I didn’t plan on writing about the Super Bowl this year, but I heard something during a commercial break that honestly offended me. What clown working for the Fox Broadcasting Company thought it would be a good idea to play U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” over a montage of football players making plays?
Bloody Sunday was a tragic footnote in Irish history, and U2 sang that song as a somber commemoration of the event. “Big deal,” you might say. Well, with all due respect, I think it is a big deal.
If you’re indifferent about this Bloody Sunday spoof, then what would you think if Clorox ran a commercial featuring the vocals of black protestors singing “We Shall Overcome” during the 1960’s civil rights marches, and then juxtaposed that song with images of a domestic-minded woman trying to “overcome” the mildew stains on her shower wall? Or, let’s imagine a Bacardi commercial that touts the company’s rum products. What better rum-based beverage is there than the hurricane? And what better song is there to celebrate that drink than “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan? Or you know, let’s reverse the idea and switch the roles of image and song. Let’s mass market a commemorative collection of footage of the 9/11 terrorist attack and couple the images with Britney Spears’ “(Hit Me) Baby One More Time.” Why the hell not? I bet that would rake in tons of cash.
I hope that gets my point across. Generally, I don’t give a damn about what songs are played during which commercials (besides a few exceptions), but I really wish corporate marketers would exercise a little more care when it comes to song selection. Maybe I’m asking for too much. But at the very least, could we please not play any more historically relevant protest song during NFL promos?
I agree with you on this point. However, you are neglecting one very important point. U2 is a group of corporate whores. They have control over the use of that song, and approved the use of it in that commercial. So don’t forget to fault U2 for being tactless. Those events happened in their country, in their life times. So… that leaves us with: U2 is a group of douche bags.
p.s. don’t believe me go here
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net
That page is absolutely hilarious. But I wonder how much control bands have over their music. I was writing with the assumption that a record company had more to do with selling that song to the NFL than the band itself. But if U2 really does exercise that much control over its music, then maybe those guys really are the true douche bags.
That’s so true. And I noticed that as well. How tasteless to do that right after the tsunami.
This is a funny blog. I’m going to link to you.
Yah, very true. Like when they play “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong and there is a montage of happy families, babies, beautiful shots of nature, etc… what the hell is that all about?