“There would be no offer that would tempt me… I actually really resent it.”
– Paul Simon, at about 5:00 in the video, on giving his song rights away
I remember that interview from back in the day (1986). Now, that he’s sold the catalogue:
“I’m pleased to have Sony Music Publishing be the custodian of my songs for the coming decades. I began my career at Columbia/Sony Records and it feels like a natural extension to be working with the Publishing side as well.”
Fine. Just don’t give the songs out to anyone. Don’t let Mrs. Robinson, Scarborough Fair, April Come She Will, and the Sound of Silence ever appear in anything except The Graduate.
I heard “Back In Black” on an Applebee’s commercial this weekend. I’m not hopeful.
Everyone’s doing it. The songs that shaped our lives will soon help sell Twinkies.
Johnny Cash was allegedly offered some serious scratch years ago to use “Ring of Fire” in a hemorrhoid cream commercial. Thank god he turned them down.
Those Taco Bell commercials were just as bad…..