The Fratellis

Top 5 songs used in iTunes commercials

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

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.

Posted in Top 5 | 1 Response »
Tags: Bob Dylan, Chairlift, Coldplay, Feist, Rinocerose, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, The Fratellis, U2

Top 5 surprisingly Scottish bands

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

A couple of weekends ago, I was hired to photograph the athletic competitions at the Maine Highland Games. My good friend and frequent Fiver contributer Kate was kind enough to accompany me. All the bagpipes and kilts got us to thinking: “What non-Proclaimers popular music groups has the land of cabers and haggis given the world? Who are the ones whose clan ancestry might come as a surprise?” Well, Kate was good enough to come up with the answer, and compiled:

Top 5 surprisingly Scottish bands

1. The Fratellis
My first association when I hear “the Fratellis” is the villainous trio that pursued the Goonies throughout their adventure. So, this has got to be an American band, right? Wrong. The Fratellis is based out of Glasgow and was awarded the Best British Breakthrough Act at the 2007 BRIT awards. Understandably so, given the unending infectiousness of their hits “Flathead” and “Chelsea Dagger.”

2. The Beta Band
Rob Gordon might be able to sell 5 copies of the Beta Band’s “The Three EPs” at Championship Vinyl merely by playing “Dry the Rain” in the store, but how many of those patrons will know that this fabulously unique band is Scottish? I din-uh.

3. Aztec Camera
Let’s take a trip back to the 80s and early 90s, shall we? Dig back in your memory banks and I’m sure you will recall such tunes as “Oblivious” and “Somewhere in My Heart.” Founding member and lone mainstay Roddy Frame and his revolving lineup of bandmates? You guessed it … Scottish.

4. The Jesus and Mary Chain
I have a fond personal memory of the frontman of this particular band becoming exasperated with the crowd at Lollapalooza ‘92, showing his displeasure by cursing, tossing down the microphone, and storming off the stage. Little did I know then that the band would be part of a top 5 list of surprisingly Scottish artists to which I would contribute many years later.

5. Belle and Sebastian
My first erroneous thought was always that this band was French, likely because the band name was inspired by a French children’s story, and a cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon here in the US. However, this band most definitely deserves name association in its own right with its excellent Scottish indie pop. Many people obviously agree, as the group was voted Scotland’s greatest band in a poll by the List, an Edinburgh-based entertainment listings magazine, in January 2005.