Damon Albarn

[fatyeti24]

if you are going to lend your art to support some organisation, i suppose the Co-Op is better than most.

[russycarps]

Hes one of the few who seem to be beyond criticism in the eyes of his fanboys. Similar to Radiohead. Hes not beyond criticism. Nobody is. And I don't believe that a tune of his being used to flog Australian dog food doesn't ruin the tune (to some degree) for all concerned.

[Wooderson]

Tangled up in cash.

[Wooderson]

I think I am the only whopper on the planet who like the good the bad and the queen album

[The Nal]

What other ones have their been? Have there really been that many?

[russycarps]

try as I might, I just dont care about artists selling records to adverts. I feel I should be bothered, but I'm not. The songs belong to the artists, not us.

To a lot of these people it's the physical act of writing of the songs that is important, not the finished product. When the song is finished, they are often just discarded as they move on to the next song. It makes sense that they then make money off the back of them then, why not? as the finished product is just not important.

Us pen-pushers just wouldnt understand!

I love Moby too, he was ace in 2003, so up yours haters!

Edited April 29, 2013 by russycarps

[Wooderson]

That decrepit mess Dylan turning up personally in a Victoria's Secret ad gets a pass though right?

[The Nal]

That decrepit mess Dylan turning up personally in a Victoria's Secret ad gets a pass though right?

[Northernsoul45]

try as I might, I just dont care about artists selling records to adverts. I feel I should be bothered, but I'm not. The songs belong to the artists, not us.

To a lot of these people it's the physical act of writing of the songs that is important, not the finished product. When the song is finished, they are often just discarded as they move on to the next song. It makes sense that they then make money off the back of them then, why not? as the finished product is just not important.

Us pen-pushers just wouldnt understand!

I love Moby too, he was ace in 2003, so up yours haters!

[Wooderson]

No. Either did the bank ad. People kicked up serious shit about it. And the ipod ad too. Rightly so.

[Ruwise]

I'm not a fanboy (not even a boy so totally ruled out of being a fanboy) I do think Damon is to be commended for the sheer variety of work he has created. The Oasis v Blur argument back in the day seems silly now as Noel and Liam continue to write songs that sound like pale imitations of their 1st and 2nd albums while Damon has an extraordinary breadth of work to his name.

I'm not keen on bands selling music to adverts either but luckily I never watch tv in real time and fast forward them so am totally oblivious to that side of things anyway. As for Damon appearing with Bobby Womack I think we should remember that Bobby Womack would not be appearing at all were it not for Damon. To the haters your choice is to go and see Damon play keyboard to see a legend live or miss the legend in a cut your nose off to spite your face move. Damon actually seems remarkably free from ego when he does a lot of these shows and doesn't tend to draw attention to himself.

I loved the Gorillaz set. I think one of the things that maybe let it down slightly was that people didn't really know who was on stage particularly if you were at the back and couldn't see well. I hadn't heard the album before the festival but still enjoyed the show and it made me listen to it afterwards.

[Homer]

Moby allegedly gives a share of the profits from all ads licensing to charity. Still not convinced that Blur have licensed to loads of ads. So far three sonhs have been mentioned and they've been together for well over 20 years!

[Tuna]

This thread has become such a bitch fest about Damon; I just wanted conversation about where else he might appear :-(

You guys.

[Wooderson]

Moby allegedly gives a share of the profits from all ads licensing to charity. Still not convinced that Blur have licensed to loads of ads. So far three sonhs have been mentioned and they've been together for well over 20 years!

[Wooderson]

This thread has become such a bitch fest about Damon; I just wanted conversation about where else he might appear :-(

You guys.

[The Nal]

This thread has become such a bitch fest about Damon; I just wanted conversation about where else he might appear :-(

You guys.

[MEGABOWL]

That ape Dylan not only let some bank use "The Times They Are A Changin" in some poxy Bank advert (hahaha!) and the Co-Op (!) used "Blowin' in the Wind" but then the man appeared himself in some heinous Victoria's 'king Secret ad!!!

