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Heard It On TV: Miriam Makeba and Honda

on January 27, 2010

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Like many gay ladies, I'm attracted to hatchbacks. They're sporty and utilitarian -- everything I could ask for in a car. That's why I perked up when I saw Honda's commercial for the new 2010 Accord Crosstour. The Crosstour is a stylish mash-up, the body of a sedan combined with the sloping trunk of a hatchback.

So why am I talking about this on Audiostraddle?

Well, Honda struck me twice with this advertisement. In addition to the actual car, the commercial uses a song I love -- Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata." Makeba is a Grammy Award-winning South African singer, and "Pata Pata" is one of her most famous songs. It features her signature "click" seamlessly integrated with her rich, upbeat voice.
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A Live Performance circa approx. 1970 by Miriam Makeba

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Makeba helped popularize African music around the world, and I'm glad Honda is drawing attention to her again -- if only for 30 seconds in a television commercial.

If you liked "Pata Pata," check out "The Click Song," too.

15 responses to “Heard It On TV: Miriam Makeba and Honda”

riese (member)
January 27, 2010 at 2:59 pm Permalink Reply

I like this column idea and I now also like Miriam Makeba!

Can you write about how some of my favorite songs right now are being ruined by rom-com previews on the teevee? For example Snow Patrol “Set Fire to the Third Bar” is in some rom-com preview. Also the song about tonight being a good night by the black-eyed peas.

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1. Jess G. (member)
  January 27, 2010 at 3:17 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I was also disturbed by “Set Fire To the Third Bar” in whatever preview I saw it in. I’ll keep an ear out for more and glad you like the column!
  
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  1. Emily (member)
    January 27, 2010 at 8:06 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    yeah, and phoenix is in a car commercial too? it upsets me.
    
    there was once a telus commercial where they played 99 red balloons and there were a bunch of pigs tied to red balloons floating away. it was super cute!
    (telus is a cell phone service provider thing for people who don’t know — sometimes i forget that america doesn’t have rogers or fido (sidenote was it a fido commercial? are fido and rogers the same thing? am i too tired to be writing a coherent comment? yes))
    
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    1. Emily (member)
      January 27, 2010 at 8:06 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      FIDO AND TELUS, FIDO AND TELUS********
      
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    2. foist
      January 28, 2010 at 1:19 am Permalink Reply
      
      It’s Cadillac using “1901″ – totally ruined the song for me. (It’s almost as bad as KFC using “Sweet Home Alabama”… for KENTUCKY Fried Chicken.) Not surprisingly though, it’s Adtunes.com’s #3 song on its Top Ad Music list for 2009.
      
      I think car companies should take a look at, what Lincoln has done in their commercials for the MKS, MKT, and MKZ: female singers doing cover songs. So far they have used Cat Power, CSS, Shiny Toy Guns, and Sia in their advertising. An impressive list if you ask me.
      
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      1. Lola (member)
        January 29, 2010 at 2:38 am Permalink Reply Report user
        
        Yeah, love that something good can actually come from commercials!
        
        I am so pampered & accustomed to watching DVR-ed TV, that my ADD goes into overattack when forced to actually sit through commercials during live TV. I have a bad/INSANE habit of actually shouting during commercials, and that sort of negativity just can’t be healthy. DVR = sanity
        
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a;ex (member)
January 27, 2010 at 3:08 pm Permalink Reply

How did I not know of this woman? Thanks for introducing her to me Jess, I like! Also, those new Honda commercials are very special indeed.

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Crystal (member)
January 27, 2010 at 5:13 pm Permalink Reply

The only thing I love more than hatchbacks is this new segment, definitely a keeper. Miriam is ace, nice one!

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brown bear
January 27, 2010 at 7:07 pm Permalink Reply

OH MY GOD. this has been one of my absolute favorite songs ever since i first heard it during a visit to south africa a year ago; miriam makeba’s music is SO amazing. i was so proud of honda when i first saw this commercial.

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Davis
January 27, 2010 at 7:48 pm Permalink Reply

A beautiful girl with a beautiful voice!! That song Pata Pata when they put it in the commercials it just makes me feel so relaxed!!!! What a great song with a really beautiful beat!!!!!

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aaannie (member)
January 27, 2010 at 8:34 pm Permalink Reply Report user

So, kind of random, but has anyone else seen the Sprint “chairlift” commercial? I’m only asking because I think the third person on the ski-lift, Rose, is a total lez! Am I projecting here? It’s definitely possible, but I want to hear what y’all think…
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sprint+ski+commercial&search_type=&aq=f

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1. Jerry
  February 10, 2010 at 4:02 am Permalink Reply
  
  I agree aaannie, I think that Rose from the Sprint ski lift commercial is gay, because she’s having too much of a good time on the beach, with another woman in the chair across from her.
  
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Sheena
January 29, 2010 at 11:13 pm Permalink Reply

omg! I love Miriam!!! I have miriam marathons R.I.P

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Margaret
February 7, 2010 at 2:33 pm Permalink Reply

At first, I did not want to see this treasured star being exploited by commercialism … but if it brings more people to Miriam’s music, I change my mind!

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Alan
March 10, 2010 at 10:10 pm Permalink Reply

My wife heard this song on the Honda commercial and instantly loved it. She and I had never heard the song before. We downloaded the MP3 from Amazon. Great song!

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