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  • their songs kinda become meaningless when you hear it in a zales commercial or during a nba game or inside a mcdonalds... its just not special anymore... too bad they dont get it.

  • my friend gasped last night when "gold on the ceiling" played during an NBA commercial , i almost slapped him. These guys are the some of the best musicians around right now, i've been listening since thickfreakness (still my favorite album) and these guys deserve to be popular. People who don't want their favorite bands to get popular are basically saying they don't want them to succeed and basically survive.

  • I remember when these guys were just a good band that nobody had heard of..I also remember thinking " Man, I wish these guys would get popular so everytime I turn on the radio or television I dont get the urge to blow my brains out" They deserve to be heard! Their music is the closest thing to actual rock music in 10-15 years. I live in Ohio, where they are from and most people still dont know who they are. They make good money for making good music..thats not selling out. Black Keys keep rockin

  • I hate this bullshit everyone is talking. "Selling out" is only "selling out" if you SELL OUT TO YOUR IDEAS. If you write lyrics and promote an anti-consumerist/anti-corporat­e message then go and put your music in a commercial it is 'selling out'. Barely any bands promote that, Black Keys certainly do not. So they are not 'selling out' to anything if they were to commercialize there music. By this standard, even having a record label is "selling out". People need to use their brain.

  • I completely agree with them. They are such respectable guys and a very talented band!

  • nickleback dig, hell yeah

  • I don't blame them at all!! For everyone that thinks that just because they sell license to their music. Every single one of us would do it, this is why they do it!! Do you really think that all of you would turn down millions just to "stay real"...give me a break!

  • I could listen to these dudes talk about snow melting... for hours.

  • The Black Keys are real.

  • In my opinion the definition of a sellout is not someone who sells their music for money BUT changes the ART of their music and their character to keep getting money. The black keys are keeping it real. That's respectable.

  • Such an interesting debate, great to get these guys view on it. surely they didnt take the £200k because it would fuck up their image a little and cost them money in the long run? once you're established go nuts, get it out there. It's like the social network movie; if being cool is all its got going for it keep it tht way, mayonaise ads arn't cool so don't end the party at 11 by takin tht shit. Personally I could hear the black keys on vagisil and I'd still rock out!

  • hahahaha interviewer's thinking: "holy shit, im interviewing the black keys holyshitholyshitholyshit"

  • People think that in order to make honest, true art, the artist have to be poor, starving, have not too much attention and be un recognized. Fucking Van Gogh myth.

  • @Chillton I can agree with you there. It's not all based on myth though. A lot of people born in comfort will work to keep that comfort rather then just for the art. It helps to have been born without the comfort in some cases, but it isn't a deciding factor. It's just the way they've been trained to think.

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  • i only think you can sell out if you start making music for commercial purposes. considering the black keys are still doing their thing while making money, i think it's totally fine

  • @wilmeister4 Amen brother.

  • OMG Are we not over this if not for the advertising i would have never really heard them my black keys story is i heard bits and pieces here and there had to find out who was laying down this music found them through their current work have now doven deep into their early work and i cant get enough THANK YOU for selling out and getting more money and twice the exposer so that i might find you XO

  • Nickelblack lol

  • These guys have been on the road for 10 years and even though they are really respected, respect doesn't fill the belly amigo... So yeah, they got a little bit commercial but it's still The Black Keys and they still sound cool and rock n' roll man! Give some respect...

  • Really good interview, and I'm glad to see so many people agreeing. If I had the opportunity to have my music featured in some form of entertainment for a decent amount of money, I'd be all for it, as long as I agreed with what's being promoted. When the Keys start altering their music to sound like Nickelback for large amounts of cash, that's when we can all agree that they "sold out."

  • I wish they did that mayonnaise advert because I probably would have heard of them sooner

  • Get the money and run!,

  • Take it while you can 'coz once that 15 minutes is up you're sure as hell gonna be wishing you did!!!

  • Who's right is it to say when someone doesn't need money, you have no idea what kind of lifestyle they're living, calling someone a sellout is retarded

  • I don't care who they sell the rights to thier music too, as long as they keep making it!! Thier music does something for me that few other musicians can accomplish.. it helps me escape from all the stresses of the modern world, makes me feel excited to be alive!! The Black Keys' are the definition of Rock and Roll!!