Artists allow their music and likeness to make them money. If this then spoils it all for you well boofahkinghoo & all that as you'll soon have only a couple of your heroes left to listen that havent been defiled - cuz theyre all in on it.

[Wooderson]

I just want to see fairness thassall.

[russycarps]

It devalues it for me. Sometimes a bit,sometimes a lot. I can increasingly turn a blind eye for up and coming acts because with piracy so prevalent it's hard to make money out of music.

I accept people don't care though. We live in a world where Tory values rule more and more. Any kind of means are acceptable if the end is making money. That's the way the world's going and I suppose Glastonbury too. It's Product,a commodity,not art. Price of everything, value of nothing.

I still like Albarn though, to keep it on topic.

Edited April 29, 2013 by russycarps

[mrtourette]

Internationally Blur (or their rights holders) have licenced about 20 of their songs for commercials. "Song 2" in particular has been on about 25 different adverts.

This issue was thoroughly debated in the past on this forum. Lot of sensitive types get their backs up where Blur are concerned specifically cuz its all about the music innit larve. Same punters have simulaneously advocated Lydon to eat more crumpets on telly. Cuz thats all for a good cause lads.

Albarn's licencing history = vulgar & despicable.

Lydon/Suggs/Iggy/Dylan and every other sod hawking some bobbins for McCorporate Giant = meh.

"More of the same please John."

[Wooderson]

Completely agree. I think I said the last time this argument came up that people try and second guess the motivation and then judge people, whereas in reality nobody really knows the motivation behind 99% of the the decisions that artists make when they license their songs for commercials. So because Lydon says he needs the cash to make another PIL album it's OK whereas everyone assumes that Blur are fine and dandy sitting at home in their country houses and just throwing the extra cash onto their big pile and therefore it's greedy an unnecessary.

[The Nal]

Well harsh on Lydon. One ad, to get the band on the road as he was getting no support from the record company. And to back he up, he hasn't stopped touring since and has released the first new PiL album in 20 years. He spent every penny of that money on the band. They wouldn't exist without it.

"Sickening"? "Pathetic"?

C'mon!

Edited April 29, 2013 by The Nal

[Ed209]

Nother thing - No one really complains about a band recording a soundtrack to a movie fr'instance yet there is also a financial motive behind those kinds of decisions. Whereas appearing in person is to me the ultimate act of surrender to tacky corporate greed.

[Trebor]

It's an interesting topic (and to think it's mainly my fault for bringing up the Sunday Times ad) and one that will always cause debate. As I say I'm not half as annoyed by it as I used to be. I read recently that the reason the Beta band broke up was that they had run out of money but started getting advertising offers. All the band but Steve Mason wanted to continue and use the money to keep them going but he insisted on keeping their integrity and pulling the plug. Part of me admires him for staying true to himself but I also think it's a shame that we lost a great band! Anyway, yeah I hope we get to see Africa Express make an appearance

[mrtourette]

Mhmm.

Relatively speaking it is far more off putting to me that a musical "legend" like Dylan (for example) appears personally in a lingerie advert or Lydon appears on a reality TV show than a Blur song appears in any number of adverts. Theyre quite innocuous by comparison. The imagery in the British Gas advert soundtracked by the Universal is quite banal and harmless, whereas Lydon's braying demeanour deployed in the Butter ad is pitiful. He's forever tainted by that and as you say has to concoct this fable to justify it. He's the first musician I'm aware of to use this "financial necessity" ruse to justify his actions. No two ways about it - he's allowing his very persona to be commerically linked/exploited by a brand. Thats sickening given his courage and individuality going back decades. Pathetic, really.

Nother thing - No one really complains about a band recording a soundtrack to a movie fr'instance yet there is also a financial motive behind those kinds of decisions. Whereas appearing in person is to me the ultimate act of surrender to tacky corporate greed.