“I was one the people who reacted violently the first time I saw the [1986] Nike commercial [using the Beatles song “Revolution”]. I think I was in a hotel room somewhere, and I was jumping up and down! I was real pissed off. Goddamnit, I was mad, you know, because when John Lennon wrote that song, he wasn’t doing it for the money. And to be using it for any corporate thing… it made me angry.”
- John Fogerty, quoted in Rolling Stone, December 10, 1987
I heard that Michael Jackson is involved in this. I mean not this commercial. he is involved w/ stuffs that made The Beatles really upset like the buying of Lennon-McCartney catalogs. Paul didn't want it and the outcome that it only landed to these commercials being used as the theme song. I am a big MJ fan but I really don't understand MJ's intentions. The Beatles are STILL the best artist in the world. But..
@misscarly12 i totally agree with you, i am a michael jackson fan and a beatles fan, and it always makes me wonder why MJ didn't just sell the catalogs back to the beatles and create a profit
this is fucking awful! the context of the song CANNOT in any way be related to nike trainers. what about the line, 'but if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao, you aint gonna make it with anyone anyhow'. i see they left that bit out
If it's allowed to happen, every Beatles song ever recorded is going to be advertising women's underwear and sausages. We've got to put a stop to it in order to set a precedent. Otherwise it's going to be a free-for-all. It's one thing when you're dead, but we're still around! They don't have any respect for the fact that we wrote and recorded those songs, and it was our lives.
Yeah, Hicks was spot on in a lot of his comedy. Especially about a certain "war" on a certain "herb" that has been growing since the dawn of time. Anyway, thanx 4 the info. I love truthful info. Have a good 1.
I remember a kid in High School had a pair of blue/white Nike Revolutions and I would immediately think of this song and commercial. It left a mark in my mind. Nike really hit their stride in the mid-late 80s with these catchy commercials for its company and Jordans.Also who could forget the advent of the catchphrase Just do it. Now after looking back, I wonder if that phrase in some way was a response to the popularity of Just Say No.
@mousehead2000 U make a Great Point. Ur referring to his response to the question do u know what u have done "I just shot John Lennon"...perhaps so.Knowing about the hours that go into researching and developing advert campaigns,logos and graphic deign, there isn't much that is left for coincidence. This slogan and ad. could be designed to operate intentionally in the mind on many levels. Even if ur not conscious of the connection, it may surface L8tr with maturity & exposure.
@phoneke Close. I was referring to at least 2 times when Chapman met Lennon and heard 'voices' saying 'Do it, do it, do it...'....I have no doubt that the Just Do It campaign is specifically designed in order to get the customer to Just Do It. Spend their money on the Nike brand.
@mousehead2000 Wow, didn't know that one! Thanks for the info. Well that ties into what I was saying about the extensive research and somtimes the covert subliminal nature of logos and advertisement. I believe a billion dollar corporation like Nike would be so diabolical. Once again thank for the info.
@phoneke there's no 'sometimes' about it. covert/subliminal messaging is the very nature of the corporations. it is happening all the time and all around us. on the televisions, on every billboard on every street and every magazine...it's everywhere. this is why Bill Hicks said: 'If you work in advertisment....go kill yourself...' it got much laughter but he wasn't joking. that's what i loved about Hicks. He wasn't joking about about what he said. He meant it.
I can understand why Paul McCartney was upset about Michael Jackson licensing this song for this commercial. Revolution is about protest and being against war and this is a shoe.
Some information for the little ignorant hating MJ's ass Beatle fans.McCartney use to buy other artists music catalogs.In fact,he was the one that introduced MJ to that business,he told him to invest his money in music catalogs. McCartney owns ther right of lots of black artist's music.Does anyone says anything about P.Mc ?But of course not.Jackson actually bought and RETURNED the rights to their songs to several black artist,including Little Richard.Did Maca do that ?But of course not.
@willissippi It's a fucking song for God sake. A song, nothing more nothing less. Jesus this much dramma over a song. People are reacting over this as if someone commited sacrilege or something. It's simply a song by a band, a very iconic one, yes but only that. Get over it. There are more important things to this world than the use of one song on a commercial.
@willissippi I just thought that someone should speak some truth here since everybody was bitching about Jackson and very conviently were not mentioning that Paul McCartney did exactly the same thing before Jackson. I haven't seen anyone talking shit about McCartney for doing the exact same thing.I hate this double standards attitude and this whole hypocricy from people.That's all. Now, i'm returning to my important things.
