Way Back 2025

October 27, 2025 - Classic Tracks from Bruce Biopic, Fast Food, Car and Technology Ads

Deliver Me From Nowhere, the current biopic covering the early 1980s Nebraska period of Bruce Springsteen's life, has many of the Boss's great songs performed by star Jeremy Allen White and Bruce himself in addition to a few unexpected originals: "Wheel of Fortune," a 1952 hit by one of Atlantic Records' early vocal groups, The Cardinals, "The Last Mile of the Way," a '55 gospel number by The Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke, Conway Twitty's signature country hit "Hello Darlin'" and "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray.

Meanwhile, TV commercials are all about vintage tunes: Jimmie Rodgers' 1960 hit "T.L.C. Tender Love and Care" is one way to describe Taco Bell's Crispy Chicken tacos and burritos. Two ads for cars are in the loop: Frank Sinatra did his bit (59 years ago) for the Volvo XC90 with "That's Life," while Toyota Trucks have chosen "I'm on My Way" from the 1951 Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon (though the version heard is from the show's 2015 revival).

Tech products take it the rest of the way: children are shown playing while "Finger Poppin' Time" by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters blasts on Turtlebox outdoor bluetooth speakers, "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" by Neil Diamond hawks ChatGPT, and the iPhone 17 Pro promotes its usability with "Come Rain or Come Shine" from the 1959 album The Exciting Connie Francis.


October 6, 2025 - Nancy S. and the Chordettes Brighten TV Ads, One Battle Includes Los Panchos, the Shirelles and Xmas Songs

Nancy Sinatra cuts through the TV audio clutter with her sweet '67 hit "Sugartown" in ads for Google Pixel 10's Vanilla Pro phone. Target contributes happy vibes with The Chordettes' popular version of the 1960 movie theme "Never on Sunday"...although the commercial omits the 'never' part of the lyrics, likely so that customers won't make themselves scarce during the second half of the weekend!

Accomplished director Paul Thomas Anderson's latest offering, One Battle After Another, has topped box office receipts. Musical selections include "Perfidia" by Los Panchos, one of the most successful Latin American acts of the 20th century's second half, and "Soldier Boy," The Shirelles' number one smash from 1963. A few yuletide tunes are on the film's soundtrack as well: "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" from The Ramsey Lewis Trio's 1961 Sound of Christmas LP and two selections from Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album from 1967: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."


September 22, 2025 - A Beautiful Journey / How to Succeed in Business Mashup...Sort Of

Fantasy rom-com A Big Bold Beautiful Journey starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell features an extended bit involving a high school production of Fred Loesser's 1961 Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with Farrell and members of the film's cast performing the title tune. Other songs from the musical are heard including "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm," "Coffee Break" and "Been a Long Day." One featured song from outside the world of Broadway provides contrast: The Isley Brothers' 1959 party classic "Shout." Concurrently, the latest Miss Dior TV spot with Natalie Portman is set to the sound of Janis Joplin going full throttle on the Garnet Mimms soul smash "Cry Baby."



Shout

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