The Recession Comes to American Idol

For the second week in a row, American Idol/Ford (are they even still a company?!?) have hijacked an awesome song ("Energy") by an awesome indie artist (Apples In Stereo) and had their remaining contestants "sing" it for a 30 second car commercial. This is getting down-right embarrassing... seriously. I know that AI's ratings are down, but don't they still routinely crush their competition? Didn't Ford just get their hands on some of that sweet federal bail-out money? Can they not afford the rights to cover songs that the majority of their viewership would actually recognize? I hear that Lady GooGoo gal has a song out about poker that all the kids are digging. Couldn't they do a version of "Dead and Gone?" Wouldn't that work on multiple levels? I realize I basically just said this, but it would be nice to see Apples In Stereo get even a fleeting mention. I have a feeling a lot of people would actually like their version of "Energy" and the rest of their pretty great New Magnetic Wonder. Listen to the original version and then jump here to see the commercial.

What the WHAT? - American Idols Cover... Lykke Li

I don't watch American Idol... that's my reality television guru counterpart. This was supposed to be the year I gave it a shot, and it never happened. And now I'm kind of glad, because this Ford commercial (which was apparently on during the show) is infuriating. Let's start with the intro, where some bland 20-something uses the "amazing technology" of Ford vehicles to voice activate a song by "American Idols." In fact, in the 60 seconds worth of chances to mention that the song is originally by Lykke Li, the fantastic people at Ford/Fox chose to go with zero. Naturally, the adaptation of the song is about as milquetoast as everything else in the commercial, including the product. I have no problem at all with the use of the song, and I'm sure that Lykke Li was aware of the terms of use for "I'm Good, I'm Gone," but in the future, it'd be really nice to see the original artist's name at least once. American Idol... help the little people!

Lykke Li: "I'm Good, I'm Gone"


Ford/American Idol Contestants: "I'm Good, I'm Gone" Car Commercial (vomitus)


(via Stereogum)