  • i honsetly dont see a problem with their music in a commercial and advertisements and shows id rather have the keys then any other band.

  • This interview inspired me to write and record a song with my band if anyone is interested.

  • Full interview soon? Hmmnnn? :)

  • "Music seems to be the only art form where this is an issue." So true.

  • These guys are critically cool in my book

  • Jesus these guys are legit, really cool to hear them speak.

  • for 200,000 id take a friggin bath in mayo

  • All you know about me is what I sold you...

  • They made how many albums before they were recognized mainstream and had a song on the radio? These guys worked their asses off to get here so "selling out" shouldn't even be a discussion point

  • Music is made to be heard. Maybe someone could say that an actor could sell out doing some advert, cause he's just using his face/body, and not his "art", that is his ability to act.

    But for music is not like that.

  • Can't sell out if no one opens the suitcase full of money in front of your face. You also can't sell out if you don't have a soul to sell.

  • i love mayonnaise.... i really do

  • finnaly other people that realize theres no such thing as selling out

  • ha pat really hates nickleback

  • @jonagwoo I think everybody hates Nickleback, because they suck.

  • @johnstephennaylor what the fack has that to do whit this >?

  • @Qtv is the full interview accessible (video and audio) anywhere?

  • Their view on "selling out" is probably the most respectable standpoint on the case that I've ever heard. Also, if you look on The Black Keys wikipedia page, like 90% of it is about which songs of theirs are in which movie, commercial, or game. Who gives a shit? I wanna know more about the band!

  • @TheWizardOfSod thats every wiki band page you dolt

  • @blueshift912 Good point.

  • Wait Zeppelin was in a cadillac commercial?? Or was that just an example

  • @TasOMW Yeah, I believe a few years ago they licensed out "Rock and Roll" to Cadillac.

  • Good bless The Keys!

  • It depends on whether the product or corporation fits with your personal views and musical message. If you are hypocritical, then you are absolutely a sellout. I don't think anyone would fault you for endorsing the powerful and corrupt mayonnaise industry.

  • Somebody get these guys a minutemen record.

  • These guys are the moby of rock.

  • If it wasn't for NHL 08 I might not have heard of the Black Keys till they really blew up. Take the money and hope your art can reach people or else what good is it?

  • I LOVE THESE GUYS.

    AND MAYONAISE.

  • I rather sell-out than living broke and miserable life again. Its less pain to deal with. Getcha money by any means neccesary! Fuck the broke struggling and hustling over small paychecks.

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  • The issue isn't the Black Keys, or any other individual artist, it's the entire co-opting of the ecosystem of art, which puts artists in the most precarious of positions. With few exceptions, you can either produce art, maintain your integrity and resign to near destitution OR you can have your art co-opted by corporations in the service of their profit margins (i.e. label contracts, advertising, etc.). This is the choice that late Capitalism places artists and its rather disgusting.

  • @Egggbutt some can maneuver both, I have followed the band Portugal the man from their start releasing all records indie and building such a base that they now signed to Atlantic yet retain creative control because the already established fan base was their bargaining power, it would take a lot of poverty/ sacrifice to reach that point though. The black keys strike me as the same way they seem to grow organically compared to many artists where it's obvious unseen forces are pulling the strings.

  • I once read a blog that said the concept of selling out is a stupid one as soon as you have to pay bills. Also Henry Rollins has a great point on selling out. It's a great 2 minute video

  • Mayonaise. ROFLHAHUEAHHUHEHEHAHAH.

  • Patrick actually convinced me right at the end that he's right: we have to watch shitty commercials regardless, might as well be with music that doesn't also sound shitty.

  • @bernlin2000 definitely!

  • like david cross said "you cant buy a house with indie cred," or some shit like that

  • that interviewer is a fucking dick

  • I think people are missing the fact that Dan and Pat are HUGE trolls, lol. Like, not in a bad way though. In a good way, a funny way. They rarely ever take interviews like this seriously. They just make up shit as they go. Hence why Pat tends to talk about mayonnaise, etc. Have you ever seen any of their other interviews? They're hilarious, lol.

