Poll: How much “Apple” music do you own?
[Hey, it’s our first poll, so please take it!]
Apple users are often categorized by the press as mindless followers, a cult that obeys the commands of the Almighty Steve, and will more often than not buy anything Apple decides to put out (or at least WANT to buy it). For the most part I consider myself to be a card carrying member of that cult. There haven’t been too many Apple product announcements recently that I would not have bought if money were not an issue. But recently I noticed that my love for all things Apple had begun to slowly creep into my non-Apple life, specifically, through music.
I was listening to Feist’s 1234 on our home stereo this morning (which I had connected to my MacPro via AirTunes, like a good Apple soldier), and both my children (4 and 6) demanded I turn it off. They hate that song, and I know it, so naturally I play it all the time. In fact, more often than not I will get down in their face and sing it to them (I am convinced they will remember these times fondly). But this morning as I serenaded them through their screams and tears, I suddenly had an epiphany. I don’t really like 1234. I mean, it’s OK, but it is not the type of song I would normally have bought. It was then that I had one of those “swirl around the character-type camera move” moments you see in films when someone suddenly realizes he’s been played for a fool, that everything he thought was right in the world was a sham – a total lie. I almost wanted to pour myself a cup of coffee so I could drop it in slow motion like Chazz Palminteri in The Usual Suspects when Spacey walks out the door.
OK, maybe it wasn’t quite that bad. But I did realize Apple had pulled a fast one one me. My love of the iPod, and Apple, in general, had temporarily influenced my perception of Feist’s song, raised it a point or two, and before I knew it, I had downloaded it from iTunes. Classic Jedi mind trick (and yes, I know those only work on the weak minded).
I quickly began cataloging other Apple “theme” songs from the past, and sure enough, there were quite a few matches to my music collection. Admittedly, some songs, like the ones from Jet and Eminem I owned before Apple stuck them in their commercials, but more than a couple other songs I own I had to admit I first heard in an Apple commercial. And this got me wondering, would I still own these songs if Apple hadn’t used them in their commercials? Was I associating them with Apple products, and therefore subliminally buying them for reasons other than how good they sounded?
Well, surely if that was the case, I thought, I can’t be the only one. I mean, I admit I am a Mac geek, but I have met people 10 times more obsessed with Apple than I am. Surely if I bought a couple songs from Apple commercials, there must be people who are buying whole albums and going to concerts based on seeing a silhouetted dancer with an iPod dance to a tune. A quick trip to iTunes reveals demand for “Apple” songs is so high they have an iMix called “Apple Commercials“. So, here’s a poll. (Our very first, so please take it) How many of the following songs featured in apple advertisements, do you own? I know, some of you may have owned these songs pre-Apple, but that still counts. I will take these results as both a sign of how well we obey Apple’s commands, and how well Apple knows its user base, musically. Thanks for playing.
[poll=1]
I am now sorry to say that I own most of these songs.
BUT!!!
I’ve owned all of these except the Feist music.
BUT!!
My fiancee turned me onto her before I heard her on the iPod Nano commercial.
Does that count for anything?
-Peter
I have Walkie Talkie man but I have it because they are a New Zealand band and I’m a New Zealander and I bought the album because their videos are cool not because they are associated with Apple. In fact I bought the album BEFORE they made it big as iPod guys.
I once did a GarageBand class with Brad Carter of Steriogram and King Kapisi. It was awesome to see real musicians showing us how to use the audio apps we are given for free by Apple.
I had Walkie Talkie Man – Didn’t know it was ever in an Apple commerical though; and also ‘Perfect Timing’, by Orba Squara (which you haven’t listed) which was used in the iPhone Commercials & instuctional videos
bahhh
I have to say that MacBook Air song is catchy. Makes me want to buy one even more.
Well, I’m only guilty of one: Feist. But I had that long before it even ended up on a iPod commercial.
I’ve only one song but admit I would like to make an “Apple” album! I recently took the “1234” soundtrack from the Nano ad and turned it into a ringtone. I wonder how many people will now buy the songs above now they know the titles! I’ll think about it, but not ‘cos Apple says so, at least I don’t think so!
Currently I only have Lose Yourself on Eminem’s album and didn’t realise it was in an Apple ad.
I own just one of the iPod songs, 1234. Heard it on the stereo system at Sam’s Log Cabin restaurant in Berkeley/Albany, and the owner Scott showed me the CD. I bought it back home at iTunes.