I used to be against popular musician's music being used in ads but then I realized that the younger generation might not have any exposure to it otherwise. There are some people under thirty who never heard of the Beatles unbelievably. So if it is done tastefully I think it's okay. This Ad is pretty cool IMO. Now I am reading below that Nike got sued for using this song and that MJ had nothing to do with this song being used.
I'm not sure about this, I would have to look into it.
Actually, this is an awesome commercial. I have been a Beatles fan since 1964 and I think this song works well with the visuals. I say that knowing that the original intent of the song was not to sell shoes. You have to realize that the original context remains locked in the era it was made, as a part of history, and since that era has now long passed, the song can be newly applied to various themes. That's how art evolves.
the only reason people are mad over this ad is beacause the beatles themselves said it wasnt right. i bet if they agreed with it all of you would be with it! its just a commerciaal cmon!
When The Beatles song used in the commercial is covered by another artist, that's fine. But when they use the original track, sung by Lennon or McCartney, or even Harrison or Starr, that just kind of ruins it.
I didn't read through all the comments on this video but, what everyone should know is that Nike did not buy this song. This commercial was aired in the late 80's and Nike was sued for 10million dollars for the unauthorized use of Revolution. This happened before Michael even owned the song. This is not a new commercial, even three years ago when it was posted.
@AtlanticRecordsCorp Oh yeah, welcome back from the garden of roses.This is commercialized world, and however you like song it is all made for money, it made for people to buy records, then buy beatles badges.And yes they are going to be played on soft drinks because thats what their nature is.
If you dont like it - find some geniuses on street: there is a lot of them everywhere.
@sean36mafia They settled for an unspecified amount and pulled the ad. Not really sure how that counts as a failure.
It was iffy, because they bought the rights from a company that owned North American rights to it, against the wishes of EMI and the band itself, thinking it would be okay because Capitol and Yoko Ono said it would be fine.
this is the exact opposite type of company John would want this song to. Michael Jackson auctioned out Paul and Yoko, So he ended up getting the rights. I dont understand why Michael would give this song to a company that uses slave workers and all that. The message in this song was to get RID of companys like these. I find it to be absolutely ridiculous. If only John were still here.
For those too young to recall, Jackson only licensed Nike the rights to the song, he didn't have the rights to the Beatles performance of it so when the Fabs got wind of it they had it pulled. Nike fucked up. George rightly said at the time "The Beatles are not jingle singers."
If you are a real fan of the beatles... you must know why paul didn't by the rights for that catalog, and what said yoko about Michael? ...so if you know...why are gealous????? you realy know that Michael wasn't a pedophile..he was killed like Lennon...so be onest with you
It is not disrespectful what so ever. Nike created this commercial (an advertising campaign) in 1987 when their profits were on a declining trend. This campaign was launched for Nike to regain the industry lead and set itself apart from all competitors. It was time for the industry to change and Nike was the one to do it.
This really is a disgusting use of John Lennon's music. Taking a serious song about world revolution and using it to push a fucking corporate product honestly makes me ill. Good upload though. Never actually saw the infamous commercial.
This caused a big upset back in '88, but nowadays this kind of shit is common place. The artists go along with it!. So I guess this commercial "revolutionized" the use of classic songs to sell bullshit. Irony. You gotta hate it.
@eleiordache McCartney would have had to sign off on his share of the songwriting to allow this sync to happen.. Don't believe a word of what he's saying about not agreeing to the ad. He would have made A LOT of money from this sync.
The Moonwalking, The Face Butchery, The Sleepovers at Neverland, The Drug Abuse, guess what? IT'S ALL OVER!!!! The lesson of MJ's Life? A good-hearted, well-adjusted person doesn't need constant shots of Propofol-Diprivan just to get to sleep all the time....
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
jajajajajajaj Paul McCartney was bitching about this right?? saying that the song was about revolution and not a shoe? jajajajajaja well... i guess the olympics and all the athletes in the world are here for absolutly nothing and do no good, damn you nike! jajajajaja Paul was only mad because he didn´t get a penny out of it! and made it look like he was offended by the use of the song jajaja what a pussy!
Dhani Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr more or less designed that game. It was Dhani's idea and he championed the whole project. This commercial is a travesty, but leave Rock Band out of it.
