Snapshots #413: Songs Used In Adverts

Yesterday we had a picture of John Lydon at the top of the page because I thought he was surely the best / worst example of a pop star appearing in an advert. And then I discovered Snoop Dogg in the Money Supermarket ad. And John had some competition.

Here is George's choice of the best "pop" "songs" used in adverts... although George would like to qualify that, "I think the link is best described as “songs related to UK adverts”, as some of the songs were not actually used but were the basis for the advert. For example, “Que Será Será”, because I’m 100% sure Doris Day did not sing about mushrooms and fried onion rings."

Did you ad-entify them all?

15. Bohemian Rhapsodist.

Antonin Dvorak - Symphony no. 9 (Hovis)

14. Unforgettable part in the King's Bible.

A small part of "unforgettable" plus King James...

Etta James - I Just Want To Make Love To You (Diet Coke)

13. Hawaii Jack, boogying pig, football squad.

Jack Lord, some Rocking Ham and 11.

Lord Rockingham’s XI - Hoots Mon (Maynard's Wine Gums)

12. Trowel and mortar specialists.

Call them if you need any pointing done.

The Pointer Sisters - I’m So Excited (Crunchie)

11. Sorry, I can't attend. I have another engagement that night.

Sorry, I have a clash in my diary.

The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go (Levis)

10. Erstwhile Isley Brother.

He started out playing with the Isleys.

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Crosstown Traffic (Wrangler)

9. Wounded stag owner, Reed, circa. 

Jacques and the wounded stag. Lou Reed. Ca.

Jacques Loussier - Air on a G String (Hamlet)

8. Johnsons.

Holly Johnsons.

The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Miller Lite)

7. Mediocre amateurs, lost inside.

MedioCRE AMateurs.

Cream - I Feel Free (Renault 21)

6. A div and (his) duds are often mixed up.

David Dundas - Jeans On (Brutus Jeans)

5. You're the tray of nice things I upset yesterday.

That's a line from Gaye by Clifford T. Ward.

Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Levis 501)

4. It's Sneers Week! In a way.

Anagram!

New Seekers -  I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (Coca-Cola)

3. Sweeter alternative to the gravy train.

Honeybus - I Can't Let Maggie Go (Nimble Bread)

2. Denied starting fires between Harry Truman and Red China.

From the opening lyrics to We Didn't Start The Fire...

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray.

Doris Day - Que Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)

We hope it's chips, it's chips, we hope it's chips...

1. Confused band, ft. Lelah.

"ft. Lelah" was an anagram for one of George's favourite groups...

The Fall - Touch Sensitive (Vauxhall Corsa)

Thanks again to George for suggesting this week's songs. As someone who worked in advertising for far too many years, I couldn't have done this one myself.

Normal service will be resumed next week.

Saturday Snapshots #413 (Special Guest Post Edition)

Never mind the bollocks - here's a first for Snapshots... a guest post!

Well, sort of.

George stepped forward and offered 15 pieces of music with a curious connection. He left me with the hard work of finding all the photos and coming up with clues I haven't used before... but frankly, I don't blame him. That takes a lot of going back over old editions to make sure I don't use something I've used before.

Can you identify the faces in George's rogues gallery... and work out what connects their tunes?

15. Bohemian Rhapsodist.

14. Unforgettable part in the King's Bible.

13. Hawaii Jack, boogying pig, football squad.

12. Trowel and mortar specialists.

11. Sorry, I can't attend. I have another engagement that night.

10. Erstwhile Isley Brother.

9. Wounded stag owner, Reed, circa. 

8. Johnsons.

7. Mediocre amateurs, lost inside.

6. A div and (his) duds are often mixed up.

5. You're the tray of nice things I upset yesterday.

4. It's Sneers Week! In a way.

3. Sweeter alternative to the gravy train.

2. Denied starting fires between Harry Truman and Red China.*

(*This is my favourite clue this year.)

1. Confused band, ft. Lelah.

Thank you, George. 

If all this has left your brain feeling Pretty Vacant... don't worry. The answers will be here tomorrow morning.

