Esquire's Top Ten Car Commercial Songs Of The Year, Or, Wilco Make Good Car-Selling Music
Esquire has compiled a list of this last year's 10 best car commercial as part of their annual music awards, The Eskys. Right off the bat, you should notice the importance of Jeff Tweedy to the car industry ... and half-baked lists. Via Esquire:
10 "Sky Blue Sky" - Wilco (2007 Volkswagen Eos)
09 "Our Country" - John Mellencamp (2007 Chevy Silverado)
08 "You Are My Face" - Wilco (2007 Volkswagen Jetta)
07 "Walken" - Wilco (2007 Volkswagen Jetta)
06 "Stars" - Hum (2007 Cadillac CTS)
05 "Either Way" - Wilco (2007 Volkswagen Beetle)
04 "Red Morning Light" - Kings of Leon (2008 Ford Focus)
03 "The Funeral" - Band of Horses (2008 Ford Edge)
02 "The Thanks I Get" - Wilco (2007 Volkswagen GTI)
01 "Whatever song was playing behind the footage of Bob Dylan driving a big, black luxury SUV through the desert for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade"
Dylan's cruising around to Smog's "Held," Esquire. And, yes, Wilco are the car commercial champions! Five top 10 spots! For those not mathematically inclined, that's half. So, like, this list wouldn't even exist without the VolksWilco deal? In that same breath, we can't believe "Our Country" made that list. Maybe it's a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame thing. Or that Hum's "Stars" is undervalued at six -- c'mon, the song was brought out of retirement for that commercial! (We're still not sick of the Cadillac-approved riff.) Biggest exclusion: Stephin Merritt's The Wheels On The Car." That shit's shameless and catchy. You can watch the commercials at the Esquire post. Just don't get seduced into buying anything.
Posted at 1:37 PM in Shit List
Tags: Wilco
I'm not sure who "Dlyan" is.
Posted by: csc at March 24, 2008 2:01 PM | ReplyKinda funny when stereogum loves to point out other publication's flaws when their copy is so full of typos it makes my head spin.
Score = -8
Thanks, fixed.
Posted by: brandon in reply to csc's comment at March 24, 2008 2:12 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Oh my God, a TYPO???
I'm out of torches but I'll bring the pitchforks.
Posted by: Colin in reply to csc's comment at March 24, 2008 2:17 PM | ReplyScore = 7
he spits hot fire.
Posted by: actorpull in reply to csc's comment at March 25, 2008 11:22 AM | ReplyScore = 0
here's a commercial for milk featuring (i think) members from electric 6.
Posted by: natalia at March 24, 2008 2:28 PM | Replyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj1-ZZRajDU
Score = 1
I can't stand the Chevy commercial with John Cougar. They made so many of them and they just had to play them during every sporting event. Hopefully they retire them soon.
Posted by: Joel at March 24, 2008 2:42 PM | ReplyScore = 3
Amen! I have no idea how that made this list. Just thinking about that song makes me wretch, and I'll never buy a Chevrolet lest I go into a Clockwork Orange-esque sequence of nauseous convulsions.
Posted by: Mike D in reply to Joel's comment at March 24, 2008 2:51 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Anyone else psyched to hear "Genesis" by Justice in the background of the new Escalade commercial? As long as it's not too "corporate" for everyone's tastes, I think its great that acts like that are starting to have access to that kind of exposure.
Posted by: Tom at March 24, 2008 3:03 PM | ReplyScore = 0
what about the Go Team, arent they in a mitsubishi commercial or something?
Posted by: McG at March 24, 2008 3:05 PM | ReplyScore = 1
yup, thats the Go! team in Mitsubishi ads... I also think its funny that they use them and their new tagline is "it's go time." I always can't help thinking, "no, its Go Team"
Posted by: Knarf in reply to McG's comment at March 25, 2008 1:22 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Cougar should have been #1. I had forgotten that this WAS in fact our country until I was reminded in song.
Posted by: songs at March 24, 2008 3:18 PM | ReplyScore = 2
Justice was in a Cadillac commercial. Just sayin.
Posted by: Julius at March 24, 2008 3:22 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Do you realize they left off Flaming Lips in the Land Rover commercial?
Posted by: joeyt at March 24, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply/i'll show myself out.
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what about the M.Ward Cadillac commercial ?
Posted by: tt at March 24, 2008 3:31 PM | ReplyScore = 0
The Prototypes in the relentless Mitsubishi adds during this past weekend of March Madness. "Je ne te connais pas" is the title.
Posted by: thursty4moore at March 24, 2008 5:06 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Volvo | Melpo Mene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K2GiF3u5I4
Posted by: k at March 24, 2008 5:56 PM | ReplyScore = 3
I'm a big fan of the VW (I think?) commercial with Smog's "The Well" playing in the background.
