Thoughts on ‘Five Dollar Foot-Long, Extended Dance Remix’
When Soundboard first heard the insidious, summery jingle advertising Subway's new (and recession-friendly!) deal for $5 foot-long subs, we had no choice but to admire its weird pop craftsmanship and go buy a bunch of sandwiches. The weird, muted vocal harmonies, that unexpected Beatles-y shift to a minor modality in the verse; seriously, if Earlimart wrote a similar song about foot-longs as a tribute to Bingo, the mayor of Silver Lake, it'd be the smash single of May. But when we discovered that there is an extended dance remix available for download right now, we were forced to ask some uncomfortable questions about pop music: Are the sandwich-centric lyrics the only thing preventing this from being boilerplate respectable blog-house? Who out there is currently on the fence about Subway sandwiches, but upon hearing this dance remix, will be convinced of their need for a Veggie Delight on honey oat bread? Am I that person? Are commercial jingles the ultimate expression of pop utilitarian bent, or its most insipid? In an age where the sellout stigmas have lost their fangs and even radical leftist indie acts gladly license tunes to Nike, what will become of the professional jingle auteur? Did I really just devote 182 words to blogging about a sandwich-promoting dance remix? Either way, Happy Gilmore is stoked right now.
-- August Brown
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I had never heard this jingle, but your fulsome description piqued my interest so I gave it a couple of listens. I'm afraid it's the aural version of a Magic Eye print: I just don't get what you see in it. To me, it sounds like a watery retread of Outback Steakhouse's repurposed "Wraith Pinned to the Mist," a.k.a. "Let's Go Outback Tonight." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mvm6KfJDE0)
Posted by: pauline | April 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM
I commend Subway for getting an original jingle for this commercial and not simply using an existing song. After downloading the extended dance mix I have been going to Subway more often :)
Posted by: Adam | April 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Hey everyone, check out my Radiohead remix if you get a chance:
Radiohead - Nude (Minty Fresh Remix)
http://radioheadremix.com./remix/?id=1527
Thanks!
Posted by: mintyfreshbeats | April 22, 2008 at 11:31 PM
These Radiohead rmixes is the coolest:
http://www.radioheadremix.com/remix/?id=1049
http://www.radioheadremix.com/remix/?id=646
Please vote for them.
Posted by: Planty Peenutz | April 24, 2008 at 12:40 PM
When I first hear this jingle, I was sure it was a ripoff or at least a re-working of an old Byrds song from the 60's. The harmonies are dead on Byrds. Listen to "8 Miles High" and tell me that's not where the composer of this jingle found the idea for his annoyingly catchy tune. I think it's so catchy because it sounds like something you've heard before, but probably not for a long time. It hits you like a memory you haven't thought about in years. Very devious.
Posted by: Gino | May 02, 2008 at 09:58 PM