Jalopnik: bob seger

This Is Our Commercial: Detroit Radio Station Attacks Mellencamp's Singing Of "Our Country" At World Series

Ray Wert — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:33:02 EDT

After enjoying Bob Seger's rendition of "America The Beautiful" in person during the first game of the World Series this past weekend, I was all ready to hear how Anita Baker would do singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" during game two last night. So it was rather weird for me to see a quartet of acoustical instruments set up along the first-base line — and in fact, I remember commenting to a certain commenter, "When did Anita Baker get a band?" Around 90 seconds later I realized what was finally going on when John "Cougar" Mellencamp stepped out onto the field — and I realized just how far Chevy was going in marketing the new 2007 Chevy Silverado as I heard the "Cougar" strum the beginning notes to a song that's become like a soundtrack to my life, "Our Country." I mean, it really hasn't become the soundtrack to my life, but considering the $400 million marketing campaign Chevy's got going — it sort of feels like it is. But apparently, some folks out there don't quite like the Mellencampy tone being struck...

...by the ad campaign. We've already discussed our thoughts on the matter — and like a chorus of background singers, they were echoed by Seth Stevenson over at Slate. Now the Detroit area radio stations are getting into the mix over what they're seeing as a breech in protocol — Mellencamp's signing of the "Our Country" song at the start of the game — before Anita Baker's performance of the "Star-Spangled Banner." Local rock-out-with-their-cock-out radio DJ's Drew and Mike, of WRIF (Baby!) in Detroit took Mellencamp to task on this morning's show, and as reported in the Freep:

John Mellencamp's performance of "This Is My Country" just before World Series Game 2 in Detroit Sunday night was not taken kindly to Monday on Detroit radio.

A typical response came on WRIF-FM 's(101.1) "Drew & Mike" program. The morning duo accused Mellencamp of selling out, writing the song for monetary reasons.

It is featured on a Chevrolet truck commercial. The pair suggested they wouldn't be surprised if Chevy approached him to write a patriotic song that could be used in a commercial. Mellencamp hasn't released an album of new material in six years.

And although Maura Johnston over at our brother/sister site obsessed with music was quick to tell us when I asked her this morning what she thought of the charge levied by the WRIF's dastardly duo,

"I dunno. It's pretty standard mellencamp fare...and i do know that he's been working on material for a new album."

I think I'd agree with Maura on this — Chevy probably didn't ask Mellencamp to write the song for them (I've put in an e-mail and text to a few folks over at Chevy to find out for sure), but what I do know is that the decision to throw Mellencamp up there in Detroit was a very strange call by Chevy's marketing team. Especially considering the virulent love the Metro Detroit area's got for their legends — like former Chevy songsman Bob Seger — weren't they a little concerned there'd be some backlash against Mellencamp performing here in Detroit? Seems to us they might've chosen a better location — like St. Louis perhaps — for such an attempt at commercialization not involving one of Detroit's favorite sons songs.

Still, it was rather funny watching Fox's cameras panning the obviously not-paying-attention crowd when they weren't capturing shots of Brandon Inge taking a spit break. In fact, when it appeared that some kids were watching the goings-on, the money shot's got to be the boy's utterly confused face — he's probably wondering the same thing we are — "WTF?" – Ray Wert

Mellancamp songs draws criticism [Freep]

UPDATE: Chevy truck PR's main maven let us know a few minutes ago that "Mellencamp approached...Campbell Ewald with the song." So that settles that part of it.

Our Crooner, Our Truck: Bob Seger To Sing National Anthem For Game One Of The Chevrolet-Sponsored World Series

Ray Wert — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:53:02 EDT

The hit squad goons with the General's marketing team may have thought they'd heard the last of fan-fave crooner Bob Seger, but now that it's been confirmed the fan-fave crooner'll be getting a run at the national anthem at the lynchpin of Chevy's $400 million marketing blitz for the Silverado, we've only got two questions. If Bob Seger forgets what he's doing and where he is tomorrow night, do you think he'll start belting out "Like A Rock?" More importantly, because the World Series is sponsored by Chevrolet, will the PR folks in the booth force Major League Baseball and Fox to dub it over with "Our Country?" – Ray Wert

Detroit Stars Seger, Baker Chosen For Series Festivities [Freep via Deadspin]

