Aw jeez. Laurie Anderson's "O Superman" is being used in a smart phone commercial.

[progressoid]

et tu Laurie?

:sigh:

[Rex]

1. Naw...they are just that far behind imo.

How old is that song now? Old. She was New Age before that term meant anything.

[progressoid]

2. It can't be old.

Because that means I'm getting old. And I refuse to believe I'm that old.

It was released in 1981. I still had hair then.

[Rex]

3. I hear ya...I was 10...

[Bryan]

4. She probably enjoys eating regularly, like everyone else

Being a cult figure doesn't come with a dependable salary.

[Chan790]

6. This is true.

One of my college creative writing professors wrote one of those big, important novels of the early-90's that everybody in literary circles had read but apparently hadn't sold as many copies as being widely-read would suggest.

Other than his modest salary as a P/T adjunct college professor, the guy was basically destitute and a prolific couch-diver, all hope hanging on the day that some film producer would call him to option the screen rights to a 10-year-old (now 20+ years) novel. About the only thing he had going for him was I never saw him pay for a coffee or a meal...the guy could go anywhere and someone would say "I loved ______! Why didn't you ever write another novel? (He'd written 4. 2 previous and 1 subsequent which combined had sold half as many copies.) Let me buy that for you!

[begin_within]

5. I still have the 45 rpm of that song.

Or maybe it's an EP, I forget right now. But the original release anyway.
That was about 31 years ago. When I hear it now, I can't think of it as a hit song.
Just too weird. And I don't like it much any more.

[progressoid]

10. Hey, there's always eBay.

You might get 8 or 10 bucks for it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LAURIE-ANDERSON-o-superman-7-WS-EX-uk-warner-/290624482040?pt=UK_Records&hash=item43aa91aaf8


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Laurie-Anderson-O-Superman-7-/250825011887?pt=UK_Records&hash=item3a6655f2af

[kentauros]

7. It was the Age of Devolution!

The media may have understood the concept, but are forever locked into a constant state of devolution. They just can't help themselves when it comes to copying pop culture

And then Devo makes an ad for them without looking like they sold out

[progressoid]

9. Duty Now For The Future!

Seems to make sense that DEVO would do that.

[CBGLuthier]

8. Nothing wrong with padding the retirement fund

I am forgiving of those artists who did not make the gazillions. Besides, more people probably will hear it now than ever before.

[davsand]

11. I kinda liked the idea that the commercial was gonna introduce new listeners to her.

Laurie Anderson was never a huge commercial success in spite of how amazing her music is. I'm hoping this gives her a new audience.





Laura

[progressoid]

12. I vaguely remember reading about Led Zep using their songs for a car commercial.

One of the band members said it helped to expose them to a new audience.

But if she starts doing weddings for Rush Limbaugh....!

[hifiguy]

13. I remember seeing her in the summer of '84

shortly after "Mister Heartbreak" came out. Incredible show. In fact that was a hell of a summer for music in Minneapolis. R.E.M., Laurie Anderson, King Crimson and the Pretenders all in three short months.

[progressoid]

16. OK, that's just not fair.

Minneapolis. R.E.M., Laurie Anderson, King Crimson and the Pretenders all in three short months.

I'm a bit jealous.

[Rambis]

14. Friend of mines sister

helped her record a demo tape (yes I said tape) at the University of Northern Iowa- She brought O superman to play on the boat when went water skiing 30 years ago. We thought it was shit at the time.

[progressoid]

15. What!?!

I went to UNI back then. I had no idea she was there. Must have been before or after my time.

[Rambis]

17. She was an art student

she got her friend Sandy (Sandra D) to help her 1980 or 1981-

[progressoid]

18. Ah, just before my time there.

I too was an art student there. I think the album Big Science was one of the most copied to cassette in the art department.