Whether you’d like to admit it or not, you have to be familiar with “Hey Soul Sister” by Train (you know, the band that previously brought you another can’t-get-it-out-of-my-head tune “Drops of Jupiter”). This song and the band have been all over radio, TV, baseball stadiums (even dueling fans couldn’t help but put aside their differences and sway to the sounds of a middle-aged crooner during the seventh inning stretch) over the last six months. The song’s lack of real words (“Hey-ey Ey-ey-ey-ey-ey”) allow just about anyone to “sing” along without any real effort or strain on one’s memory, and its laid-back vibe has made it a prime candidate for any advertiser who’s going for “appealing.” So it comes as no surprise that it’s been featured in tons of commercials and television shows recently.
“But Emily, it’s so good!” you tell me. Sure, the song is totally inoffensive, but its ubiquity is still incredibly annoying. Maybe it’s the cheery ukulele à la Jason Mraz that leaves those of us who aren’t living in perpetual summer (or a music video) completely bitter? Or maybe it’s the ambiguous and repetitive chorus? Whatever it is, I’m tired of it. Luckily fellow haters Keith Stoeckeler and Bradley Meyers are way ahead of me with their hilarious Tumblr, Stop Advertising From Pulling A Train. Keith and Brad are just two guys who “got fed up,” and decided to do a service to their community, by welcoming submissions of all the instances where “Hey Soul Sister” is being used, “so [they] can keep track of everyone who apparently needs some new taste in music.” Genius. Did you hear Train in the background of your favorite show recently? Does the guy in the cubicle next to you still blast it way too loudly from his computer? Let them know. (And make sure to check out Keith and Brad’s great commentary underneath each submission. Some of my favorites: “I bet even Barbara Walters hates Train” and “You know, I always respected the Kidz Bop franchise until now.”)
This can’t be the first time that a song became this ubiquitous in television advertising. The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition” (which also appeared in 2009′s (500) Days of Summer) has been used in commercials for Rhapsody and Diet Coke. “Home,” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ was heard in the final moments of Community episode “Debate 109″ last fall, before becoming the sound of Palm webOs in the spring, and most recently, NFL.com. These songs haven’t gotten under my skin nearly as much as Train…but there’s still time.
Where have you heard “Hey Soul Sister,” PopWatchers? What other song epidemics must be stopped? [Stereogum]
I love the song Hey Soul Sister but gotta agree it’s being overused. Too much of a good thing can make you hate it.
They did the same thing years ago with Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town”
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, it’s been in a ton of commercials.
I’ve hated this song since day one and everytime its on the radio or tv I scramble to change the station. This song grates on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard and I can’t wait for it to go away!!
Everything every recorded by Train is nails on a blackboard to me.
I so agree. I hated this song from the beginning. His voice is uncomfortable to listen to just not radio good. Which sucks for a lead in a band, I guess.
I like the song, too, but have thought for a while now that its overuse is going to end up making me cringe when it comes on. It hasn’t happened yet, fortunately, but I hope advertisers find another song’s bandwagon to jump on.
Completely agree with Warped.
This article read my mind with Hey Soul Sister.
That remix of Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” pops up in literally every commercial break these days. So annoying. Example below.
Totally agree! Ever since I heard it in Thomas Crown Affair it’s popped up all over.
I THOUGHT THAT IT SOUNDED FAMILIAR! Nina Simone! OMG. Thanks.
I hate Train. I hate their mellow feel-good, crafted-especially-for-Top-40-to-appeal-to-Gen-X-soccer-moms guts.
The worst part is have you listened to the actual lyrics of this song? They are horrible. Untrimmed chest?, So gangsta i’m so thug? A Game show love connection?
Hey! All of us Gen-X soccor-moms had a life before we had children and I bet more of us think that this is crap then you are willing to give us credit for. Do you think that Train has appeal for all of us? We grew up on Nirvana, Rage and Radiohead!
