The role of indie in Super Bowl 44
It was hard not to notice the prominence of indie bands featured in this year’s Super Bowl commercials. We had heard that NFL licensed Wake Up from Arcade Fire and that all proceeds would go to help Partners in Health in their Haitian relief efforts. But we were surprised to find Arcade Fire’s song used as the NFL anthem, with several versions playing throughout the game.
Then to hear Grizzly Bear’s Two Weeks in the backdrop of a VW commercial that featured Stevie Wonder? This one caught me off guard.
Keeping in mind that just a few days ago Vampire Weekend was #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 charts, fans of indie music are asking questions.
Is this a signal of the rising stature of indie music in this new decade? Does it show us that indie music is seen as commercially valuable to our society?
Please share your thoughts.
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Puddlegum began in 1997 as one of the first online music magazines. It is managed by Flick, and has gained respect from many in the recording industry.
Over the years Puddlegum has accomplished quite a few things we are proud of:
Being mentioned by Thom Yorke during a BBC Radio interview (concerning our Tens Theory), and being written about in Rolling Stone. We have also made the front page of TUAW, Digg, and VH1’s Best Week Ever, and have been featured on USA Today, and Reuters.
Contact Flick by phone: (574)386-0851
email: flick@puddlegum.net
AIM: pooroldflick
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I think it’s great. Good music, reaching more people. Arcade Fire were already RICH so I’m glad they are donating, but nobody knows grizzly bear, glad those dudes are getting paid a little, plus commercial was good!
I’m definitely happy for the bands, and happy that Arcade Fire is able to help Haiti. Just watching Twitter during the game and these questions are being asked.
I think this decade could see indie music continue to rise to the top.
This kind of stuff has been happening for a couple of years now. It kind of confuses the hell out of me, to be honest. Paste Magazine had an interesting article about it:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/01/is-indie-dead.html
This is very interesting. It should also be noted that the NFL ran a series of advertisements last year using a cover of Morrissey’s “Everyday is Like Sunday” from Viva Hate. I believe the commercials were for the NFL network, airing during prime time games. I couldn’t find them on Youtube, however.