Songs we love too much to ever see in a commercial

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We’re not talking about the perfect moment in our favorite movie, or even in a television program. But it’s becoming more and more questionable and ubiquitous… meaningful songs seemingly chasing the alluring profits made available by corporations looking to spice up their street cred.

Maybe I’m just reading to much into all of this. I mean, the commercialization of art has been around since paintings found their way out from the walls of caves, right?

And, of course, there’s a time and a place for such commercial placements… but as I have taken to quoting quite often lately, “it’s easy to say you’ll never sell out when no one’s making any offers.”

Matt stirred the conversation around Burst HQ last week by reminding us of the Outback Steakhouse commercials from last year using a bastardized Of Montreal tune, “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)” :

We all have songs from the memory banks of our lives that we hope would remain untainted and pure, right? For what it’s worth, here’s a list of songs off the top of my head that should be off limits to crass commercialization (btw, where’s the line for crass vs. ironic?) :

Ben Folds : Gracie
Stevie Wonder : Isn’t She Lovely
U2 : Where The Streets Have No Name
Del Amitri : Driving With The Brakes On
Duncan Sheik : That Says It All
Toy Matinee : Last Plane Out
Joey Scarbury : Theme From The Greatest American Hero
Lone Justice : I Found Love
Jeff Buckley : Hallelujah
Go West : King Of Wishful Thinking

So, an internal debate has been raging, and we ask you to weigh in. Enter a comment below and cast your vote. [dh]