You ’re at a party . It ’s lame . There ’s a laptop computer in the corner running iTunes , and mass are rent crook DJing to attempt to invigorate up the bunch . regrettably , the guy with the fingerless glove is hogging the electronic computer , and his circa-1994 barrel and freshwater bass fix are fail .
Somebody sneaks in whenDnB - guy is n’t looking and cue up a track you instantly recognise . Its regular pulsation seems scientifically calibrated to produce good vibes , which it very well may have been . You find yourself bending your knees to the musical rhythm . The refrain kicks in and all bets are off . Everybody ’s on the flooring . The party has started .
The next forenoon , you ’re marvel , “ What was that song , and why did everybody know it ? ” Simple : It was in an iPod commercial message – an award that has propelled many an indie band into the mainstream and cemented the iconic status of artists who were already get attention .
As part of our ongoing coverage of the iPod ’s ten - year anniversary ( see also thedisappearing iPod , Steve Jobs’secret chemical formula , especially ourinteractive ten - twelvemonth iPod timeline ) , we ’ve compiled just about every song that ’s ever been featured in an iPod commercial into one commodious Spotify playlist .
Listen to the 10 Years of iPod Commercials Spotify Playlist
A few highlights , in chronological order :
Propellerheads - Take California : The one that depart it all , this is one of the few implemental song Apple has used in an iPod commercial . It ’s bouncy enough , but lacking a sure sass and appeal that has come to define iPod advertizement in more late years . The commercial itself , featuring a fellow goofily dancing around his flat , is a far cry from the iconic advert that would follow . It ’s kind of like finding a video of Barry Bonds playing Little League baseball : The light is there , but we have a tenacious way to go .
N.E.R.D.-Rock Star ( Jason Nevins Remix Edit ): The first of the “ silhouette ” style commercial that the iPod is famous for , this one is impressive in that all of the hallmarks of iPod advertizement were basically in seat . But N.E.R.D. ’s cheesy rap - rock ‘n’ roll anthem is just too much – it makes me feel like I ’m playing a videogame about snowboarding .
Daft Punk - Technologic : In later commercials , Apple would go out of its direction to portray the iPod as folksy and organic . Early on , though , the companionship seemed much more concerned in celebrating its sleek high - technical school - ness . What better fashion to do that than with one of pop ’s all - clock time - great ode to technology , complete withtwo dudes in robot costume ?
U2 - Vertigo : Oh adult male , this song . Another reasonably big one , this was the first commercial message to silhouette famous musician , and also the first to target an ostensibly elderly audience . Most previous iPod ad feature music rooted in hip - hop or dance , while those that did rock featured untested dance band ( see : Jet , The Vines ) . With this , Apple correct their sights square on the hip moms and dad of the music - purchase universe . Uno , dos , tres , catorce !
The Caesars - Jerk It Out : This might be the archetypal iPod vocal : relatively nameless band , catchy - as - all - get - out organ riff , dance - wye backbeat , sassy vocalist – a perfect formula for an advertising soundtrack , and one Apple would recur many times . With the exception , of course , of that organ .
Bob Dylan - Someday Baby : Then Apple set forth adding traditional down - home vibraharp to the iPod commercial mint . This one , featuring a track from Dylan ikon ’s thirty-second ( ! ) studio record album , Modern Times , was the first from the “ down nursing home ” iPod epoch . It featured the folk icon sitting on a faecal matter , playing an fair - to - god acoustic guitar , which is a far cry from Daft Punk and N.E.R.D. take advantage of Mr. Zimmerman ’s nearly pan - cultural ingathering , Apple was able to attract nerveless dads and their college student kids with this individual program line .
Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight : This one is notable mostly for featuring the former Beatle , though I honestly do n’t even remember attend this one when it aired in 2007 . That ’s plausibly because my memories of iPod commercial that aired that twelvemonth are dominated by …
Feist-1234 : Leslie Feist is a fabulously nuanced and emotive singer with three solid album and a string of greatcollaborationswith indie rockers Broken Social Scene under her belt . She shouts rousingly and coos soothingly with equal assuredness . In a different era , she would have inhibit the human beings . regrettably , for a lot of people , she will alternatively be remembered by blab out about enumerate while facilitate to betray miniature MP3 players . ( If not that , it will be from herSesame Street appearance ) .
The Ting Tings - Shut Up and have Me Go : This one really go like it was written for the only intent of selling iPods – the “ mouth ” broker that I ’ve unscientifically determined to be a central cistron in certain ads is through the roof here . Vocalist Katie White cry - sings about her own individuality while the banding pound out four - on - the - storey beats and a spiky guitar part that sounds uncannily like something out of Franz Ferdinand ’s playbook . Hey Apple , why not get those hombre to do a commercial message ?
Franz Ferdinand - No You daughter : Oh , right . The post - punk revival OG ’s do their thing and they do it well in an ad tout the iPod Touch as the “ funnest iPod ever . ” Not much else to say here . Another peer made in advertising heaven .
Miss Li - Bourgeois Shangri - La : This one aired in 2009 and bears the distinction of being the last iPod ad that was absolutely unavoidable . The song absolutely jibe an aesthetic acquire by Apple over these past ten year . That coupled with the fact that I go steady the commercial-grade many sentence before I heard the song in any other setting means I ’ll constantly associate it with the iPod Nano and its ability to shoot video .
It ’s an impressive exploit of marketing Apple has pulled off , over these retiring ten old age of twin songs with iPods on television . It took euphony that come with its own underlying narrative and set of associations , and aligned them indelibly with the iPod . I ’m sure Miss Li , the last bring up here , is an artist with her own chronicle and plenty of fans . But to me – and to many others – she ’ll always be that singer from the iPod commercial .
Evolver.fm observes , tracks and analyzes the music apps scene , with the belief that it ’s crucial to how humans experience music , and how that experience is evolve .
AdvertisingAppleiPodMusic
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , science , and culture news show in your inbox day by day .
news show from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
