Idolator
The above ad for the NBA playoffs features "House Of Cards" from Radiohead's In Rainbows, a bit of licensing that, according to the eagle-eared blogger at Songs For Soap, may be the first time the band's licensed its music for ad markets in the US. Perhaps the fact that Steve Nash of the recently eliminated Suns was in this particular ad helped Thom & Co. warm up to licensing the track to the NBA? In 2002, he told ESPN The Magazine, "But you know, what's so great about them is that you can interpret the lyrics any way you feel.... I love Radiohead. They're really clever guys. And the music itself is just excellent." I wonder if he bought the In Rainbows discbox! After the jump, another ad, which brings together LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and "Water From The Same Source" by the incredible string ensemble Rachel's.
There Can Only Be One: LBJ & KG [YouTube]
There Can Only Be One: Nash/Kidd [YouTube]
Radiohead Gets Pumped Up For NBA Playoffs [Songs For Soap]
radiohead news archive [ateaseweb.com]
Comments
I so want to know how the NBA ended up with that song. I was in my room when I heard that tune coming from the tv and I ran out to see who had wrenched the licensing rights from Thom's caron-based hands...
I thought only baseball fans and players had almost good taste in music
Jason Kidd doesn't want to be your friend...
@Halfwit: GROSS.
i was wondering where i had heard the song in the lebron/kg ad before! it was so familiar
Not normally one to flinch at awkward licensing, but Rachel's and pro sports seems like room-temp-liquid nacho cheese dip and good red wine. I have learned a lesson.
I wonder if now that the Suns and Mavs are gone, will this commercial go away too. I hope so...i'm tired of seeing it every other break.
@MayhemintheHood: What, you want more Kyra Sedwick? Everytime she pops onto the screen during the game I get very annoyed. Fuck you Kevin Bacon.
i love the "expansion teams" tag. you had to get on that raptors starter hat the *day* it came out. then you realized how dumb their logo looked.
Did Idolator ever discuss the Saul Williams/Gatorade ad? I'm not hating, just curious, search returns null.
@britneyspearstears: They touched on it, but only in reference to how the increased exposure helped downloads/sales of the Niggy Tardust album (the irony being that the song doesn't even appear on that album, of course).
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