Sing A Song Of Sales

Life’s contradictions always intrigue me, especially when they come from people who staunchly maintain both sides of them. Advertising agencies, as just one example. They claim old people are resistant to change and will not react to ads for a competitor’s product; yet, look at the music they use in their commercials.

The Gap clothing stores, certainly not a “yesterday” place to shop, is currently hawking its wares with “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better.” That’s from a 1946 musical. 1946, as in 61 years ago. Grandma’s music for the grandkids’ clothes.

Going on vacation with Carnival Cruise Line? You may have been entranced by the music they’re currently using: “Ain’t We Got Fun.” We’ve been having fun since this was written in 1921. Yeah, the 1921 that happened 86 years ago.

The CR-V Honda aspires to be the latest and best thing for the younger crowd. Listen to the “Java Jive” as it plays in the background, a fine piece 67 years old from 1940. It’s a great song; has nothing to do with cars, but it’s catchy.

Chevrolet would like to brighten your day with “You Are My Sunshine,” in the hopes you would brighten their day by running down to the nearest dealer and picking up their product. Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis wrote this in the late 1930s or 1940.

So, it appears the products are for the young, and they will be captured by music loved by the elderly. Maybe it’s because the older music has more to say.