REFLECTION 1: As Heard on TV—The Music of Commercials

Let's face it, music can have great influence over us and that includes the ability to sell us things. Advertisers have known this for decades, which is why TV  commercials have been laden with music since the early days of radio. Today, music is still an integral part of commercials. Advertisers work diligently to find music that enhances the appeal of a product, knowing that pairing the right song with the right product can result in increased profits. Additionally, many artists' songs have been resurrected, or plucked from obscurity, after being placed in a major commercial. For many artists, having "that song from that commercial" can translate into a considerable bump in album sales. For this reflection, you will examine three of the following commercials to assess the overall impact music has in the ads. (Note we are not looking at songs that are modified for a particular campaign, but songs that are used in their original form in order to help sell you something.) Each of these songs was chosen for a reason. But what do you think those reasons were? What likely was the desired effect? How is the product enhanced by this music? If you are already familiar with the song, how does your prior knowledge affect your appreciation of the ad or the product? Finally, do songs in television advertising ever influence your own purchase of products?

Choose three of the following ads for your analysis:

• Apple's "Color Flood" featuring Cosmo Sheldrake's “Come Along” (2019)
• Walmart's "Famous Cars" featuring Gary Newman's "Cars" (2019) 
• Budweiser's "Wind Never Felt Better" featuring CLOVES' "Blowin' in the Wind" (2019)
• Tiffany & Co.'s "Believe in Dreams" featuring Elle Fanning and A$AP Ferg's "Moon River" (2018)
• Apple's "Sway" featuring Sam Smith's "Palace" (2017) 
• Levi's "Circles" featuring Jain's "Makeba" (2017)
• Target's "Vibes, TargetStyle" featuring Spencer Ludwig's "Diggy: (2016)
• Nike's "Unlimited Pursuit" featuring Lissie’s “Pursuit of Happiness" (2016)
• Coca-Cola's "Break Up" featuring Alexander Cardinale's “Made for You” (2016)
• Apple's iPhone 6' s "Timer" featuring Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" (2016) 
• Subaru Forester's "Making Memories" featuring Gregory Isakov's "Time Will Tell" (2015)
• Android's "Friends Furever" featuring "O-De-Lally" by Roger Miller (2015)
• Android's "And You" featuring Andrew W.K.'s "Party Hard" (2014)
• Apple iPhone's "Metal Mastered" featuring "Ooh La La" by Goldfrapp (2013)
• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' "Misfit Right In" featuring Major Lazer ft. The Partysquad's "Original Don" (2013)
• Chipotle's "The Scarecrow" featuring "Pure Imagination" by Fiona Apple (2013)
• Taco Bell's "Viva Young" featuring fun's "We are Young" in Spanish (2013)
• Target's "Color Changes Everything" featuring "Alouette" by The Delta Rythmn Boys (2012)
• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' "Let Him Go" featuring Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2012)
• Internet Explorer's "IE9" featuring "Too Close" by Alex Clare (2012)
• Chipotle's "Back to the Start" featuring Willie Nelson's (cover of Coldplay's) "The Scientist" (2011)
• Hieneken's "The Date" featuring “Jaan Pehechaan Ho” by Mohammed Rafi (2011)
• Chanel's "Train de Nuit" featuring "I'm a Fool to Want You" by Billie Holliday (2011)
• Volkswagen Passat's "The Force" featuring "The Imperial March" by John Williams (2011)
• Apple iPod's "iPod Nano" featuring "1234" by Feist (2007) 
• Gap's "The Skinny Black Pant" featuring "Back in Black" by AC/DC (2006)
• Apple iPod's "Life is Random" featuring "Jerk it Out" by The Caesers (2006)
• Epic Games' Gears of War's "Mad World" featuring "Mad World" by Gary Jules (2006)
• Gap's "Pretty Khaki" featuring "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from Flow Drum Song (2005)
• Chanel's "Le Film" featuring "Claire de Lune" by Claude Debussy (2004)
• Mitsubishi Eclipse's "Days Go By" featuring "Days Go By" by Dirty Vegas (2003)
• Mitsubishi Outlander's "Breathe" featuring "Breathe" by Télépopmusik (2002)
• Volkswagen Jetta's "Big Day" featuring "One Million Miles" by J. Ralph (2001) 
• Gap's "Simply Irresistible" featuring Daft Punk's "Digital Love" (2001)
 

Mechanics:

• 1-1.5 pages in length
• MLA Style

Due: Wed 8.28