It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Apple Inc., the Mac OS, and all of its various and sundry iPods, iPhones, iMacs … really, anything that Apple puts a lowercase i in front of, I immediately want. (iPowerSander? Sign me up!) Why do I love this corporate entity so much? Am I one of those hipster douchebags with geek glasses and corduroy who flagrantly displays their MacBooks every time they go into a Starbucks for a grande soy vanilla latte? No, I’m not. But I’m trying real hard to be.
Not long ago, Apple introduced a new version of its iTunes store. I’m sorry to say that I hate it. It’s messy, overly-busy, and places more emphasis on downloading Twilight than it does on music. One of the things iTunes had going for it was simplicity, but now I’m wondering if navigating bit torrent isn’t less of a hassle.
The iPod/iTunes impact on the music industry is well documented, as is how well Apple promoted its music venture. So, before I eschew the iTunes store in favor of illegal file sharing, let me meditate on what made me dig iTunes and Apple so much.
Top 5 songs used in iTunes commercials
1. “Bruises,” Chairlift
In promoting an iPod Nano available in an array of colors, Apple introduced Chairlift, a band that sounds as if it only recently emerged from the primordial New Wave ooze of the ’80s, although they formed only a few years ago.
2. “1234,” Feist
Apple helped to launch Feist’s career using her fantastic, one-take video for “1234.”
3. “Vertigo,” U2
An interesting variation on the iconic dancing sillohuette iPod commercial, this ad doubles as a promotional for U2’s 2004 album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.” There was even a special edition red and black iPod available for a couple of years. U2 and Apple have since parted ways, with U2 choosing the Blackberry RIM as its digital music partner of choice, reportedly because the band got more creative input with RIM.
Still, that was one hell of a video … advertisement … whatever.
4. “Around The Bend,” The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
With a simplistic but rocking horn groove, raw percussion and bratty vocals, “Around The Bend,” by Danish pop group The Asteroids Galaxy Tour is an ultimate brain-off/party-on song.
5. “Cubicle,” Rinocerose
Is there such a genre as Corporate Electronica, and is that a bad thing? (Answers: “No” and “Yes.”) Still, Rinocerose’s “Cubicle” makes a good companion to a visually impressive ad.
Runners Up: “Someday Baby,” Bob Dylan; “Flathead,” The Fratellis; “Viva La Vida,” Coldplay.
