Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!

Subject: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: LadyJean
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 12:40 AM

I don't remember which car company is using a song with the opening lines of "Little Mattie Groves" "Holiday, a holiday the best day of the year." To sell their cars. I know it comes from a song I've heard on the radio. But it began with "Little Mattie Groves". I'm wondering how the songwriter found it.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: Zhenya
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 01:34 AM

I heard this ad too, and had the same surprised reaction. But I didn't even remember it was for cars!

I've heard it twice, and was hoping to hear it again to pay more attention and remember the company to try and track information about it down online. I was also wondering how the ad came to use the line of the song.

I'll put this in the same boat, so to speak, as the car company that a few years ago did an ad using the tune of "What shall we do with a drunken sailor." I seem to recall that when asked about it, they claimed not to know that song, and to claim the tune was something else.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: Ernest
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 01:43 AM

Must be used cars.

Sincerely
Lord Arlen

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 02:23 AM

FOLKswagen?

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:00 AM

Or Ford Grand Marquis?

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:27 AM

Is it this song?

Vampire Weekend - Holiday

Much has been made in the music press of Vampire Weekend's "folk influences".

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:28 AM

The song is Vampire Weekend's Holiday : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vraoiVCDdaM

How the songwriter found it? Well, Liege & Lief remains a popular album even beyond the confines of folk, and most pop musicians I know are hip to all sorts of stuff anyway, especially retro classics whatever the genre. Of course it could also be a complete coincidence...

Doktor Kosmos did something with their own Holiday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIPqwjFqzeQ

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:42 AM

Did something similar that is...

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: IvanB
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 09:35 AM

But the ad is for Tommy Hilfiger.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: IvanB
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 10:18 AM

Well, I see from the youtube vid that it's used in a Honda commercial as well. I've only seen the Tommy ad.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 01:17 PM

I watched the Vampire Weekend video for a little while. That is the most unconvincing, lily-livered lip synching I have ever seen.

If we've got to give the kids fakery, can't we give them good fakery?

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: ClaireBear
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 03:41 PM

I've seen both ads and researched the song lyrics...just as well they only used the first line, as it gets rather odd later on.

Both ads, though, work better than the Pogues' "If I should fall from grace with God," currently being used somewhat incomprehensibly to market Subarus to hockey moms.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:46 PM

I'm just as glad my TV quit working. In 1958.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 11:23 AM

i just watched the video. It is to barf.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: GUEST,Songbob
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 04:22 PM

What I don't understand is why the song ISN'T "Matty Groves." I mean, it starts out that way, then goes off on a very odd tangent. I think the instrumentation (what we hear in the first two lines, anyway) would make a decent "Matty Groves" in genuine, chintzy late-60s folk-rock style. It's not how I would approach it, but it could work just fine.

Too bad no one did it that way.

Bob

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: GUEST,earthdog
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 05:27 PM

Honda commercial....folk music is theft. Listen to Shady Grove and compare to Matty Groves. Dylan has been robbing traditional folk for years....but made it better!

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: GUEST,ajaxfly
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 07:55 AM

kind of wonder if Honda was aware of the lyrics of Matty Groves. Adultery and murder are not exactly typical holiday themes.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: InOBU
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:02 PM

I was surprised to hear that as well... echos of the past... eh?

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: GUEST,muttlover
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 02:51 PM

I hate the way they destroyed such a classic, and I can't get it out of my head, either.
Do you think Fairport Convention or Sandy Denny's estate got ay $$ for it, if not it's theft in my eyes.
And to make this sad tale of longing into a Tommy ad is a travesty

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 11:20 AM

Yes, I heard that lyric used somewhere too, and snickered at the obvious fact that the people selling whatever it was were completely unaware of the lyrics, all I remember was that adultery, killing and murder, oh my, shouldn't be used to sell whatever it was!

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: EBarnacle
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 10:22 AM

Hearing it for at least 10 times per day since they began the campaign, I am thoroughly sick of this Honda ad. No sign of the Hilfiger ad around here.

Subject: RE: Little Mattie Groves Is Selling Cars!
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 01:01 PM

load of crap, is that a robot singing, pathetic