Apple’s use of iPod music is like movie songs. You hear them in one context, but when you just listen to them by themselves after you buy the album, they sound different. Credit Apple for finding quirky songs that are normal enough to be suitable for listening, and different enough to engage our interest.
Holy crap. I hate Eminem, and Feist! But I have all of the above songs except for the “Walkie Talkie Man” one. I actually have a playlist called “Apple Tracks” with all those on there.
The Fratellis just rock though. A lot.
even worse: i recently bought rogue wave’s new cd, then this morning realized it’s featured in…a zune ad. now boycotting that band. even though it’s a great album.
I almost wanted to pour (not poor) myself a cup of coffee so I
Whoops. Duly noted, professor! thanks for the catch.
-The Doc
Forgot one…
iPhone:
Perfect Timing (This Morning)
(Artist) Orba Squara
(Album) Sunshyness
yup… I got it and the iPhone and the “rebate”
Not really a good question as both songs I own were purchased on CD and ripped, and neither of them were being used in Apple commercials when I purchased them.
It may be a case of Apple following musical trends as much as generating them. A little give. A little take.
What about other titles like Moby’s ‘God Moving Over the Face of the Waters’ from the Intel processor ad? That I have, but I got it from eMusic instead after I saw the ad. That kind of negates each other, correct?
…and like a good Macenstein mindless follower, I took your first poll!
Like it buy it if not leave it on the shelf.
BTW some songs tend to grow on us the more we listen to them.
The only one of the above I own is the one by Jet. And although I credit Apple for introducing me to them, I now consider myself a true blue fan. Kickass band. Their second album is brilliant.
The only other “Apple” track I own is “Sunburn” by Muse, from the old “Rip, Mix, Burn” iMac campaign.
just a small correction…
the iMac song isn’t called Honeycut, it’s by the band called Honeycut. The name of the song is Exodus Honey.
the Honeycut album is actually quite amazing, I was surprised to find out.
You left out some crucial ones – Hey Mama by Black Eyed Peas (the very first iPod silhouette commercial), Technologic by Daft Punk, and Sparks by Wynton Marsalis. These didn’t only turn me on to new songs, but new artists and genres as well.
You missed some.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_advertising#Music_featured_in_televised_advertisements
I admit I bought The Caesars, but my first iTunes purchase was the song from the very first iPod silhouette commercial… “Hey Mama” by The Black Eyed Peas.
Yeah, I figured I couldn’t lists every song for fear of scaring people away from the poll. But I just added 3 of the more requested songs to the list.
-The Doc
Ok, well just took the poll, and yeah, i got the error that you could only select 10 of the options, first i must be appalled with myself because, clearly you folks suspected that no one could be that much of a dumb little lamb to have actually purchased all of the songs on that list, now I did not purchase all of the songs, only 11 of 13 songs listed, so I must ask myself, am i a dumb little lamb? Am i just a fan? It’s a trick question, for i am a listener of BBC1, and all of these songs had earlier premieres on that station, and therefore i could claim that I was just a music fan, so that is my excuse 😛
I admit that having Demon Days as the characteristic album cover on the iPod for ages and ages may have been a contributing reason to my purchase of it (and I’m very glad I did; a good album). I hadn’t heard it in an advert though, but one that you don’t have, possibly because it’s only been run in the UK? is the Arctic Monkey’s song ‘I bet that you look good on the dance floor’ which I did get after seeing the advert. I think that’s the one…
Where is Cubicle by Rinocerose? (from 1st gen iPod nano ad, with the spinning album art ‘city’)
I rip music from my music collection in Apple Lossless.
Why would I pay good money for lo-fi music from Apple.
The iTunes Store is good for podcasts.
It’s not in the poll, but I should add that I also own “Dance Tonight” by Paul McCartney, but to be honest… Apple ad or not, I would’ve bought that album anyway.
you don’t have a None-of-the-above choice.
and the poll page software requires that you must select one of the Apple music choices. So, your poll will not record anything for folks who have none of that music.
Thus, it is a self-selecting, only for I-already-own Apple ad music poll.
Which is to say, not a true mac audience poll. oh well. such is life in the polling business.
you forgot ‘ Take California ‘ – Propellerheads. i believe the first ipod commercial song.
I also loved that cubicle song (was that a europe-only ad?). as for your poll, i don’t watch tv, so i’m probably skewing the results. i heard jet’s song on Dreamworks’ _Flushed Away_ movie.