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The 5 best uses of music in iPod commercials

Posted at 8:48 PM on August 24, 2011 by Brett Baldwin (14 Comments)

With the news of Steve Job's resignation as the CEO of Apple comes a great deal of reflection about how he shaped technology. He also greatly shaped how we consume music.

The iTunes store, with its over 10 billion downloads and billions of dollars in annual business, is unrivaled as a functioning marketplace for digital goods, and it's amazing since it came after free music-sharing sites like Napster and the subsequent parade of clones and new technologies.

Let's not forget the iPod and the iPhone, both technologies that, while not being the first to provide support for MP3s on portable devices and phones, were arguably the best.

What's also interesting is Jobs' ability to make a hit song with these devices. So before we look at the top five, you gotta know your history. The first video for the first iPod featured the Propellerheads: (look at the size of that thing...)


#5: Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl


A couple years later, the iconic silhouette campaign had cutouts with white iPods rocking out with Jet...

#4: The Vines - Ride with Me

Still rocking with The Vines...

#3: Eminem - Lose Yourself

A little more flavor (and shading for the silhouettes) with Eminem:

#2: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around the Bend

Safe to call this band a one-hit wonder? Still a great song.

#1: Feist - 1 2 3 4

And probably the biggest hit made from an iPod ad is Feist. Tough to see her career catapult so high without the iPod Nano ad that featured 1 2 3 4.



So what's your favorite? Here's some ammunition: Wiki for music used by Apple Inc. in advertisements and YouTube videos of all iPod ads since 2001.

Comments (14)

I don't watch TV, but even this ad hit me (and this song could almost make me buy anything).
New Soul - Yael Naim

Posted by Shari | August 25, 2011 8:57 AM

Feist.

Posted by lanky | August 25, 2011 8:58 AM

Music is my hot hot sex, by Cansei de Ser Sexy

Posted by Damian | August 25, 2011 9:12 AM

Mi Swing Es Tropical by Nickodemus & Quantic feat. Tempo

Posted by Amber | August 25, 2011 9:15 AM

The submarines - both "You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie" and "Submarine Symphonika"

Posted by Josh | August 25, 2011 9:16 AM

New Soul - Yael Naim

please, please! it's perfect for such a lovely morning.

Posted by cait | August 25, 2011 9:26 AM

New Soul - Yael Naim

Posted by Jennifer | August 25, 2011 9:28 AM

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - one hit wonder?? c'mon - what about The Golden Age (Heineken ad)? 3.2m views
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiQj0o8BOYw&feature=fvwrel

Posted by MM | August 25, 2011 10:25 AM

I actually had forgotten that I first heard Feist's "1 2 3 4" on an iPod commercial, her career has done so well as a result. She's left the marketing campain in the dust, but yeah, that's probably the best.

My second favorite is Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" Not because the song is that good, by any means. I was on my favorite vacation to date, a 10 day trip to NY and back. I wandered into the Virgin Megastore in Times Square and heard "Radio Song" by Jet and bought the cd. Later that day, after (somehow) thoroughly absorbing the cd, I went out to eat with my friends and saw the first iPod commercial I remember, rocking out with Jet, my brand new, little band that was just about to be nowhere near as little or good, but I rejoiced with them, nonetheless.

Posted by Topher Boyd | August 25, 2011 10:29 AM

no credit for the agency who came up with these amazing commercials? TBWA\Chia\Day.

Posted by Duderina | August 25, 2011 5:14 PM

The most memorable iPod commercial song for me is "Jerk it Out" by The Caesars. I can't even listen to that song without picturing a shadowy figure dancing with only the white headphones visible.

Posted by Matt Brillhart | August 25, 2011 5:38 PM

Definitely The Fratellis "Flathead"!

Posted by Kevin Grimm | August 25, 2011 6:07 PM

What about Cut Chemist's "Listen to the Music" ad for the nano? My favorite iPod add by far!

Posted by Matt Frank | August 26, 2011 9:06 AM

what about Bruises by Chairlift!!!!!!!??????

Posted by ben | August 26, 2011 11:19 AM

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