Moron revolution wasnt about revolution it was a parody of people who got to worked up over the idea of revolution...maybe if you actually listened to the lyrics instead of only reading the song title...
Yoko Ono gave the go-head without consulting Paul, George or Ringo. As George said, (paraphrase) "Nike was going to have Julian Lennon do a cover version, but because Yoko doesn't like Julian, she gave Nike permission to use the original Beatles version." Since then the involved parties made a rule that no original Beatles recordings can be used in ads. But you will hear cover versions of their songs in ads.
Here I'm quoting from the book BEATLES FOR SALE by John Blaney, pp. 124-125: "Nike licensed the song from ATV, but rather than use a cover version it received permission from Yoko Ono to use the Beatles' recording. As a member of the Apple board, Ono should have consulted the other Beatles before giving permission for their recording to be used. Likewise, Capitol should have checked with Apple before issuing a license."
beatles fans everywhere have to get together and raise money to buy the rights to the songs from micheal jackson
to stop the comericals and bad covers and prevent future damage from being done, so that these songs can live on forever without being "that song from the diaper commerical" or "that song that the jonas brothers covered"
people...you must to understand that this business, yoko ono said that michael was the right person for by and own this rights...if paul own the rights, he will made the same thing if he was smart enaugh....so why paul didn't by the rights then?...or if you are a gealous Beatles fan, then i understand.....so keep going maybe you can by the rights finally :))
jehternf, its not fuck nikey. its fuck michael faget jackson. that dick gave this song to nike to use for a fuckin sneaker commercial ! DAMN PEDOPHILE ! ugh. sorry, but this shit just pisses me off, immensely !
I didn't say today...obviously they are back in the collective conscious. I promise you though 21 years ago it was to old to be recent and too recent to be retro. all you have to do is check the fact that Mcarntney let himself get outbit at any price. If people were snatching the music up, it would have been a no brainer to own your own music, but even he didn't realize the potential.
uh yall sound like a bunch of dumbasses. it's the music business...if you think emi isn't a multinational corporation and the beattles gave their music away your retarded. they buy and sell music as a comodity. you want to make speeches about this being sacred. it's not. paul maccarntney aint fight in no revolution, he could hire an army if he needed one because you people support his lavish lifestyle by purchasing this shyt.
If Mick Jagger owned the rights to these songs the anger and resentment would not be as great. Save your defense arguements cuz i dont care. It pisses people off that a black man (albiet looking like a white woman) owns the rights to these songs. How bout all the sacred/meaningful songs white men leased out to other companies that were written by black men. "War" by Edwin Starr is an equally powerful song/chant...they used it in the "RACIAL COMEDY" Rush Hour. But I didn't hear any complaints.
Put down the "Boycott Nike" signs, people...this ad ran in 1987! And it ran with the permission of Yoko Ono. It's not Nike's fault that Michael Jackson, who owned the rights to the song, sold Nike the rights to use the song in this ad.
McCartney didn't allow this.. Michael Jackson did.. he had rights at the time.. McCartney was PISSED about this. I don't blame him.. it's horrible to attach ANY Beatles song to a stupid shoe... might as well attach Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds to My Pretty Pony commercials. Assholes!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
What the hell is wrong with you people??? It's a damn commercial!!! They made this song to SELL it, for like...MONEY!!! Sounds fammiliar? It's a great ad ideea.
Michael Jackson needs to drop dead. Selling Beatles songs just so he can continue to make money that he himself is not earning. Like selling "All You Need is Love" to Luvs for their diaper commercial. Are you freaking KIDDING me?!?! Yeah. A tennis shoe has everything to do with a revolution. A diaper has everything to do with the worldwide message of love. I'm sick of Michael Jackson and if he wants money so badly, then WORK FOR IT! Don't sell others' work for your own gain. Fuckwad.
For those of you who don't know, since '85, Michael Jackson has owned the rights to pretty much all the Beatles song catalog. He bought the company that owned the rights to over 200 Beatles songs for 47 mill, outbidding Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. He continues too license their art to shitty advertisers to this day.
Nike used this song without getting licsening, and they got sued accordingly. Michael Jackson did not give licsening to Nike to make this commercial. In fact, I'm suprised that this was even uploaded here. Won't be long before it's pulled.