  • load of crap Sell out is a sell out and having corporations as your clients changes how you create

  • @juffan HAHAHAHA i fucking love you for putting that how you did lolol. something needed to be said about that lol.

    cool interview though.

  • He's right. Fuck Nickelback.

  • these dudes r opening up all these doors for good music to finally to b played on the radio

  • RIght on boys!

  • "Nickelback and Fergie or whatever" ahahahahahahaah

  • 4:55 is the best part, and i totally agree with him. if i'm gonna be surrounded by music it sure as shit shouldn't be by nickelback or justin beiber, it should be bands like the black keys or led zeppelin.

  • Selling out has a way more negative connotation to it. They changed my perspective. I mean if I was a musician, I'd let them play my music, as it is. I wouldn't alternate it to suit the company's desires. It's my music, I won't change it for money. That's stupid. I agree with them.

  • That last statement was very douche like..lol

  • I wish I haven't watched this!

  • @Qtv I used to really like Q. After seeing this, it's just trying to get ratings. "Shock television" = "selling out". "Selling out" is a business man's word to keep the artist from getting the bigger piece of the pie. Eat up Black Keys, you guys are talented.

  • hate when ppl give the Keys shit. They paid their dues and are evolving as musicians. Keep up the good work boys

  • @tstlz10

    you seem smart

  • I love these guys. I love their music & it let's other people hear it. I used to hate bands "selling out" until you realize bands don't make money like they used to. Also, a mortgage & bills make you realize you have to make a living.

  • "....for 200,000 pounds I REALLY love mayonnaise" Hhaha, Patrick, I love you.

  • I'm not complaining, they actually made a Zales commercial sound awesome, instead of cheesy sentimental schlock

  • Good interview!

  • They still make genuine music that comes from themselves alone and not some studio musicians writing a bunch of "hits". It's exactly what he said at the end, would you rather be surrounded by nickelback or some shitty hiphop without any substance or the black keys?! There's nothing wrong with getting your music out there, and if they truly sold out then they would have taken all of those commercials and everything. Besides all that, listen to the music-does it sound like theyve fucking sold out?

  • I think a big difference between Radio and Commercials/Soundtracks is that the commercials and soundtracks pick out existing songs for the sound/atmosphere/emotion those song create. Its not as if they wrote songs for specific commercials or anything. The people producing the commercial/movie came and asked them for the song because of how good it is.

    I heard about them from commercials and have followed them for 5 years now. What got me hooked was Just Got To Be on NHL 08.

  • @murphf06 same here with NHL 08.

  • @murphf06 hell yeah, I first heard them in NHL 08 too and it definitely got me into them. Anyone who turns down an offer for money for something they've made just because they don't want to be a sellout is an idiot, especially in these economic times. They are spot-on in saying the music industry is backwards, it's the only art form where "selling out" is seen as a bad thing. Don't artists and paints do the same thing with their art? Well put, my man.

  • 2:46

    

  • 5:05 I swear he said NickelBLACK haha! I love them.

  • I can't believe I can't edit this shit to make it clear I meant songs in commercials LET ME MODIFY COMMENTS YOUTUBE, YOU FAGGOT.

  • @jeffgorchynski probably cause you use the word "Faggot", karma is a bitch.

  • @HeatherIsOnFyr shut up heather you wanna be faggot liberal hipster phony.

  • They really changed my viewpoint on commercials appearing in songs. It's nothing but good for the band, provided they keep making music from the soul.

    Though he flaked at the end. Dylan was based on the entire counter-establishment movement. To turn around and have your commercial used by the establishment is HORSE SHIT DYLAN, YOU FAGGOT.

  • I'd rather hear Nickelback because I know they suck. The Black Keys are just acting like they are a worthwhile band.

  • These guys are real musicians, they get enough money to continue doing what they love and satisfying their fans. Legends!

  • Good thing they were featured on Zombieland. I would've never heard about them over the crap music that plays on the radio nowadays.

  • Living in a smelly van and you turn down $400K? If you are broke you take the money. If you are somewhat comfortable then maybe you turn it down. Selling your songs to promote Nike shoes or Samsung phones sounds like a shitty idea. Check the company out first and then decide.

  • Word up Cincinnati Public Radio. 

