Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS, Video, Bad Apple
The Postal Service speaks about Intel Ad
Who
would have thought that the most controversial thing to come out of Macworld would be the commercial that Apple produced
to hawk the idea of Intel inside Macs? Certainly not this pundit, though I also didn't think that iPod would sell, and I
thought the Cube would be a hit.It seems that the one of the members of the Postal Service, a fellow by the name of Ben Gibbard has posted the following notice on the Postal Service's website: It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent. -Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service
I thought all was forgiven because Apple is featuring their video in the iTunes Music Store, but apparently not so much. What's next, a lawsuit of some kind?
Thanks, Rally.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
davetron5000 said 10:34AM on 1-20-2006
It's not like The Postal Service created the video, did they? I mean, if they hired some director(s) to make a video for their song, what did THEY do that Apple's ripping off?
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Yebot said 10:40AM on 1-20-2006
Musician's can be whiny. I'm a musician; I know. The Postal Service constructed their album using Cubase. Why they don't use something worthwhile like ProTools or Logic is beyond me.
I suspect they did thier album on a PC too. How dull.
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Paul-Michael Bauer said 10:44AM on 1-20-2006
My $0.02 USD sez Apple's marketing department planed this. Everything about this ad is geared to generate buz.
So what if there is a lawsuit from The Postal Service or Intel is embarassed at the slams made on PC retailers? All the press Apple is getting because of it has got to be worth it for them.
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Mikey said 10:46AM on 1-20-2006
Apple - the new Microshaft? Shame Apple seem to be doing a lot of wrong these days...
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Tetra said 10:47AM on 1-20-2006
"...features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video..."
They're similar, but claiming anything more is bullplop. Durr, two clips featuring a chip fabrication lab. Golly, I wonder if we're going to see dudes in bunny suits and chip-making machines? Durr.
Anywho, both are rips of that Bjork video for All is Full of Love, and The Postal Service has done nothing more than make a bunch of sub-par electro-pop for dumb teenage girls.
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David C. said 10:47AM on 1-20-2006
Oh, Mr. Gibbard can take one for the team. I never thought that video worked well for that song, but it works well for Apple.
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Graham said 10:52AM on 1-20-2006
Okay this is getting rediculous. Artists these days have little or no creative control of their music videos. It's the directors most of the time. What Gibbard is suggestiong is just stupid. Apple, nor the directors of the video, should have to 'consult' him before making a commercial for a new product. Yes, the two works are very much alike, but what is important to remember is that Music Videos and commercials just don't stand the test of time. Music vids usually are nicely done, expensive little shows of mild creativity, and then they get shoved under the carpet when the next band comes along with their mildly creative video. Getting upset about a music video is just childish. The commercial, in and of it self will be forgotten just as easily. We're past the days of the historic 1984 ad - It's not going to happen liket that again. Getting all bothered about this is stuff just unneeded stress for everyone involved.
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cedmond said 10:57AM on 1-20-2006
Is there something else going on here behind the scenes? I mean, after that Lugz/Eminem commercial rip-off...er, appropriation... I would think Apple would check into the origianlity of their directors ideas before going ahead with another commerical. I was starting to think that maybe they were doing it on purpose to generate more buzz for themselves and the folks with the original commerical but now with the band firing back at them that theory doesn't make much sense.
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Nathan said 11:00AM on 1-20-2006
I am absolutely astonished at how so many of you are defending another blatant act of THEFT on Apple's part. They stole the Eminem track, then stole from the Lugz commercial in the process of appeasing Eminem. Now this. Apple supporters are supposedly the anti-philistines of the tech world. Then why do none of you give a damn about artists' rights? You are LEMMINGS.
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Robbie said 11:03AM on 1-20-2006
I began listening to the Postal Service a few years back, mostly because I liked Death Cab for Cutie, but after seeing this issue at hand the only conclusion I can come up with is: What a stupid idea for a music video, it has absolutely nothing to do with the lyrics or the song, there are so many more better ideas that could have been done. Apple, on the other hand, wow computer stuff, who would have guessed, it seems to fit pretty well, and only a couple frames look even remotely similar, Ben needs to watch the new Apple video and/or be involved with the creation of his videos before making dumb remarks like that. What a disappointment from a fan perspective.
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Matthew said 11:11AM on 1-20-2006
It's a little ironic that a member of a band called The Postal Service is calling foul on Apple. The band is two words away from recreating the name of our nation's mail service.
I see their point, however. I've seen both the video and the ad and for what it's worth there is enough in common as to be suspect. Buzz or no buzz, the controversy has merit.
Oh well, you know what they say, no press is bad press.
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kai said 11:18AM on 1-20-2006
i think it would have been nice if apple had ask for... approval. but they don't actually "need" approval. probably this is the greatest adv. campaign apple has ever made: one single video, no FXs, people talking about it day and night.
I still believe it ironicaly brilliant the use of -this- video. it's not just Intels facility, is the name: such great heights, and if you get the lyrics:
"...
They will see us waving from such great
Heights, 'come down now,' they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away,
'come down now,' but we'll stay...
I tried my best to leave this all on your
Machine but the persistent beat it sounded
Thin upon listening
That frankly will not fly. you will hear
The shrillest highs and lowest lows with
The windows down when this is guiding you home"
it's like the song was made for this. maybe it will be showing soon on Mtv, just like a huge 3:30min Apple Ad.
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dave said 11:31AM on 1-20-2006
Permission/lawsuits/similarities aside, I'd like to take this opportunity to rag on The Postal Service, who will be recorded in the annals of music history as something substantially less than a footnote along with many other "bands" or "artists" that made "music" from the past five or so years.
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Billy K said 11:41AM on 1-20-2006
Video concepts are rarely created by the band. Unless it was their concept, Whiny-ass Ben Gibbard should drink a tall glass of "Shut Yer Pie-Hole" and be happy his crappy side project has gotten so much press over this. I was completely (blissfully even) unaware of this video before Apple's ad.
The video's great. The song sucks.
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Billy K said 11:46AM on 1-20-2006
Oh, BTW #11, The Postal Service got sued by USPS. They settled by allowing USPS to use their music in promotions.
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Chris said 11:49AM on 1-20-2006
Forget Apple getting publicity for the ad. The postal Service who should be thanking Apple, I would have never bought the video if it had not been for the exposure of this story.
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scarecrow said 11:50AM on 1-20-2006
What so Intel is not allowed to film their owen factory making chips because some music video had similar stuff in it. It's like saying you can't have an add with a whale because of the movie free willy.
WTF?
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Kevin said 11:54AM on 1-20-2006
Hey I had no idea who "The Postal Service" was before this "controversy." I always thought they were the people in the blue uniforms that brought the letters to my house. They should be thanking Apple for the free publicity, not criticizing them.
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kai said 11:54AM on 1-20-2006
#15, that's poetry.
maybe apple should allow them to use macs on their videos!
the song sucks for most of us, but a version of it (recorded by Iron&Wine, available on iTMS) is amazing. check it out!
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David said 11:55AM on 1-20-2006
It seems like there are only about 5 or 10 seconds, at most, during the video that seem similar to the commercial. Is the concept of chip manufacturers in suits looking at wafers and then looking at each other now verboden for anyone else to film?
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