It wouldn't matter if Michael Jackson gave permission. Jackson only had the publishing rights, not the rights to the original recording. That belonged to EMI. That is why Nike was sued.
When you hear a Beatles song used in a commercial today, that is with Michael Jackson/Sony permission, because it is not the original recording. EMI has never licensed the original recordings of Beatles music for commercials.
beatles are my religion don't commerlize them
40ozLoLife 3 days ago
Don't you know that you can count me out (in)...
andmaketherain 3 weeks ago
“I was one the people who reacted violently the first time I saw the [1986] Nike commercial [using the Beatles song “Revolution”]. I think I was in a hotel room somewhere, and I was jumping up and down! I was real pissed off. Goddamnit, I was mad, you know, because when John Lennon wrote that song, he wasn’t doing it for the money. And to be using it for any corporate thing… it made me angry.”
- John Fogerty, quoted in Rolling Stone, December 10, 1987
DesktopDarts 1 month ago
I heard that Michael Jackson is involved in this. I mean not this commercial. he is involved w/ stuffs that made The Beatles really upset like the buying of Lennon-McCartney catalogs. Paul didn't want it and the outcome that it only landed to these commercials being used as the theme song. I am a big MJ fan but I really don't understand MJ's intentions. The Beatles are STILL the best artist in the world. But..
misscarly12 1 month ago
@misscarly12 i totally agree with you, i am a michael jackson fan and a beatles fan, and it always makes me wonder why MJ didn't just sell the catalogs back to the beatles and create a profit
YoGoober26 1 month ago
"Songs like Revolution didnt mean a pair of sneckers they mean Revolution"
Paul McCartney
GLASSONION97 2 months ago 2
damn in remember this comercial from when i was a kid!
nutlil2 3 months ago
Julian Lennon sang this
hunkydaboyz 4 months ago
but the wrong people profited from it.
runamuck74 4 months ago
Remember everyone. This was all Michael Jackson's fault for buying the Beatles song's and then using them in stupid commercials.
TheRingo721 5 months ago
@TheRingo721 Actually, this commercial was made prior to when Michael Jackson got the right s to their music.
Mravocadoman 5 months ago
@Mravocadoman Actually it wasn't
TheRingo721 5 months ago
air jordans were a revolution, fucking dope sneaks
freakyfadge 6 months ago
0:15 >>> Testicles.
Or a penis.
Yougimpytube 7 months ago
WTF 0:16
JCMaldonado13 7 months ago
Of course, the song is incredible, but Nike's are just fucking shoes.
They have nothing to do with revolution, beatles, or the feelings we have for the song.
Do NOT buy products that abuse art in their advertising.
alphakid42 8 months ago
@alphakid42 this commercial aired in the 1980'2 and back then it was revolution. Learn your facts before making hasty judgements.
bobdolepaper09 8 months ago
@bobdolepaper09 1987.
murcuryvapor 8 months ago
this is fucking awful! the context of the song CANNOT in any way be related to nike trainers. what about the line, 'but if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao, you aint gonna make it with anyone anyhow'. i see they left that bit out
TheCriticalKing 9 months ago
"You SAY WANT A SUEOLUTION" wELL ALRIGHT mAN!
BarryPuppetSoetoro61 10 months ago
I gotta say, I'd rather have beatles songs in movies and commercials than the stupid fucking shitty covers.
il927 1 year ago 21
If it's allowed to happen, every Beatles song ever recorded is going to be advertising women's underwear and sausages. We've got to put a stop to it in order to set a precedent. Otherwise it's going to be a free-for-all. It's one thing when you're dead, but we're still around! They don't have any respect for the fact that we wrote and recorded those songs, and it was our lives.
“”
— George Harrison (November 1987)
SalmonelaKid 1 year ago 23
Yeah, Hicks was spot on in a lot of his comedy. Especially about a certain "war" on a certain "herb" that has been growing since the dawn of time. Anyway, thanx 4 the info. I love truthful info. Have a good 1.
phoneke 1 year ago
super
BEATLE909GRM 1 year ago
I remember a kid in High School had a pair of blue/white Nike Revolutions and I would immediately think of this song and commercial. It left a mark in my mind. Nike really hit their stride in the mid-late 80s with these catchy commercials for its company and Jordans.Also who could forget the advent of the catchphrase Just do it. Now after looking back, I wonder if that phrase in some way was a response to the popularity of Just Say No.