  • My house is a piece of art...LMFAO

  • Dan and Patrick are real musicians who write their own songs, play their own instruments, and play the music that they want to play. There is nothing wrong with letting people use your music in ads, as long as you never let your artistic integrity be compromised. As long as they write the music that they want to write, and never let anybody control their art, they are in no way sell outs.

  • @dvt1393 Most bands do all of that as well.

  • Guys, you are !00% spot on! Way to go. I write commercial music for a living (take a look at my profile if you want to hear) and it's a joke if someone tells me that I've sold out.

    For all the ones complaining about selling out - if you would actually buy songs instead of pirating them all the time, artists could actually make a living! But while people don't want to pay, companies will. If selling out is looking my wife in the face telling her this month we'll be good - I'm sold out and happy.

  • I pay just under $20.00 USD per month for HD & TBO, so I FFWD thru the commercials. I wouldn't watch TV, if not for TBO. 1 hr show has 18 minutes of commercials.

  • this was a great interview. i dont really care about artists endorsing products they agree with but i hate when artists mellow out their music or compromise their art in any way just for some money.

  • damn right man! anything but nickelback and fergie!

  • It's not selling out if you have lots of talent. Now all that pop bullshit that's out there along with rappers which I can't understand, they don't deserve money. These guys constantly show their worth.

  • /watch?v=sv799IBHeBg

  • I us to take money from people, but then i took an arrow in the knee

  • I was thinking it was a minecraft video... -_-

  • money makes the world go round

  • Flyy on mr.bird streetjunky.tumblr.com

  • Nckelback and fergie LOL

  • Money, money, money.... Show me the Moneyyyyyy!

  • O M G !

    I created a puddle around my FEET!

    It happens all the time o.O'

  • one of my favorites of all time!

  • Gomeshi you mealy mouther. You live off the government teat and pretend to be some gatekeeper of who can accept money for what? Try life outside of the warm, Marxist glow of the CBC and we'll see where your pseudo-idealist BS gets you.

  • @tedwilson79 Marxist glow of the cbc?  Dear lord you are deluded.

  • 4:14 - 4:26 quality radio

  • @juffan Jian ghomeshi is one of the most articulate and talented radio hosts today...too bad the most productive use of your life is trolling on Youtube. Get on his level

  • @lifeclickzinvitez Ya, ok Jian. Way to pretend you have a committed fan, but we all know it's you. Why not quit acting like such a pretentious ass hole every now and then and maybe you wouldn't get beaked as much. As for you calling me a troll, I was merely pointing out a short bumbling moment from the clip that made me laugh. Just chill out alright.

  • @juffan butbut. but, yeah. 4:27

  • also, Lights, the act you manage Jian, had her music in an Old Navy commercial

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  • Now a days even established artists have a hard time making the money that they rightfully deserve. If they can make their money through advertisements, and we get to hear the Black Keys on TV instead of "Nickelback" I think everybody wins.

    On a side note, bands don't "sell out". Their popular because their good at what they do.

  • titus andronicus > the black keys

  • Selling out isn't making money off the success of your music. Selling out is changing your music to make money.

    Im not a huge fan of these guys music, but I have no problem with them getting paid, especially in the state the music industry is in now.

  • they are getting paid for their work. just like anyone with a "regular" job, they get a company asking to promote a product and service , using their work/music, good for them, they're not going to put food on the table with just doing it because they love it, they should be compensated for it......because there are alot of crap singers/artists/ etc out there, these guys are talented soulful and worth every penny they get.

    More power to Pat and Dan for any future success and offers they achieve.

  • I don't care if they accept 1 trillion dollars for something as long as they keep making good music.

  • @alieneduardo HERE HERE !

  • at least their music is good. i would much rather have their music in a commercial rather than a crappy famous hip hop artist. who agrees?

  • what is this kurt vile thing? i from europe so i didn't see this advert(?). can someone please tell me what this thing is about or give me a link where i can see it?

    i totally love kurt vile and black keys.

  • Just my person opinion, but I do agree with what they're saying in a way. To me, it's not so much what you you do, but your motives behind it that matters. And if you came from a poor family, and taking that money could allow you to buy your mom a car cause she can't afford one, would you do it? I don't think it's black and white. They're lots of shades of gray.

  • this notion about selling out is an outdated one from the '80's and '90's anyways. the argument is so much more nuanced and complex than just: "bang! they're sellouts!"

