During the late 1990’s Volkswagen had a string of excellent commercials that all had super neat music. The following 4 are my top picks from that era:

Pink Moon – Nick Drake

Nick Drake’s beautiful tune gained a greater audience with Volkswagen’s help. Their effective use of the simple track brings the commercial to life. I imagine if Drake had known about the use of his track in this commercial, he’d be rather upset. I doubt anyone would dare call him a sellout though!

Da Da Da – Trio

The funny Volkswagen track with the stinky chair revitalized the 80’s track by the German band Trio. The song shares the same fun sense of humor  as the commercial, with lots of bleeps and bloops before bleeping and blooping was made popular.

Jung at Heart – Master Cylinder / Peter Du Charme

The commercial called Synchronicity was one of my personal favorites back in the day… all because of the song. The song is called Jung at Heart and was composed by Peter Du Charme, otherwise known as Master Cylinder, specifically for this commercial. Apparently they made the visuals for the commercial first, and then ask Du Charme to create the music in time.

Little Fluffy Clouds – The Orb

The Volkswagen Beetle commercial effectively utilized the ambient electronic duo, The Orb, dreamy track. The tune has a sample of a woman describing the “skys when she was young”. When she talks of the colours of the sunsets, she lists a bunch of colours on beat that offers an excellent opportunity for Volkswagen to showcase the many colours of their, then, new re-realease of the Beetle.

Pistols Of Fire (Mark Ronson Remix) – Kings of Leon

This remix that Ronson put together is so full of rockin’ energy, with a dancable beat and blah’s rough vocals singing:

Higher, where did you want to take me?
Higher, where did you want to go?
Higher, grabbing up the money it’s coming
Higher, coming for that rooftop door

Ronson hast vastly improved this alright track from Kings of Leon’s 2005 album, Aha Shake Heartbreak. This tune should not be missed!

Get On Your Boots (Crookers Remix) – U2

The Crookers have been on quite a roll over the past year, dropping thick remix, after thick remix. This retouch is one of their more recent, redressing U2’s first single from their 12th and latest album, No Line On The Horizon.

Empire (Jagz Kooner Remix) – Kasabian

Jags Kooner took a good song and made it better, by thickening up the beats, and bringing the tune an epic quality that is difficult to ignore. Kasabian set to release their 3rd album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, early next month. If their single Fire is any indication, this one will be worth picking up.

Come as You Are (Dirty Funker Mix)Nirvana

Dirty Funker had some excellent material to work with for this remix. One of Nirvana’s many great tunes lends itself to the cut-up surprisingly well, with its dark and brooding, yet catchy (only Cobain could blend the three so well) guitar riff taking the focus of the track. Dirty Funker seems to prefer giving his mixing touch to the harder rock bands. His mySpace page showcases his remixed of Metallica, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and Nirvana.

I’m Free (Hot Chip Remix) – The Rolling Stones

Hot Chip’s hipster remix of The Rolling Stones classic track is up beat and respectful of the original. You can hear Hot Chips styles in between the patented Jagger vocals, and updated beats. Good times.

Jay Bennett

“Jay Bennett” is currently trending on Twitter. This is how I learned of the passing of the musical visionary that helped make Being There, Summerteeth & Yankee Hotel Foxtrot the top 3 of all the 6 studio albums by Wilco. The former member of Wilco passed away Sunday morning at the age of 45 . The cause of his death is unknown.

The three albums Wilco released from 1996 to 2002 will always have a cherished place in my collection. The synergy between the band members at that time produced 3 amazing albums, including one masterpiece: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Sadly, the energies between the band members did not serve them well outside the studio, and Jay Bennett left the band in 2001. Jay Bennett’s outstanding production skills and musical talent brought Wilco’s sound a dynamic quality that is difficult to find. I am grateful to have been able to see Wilco live during the time that Bennett was part of the band. Since he and Wilco parted ways, the band’s albums have not been up to the same standard I had grown accustomed to from the Chicago based Americana band. I am sadened by the news of his passing.

Please enjoy one great tune from each of these 3 great albums:

Outta Site (Outta Mind) from Being There

Wilco - Being There (1996)

Shot in the Arm from Summerteeth

Wilco - Summerteeth (1999)

Ashes of American Flags from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrott (2002)

Hey Boy – Teddybears

Fresh (2004)

One of Axe’s adverts from their Hair Crisis Relief series features a dude with flakes dancing in the club to a thumping track. The man with the hair crisis is dancing a funny dance that reminds me of a particular bar in the pizza ally in Lima, Peru where a pair of gentlemen were doing the exact same dance! In the commercial, the dance is interrupted as some axe girls tackle the man, and wash his hair, right there on the dance floor to save him from his hair crisis.

That thumping track playing is the bar is Hey Boy by the Teddybears, a Swedish band who formed in the early 90s. The actual song starts off with tons of attitude: “Now sit back and enjoy your mother-fucking self before I  kick your fucking ass”! Well alright then! The tune is enjoyable, as it breaks into funky beats with some beat-boxing at the forefront, and has both fun, upbeat moments with happy electronic bleeps and bloops, and aggressive beats and rapping.

The King of Rock and Roll has inspired many remixes since his passing and the birth of the art that is mix-mastering. Here are three of my favourite:

Crawfish (Pilooski Edit)

Pilooski, the one who did that fab retouch on Frankie Valli, brings this tune up to date with some sweet beats, that have a way of sinking into your psyche. Elvis recorded the original version of Crawfish for the 1958 film King Creole. I had to include the clip when Elvis sings this song from the movie, because 1958 Elvis is too darn sexy! I think I’m going to be picking up Perfect some new white t-shirts soon! HOT!

A Little Less Conversation (Junkie XL)

The original is from the 1968 movie Live a Little, Love a Little , and this slick remix was made special for the release of Elvis 1, yet another re-release of Elvis singles. They marketed the heck out of this one, if I recall correctly. Junkie XL did such an amazing and seamless job on this cut up that even more mom loves this track!

Rubberneckin’ (Paul Oakenfold Remix)

The original of Rubberneckin’ is from the 1969 movie Change of Habit, which Elvis starred in with Mary Tyler Moore. This remix was done by Paul Oakenfold for the sequal to the above mentioned #1’s compilation, Elvis 2nd to None:
a collection of tracks that didn’t make it to #1.

1969 Elvis is pretty fine too!

UPDATE: My file server was acting up a bit lately, my apologies to everyone who had trouble downloading.