12:48 PM

Didn't Carlsberg use a traditional song by Capercaillie about 10 years ago? I can see where the Captain is coming from on it, but subscribe more to the feeling that if it turns someone on to a song, or a group they never heard of (and as long as it doesn't infringe upon someone's recording rights) then it is ok. I will say that Val's point is true with regard to advertising, because I don't think their choices are done with much eye towards respect for tradition, but merely for catchiness and sales figures. However, if the same song is used for a film score, one feels that at least some degree of respect is in place for the song,be it setting a mood, etc.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 May 08 - 01:06 PM

As a friendly outsider when it comes to traditional material - in whatever form - I'm often given the push to check out tunes/songs which I hear in adverts. MFAFH being a case in point, though I had heard the tune before. There have been lots of songs which I've only heard on adverts and the purity of the thing doesn't bother me. Having said that I respect the Cap'n when he finds advert usage cheapening but agree completely when he admits that if it gets anybody new interested in the genre then that must be a good thing.
BTW Just for the sake of pedantry, wasn't it Youngs Seafoods who used "Dance to You Daddy" AKA "When The Boat Comes In"?

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 07 May 08 - 01:55 PM

I'd have thought it makes no difference if a tune is trad or composed- If it's on a commercially available recording someone, somewhere should be either a registered composer or arranger (unless the label have skimped on their homework). The exception would be if the music was made especially and the musicians signed a buyout clause.

As to whether it's a Good Thing or not, I think that depends whether the music is presented sympathetically as a target of ridicule which has sometimes been the case. If it's well-presented and it makes a few bob for the artist I can't see an issue with it.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: DMcG
Date: 07 May 08 - 02:01 PM

Again. I can remember a reader's question in "The Viewer" back in 1961 or 62 (it could have been either year as the North East was represented on both occasions)that while watching the broadcast of the F.A.Amateur Cup Final they were aware of the marching band at half time playing "You've Got To Buy The Viewer" and asking why this was.The magazine did point out that the tune was actually an "old North Eastern Folksong called Blaydon Races". Obviously someone was not aware of their own traditions!

And I was that person! To be fair, I was only eight at the time ...

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: DMcG
Date: 07 May 08 - 02:09 PM

Actually, there's rather more to the story than that. I had made that remark to my father, who told me it was "Blaydon Races", but to send a letter in anyway because there was a good chance it would be published (as it would be a sort of hidden advertisement for "The Viewer"). Sure enough, it got published and so we got invited to see a recording of a show in the Newcastle studios, which was a quite an exciting day out in an unfamiliar city to a young 'un from Middlesbrough.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: theleveller
Date: 07 May 08 - 03:20 PM

I've no problem with it at all. As a professional writer I've written plenty of TV and radio commercials in my time (one of the ways I fund my "other" writing). I've never actually used a traditional tune or song but I came very close to it recently - but the commercial was never made.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:15 PM

Then there's the story of the airline company using Dougie's Caledonia, thinking they had a trad song.

Several years back there was a TV ad for a bank (ANZ I think) and they used an Aussie song but I can't remember which one it was now.
Robyn

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: trevek
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:37 PM

I think it was a Runrig song used by Carlsberg. A friend of mine was most annoyed by the fact. I seem to recall "She moved through the fair" being used for Irish beer once. Then wasn't the tune for "Country Life" butter a trad melody?

I don't have a problem with it being used as long as it isn't just being used to take the piss out of folkies. If the music is being used for effect and it creates a positive effect which attracts people to the music then fair play.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: irishenglish
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:43 PM

Might have been Runrig for Carlsberg, but I know I have a Capercaillie DVD that mentions a video being used for an ad.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 May 08 - 05:18 PM

It can be quite eductional. Back when I was about 9 or 10 years old the absolutely first "Irish?" "trad?" tune I ever "learned" the melody to was a commercial jingle for the "Henry J" automobile.

Of course I didn't really know that it was a trad tune until about fifty years later, when I played it (by accident) from a collection book.

As to "spoiling" things, it does indeed conjure up a "vision" of that incredibly ugly little car every time I hear (or play) the tune.

John

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 07 May 08 - 07:17 PM

Wild Rover...Guinness and then Clover Margerine.
They mostly use these tunes because they're familiar and oft played so every time you hear them they're getting free advertising. It pisses me off that they're making millions out of the people's music, but I don't blame them for doing it, it's in the public domain and that means everybody can use it.

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: Gulliver
Date: 07 May 08 - 08:09 PM

I don't mind it if it's done tastefully. I didn't like the Specsavers parodies, but the Bulmers ads have good renditions of the music, whether it's folk, blues, or rock, so do Guinness, IMO. There's a lot of traditional songs/tunes used in ads in Ireland, but I never thought twice about it till I saw this thread.   don

Subject: RE: traditional music in advertisements
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 07 May 08 - 10:38 PM

If trad music is used, there may be some $ for a trad musician. I wrote and played a little banjo riff for a Mayola Ice Cream commercial in North Carolina about 45 years ago, and, figured by the hour, the $25 for 15 seconds of music remains the best paying gig (by the hour) I ever had. :)
Carter B