  • Selling out is when you make the music you are told to make, instead of the music you want to make.

  • @IamMe4MeC . you wouldn't understand why people make the music the way they make it unless your in the music industry. there is no such thing as selling out when your in a real band, it's called being successful.

  • LMAO @ Blackwater

  • Thanks youtube for putting a rock band on your main page for a change.

    Many of us are so sick of rap/hip hop & mindless pop....

  • Yeah, they're totally right about music being the only artistic medium where commercial exploitation for the artist's financial gain is so frowned upon. I mean, Salvador Dali designed the logo for Chupa Chups lollipops and I never heard anyone criticize that decision.

  • @spin1200s That's because Salvador Dali was fucking insane.

  • @spin1200s to be fair, all logos & advertisements would be better if Dali designed them. But maybe that's just me.

  • If you're good at something don't do it for free

  • sellingout is when you do it for the money and forget all the music.... :(

    i mean as @samisyosam says, you gotta get your shit noticed and sell the music as best you can, and if getting on an advert gets your MUSIC out, and you dont start becoming someone using their name to make money, then its ok

  • Everyone forgets its a job, and tout that it's for art. It's stupid. They do it to make money they just have the talent enough to do it large scale. So why shouldn't they reap the benifits?

  • @Aplasticjones They should reap the benefits, but they shouldn't do it for money. When you write a song because you need another paycheck, then the quality of your work will go downhill.

    And music is art. No reason you can't make money from art. But the inspiration has to be something other than money.

  • I would take 200,000 pounds in a heart beat.

  • ''Sell out'' doesn't even have a proper meaning anymore.

  • ethics

    how do they work?

    smh

  • I remember seeing that Cadillac commercial they were talking about.

  • Knowing your self and having self-restraint is key. Large sums of money easily changes the attitudes and art of people.

  • @vobo8998 you should refrain from using words you can't concisely define.

  • THE GUY WITH THE GLASSES IS A DOUCHE! 

  • @vobo8998 they play songs that they like. like every other musician. "typical" love/lost love songs are the blues. you obviously don't get it, so don't listen to it.

  • To me, selling out is when you are willing to change the way you make music to reach a larger audience and sacrifice your artistic integrity in the process. What they are discussing is not selling out. That's just making money. ( I seen the post below me is stating something similar to this, but I'm posting anyway. ..and yeah, Nickelback did exactly what I am talking about. :P)

  • it took 5 minutes of blabbering to communicate one simple idea.

    they are idiots for turning down the 200K pounds when they were broke. its one thing to turn that down now, but they turned it down when they were broke which shows that they DONT have a good head on their shoulders.

    Also, HERES THE PROBLEM: they have songs preaching socialist bullshit, meanwhile they are taking cash from American Express to use their music in a commercial for credit cards.

  • @vobo8998 Socialist bullshit, eh?

  • @vobo8998 Which songs are "preaching socialism"? That doesn't quite ring a bell.

  • @psychosis420

    actually it looks like all their songs are typical love/lost love bullshit songs designed to sell albums and not piss off the studios.

    i just assumed by their extreme hipster appearance and the fact that they played at an obama fundraiser that they were socialists.

  • @vobo8998 So you are assuming their music based on what you see rather than what you hear? That's pretty shitty.

    Also they know that when they turned down the 200k they were fools to do so. I bet you ask them now they would do it in a heart beat because they WERE BROKE. You have a hard time listening.

  • @vobo8998 Most songs are about love/love lost, if you listen to music. Obama isn't a socialist either. He's pretty much the same as Bush. Figure out what they both are and you've discovered your true enemy.

  • @vobo8998 "preaching socialist bullshit", sorry.

  • As long as they take money to continue making music then I'm fine with it, to be honest. Its when artists get greedy and stop making music after getting rich and overexposed that pisses me off. Also, nice touch with Nickelback. I used to be a fan but they REALLY did sell out and start making shittier and shittier music.

  • I'm a big fan of yours and I'm telling you this: you should have taken the mayonnaise money.

    People who really appreciate your great music would still enjoy it to this day, regardless of that ad.

  • If their music was better they wouldn't have to "sell out."

  • @jfts09 that's silly. you're silly.