There's more ads down here, and they help support us so, y'know, check 'em out...

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Hell Getting a Bit Chillier

by Anonymous

Moments like these just make me shake my head and smile.

I've reported in the past on the wave of commercials featuring the original recordings of many alternative bands. These include the Ramones, the Clash, the Buzzcocks, Iggy Pop and numerous others. At this point, hearing a hip band in a car commercial isn't that unusual anymore.

But last night we took a step closer to putting some frostbite on the ol' devil. While watching the Sopranos on A&E, a commercial ran featuring the Buzzcocks' "Everybody's Happy Nowadays." I of course was thrilled, and as my wife attempted to get my attention to discuss the behavior of our son in school, I jabbed her in the side and asked her if she realized who the band in the commercial was. She didn't of course and was annoyed I wasn't paying attention to her. Then it was revealed that the ad was for AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. I guess punks have to retire sometime too. When you do the math, you realize that the original wave of punks are all now in their early fifties. I hope a few of them actually have the money to be able to retire at this point. I'm sure Mick Jones does.

I am still waiting for the final line to be crossed, which will be an ad featuring the music of either the Sex Pistols or the Dead Kennedys. Both have songs whose music would be great for a sports car or a sports drink ad, although they might have to drop the vocal track. There's still hope!

posted 1/18/2007 10:32:00 AM

1 Comments:

Blogger Judy Bryan said...

ROFLMAO!!! I saw the commercial the other day...I am like "Cool, they put a Buzzcocks song in a commercial". Of course I screamed and all most choked on my coffee when I saw that is was for AARP.
When the hell did I get so old?

3:18 PM, January 20, 2007  

Post a Comment

<< Home

 
Please Look At Our Advertisers (Or The Website Gets It)
Congratulations, you've found the hidden text.
 
Welcome to Altrok.com, also available at AltrokRadio.com and AltrockRadio.com. Here's where the remaining listeners of several fine radio stations have retreated, regrouped, and built a replacement strong enough to stand on its own. It builds on the independent legacy of New Jersey's FM106.3, New York's WPIX and WLIR, Oklahoma's 105.3 The Spy, the pre-buyout mindset of KROQ, WBCN and WHFS and of every other alternative station that was destroyed at a moment's notice - not because they weren't making money, but because there was bigger money to be found elsewhere.
 
We've stood by as truly independent alternative rock radio died. Sure, something called "alternative" took its place, but we know for sure that anything that "tests well" with soccer moms just ain't alternative. (Even if some of us happen to be soccer moms.) So we've taken matters into our own hands.
 
This really is independent alternative rock radio, visible here at Altrok.com and audible at our web radio station. It has the classic music that fired our passions back in the day - or that we maybe only heard about from our elders - but it's mostly made of the new music that does precisely the same for us now. We're paying attention to scenes all over the world, watching the energy build, and waiting to see what it creates. Wherever it happens, we'll make sure you can hear about it here. We've been slowly building all this since 2001, and now that you've noticed us, we're glad you're here.
 
Of course, it's only here because you want it to be here, and it can only stay if you help it along - especially by checking out our advertisers (they support us) and by listening (the more that listen, the more visible we are.) Please use the "feedback" link above to let us know whether it works for you, and what you want it to be as the future unfolds. (And if you need help hearing it, let us know that, too.)