I was sure the one that used "Pink Moon" would be #1.
Posted by: red at March 24, 2008 5:58 PM | ReplyScore = 0
yay, Hum! definitely undervalued, though.
Posted by: mandesean at March 24, 2008 6:06 PM | ReplyScore = 0
How bored did the folks at Esquire have to be to come up with this list?
Posted by: jneslo at March 24, 2008 6:33 PM | ReplyScore = 4
i've heard a lot of I'm From Barcelona in the new Jeep commericals. i think that should make the list!
Posted by: Nate at March 24, 2008 6:50 PM | ReplyScore = 0
2 bands from that list are on my top 10: Wilco and Band of Horses. And I think....
VW......Wilco.....VW......Wilco.....mmmmh......... got it ! : VW-ilco !!. that's why they choose'em for their 08' campaign... And of course, cuz they're an amazing country - alternative- folk - rock - americana band. They came to Houston and gave an incredible Performace....
Band of horses.... The Funeral...08' Ford Edge...mmmmmh....... I think I need to smoke some pot and come with new ideas...haa-haaa!.. (Don't do that kids)..
The girl n that commercial is Cristin Milioti...she's pretty
It's good to be surprised by the bands you love doing this kind of ads.
Posted by: a.l.x at March 24, 2008 8:57 PM | ReplyScore = -2
Good ol' Wilco. Take the little victories, boys!
Posted by: The Other Matthew at March 25, 2008 1:16 AM | ReplyScore = 1
Nick Drake's Pink Moon on the VW Cabrio ad should've won - http://youtube.com/watch?v=BIOW9fLT9eY
Posted by: Stephen at March 25, 2008 7:59 AM | ReplyScore = 2
That commercial is really old. I think I remember VW using that song as far back 2004.
Posted by: Huph in reply to Stephen's comment at March 25, 2008 2:19 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Wasn't "Galaang" by MIA featured in a Honda commercial?
Posted by: Dan at March 25, 2008 8:32 AM | ReplyScore = 0
if so - meh to that.
Posted by: k in reply to Dan's comment at March 25, 2008 11:00 AM | ReplyScore = 0
yep. your indie universe is collapsing around you..
but artists you like are making money hand over fist, so stfu.
Posted by: Nick S in reply to k's comment at March 31, 2008 6:15 PM | ReplyScore = 0
along those same lines, anyone hear the Dirtbombs in the new Nike commercial?
Posted by: DS48 at March 25, 2008 11:21 AM | ReplyScore = 0
That girl in the Ford Edge commercial is my dream girl. I don't see girls like that in real life.
Posted by: kozy at March 25, 2008 11:35 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Yeah, why is it that Nick Drake's "Pink Moon" didn't win? (VW Cabrio)
Posted by: Brett at March 25, 2008 4:30 PM | ReplyScore = 0
The list is of the Top 10 Car Commercial Songs of the Year. The Nick Drake/VW is almost 5 years old.
Posted by: Mike in reply to Brett's comment at March 26, 2008 3:43 AM | ReplyScore = 0
That "It's GO time" line tickled me too -- I pointed it out to my mom, and why it's high-larious, but I don't think I really impressed her with my indie coolness. Ah, parents just don't understand.
Posted by: bluefootedbooby? at March 25, 2008 10:19 PM | ReplyScore = 0
The new Volvo commercial-- Melpo Mene's "I adore you".... I'm surprised this blog hasn't covered him yet.
Posted by: Perry at April 10, 2008 12:33 AM | ReplyScore = 0
I heard the song on a car commercial, it starts out "just can't seem to get right today" I'd like the name of the song and the group that sings it please
Posted by: Lacy at April 17, 2008 9:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
That song is in the new Kia commercial- "Can't Get it Right Today" by Joe Purdy
Posted by: Christie in reply to Lacy's comment at April 20, 2008 9:57 AM | ReplyScore = 0
That song is in the new Kia commercial- "Can't Get it Right Today" by Joe Purdy
Posted by: Christie in reply to Lacy's comment at April 20, 2008 9:57 AM | ReplyScore = 0
I'm trying to find a car commercial that I saw late 2007 and I can't remember which car was being advertised (maybe a Maxima/Altima/Infiniti - not certain), but the music was so good - very upbeat, I guess it's considered dance music. There were no lyrics. In it, there was a couple with the man driving and he was making really sharp turns - i think the woman was holding a glass of water and every time he turned, the water wouldn't spill........Does anyone know which commercial it was? I'd like to get the name of the music. Thanks.
Posted by: Natalie at April 20, 2008 12:52 PM | ReplyScore = 0