awatt Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Honestly, this really mystifies me. Are you being forced against your will to read this thread? There's certainly no shortage of other topics on this site, so why is it unacceptable if others might want to continue this discussion? Nothing personal, Thanatos. I'm just so tired of this particular issue. So yes, I will just stop reading. But on another note, I love your screen name and avatar (German painter?). Next to A-man and a few others, you're one of the more intriguing folks around here. Perhaps I can buy you a drink sometime? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Nothing personal, Thanatos. I'm just so tired of this particular issue. So yes, I will just stop reading. But on another note, I love your screen name and avatar (German painter?). Next to A-man and a few others, you're one of the more intriguing folks around here. Perhaps I can buy you a drink sometime? No worries, AWATT....I certainly understand how some may be suffering from battle fatigue as a result of this topic. Just defending my right to free speech! Thanks! Picked the screen name after reading "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning" by Chris Hedges (great book, imo). He discusses the relationship between Eros (man's urge to create & embrace life) and Thanatos (Man's urge to destroy/corrupt life) and the roles they play during war. Yes, it is a German Painter...Caspar David Friedrich. The painting is called "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog". I originally saw it on the cover of a paperback edition of "Frankenstein" that I picked up at a used bookstore years ago. Sorry, hope that's not too much info!If you live anywhere near Chicago, I'd be glad to share a drink or ten! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
awatt Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 No worries, AWATT....I certainly understand how some may be suffering from battle fatigue as a result of this topic. Just defending my right to free speech! Thanks! Picked the screen name after reading "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning" by Chris Hedges (great book, imo). He discusses the relationship between Eros (man's urge to create & embrace life) and Thanatos (Man's urge to destroy/corrupt life) and the roles they play during war. Yes, it is a German Painter...Caspar David Friedrich. The painting is called "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog". I originally saw it on the cover of a paperback edition of "Frankenstein" that I picked up at a used bookstore years ago. Sorry, hope that's not too much info!If you live anywhere near Chicago, I'd be glad to share a drink or ten! Cool. I will take you up on this when I get to Chicago. Friedrich is a great romantic painter, if I remember correctly. Also would recommend Freud's Civilization and its Discontents for Eros/Thanatos exploration. I've been wanting to read Hedges "War.." for a while so will check it out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 The last I read on this site, Wilco's album debuted at #4 on the charts, which it probably would have debuted at with or without VW. It has since dropped to at least #23, maybe lower, according to a post on here. So, regardless of whether they should or shouldn't have done it, we should also ask, what are they actually getting out of it? Wilco worked hard for a lot of years to become a well-known, independent band with a reputation for high standards. They weren't selling as much as some bands, but they had consistently put out good stuff that a loyal fan base would buy, along with t-shirts, dvds, concert tickets etc. Tweedy could jerk around on stage for an hour and a half, mess up the lyrics to half his songs, and we'd still come back for more, They had what I think the marketing people would call a strong brand, which is what Volkswagen wanted. The Wilco brand stands for authenticity, not flashy, but dependable quality. Or at least it did until they traded all that in for $50 and an '89 Rabbit. Volkswagen doesn't want Fergie because A) she's probably a flash in the pan and She probably costs too much money. Mercedes doesn't want Wilco because they're a bit too low class. So there you have it guys, Wilco is not only a sell-out, but they are a bargain basement sellout. But, maybe they sell what, 1 million extra records and itunes downloads? Do the fans they think they are going to bring in equal the fans they are alienated by this? Will those fans buy the whole album, DVD, go to every concert within a two-hundred mile radius? Do they start doing Stadium gigs? Unless they somehow strike it super rich, like on the order of Gun's and Roses circa Appetite for Destruction, they are still going to have to work for a living, just like all the rest of us, only now they will be known as the VW band, half of their original fans consider them sellouts and hypocrites, and when they decide to come out with an eclectic "edgy" album, none of those mainstream types are going to go for it. So, how does this VW thing benefit them? Meanwhile, VW gets a free advertisement every time someone plays "Sky Blue Sky" loud enough to be heard out the car window from here on out. Then again, maybe they'll manufacture some sort of blow-up with VW so they get dumped and make it out like they are just born not to fit in, woe is me, how shallow the masses, blah-blah-blah. Once you sell your soul, it's gone, so you should make sure get enough to make worthwhile. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 And if Tweedy is willing to put his stamp on a commercial, the content of which most certainly and definitely advocates killing someone rather than letting them touch your car, then yes, I am blaming Tweedy for all the problems in this country. At the very least, he's not any less responsible than anyone else now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 no one has EVER been killed by someone else with a flipping car key. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 The last I read on this site, Wilco's album debuted at #4 on the charts, which it probably would have debuted at with or without VW. It has since dropped to at least #23, maybe lower, according to a post on here. So, regardless of whether they should or shouldn't have done it, we should also ask, what are they actually getting out of it?I've asked this question before, but I'll try again: Why is it that you think you get to decide what Wilco does and does not get out of marketing their music how they please? And if Tweedy is willing to put his stamp on a commercial, the content of which most certainly and definitely advocates killing someone rather than letting them touch your car, then yes, I am blaming Tweedy for all the problems in this country. At the very least, he's not any less responsible than anyone else now.Nice bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 And if Tweedy is willing to put his stamp on a commercial, the content of which most certainly and definitely advocates killing someone rather than letting them touch your car, then yes, I am blaming Tweedy for all the problems in this country.Go Go Gadget Arm! