Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Great Moments In Advertising

This is a Cadillac. A 2003 Escalade I believe. I believe this because that's what the caption says. I myself wouldn't know the difference between a 2003 Escalade and a 2007 Escalade if they were both to run me over.




This is Shane McGowan. Former and now itinerant-current lead singer of the Irish punk/folk band The Pogues. Who are really cool and who you should listen to so you can be cool too. You should also listen to Shane's next band, The Popes, who are also really cool. And you'll be cool to if you listen to them. Just like me.

For the record, Shane is on the right, just in case any of you thought Johnny Depp was having a really bad day.


Now, I think McGowan's music is great. Who else would belt out a Xmas carol and include verses like "You scumbag, you maggot/you cheap lousy faggot/Happy Xmas yer ass/I pray God it's our last"? No one would that's who. Because that's an awful Xmas song and really mean-spirited. But if you listen to that song, ("Fairytale of New York" if you care), it all makes sense in the end and actually is quite touching, even if little impressionable kids who still think Santa Claus is real shouldn't be allowed to listen to it. Unless the other choice is Bon Jovi.

But as great as I think McGowan is, would I buy a Cadillac from him? No, no I would not. Because if someone looking like him offered to sell me a Cadillac, I would quite rightly assume he stole it. Possibly from Johnny Depp. But while watching TV last week, I saw a Cadillac ad blaring the Pogues version of "Sunny Side of the Street", and I thought to myself, "who the hell thought that Shane McGowan should sing a song trying to sell Cadillacs" and then the answer hit me:


Probably the same guy that thought that this guy


should sing a song about heroin addiction for these people

23 Comments:

Blogger eclectic said...

Hey look... heroine junkies need a vacation too, just like the next guy, or heiress.

4:46 PM  
Blogger Syd said...

Must be the same agency that put put a cock in the Heinz Mustard ad.

Sorry for the gratuitous linkage.

7:21 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I don't think I'd buy a Cadillac from anyone.

7:34 PM  
Blogger Party Girl said...

Exactly. I don't know what has happened to make advertisers and ageing punk rockers come together, but it ain't good.
We're all doomed.

8:35 PM  
Blogger mama biscuit said...

One word for ya buddy- TIVO. Filters out all the useless advertising!

4:54 AM  
Blogger Lady K said...

hmm...maybe heroine IS the answer... ;-)

6:39 AM  
Blogger Phronk said...

I remember the good old days, when people actually LISTENED to music and cared about who was creating it, rather than using it as background noise to manipulate people into feeling a certain way about a product. That was neat.

6:50 AM  
Blogger Lil Bit said...

OMG, about 50% of the commercials now use popular tunes... what's up w/musicians selling out? Aren't their album sales good enough? LOL

Neat post, Limpy.
And how is it possible for Johnny Depp to STILL be cute in that ratty tobaggan? lol

9:53 AM  
Blogger limpy99 said...

Eclectic, an interesting theory. Carnival Cruise Line is deliberately targeting the often undersold "junkie-in-need-of-a-week-off" market.

Syd, no apologies necessary. Although I'll take my mustard without the cock thank you.

Nick, that makes two of us. If I buy a boat, it better float.

PG, on the other hand, The Supersuckers got a song on the cool Discovery show "Deadliest Catch" Hope springs eternal.

Tysgirl, isn't that what the remote is for?

Lady K, depending on what the question is, it could very well be.

Phronk, when was this ancient time of which you speak?

Lil Bit, I think most musicians make bupkiss on album sales, until they reach Aerosmith levels and then get $60 million contract to put out a series of 5 increasingly crappy albums. The day I see "Walk This Way" used in a sneaker commercial I will start looking for the world ending comet.

11:07 AM  
Blogger Saints and Spinners said...

Once again, I'm glad we don't have a tv, just so the commercials can't (try to) ruin my music. I like both the Pogues and Iggy Pop, and I want to keep it that way.

12:24 PM  
Blogger JoeinVegas said...

Well, if I was going to buy a Caddy I surely would buy it from a guy like that. I mean, wouldn't he give me a really good deal? (typed by a guy with two Toyotas)

12:25 PM  
Blogger DJ MotorCityMonk said...

I love all these cool songs from my youth popping up in ads.

Have ya seen Elvis Costello yet giggling like a little school girl in the back seat of a Lexus - in an ad about their sound system? That's good shit.

8:23 PM  
Blogger Brighton said...

My Dr.Sister bought our Mom a caddy last year, in the back seat she included a blue wig and an oxygen mask. Funny girl.
I'm thinking Sinatra should sell those cars.

3:26 AM  
Blogger Hazed said...

I've always liked their name - The Pogues. One of my best friend's name is Poag. But I believe McGowen looks a little like a younger Rick Ocasek. I dated an Ocasek look-alike in high school. I don't know why. A conquest, perhaps. But I've never listened to The Pogues. I'll have to check them out. I've always enjoyed the punk scene. Oh, and what's wrong with Iggy? Other than the fact that he looks like the cover-guy for an AIDS advertizement? And he really can't sing that well. But then again, who can, now?

8:15 AM  
Blogger limpy99 said...

Alkelda, no TV!?!? Why do you hate America so?

Joe, a fair point. You probably couldn't beat the price if a guy like that is selling a car. I'd make sure the trunk was empty before I drove off the lot though.

MCM, I prefer the one where Diana Krall appears to be having an orgasm in the front seat. Must be a hell of a sound system.

Trish, what would have made it really funny would have been your sister rigging the left turn signal to be permanently on.

FW, nothing's wrong with Iggy. I crank his tunes up all the time. I just enjoy the irony of Carnival Crusie lines using "Lust for Life" as an ad for their cruises when so much of that song concerns heroin addiction.

10:56 AM  
Blogger Lil Bit said...

LOL, that's funny, cuz Aerosmith IS in a few commercials! LOL

12:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I listened to "Fairy Tale of New York", because I care.

you're right...it's good.

9:08 PM  
Blogger limpy99 said...

LB, I'm sure they are the bastards. I like the old stuff anyway.

Rhonda, then my work here is complete. Glad you liked it.

8:06 PM  
Blogger Rat In A Cage said...

I cannot help but to laugh out loud now as the Yankee announcers take every good individual play for every single struggling player and say, "this could be the turning point for ..." I agreed at first, then hoped, then wished & now I just laugh. Next: crying.

6:03 PM  
Blogger Saints and Spinners said...

Yes, no tv! It's all iTunes and DVDs for me, baby.

12:24 AM  
Blogger Big Pissy said...

I like the way you think.

That scares me a little.

6:32 AM  
Blogger Lady K said...

This commercial is getting old...

6:44 AM  
Blogger limpy99 said...

Rat, any port in a storm my brother, any port in a storm.

Alkelda, well fine, but don't come crying to me when you're deprived of quality TV like, like, ummm, hold on a sec....

BP, as well it should.

Lady K, I'm still posting more than Nonny!

9:16 AM  

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