Best iTunes commercial song?

A debate has been raging internally over the influence of the music on iTunes commercials on the mass population. If you recall and look past the U2 and Coldplay commercials of the recent past, you’ll recall how one commercial helped launch the career of a band called Jet, propelled Feist into a different atmosphere where she is now headlining Ravinia Festival for over 20,000 people this coming Friday night, and more recently exposed us to The Ting Tings. You can’t honestly tell us that “1,2,3,4” never stuck in your mind, or that the catchy “Shut Up and Let Me Go” currently on the commercial didn’t get your attention. What other songs that you remember took off because of use at the right time in a particular commercial, movie scene, or television show?

18 Responses to “Best iTunes commercial song?”

  1. Stefan Says:

    Its not neccesarily the best song ever to appear on an iPod commerical, but the best song for the iPod commericals has to be “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”. Those silhouettes rocking out to that song, jumping and kicking all over the place while somehow never having their earbud headpones fall out of their ears (a miracle of physics I tell you) sure sold me on buying an iPod for the first time.

  2. Jonna Says:

    The biggest example in the last few years I can think of is Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” from that season finale of Grey’s Anatomy. The song took off after that episode and I remember hearing the band talk about how they were tired of being asked about it. From a commercial, it sticks in my mind is maybe that Mellencamp song from the truck commercial….

  3. Leslie Says:

    Shortly after the Apple iPod add, Feist’s “1,2,3,4″, caught on quickly. However, even though most people could recite the awesome happy preschool counting song, yet, sadly, nobody knew who was singing it or associated it with Feist. Although that Apple add earned Feist some recognition and the grammy nod she deserved for a great female album, ‘The Reminder’. Can’t wait to see Feist Friday night!

  4. Ellen Says:

    How many shows used Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” last year? I’ve heard so many different bands cover that song because it’s so much fun to hear, that song makes me whistle along every time and led me to check out Peter Bjorn’s fun album “Writers Block”.

  5. Sarah Says:

    It’s all about “Jerk it Out” by Caesars…the dance moves in that commercial were the best yet and I know every single runner put that on their ‘Fun Runs’ playlist after that song hit the networks.

  6. Michael Says:

    Well, I don’t think ‘Woke up this Mornin’ by A3 would have been nearly as famous as it is now if not for the success of The Sopranos. I’ve heard that song played on WXRT twice in the last three days and it will forever be associated with Tony driving down the New Jersey Turnpike every time I hear that song.

  7. Hester Says:

    Whenever I hear Ok Go, I can’t help but feel the need to go for a jog…it’s the first song I listen to when I get ready to work out.

  8. Helga Says:

    Ok Go—reminds me of two things: treadmills and ipods.

  9. Kelly Says:

    I love that OK Go song while working out also!! Any other suggestions on good songs to listen to while running?

  10. Betty Says:

    I remember a few years ago I think the Coldplay song “Yellow” was in a commercial for a Childrens Hospital, but there were pictures of children with cancer, and I started crying. Chris Martin’s voice is so moving, I like everything he’s done-all of his albums are fantastic, including the latest “Viva la Vida.” Also, I’m very jealous of his wife, Gwenyth Paltrow.

  11. John Says:

    Has anyone seen the trailer for the new movie “Pineapple Express?” The song playing is “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. Talk about a catchy song. As soon as I heard it, I had to download it so I could listen to it over and over again.

  12. Matt Says:

    Does anyone remember the Zune commercial a few months back? The song playing during this particular commercial was “Sleeping Lessons” by The Shins. This song was awesome when I first heard it; and it led me to buy the album.

  13. Grover Says:

    I liked the cingular add, i guess now AT&T, where they play the Band’s song, “The Weight” where it begins with a driver driving south on Lake Shore Drive towards the John Hancock building. After that add I downloaded a ton of music by The Band and saw the Last Waltz.

  14. Katrina Says:

    Does anyone remember the GAP commercial with the Mellow Yellow song? I LOVED that commercial and couldnt wait for it to make its rounds every time on televison just so i could sing along.

  15. Michelle Says:

    I first heard the song Flathead by the Fratellis on an Ipod commerical. I became obsessed with trying to find out what song it was, it had been stuck it my head for so long. Once I found out what song it was I was set. This song is great and has great energy! I did check out the rest of their CD but I wasn’t very impressed.

  16. Kelli Says:

    Most definitely the Old Navy commercial with the song “The Way I am” by Ingrid Michaelson… I had to buy that song as soon as i heard it. I love watching the new Old Navy commericals and ipod commericials for that exact reason. I get to find some of the best new music out at the moment when i catch those commercials. And usually the whole album is good so thats a plus.

  17. Margot Says:

    GAP has always had good songs in there commercials, not as hip as the iPod ads, but they do kinda so the same thing, have people dance around-except they are in beige, rather than technicolor.

  18. Ashley Says:

    I totally loved the ipod commercial with Paul McCartney playing the song “Dance Tonight” off his latest album. He was so cute dancing around with his guitar in his Chuck Taylors, not to mention the song was awesome! I bought the cd as soon as it came out.

Leave a Reply