Videos

November 13, 2007

John Lennon - "Real Love" (JC Penney ad)

TDS Editors

Thanks to Creativity for the video.

Fox News: Yoko Ono Did Sell Out John Lennon to JCPenney:

Yoko Ono did sell John Lennon’s rare home recording of “Real Love” to JCPenney for a commercial.

The spot began airing on Sunday night during ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters” before JCPenney could even make the announcement.

The Beatles have had their songs licensed for commercials in the past, but with the rare exception of perhaps “Revolution” years ago, they never have allowed master recordings out. The songs are always re-recorded.

Ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi handled the deal, I’m told, with Ono directly. The much-disliked widow of Lennon has sold a number of items under her late husband’s name over the years, including glasses, art and an action figure. But using a rare, acoustic home recording — and a beautiful, haunting one at that — as the Christmas song for a department store seems particularly greedy.


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Previous comments include

#1 David says:

At least they made a reasonbly decent commercial with it. It's not a bad message to have broadcast to the masses either - even if it is a commercial/sell out.

#2 Chris says:

Sell out? C'mon. It's 2007. Everyone is a sell out. Yes, the man won, but the man knows that people love rock music, and he wants to give us his money, so why the hell not? I see nothing wrong with it if portrays the song in the right light, which I think this commercial does. Yoko has simply accepted the reality that the music business has changed - corporate tie-ins, commercials, getting royalties from songs played on network TV, etc. is a vital way for artists to attempt to be compensated for their work now that so many seem to think they can just download music for free. Music makers need money too, and in this day and age considering someone a 'sell out' for having your song in a commercial is totally outdated. Granted, Yoko doesn't need the money, but as the trusted executor of John's estate, she has as much right to do this as anyone else. The fact that Beatle songs, Who songs, and Led Zeppelin songs have now all been in commercials will hopefully open younger artists minds to this opportunity so that they too can make money doing what they love and won't feel any guilt about 'selling out'.

#3 B says:

I've never heard that song before. Whatever motivated Yoko, the advertisers created a beautiful commercial, artfully made.

#4 jane says:

I think she is a very selfish person. I know she has never been a popular lady. Right?
Love, MOM xxoox

#5 Frank says:

While i understand the criticism claiming that this is a sell out, i think that it's unfounded. john lennon was an inspiring dreamer, but he was also a realist. he was perfectly fine with using the media to spread his message ("bed in for peace" and the "war is over" campaigns, anyone?). he trusted yoko more than anyone else in the world, and i think that nobody in the world understood him and his views better than she did, and does. i think this message is beautiful, perfectly in line with john's views and vision, and i think it transcends any company's logo and tagline slapped at the end.

#6 datdemdar says:

Yoko = Greed. Lennon if he was buried instead of ashed would be spinning like an airplane propeller.

#7 Theresa says:

I think it is presumptuous of America and the world to think that the widow of a Beatle owes us something. John's effects are hers to do with what she wants. She didn't sell the song for some porn film, and even if she did, that's her right. We may feel that we own celebrities and that they owe us something, but in truth we owe them.

#8 Sharon says:

disgusting really truly honestly disgusting.....

#9 Dennis says:

None of this matters at all.
Merry Christmas

#10 Rick in DC says:

Beautiful commercial - until watching the above clip - I never saw this particular version. Mr. Lennon's music was a perfect fit for this touching and inspiring spot. I think he would have liked it. For those concerned about his music being compromised for commercial greed - notice that the spot didn't sell any product and didn't even mention JC Penney until the end. It was a nice Holiday Greeting. Well done!

#11 Rick Springfield says:

Ugh. This truly is disgusting, particularly because it is indeed a "beautiful, haunting [version] at that." It has such a personal quality to it, and it just feels wrong listening to something he recorded as a demo (as a gift for Yoko, I believe), not really intended for pop consumption on a commercial. I just think of how this flies in the face of what John Lennon believed and sang about. It's hard to say what Mr. Lennon would be up to these days if he hadn't died so early in his life, but I highly doubt he'd be shilling for corporate America.

#12 Where Can I get the SONG?! says:

I really want this song!!!! Where can I get a copy? Is it for sale? Can I download it somewhere? Please post a URL or something. It's the most beautiful song I've ever heard.

Also, I notice the lyrics are different that what I've seen on the internet. The song on the ad keeps saying "waiting for you", whereas on the internet lyrics, they read as "waiting for love" most of the time.

See http://www.dailymotion.com/country:es...

#13 themisale says:

i actually think the song fits the commercial perfectly. i dont think anyone should be angry at anyone for this. a least the song isnt in some stupid teen movie or something.

#14 gh says:

this add pisses me off, John RIP must be spinning in his grave...


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