GM Hates Bob Seger: Chevy To Sell New Trucks By Getting A Bit Mellencampy

Ray Wert — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 11:41:03 EDT

Despite much love being showed to the old "Like A Rock" ad campaign for Chevy trucks in our polls, GM and Chevy apparently want nothing to do with Bob Seger's crooning voice and a Rock-like image for its new GMT-900 Chevy Silverado trucks. Instead, according to Automotive News, the folks at Chevy would rather hurt so good to get a leg up on the competition by throwing down some R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., trading in one small town middle-aged fat crooner for another, going with the just for men gel using John Mellencamp to sing a little diddy for truck buyers. Although if the reportedly $400 million ad campaign doesn't give the General...

...the hand to hold on to they need, and sales start to come crumblin' down, there'll be no thank you for Mellencamp. Although he may have to cut the whole "Cougar" part from his name — we think Ford/Mercury may still have the trademark on it. Oh, and GMC's continuing with the "professional grade" theme — no song and dance for the Sierra's necessary.

GM's massive pickup campaign [Automotive News]

Like a Nuttendiesel: Bob Seger Prefers Ze Porsche

Ray Wert — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:30:30 EDT

We were all excited a few weeks ago after the results of our poll asking folks if they wanted Chevy to bring on the return of the old Bob Seger "Like A Rock" song / slogan as they herald in the new GMT-900 based pickup trucks. We found a whopping 49% of you answered "Yes! Dude, that song defines Chevy trucks." — with the response of "It's a fucking truck. Just tell me how much it hauls and shut the hell up." at 37.6% the only close contender. We were all set to begin our holy war against the RenCen to ensure they knew what the people wanted — because over the years it's been obvious that that's not something which happens readily. But then, we were stopped cold by an article submitted by our friend Cole Coonce that claims Seger's personal garage now holds a Porsche Boxster, a Nissan pickup and a couple of Ford Mustangs. Although he does own an "11-year-old Chevy van for business purposes, there's not a Chevy pickup among his four-wheeled possessions. That being the case, is there even a way to reconcile these seemingly irreconcilables between Seger and Chevy to make a "Like A Rock" slogan return a possibility? We've no idea — but we're willing to try — as long as y'all are with us. So, like we always do — let's do it democratic-like:

Chevy Pitchman Bob Seger Prefers Porsche [AOL Music]

Related:
What About Bob? [internal]

2006 Woodward Dream Pre-Cruise: Bike Moves!

Ray Wert — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 21:42:43 EDT

Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy
Out in the back seat of my 60 chevy
Workin on mysteries without any clues
Workin on our night moves
Tryin to make some front page drive-in news
Workin on our night moves
In the summertime
In the sweet summertime

—Bob Seger, "Night Moves"

With the congestion on Woodward Avenue during the week-long Pre-Cruise, and especially on the Saturday of the Cruise itself, it'll often make more sense to hoof it than to try to drive it. Even better than hoofing it would be to bike it, and we can't think of a better bicycle to be on than this custom piece of glowing metal. Not only is neon the thing on this here ride — it's also got XM Sirius radio, stereo speakers and a DVD player — and for a price far lower than anything you'll be seeing out on the streets! But expect to see this bike every night from here to the wee hours of Sunday morning — cause it'll be seen even with the Night Moves. [Thanks to volunteer photog wohho — who points out that sadly the rider of said contraption had no mullet.]

Related:
All our 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise coverage [internal]

What About Bob?

Ray Wert — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:49:52 EDT

Last week when the General introduced its newly tricked-out GMT-900 trucks, the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra, it got us to thinking — whatever happened to the old "Like A Rock" ad slogan? One of us (take a guess) was all over that made-in-Detroit Bob Seger crooner shit, and despite the suckiness of the song — that same one of us thought it was a pretty cool slogan for a truck — and it fits right in with that whole "American Revolution" thing Chevy's slingin' right now. Plus, Seger's got a new album out soon — so there's all sorts of cross-promotional crap to work with. And they already can say they're first in class when it comes to star-power cause Seger can whoop Taylor Hicks ass any day of the week.

On the other hand, one of us felt that the slogan sucked and the last of us was an elitist from NY and was totally ambivalent. So we'd like you guys to think about it and answer us this question: