Lil Crab . . . AMAZING!

Not much to say here other than this guy is so talented . . . and flexible. 

Must See: Canal+ - "The Bear" - EuroRSCG Paris

Music for advertising meets music for film in this gorgeous spot.  It's clever, shot well, scripted well, and the music score is just perfect.  The opening music reminiscent of Gladiator with the flowing vocals, the guitar noodle bed underneath against the Bear's crazy behaviour, the string swells . . . so well done.  Thumbs way up on this must see spot!  

E. Tyler Harp - Raised on the Music of the Tube - Part 2

When I was in grade school there was a magic hour between the time that I finished my homework and dinner time.  Looney time!  Nickelodeon, the then fledgling children's cable network, was transitioning from You Can't Do that On Television! and Double Dare to the Spongebob/iCarly world we know today.  It seemed like they weren't quite sure what to show between the kids programing of the daytime and the Nick at Nite programming of the evening.  Their decision?  One solid hour of classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons!  Thus began my love of classical and orchestral music.  The brilliant use of classical favorites (Morning Mood from Peer Gynt by Grieg for sunrise or Fudd's Kill the Wabbit version of Flight of Valkyries in "What's Opera, Doc?") and the genius original tunes composed by legendary scoresmith Carl Stalling.  I was thoroughly intrigued and often physically dragged away from the tube to the dinner table. (These days I'm usually dragged AWAY from the dinner table)  Here are a few of my favorites that I hope you'll enjoy!

Rabbit of Seville  

(For some reason Bugs and Elmer Fudd wander their way into the Hollywood Bowl during a performance of The Barber of Seville by Rossini.  I love how the conductor seems surprised when the curtain opens early, checks his watch, shrugs off the whole situation and counts off the pit!)

Baton Bunny

(Bugs conducts A Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna by von Suppe at The Hollywood Bowl despite constant wardrobe malfunction and being bothered by a fly.)

What's Opera Doc?:  
Link

(Kill da wabbit, kill da wabbit!)

Three Little Bops: 

(My favorite of them all!  The story of The Three Little Pigs in new jazzy, swingin', hepcat way!  "The Big Bad Wolf, he learned the rule!  You gotta get hot to play real cool!")

Finally, a montage of Looney Tunes arrangements of Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse"

The Top Twenty Cheesiest Love Songs

(pictured above - Drew Stein and James Panepinto circa 1980)

20. Do That To Me One More Time - The Captain & Tennille (There's a flute solo that will leave you with ED . . . )

19. Every Breath You Take - The Police (This song is about stalking and always confused for a love song.)

18. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston (Be honest with yourself, you can't live up to Kevin Costner.)

17. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi (You don't work on the docks.  You're not from New Jersey.  The hair alone puts this one firmly on the list)

16. Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O'Connor (Yikes, break out the gouda . . . this one is drippy.)

15. Spandau Ballet - True (Ah . . . the song that got you halfway to second base at your 7th grade dance . . .break out the slap bracelets . . . this song makes this list!!!)

14. Color Me Badd - I Adore Mi Amor (Are you wearing baggy pleated pants and a vest with no shirt underneath?  Yes?  Good, this one goes out to you.)

13. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge (Do you want Michael Bolton to ruin your wedding like he ruined this song?  Cause he will.  He ruins everything. Unless you like cheese - the go for it!)

12. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner (Did you drive to your wedding in a T-Top Camaro?  If yes, I'm pretty sure there's no way on earth anyone would marry you, so go ahead and listen to this by yourself in the parking lot with a six pack of Schlitz.)

11.  Eternal Flame - The Bangles.  (The original name was actually "Eternal Flaming Ball of Cheese.")

10. This I Promise You - N'Sync.  (Oh JT, how we long for the days when seranaded us with goofiness).

9. Tonight, I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flach. (Peabo! Peabo! Peabo!)

8. Endless Love - Lionel Richie & Diana Ross. (This song is so over the top . . . so surprised that Lionel Richie only made this list once.)

7/6. I'm All Out Of Love - Air Supply. (Their entire body of work qualifies but #7 is so amazingly cheesy that we were compelled to give them #6 as well.)

5.  Everything I Do (I Do It For You) - Bryan Adams (Ok, this one is a guilty pleasure that we all have - especially when he cuts to the bridge . . . THERE'S NO LOVE, LIKE YOUR LOVE . . .)

4. I'll Make Love To You - Boyz 2 Men. (If you actually have the audacity to put this one the ole stereo when you are being intimate with that special someone . . . caveat emptor . . . this is a fondue waterfall.)

3. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler. (Feel bad about this one being on the list, it's cheesy but really nice at the same time and must admit gives me the chilly willies sometimes cause it taps right into my soft, gooey, cheesy middle parts.)

2. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion. (Tough choice to put this as #2 and not #1, really hard decision.)

1. More Than Words - Extreme.  (Extreme . . . .ly cheesy).

Catvertising Harmony: Cat Videos, Advertising and Premium Production Music!

Great job to John St. Advertising.  They kill it with their dead pan delivery on the future of advertising and the clear rising trend in cat videos.  The music choices were terrific across the spot assisting in helping to keep the juxtaposition and sincerity moving along. The initial music bed is overly serious, intelligent and plays on a classic music cliche.  The mid section introduces a little beat and piano apreggio bed that moves the piece along.  And finally, the cherry on top, we reach the big payoff.  The ending music anthem has a feel good, driving and trumphant energy that lifts us through the end and accentuates the parody.  We love this spot. 

Check out the end track here.

Discover Card Delivers On Its Sound Brand With Peggy & Patrick

We love Peggy and her crazy antics - this time with Patrick Kane.  We also love how Discover uses music to build their brand identity delivering their signature branded end tag at the end of each commercial.  It's memorable, simple and people hear it over and over again and associate it with the Discover Card brand.  Unlike a sound logo, an end tag has a little more room to run and can express a bit more.  Upbeat, intelligent, with a wink of playful whimsy.  Makes sense for a consumer card and fits perfectly as the little musical dessert for Peggy and his adventures.  Great brand building for the Discover Card brand all around.  We always look forward to more Peggy commercials.