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 I've asked this question before, but I'll try again: Why is it that you think you get to decide what Wilco does and does not get out of marketing their music how they please?Nice bit.Uhh, I was trying to say, they aren't getting anything out of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 no one has EVER been killed by someone else with a flipping car key.Well, the guy in the commercial wouldn't be able to do it. . . So it's a guy pretending to do something he knows can't do in order to prove he's the man he knows he's not? Tweedy wants his songs associated with this type of stuff? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Holy shit..........What are you crazies talking about? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Go Go Gadget Arm!sort a wish I had more cool zingers to banty about. . . You wouldn't happen to be from Union Grove, would you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilco Worshipper Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Holy shit..........What are you crazies talking about? NOTHING, absolutely nothing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 NOTHING, absolutely nothing how many nothings?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 You my friend may pass...........carry on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Well, the guy in the commercial wouldn't be able to do it. . . So it's a guy pretending to do something he knows can't do in order to prove he's the man he knows he's not? Tweedy wants his songs associated with this type of stuff?I'm willing to concede that the commercial might be a little lame... but you don't really believe it's meant to be taken literally on any level, do you? Suggesting that this commercial advocates violence of any kind isn't just egregious over-reaching; it's an utter misreading of the tone of the commercial. Occasionally commercials employ silly exaggeration for humorous effect, in order to make the situation more memorable for viewers. No, I'm not from Union Grove (I've never even been there). Are you from these parts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 What it's meant to do is prey on the insecurities of people in order to convince them to buy a car. I've noticed a trend since I've been back in commercials which use pseudo-violence to sell their product, the example that comes to mind is the Bud Light commercial where the one guy hits his friend over the head in order to take the beer. So, none of us are going to go out and stab anyone for a Volkswagen, but the add is saying the Value of the product is such that it would be worth doing it. I would add it suggests that the target audience doesn't have the balls to actually do something like that, but if they buy the car, they might suddenly find them. I dropped out of Union Grove High School, grew up by the I in Racine County. I don't live there anymore, however, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 How do you sleep at night? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilco Worshipper Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 So, none of us are going to go out and stab anyone for a Volkswagen, but the add is saying the Value of the product is such that it would be worth doing it. I would add it suggests that the target audience doesn't have the balls to actually do something like that, but if they buy the car, they might suddenly find them. Are you for real?!? Good Lord!!! I was going to make a stab at you about dropping out, too, but thought better of it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 The thing is, we're raised to act according to a moral standard, told to develop our own identity, taught the evils of corporate commercialism in college, and then we've got to go find jobs where we have to act the opposite of all that. So we develop of neuroses and accute awareness of our shortcomings, which marketers then use to sell the product. Since no product can really fill the hole, we've got to buy more. I think we're all kind of aware that's the going thing these days. The key commercial seems particularly blatant in that aspect which is why I brought it up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Are you for real?!? Good Lord!!! I was going to make a stab at you about dropping out, too, but thought better of it...Damn straight I dropped out of high school. Take your best shot. . . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 And if Tweedy is willing to put his stamp on a commercial, the content of which most certainly and definitely advocates killing someone rather than letting them touch your car, then yes, I am blaming Tweedy for all the problems in this country. At the very least, he's not any less responsible than anyone else now. Damn straight I dropped out of high school. Take your best shot. . . I've got nothing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilco Worshipper Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Damn straight I dropped out of high school. Take your best shot. . . Like I said, I thought better of it...that's HOW I was brought up. "Think before you speak...treat others as you would want them to treat you" IMO, you are putting way too much effort and thought into the key commercial, tho. But go on, that's what this place is for... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owhatevernevermind Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Went to adult high school for one year, then college. Straight A's, too, lot of good that did me. So much for public education. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 What it's meant to do is prey on the insecurities of people in order to convince them to buy a car. are you sure it isn't meant to say "You'll enjoy driving a VW so much, you won't want anyone else behind the wheel"? Damn straight I dropped out of high school. Take your best shot. . . that's right, they teach you humor senior year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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