04/19/24
February 07, 2005
Ask SpoFi: Did anyone tape or TiVo the Superbowl last night? I need to "look something up" from the game because I don't know if memory serves me correctly. You can reply here or email me at the addy in my profile. Thanks.
posted by smithers to navel gazing at 10:06 AM - 26 comments
What is this "fruitbowl" you speak of?
posted by dusted at 01:01 PM on February 07, 2005
Fruitbowl XXXIX ....tooooooooo funny. Actually, I am wondering about the Sunday Bloody Sunday sample that was used for the montage right when they came back from halftime. Obviously the small sample that was selected and its context radically depoliticizes what the song is all about. (Also, I *thought* that the lyric used was "But I will heed the battle call" instead of "But I won't heed the battle call", which is far more troubling if my memory served me correctly. I am hoping it didn't, so any help would be appreciated.)
posted by smithers at 01:18 PM on February 07, 2005
They're pacifists. Here are the lyrics in question: Broken bottles under children’s feet Bodies strewn across the dead end street But I won’t heed the battle call It puts my back up Puts my back up against the wall And later in the song, some more reasoning for the pacifist stance: And the battle’s just begun There’s many lost, but tell me who has won The trench is dug within our hearts And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
posted by NoMich at 01:58 PM on February 07, 2005
Oh, and please forgive me if I misunderstand your last comment. Sometimes, I have a habit of taking people too literally.
posted by NoMich at 02:09 PM on February 07, 2005
All I have to say on this topic is that the song is brilliant and that I have an extra pair of tickets to their concert in San Jose.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:27 PM on February 07, 2005
"Oh, and please forgive me if I misunderstand your last comment. Sometimes, I have a habit of taking people too literally." Yes, I think you did misunderstand, but not because of taking me too literally, but because of the way I wrote it. I agree with you that U2 are pacifists....this is very much an anti-war song. So wouldn't the band members be horrified to learn that two and a half decades later it was being used as part of the Super Bowl spectacle, which is drenched in military pageantry and war metaphors? Furthermore, the sample used was only the But I won’t heed the battle call It puts my back up Puts my back up against the wall snippet that you posted, plus the Sunday Bloody Sunday refrain. When you take out the grisly imagery of the previous two lines, it certainly changes things, no? This is a very deliberate framing of the song to match the imagery. That's bad enough in itself, but it's what the media does, and we have to be aware of it. What I was trying to say with the parenthetical aside was that I had the impression that the lyric on TV was "But I WILL heed the battle call", which would *imply* that not only was the situation framed in a selective fashion, but that lyrics were deliberately altered to do so. I am NOT saying it did happen, but that I *thought* it's what I heard. That's why I need to know if anybody has a recording of the game and can check it out for me.
posted by smithers at 02:33 PM on February 07, 2005
I just noticed now that Ufez also found the choice of song a little odd, at about the same time this morning....telepathy?
posted by smithers at 02:37 PM on February 07, 2005
HA! I did misunderstand you. Sorry. And for what it's worth, I agree with you 100%.* One thing I have been wondering lately is if these musicians even give a shit anymore what happens to their songs. E-trade is using the '60s protest/anti-war anthem "Volunteers" in their new commercial. I mean, how very fucking Jerry Rubin of the Airplane. Not that I really care about it myself, it's just that I'm wondering what the hell is going on lately. Nevermind that the Clash let boo-zhwa Jaguar use "Londing Calling" in a commercial last year (or so). * - though still not as weird as them using a Steve Earle song.
posted by NoMich at 02:44 PM on February 07, 2005
I don't think there is much more thought and strategy in action in either case. In fact, they essentially count on the general public not really noticing or caring. Sunday, Bloody Sunday is used because of the title (they did NOT change the lyric). Reminds me of how popular the song American Woman was when it was released. People liked the tune and were unconcerned that the song was essentially a protest song. As for U2 being upset - didn't they play the Super Bowl not two years ago? Steve Earl is probably very, very pissed though.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:06 PM on February 07, 2005
Thanks for pointing out that they didn't change the lyric Weedy....I am glad. However, I will disagree with you wholeheartedly about the fact that little thought or strategy goes into these actions. PhDs and entire careers are based on ways to frame the media to achieve certain effects. The Super Bowl is the biggest media spectacle of the year bar none -- nothing is left to chance with the packaging.
posted by smithers at 03:15 PM on February 07, 2005
Reminds me of how popular the song American Woman was when it was released. People liked the tune and were unconcerned that the song was essentially a protest song. or like how people play "every breath you take" at their wedding when the song is really about stalking someone.
posted by goddam at 03:17 PM on February 07, 2005
Or how "Born in the USA" is played as a heartwarming patriotic song. </bandwagonjump>
posted by DrJohnEvans at 03:30 PM on February 07, 2005
Or how parachuters always play "Fall On Me" when in fact that song is not about falling on others from on high. Really.
posted by NoMich at 03:44 PM on February 07, 2005
I can honestly say that I'm never hiring a parachuting DJ again.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 04:13 PM on February 07, 2005
Which Steve Earle song did they use?
posted by squealy at 06:40 AM on February 08, 2005
"The Revolution Starts Now," but they didn't use it for the Superbowl. They used it quite a bit towards the end of the season and during the playoffs though.
posted by NoMich at 08:10 AM on February 08, 2005
However, I will disagree with you wholeheartedly about the fact that little thought or strategy goes into these actions. PhDs and entire careers are based on ways to frame the media to achieve certain effects. Well, as a guy who's worked in the industry before I can only speak from my personal experience - and it essentially isn't a question of subtlety when considering larger audiences. The factors at play here are familiarity with the music; applicability to the theme and overall importance to the product. The music is carefully selected yes - but those are the overriding criteria. U2 is a choice made because of popularity and the familarmity and appicability of the title. Add to that price and availability. Business baby.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:36 AM on February 08, 2005
Weedy: how does this work from the band's perspective? Do they have to OK the song's usage, or does that fall in the record company's domain? Maybe even a song publishing company? I always assumed that it was up to the band to give the OK, but I'm sure that (as always) I could be wrong about this.
posted by NoMich at 10:41 AM on February 08, 2005
Thanks NoMich.
posted by squealy at 10:48 AM on February 08, 2005
NoMich, if the band needed to give permission for every media use of their songs when would they have time for recording and performing? I'm pretty sure that's what ASCAP and BMI (in the US) do, serving as clearing houses for their members.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:04 PM on February 08, 2005
It isn't. It's whoever has the publishing rights to the song. For instance, for any Beatles song, you'll have to call cell block D in the near future. Hi Michael.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:00 PM on February 08, 2005
I was gonna ask who Michael was, but I looked it up instead. Explanation here.
posted by 86 at 03:24 PM on February 08, 2005
Jebus, I linked the cached page. Sorry. It does have lots of pretty colors though.
posted by 86 at 03:26 PM on February 08, 2005
Nevermind that the Clash let boo-zhwa Jaguar use "Londing Calling" in a commercial last year (or so). Of course, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" never hit #1 until it was in a jeans commercial. You gotta steal your money somehow, and I think it's punk not to give a shit. As opposed to worrying about how to look punk or have street cred. But we already had this discussion about a month ago.
posted by yerfatma at 05:36 PM on February 09, 2005
Just out of curiosity, what is that you are wanting to know? If you missed the Paul McCartney halftime spectacular and are hearing rumors about his performance, the answer is, "No, he did *not* 'fruitbowl' the crowd."