Thank you for this! I hate Train (says the Gen X, mom-who-refuses-to-be-a-soccer-mom).
@Nee Nee, Thank you! Why do you have do be declared dead upon giving birth? (I’m actually a baseball/beta club mom)
BTW, when I hear music like this, I refer to it as tampon rock.
Tampon rock! That is awesome.
Yeah! I was a big G&R fan back before Axl got all puffy and breathless. Soccer moms are not all former Backstreet Boys fans.
Tampon Rock is the most brilliant thing ever.
They would most likely hate you too ..
Excuse me: I was listening to Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Green Day and The Offspring when my oldest was young. I have taught them to appreciate music. My oldest turned ME onto Pink Floyd and my youngest favorite band when he was 8 was The Who. BTW we ALL think Train s*cks!
Had to chime in here too – I’m a “Gen-X soccer mom” and let me tell you, MANY of us grew up with the likes of The Pixies, The Breeders, Nirvana and Soundgarden blaring in our Walkmans -is that what your suggesting Train’s lame songs are manufactured to sound like?
Was literally thinking of how sick I am of hearing this damn song in every commercial, be it the newest romantic comedy or freaking appliances! Couldn’t agree more, this song must be stopped!!!
I can’t get past the lyric “Hey Soul Sister, ain’t that Mr. Mister on the radio.” Yeah, no soul sister could resist Broken Wings.
That’s not the lyric.
Yes it is
Seconding Ron: Yes, that is the lyric.
i’m interested to know what craig thinks the “real” lyric is.
Sooooooo sick of hearing this song everywhere I turn! And it was released in what, January?
No – it’s been over-played since December. It really, really needs to go away.
I hear that Tings Tings song all over advertising. Knock it off!
I WISH I heard more Ting Tings.
I like the Ting Tings but enough is enough.
There was a John Mayer song that was in way too many commercials last year…it escapes me now though…
Is it “Say”? That song was used in a lot of Hallmark commercials last year. Also an awful, terribly repetitive song.
Yes, that’s it.
Enough with She Blinded Me With Science from the Swiffer ad…the song was never my favorite from the 80′s and the commercials…well, the commercials are just idiotic…they’ve been using it for something like a year now…ANNOYING!
-”Chelsea Dagger” in every Outsourced commercial
- Last year’s abusive use of “Resistance” (Muse) by ABC/ESPN
those are the two I can think of right now that make my eye twitch, but someone needs to clue all the hipsters in marketing in on the fact that they’re not breaking any barriers.
For the love of SCPD – hire a jingle writer!!
Unfortunately, “Chelsea Dagger” has been around. It was in a – I think – Heinekin commercial and, worst of all, in the movie Made of Honor. And I think that one or another Fratellis song was in an ipod commercial.
My bad, it was Amstel Light.
I know its an older tune… but someone needs to pry the copy of it from NBCs hands… and quickly.
I think last season or the one before, everytime the KC Royals scored runs, they would play it. I like the song, but when they’re abused like this, I grow tired of them quickly.
I think you’re referring to “Flathead” for the iPod commercial. The difference there? Apple used more than one song and more than one image for the older iPod commercials! Advertising people are getting lazy.
I give “Home” and “Sweet Disposition” a pass because they’re really good songs by emerging bands that could use some exposure. “Hey Soul Sister” however needs to go away. It’s an annoying song and I don’t care for Train.
agreed.
I’ve hated that song since I first heard it…IT NEEDS TO GO AWAY. I’m also tired of people using songs like “Space Oddity” and “Hey Jude” in car commercials.
I hear “Sweet Disposition” way more than that Train song (although I’m not so sure I’d recognize “Hey Soul Sister”)… but I don’t mind because “Sweet Disposition” is an amazing song, and licensing helps out little bands like Temper Trap and Passion Pit since the music industry is a sinking ship.
I’m tired of the “slide needle off the record” sound effect used in trailers. I’m sure kids today could tell you what it signifies, but not what the sound actually is.