As we all know, television commercials have become the radio of hipster music — it's the medium that made Feist a star and ruined my fondness for the Postal Service. Four or five years ago it kind of shocked me to hear Modest Mouse selling minivans to soccer moms (not that I have any problem with that, you've gotta pay the bills somehow) but now I hear Stephin Merritt's voice on Volvo commercials and it doesn't even phase me.
Which is why I say thank goodness for the Subway $5 footlong ad! TJ will tell you that I am transfixed by it every time it comes on television. Like many jingles that have come before it, I could see how it could irritate some people, but to me it's so strangely refreshing in comparison to all those other current commercials ripped from the OC (don't call it that) musical playbook.
I haven't thought about at all today it until I saw it deconstructed by Slate, and ever since then it's been in my head. Not since the "keep those balls in the air" song has anything had such mental staying power.
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