phoneke 1 year ago
@phoneke Mark Chapman also remembers the phrase 'just do it'. This advert would have had Lennon turning in his grave...
mousehead2000 1 year ago
@mousehead2000 U make a Great Point. Ur referring to his response to the question do u know what u have done "I just shot John Lennon"...perhaps so.Knowing about the hours that go into researching and developing advert campaigns,logos and graphic deign, there isn't much that is left for coincidence. This slogan and ad. could be designed to operate intentionally in the mind on many levels. Even if ur not conscious of the connection, it may surface L8tr with maturity & exposure.
phoneke 1 year ago
@phoneke Close. I was referring to at least 2 times when Chapman met Lennon and heard 'voices' saying 'Do it, do it, do it...'....I have no doubt that the Just Do It campaign is specifically designed in order to get the customer to Just Do It. Spend their money on the Nike brand.
mousehead2000 1 year ago
@mousehead2000 Wow, didn't know that one! Thanks for the info. Well that ties into what I was saying about the extensive research and somtimes the covert subliminal nature of logos and advertisement. I believe a billion dollar corporation like Nike would be so diabolical. Once again thank for the info.
phoneke 1 year ago
@phoneke there's no 'sometimes' about it. covert/subliminal messaging is the very nature of the corporations. it is happening all the time and all around us. on the televisions, on every billboard on every street and every magazine...it's everywhere. this is why Bill Hicks said: 'If you work in advertisment....go kill yourself...' it got much laughter but he wasn't joking. that's what i loved about Hicks. He wasn't joking about about what he said. He meant it.
mousehead2000 1 year ago
@mousehead2000 Love Hicks, love The Beatles.
willissippi 3 months ago
I can understand why Paul McCartney was upset about Michael Jackson licensing this song for this commercial. Revolution is about protest and being against war and this is a shoe.
MJJFan01 1 year ago 3
Now there's a BIG disconnect. " you'd better change your self instead" John didn't mean change the brand of your tenni's
VitaSackvilleWest 1 year ago
Some information for the little ignorant hating MJ's ass Beatle fans.McCartney use to buy other artists music catalogs.In fact,he was the one that introduced MJ to that business,he told him to invest his money in music catalogs. McCartney owns ther right of lots of black artist's music.Does anyone says anything about P.Mc ?But of course not.Jackson actually bought and RETURNED the rights to their songs to several black artist,including Little Richard.Did Maca do that ?But of course not.
ilre4eva 1 year ago 2
@ilre4eva u right
Tredog14 1 year ago
@ilre4eva u right
Tredog14 1 year ago
@ilre4eva Did Paul McCartney ever use them to sell sneakers? But of course not.
willissippi 3 months ago
@willissippi It's a fucking song for God sake. A song, nothing more nothing less. Jesus this much dramma over a song. People are reacting over this as if someone commited sacrilege or something. It's simply a song by a band, a very iconic one, yes but only that. Get over it. There are more important things to this world than the use of one song on a commercial.
ilre4eva 3 months ago
@ilre4eva You're the one that made such a big deal about it. Re-read your first post, then my response, and finally your retort.
willissippi 3 months ago
@willissippi I just thought that someone should speak some truth here since everybody was bitching about Jackson and very conviently were not mentioning that Paul McCartney did exactly the same thing before Jackson. I haven't seen anyone talking shit about McCartney for doing the exact same thing.I hate this double standards attitude and this whole hypocricy from people.That's all. Now, i'm returning to my important things.
ilre4eva 3 months ago
same shoes people usedta get killed for. . .
mattukenobaka 1 year ago
I'm gonna watch it agian
seastmomike 1 year ago
Yep, when I'm revolting against my tyrannical government I always wear my Nikes....
Peace
Raford146 1 year ago
Nike got fucked from Apple Corps.
germino777 1 year ago 2
Nike ruined a great beatles song!!!! :(
MrBeatles4life 1 year ago
I used to be against popular musician's music being used in ads but then I realized that the younger generation might not have any exposure to it otherwise. There are some people under thirty who never heard of the Beatles unbelievably. So if it is done tastefully I think it's okay. This Ad is pretty cool IMO. Now I am reading below that Nike got sued for using this song and that MJ had nothing to do with this song being used.
I'm not sure about this, I would have to look into it.
