Use of classical music for TV adverts

[Museo]

There are plenty of examples of the use of classical music for television adverts. For example, Hamlet cigars used "Air on a G String" and Hovis Bread and Dvorak's Ninth Symphony.

I wondered what people thought of this - does it de-value classical music or make it more accessible?

[ParryHotter]

I don't believe it devalues anything. It makes it more familiar to people who don't regulary listen to it, so then if they were to attend a concert they would at least recognize parts of the pieces. And probably think about whatever the advertisement was trying to sell in the process too!

[acc]

I'd even say it might get some people to go to the concert hall: "What? That music in the advert was classical? Gee, I didn't think classical could be so cool!"

[rojo]

Well, it does get me to remember the product they are advertising- There`s an ad for milk that comes on these days which is rather cute; a little boy examines his glass of milk, and reviews it, as though he was a wine taster. The music playing in the background is the first movement of Mendelssohn`s Violin Concerto. Works well. But I don`t think I buy more milk because of it. I mean, one has to buy milk anyway.

I wonder if they use classical music because it`s cheaper, being in the public domain. Anyway, I think the more classical music that gets heard by folks the better, including in adverts. It may be the only way they get to hear any.

[Krummhorn]

I think it's wonderful, afterall, Classical music has been around for centuries!!
Could also be a marketing ploy too - possibly to get more people to actually watch those TV ads. At any rate, it's really great to see this happening - the more people we can expose to the classical element, the better.

[Basia]

I don't think it would de-grade classical music at all. I mean in all of the adverisements that play classical music in the background it always symblises something grand and great and amazing.

For example 'O Furtuna' was used for a beer ad. I think Carlton. And that add was massive. And I have never thought of 'O Furtuna' the same way again. All I picture now is the big field of people in coloured outfits running around and singing with the tune "This ad is big" "Yes very big" "this is a very big ad" "My God it's big!" "So really big!" etc. And when the huge concluding notes comes they sing "Just give us some bloody beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!" It's such a blast watching it. Too bad it doesn't show anymore.