GOLD AGAINST THE SOUL
GOLD AGAINST THE SOUL
Ideals do terrible things to people.
I believe that using songs for adverts is evil. Well, almost always. There�s only a handful of exceptions that it can apply to, to be honest.
If its an unknown band, and they licence the use of a song to an advert because it�s the only way the band can gain exposure or continue their existence then I see no problem with that. But if people sell their songs to adverts solely out of greed � one of the seven deadly sins � then that is a problem.
If its an enormous band that are licensing a song for a huge paycheque : that�s prostitution. They don�t need exposure. Or cash. Or airplay. There�s no artistic reason to take chunks of your heart and sell them unless, unless, it�s the only, the only, way you can continue to make art. But if you�ve sold millions of albums and tour the worlds biggest venues, what possible reason is there to take your beliefs and use them to sell burgers or clothes?
Nothing. Unless you�re a whore. And anyone can buy you : for the right price.
THE TIDE OF GREED
The Manic Street Preachers have licensed �Australia�or an advert.
It�s not their best song : in fact it�s probably the 29th best single (out of 30) they�ve made. Only �You Stole The Sun� is worse. Honestly.
But, I can�t see why this has been done. Ca$h? Y�N?
That�s the only reason I can think of. But why? The band don�t need money. They don�t need exposure. They don�t need to sell an artistic statement and use it to plug foreign holidays.
They just don�t. It�s prostitution. Nicky Wire wrote a song about depression following the disappearance / death of his best friend. And he sold it to the Australian Tourist Board for cash he doesn�t need. The Manics have been millionaires now for at least seven years. Why could you possibly think of any reason they would sell a song of theirs for an advert?
Ca$h ca$h ca$h?
Betray your ideals. Betray your integrity. Take the money and run. You�re selling your souls and your ideals for the void of artistic death.
Remember that old Manics dictim? �No Adverts, No Encores, No Fanclubs�.
What hypocrites. Every artist defects, every agent sells out. Every hero falls from grace and becomes a joke. When it says �Sold Out� outside Wembley Arena, I�ll know what it really means.
Gold Against The Soul. And the 30 pieces of silver won. Well done, Judas Street Preachers.
Of course, this doesn�t apply just to them. But everybody who licences songs � their artistic statements � and has put a dollar sign on it. It means one thing only. You are for sale. You can be bought by anyone with enough money. You have no artistic integrity : you are a prostitute. You are for sale. And nothing you ever do or say can ever be taken seriously, because on the back of every statement is a dollar sign.
Your art is for sale, and has been compromised. When you open your mouth we see the gold in your mouths. Everyone has their price : looks like you found yours.
But at what cost? Gold Destroyed The Soul.
� copyright Mark Reed, 1991-2002 except where indicated