Emergency Questions #12: Teddy Picker

Huggy Bear's back, and he's giving Richard Herring a week off.

This week's Emergency Questions...

Who was your favourite Teddy Bear as a kid? What were they called? Do you still have them?

Here are some of Huggy's favourite songs to help jog your memory...

Elvis Presley - (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

Red Sovine - Teddy Bear (Don't knock it till you've tried it... then, feel free to knock it.)

Oh, and if that wasn't bad enough... here's the sequel! (Even Red refused to have anything to do with this.)

Diana Williams - Teddy Bears Last Ride

Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker

Barbara Fairchild - Teddy Bear (Tissues at the ready!)

Apocalypse - Teddy

Alice Cooper - Look At You Over There, Ripping The Sawdust From My Teddybear

Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - Teddy Bear's Picnic

Do you still have your old teddy?

Listening Post #38: England... oh, England

Over at The Vinyl Villain, Dirk was singing the praises of the 1982 debut single by The Wild Swans yesterday.

Lately, I've spent a lot of time listening to the band's 2011 "comeback" album, The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years. ("Comeback might not be the most appropriate word, since with the exception of lead singer / songwriter Paul Simpson, this was a completely new line-up, including Les Pattinson from Echo and the Bunnymen and Ricky Maymi from the Brian JOnestown Massacre).

Lyrically, it's one of the most interesting records I've heard in ages, a tour of provincial England steeped in nostalgic longing, but not the kind of flag-waving nonsense that's currently in vogue. "William Blake in Cash Converters" sums it up perfectly.

In the madness of my 3 a.m.s, I'm lost without a guide

English electric lightning protected
Green unpleasant land infected
Vulcan bombers, cornish habors
Elizabethan costume dramas
Sun reporters, New World Order
Johnny Rotten, Geoffrey Chaucer
Bargain Booze and Robert Wyatt
Happy-slappers, Toxteth riots

All the kingdom's quiet now and I can't stem the tide alone

Positive Songs For Negative Times #86: Bigmouth Strikes Again

Every time Morrissey speaks, I shudder.

You can't have failed to miss the latest desperate plea for attention from the deluded mind of the once great SPM, entitled A SOUL FOR SALE. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Sparks - Lighten Up, Morrissey

Where do you begin?

Any serious investors should make contact:

eaves7760@gmail.com

The Associates - Stephen, You're Really Something

Rol: I'm waiting for Morrissey's reply to my offer. £5.54 and a vegan pastie. Reckon I'm in with a shout.

Ben: I considered throwing a quid at him.

Ben: And a boiled egg sandwich.

Rol: Does a boiled egg sandwich trump a vegan pastie? Damn you for using your insider knowledge!

Ben: That's what they had to eat with him, wasn't it? I think I read an article a few years ago that he made them all eat only boiled egg sandwiches when they were touring the early years in the van. I think it was an interview with Rourke.And he was saying it smelt worse eating the sandwiches than the farts it would make them do.

Manic Street Preachers - Dear Stephen

The 'eaves' business email address has been switched off due to the colossal response to Morrissey's announcement of his wish to pass his "Smiths" interests over to an investor. Although Morrisseys' love for the songs of the Smiths era will never waver, he is tired of the disagreeable and vexatious characters involved in "The Smiths" business. After thirty-eight years of insults and abuse, Morrissey has had enough. All (or most) of the 'eaves' emails will be answered in time.

That's good. I await my reply.

In all seriousness though... those songs are priceless. Such a pity that the one man most desperate to tarnish their memory is their co-creator. 

Often, when I'm forced to discuss this subject, I end up quoting the lyrics to Rubber Ring...

The passing of time and all of its crimes

Is making me sad again

The passing of time and all of its sickening crimes

Is making me sad again

But don't forget the songs that made you cry

And the songs that saved your life

Yes, you're older now and you're a clever swine

But they were the only ones who ever stood by you

Today though, this one seems far more appropriate...

Madness in (formerly) great ones must no unwatched go.