6 of 19

Write now Article Tools

Selling out devalues my experience and connection to rock legend's masterpieces. Music holds a powerful message, that I identify and associate myself on a personal level with. Music behaves like an old friend. The song that picked me up when I was down, introduced me to my spouse, told me I wasn't alone, united me to fight an injustice in the world or just made me feel good.... has now changed it's message and is promoting toilet paper. Ouch! Not only that, the sacrilegious commercial has altered the lyrics thus changing my connection. I feel dumped, betrayed, deceived and cheated on especially when I thought I knew who this artist was from listening to their music. I thought they were just like me.

Perhaps I am being selfish and possessive, but I get very annoyed when I hear songs I like being used to promote products.

First of all, what is the point of advertisers using a famous song? The musician such as Bob Segar {"Like a rock" sold to Chevy}, Rolling Stones {"Brown Sugar" Kahlua and "Start me up" Microsoft}, Fabulous thunder birds {"Tuff Enuff" Ford }, The Who {"Who are you" CSI}, Van Halen {"Right Now" Pepsi} and Bob Dylan {"Love Sick" Victoria Secrets} had to have given their consent, there fore they must endorse this product. I am suppose to think "I will buy this" , because the people who make this product are just like me. They listen to the same music. Having known the song for years, advertisers intrude on my feelings of trust so I will unconsciously associate their product with pleasant memories of my own. Of course these are all marketing techniques, but I still get mad.

Why would the Artists allow this to happen? Did they not have their own message 100 years ago that they wanted to convey. Why allow that accomplishment to become twisted and clouded by trucks, computers, shoes, candy bars, and lingerie. Is nothing sacred. Well, perhaps the legend are humans after all. Perhaps they have families to feed, or have not had any work lately, maybe some miss fortune took place in their lives and they need the money. Or maybe they are just hypocrites and charlatans who sang their little songs to get what they needed. While all the time counting their money and laughing at their followers. I would prefer to think they are still like me and didn't mean me any harm. But once you have been deceived in a relationship it is hard to go back to the way you once were. And I will always think of Californian Raisins ironically singing "I heard it through the Grape Vine".

Learn more about this author, Sunring.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about When rock legends sell out?
We want to hear your view. Write now!