Apr 24, 2009

Music Video Fridays - the Ink Spots

OK, this is gonna get a little weird.

Do any of you remember this Chanel No 5 commercial from the late 70's/early 80's?



The song in the commercial is "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" by the Ink Spots. Or so says the almighty Wikipedia. I dunno though. The vocals sound a bit different, maybe a bit of a higher tone from the version I remember. And a more distinct vibrato that I don't recall. Check out this version from a trailer for Fallout 3 (a video game)*.



Wikipedia says it is the same 1941 cover of the song by the Ink Spots, but they sound very different to me. What do you think? Could just be a recording issue. The reason why this came up was because Gia has it on her iPod. We were listening to it in the car the other day and I immediately thought it was from Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining. It wasn't, but it is strangely evocative of that film. Then I remembered the Chanel No 5 commercial.

Anyway, here is another one from the great Ink Spots. "If I Didn't Care" with Bill Kenny singing lead.



*I couldn't find the original song in a video anywhere. Sucks.

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Note: Remember to play the Bug-Eyed Trivia Challenge every day. All the Ink Spots are doing it.

13 comments:

Mrs. Hall said...

ok three things:

1. I do think the first spot is the ink spots but spead up on account of the commercial being um 30 seconds long. AND BTW- Channel no 5 is useless, Channel Coco is a MUCH BETTER FRANGRANCE!! and it happens to be my absolute favorite perfume.

2. The middle video creeped me out something fierce. Should have good dreams tonight, thanks EARL! :)

3. You are correct that his voice, the lead singer, has a tinge to it, a tinder, a vibration, that is well, very kubrick-esque. I mean, it was prol'l very easy going and innocent but, we lives in jaded hard times, it influences how things are heard.

Yeah for wierd!!

:)

Unknown said...

Earl, You've really got a memory on ya. The song reminding you of The Shining, which I can see too, but only because you mentioned it, and then remembering that weird comercial, impresses me about the way your brain works.

That's why I like reading your blog, the connections.

Michelle said...

Yeah, not my style here. But, not putting the Ink Spots down, I just can't get into this kind of music. Kind of creeps me out a bit. It's like slow motion or something!!!

:O)
HAPPY FRIDAY MR!!!

hello haha narf said...

oh my fuck, i love the ink spots! hmmmm, now where the hell did i put that cd of theirs...must find...

Verdant Earl said...

Holly - Hoooraaay weird!

MikeB - sometimes this useless ole brain of mine actually works.

Michelle - it's old timey!

Becky - Nice! An old LP would be better. Complete with scratches and warbles and all. Somehow that fits. With a glass of bourbon also, of course.

Heff said...

"Set The World Afire" is a Megadeth song off the album "So Far, So Good, So What?", and features that old "Ink Spot" version as the intro. There's my 2 cents.

Barlinnie said...

The Ink Spots... when good music really was good music.

Verdant Earl said...

Heff - It all adds up. Keep them coins coming.

Jimmy - Good music is cyclical. Comes around every once in a decade.

Songwraith said...

Wow! Many thanks! I always associated the Ink Spots with the Mills Brothers and haven't heard either forever. I do, however like this "Fallout 3" cover!

Slyde said...

i remember that commerical, and i have fallout 3..

one of the best games ever...!

Faiqa said...

So. Let me interrupt the string of lucid and on topic commentary with the following comment:

No, I do not remember that commercial. Because, I, unlike some people, am not older than dirt.

I'm sorry Earl, but the number of people in my life I can say that to are dwindling quickly... and I just had to seize the oppty.

Verdant Earl said...

Songwraith - Heya! And nice screen name!

Slyde - Of course you have Fallout 3. Of course.

Faiqa - Don't worry, you'll get there. If you are lucky. Comments like that certainly won't help. ::grr::

Austin Joseph Casey said...

The version in the Chanel commercial is a 1977-1978 remake that Bill Kenny recorded for CBS records. The album was released as "The Ink Spots - If I Didn't Care" but it was really just Bill Kenny with a studio vocal group (NOT the Ink Spots). Kenny passed on in 1978 but in 1980 when this commercial came out Kenny's wife sued Chanel for using the song without permission.