Srhandel 1 year ago
classic @AO760
andyao 1 year ago
@allstar720 As much as I hate this video right now, I get ya. I'd probably think so, too.
paulonthepiano 1 year ago
beatles songs shouldn't support the use of child, forced, and exploitive labor in sweatshops
Firecloud500 1 year ago
Beatles songs should not be commercialized. Nothing against the vid poster here, just against MJ.
tjsmith51 1 year ago
Actually, this is an awesome commercial. I have been a Beatles fan since 1964 and I think this song works well with the visuals. I say that knowing that the original intent of the song was not to sell shoes. You have to realize that the original context remains locked in the era it was made, as a part of history, and since that era has now long passed, the song can be newly applied to various themes. That's how art evolves.
politicoochie09 1 year ago 2
Despite that Nike got sued, this was a lovely commercial as art for it's own sake.
Fantageous 1 year ago
the only reason people are mad over this ad is beacause the beatles themselves said it wasnt right. i bet if they agreed with it all of you would be with it! its just a commerciaal cmon!
sean36mafia 1 year ago
When The Beatles song used in the commercial is covered by another artist, that's fine. But when they use the original track, sung by Lennon or McCartney, or even Harrison or Starr, that just kind of ruins it.
darlyn0053 1 year ago
this is a sin.
tuzoboy313 1 year ago
I didn't read through all the comments on this video but, what everyone should know is that Nike did not buy this song. This commercial was aired in the late 80's and Nike was sued for 10million dollars for the unauthorized use of Revolution. This happened before Michael even owned the song. This is not a new commercial, even three years ago when it was posted.
gotdirt208 1 year ago
@gotdirt208 Interesting, can you provide where you got this information from? A lot of people are probably hating on MJ for this I bet...
Srhandel 1 year ago
@Srhandel Well for one, I was alive when that commercial was released. I remember the incident. Just like anything else you can Google it.
gotdirt208 1 year ago
Comment removed
gotdirt208 1 year ago
thats awful that NIke would commercialize this wonderful song.
AtlanticRecordsCorp 1 year ago
@AtlanticRecordsCorp Oh yeah, welcome back from the garden of roses.This is commercialized world, and however you like song it is all made for money, it made for people to buy records, then buy beatles badges.And yes they are going to be played on soft drinks because thats what their nature is.
If you dont like it - find some geniuses on street: there is a lot of them everywhere.
Carthsting 1 year ago
FUCK ME
TopShowsHere 1 year ago
John is rolling over in his grave.
Fehrlefrom29 1 year ago 2
all i'm gonna say is what Nike did was completely legal. Whether or not you agree with it is a different story.
WuTangShogun36 1 year ago
SICK
TheBeatlesShop 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Michael Jackson is one big ........
TheBeatlesShop 1 year ago
This is a crime.
menoziinrevoltado 1 year ago
Change the world, with Nike.
VanNicky75 1 year ago
all wrong!
occdav 1 year ago
they got sued for doing this :P
gagm9 1 year ago
Comment removed
pollo20x6 1 year ago
@gagm9 yeah got sued and miserably failed! they had the rights to the song
sean36mafia 1 year ago
@sean36mafia They settled for an unspecified amount and pulled the ad. Not really sure how that counts as a failure.
It was iffy, because they bought the rights from a company that owned North American rights to it, against the wishes of EMI and the band itself, thinking it would be okay because Capitol and Yoko Ono said it would be fine.
11lbsofcheese 1 year ago
this is the exact opposite type of company John would want this song to. Michael Jackson auctioned out Paul and Yoko, So he ended up getting the rights. I dont understand why Michael would give this song to a company that uses slave workers and all that. The message in this song was to get RID of companys like these. I find it to be absolutely ridiculous. If only John were still here.
back2realitygal11 1 year ago
why did michael do this?
he loved money so much?
k0stil 1 year ago
For those too young to recall, Jackson only licensed Nike the rights to the song, he didn't have the rights to the Beatles performance of it so when the Fabs got wind of it they had it pulled. Nike fucked up. George rightly said at the time "The Beatles are not jingle singers."
thearchives 1 year ago
How cruel!! They use the Beatles just to advertise and tell people to buy the shoes!!
THE BEATLES FOR LIFE!!
cha2kat12 1 year ago
cammanyates mmmm --- you are a fool and spew bullshit
rjpcambridge 1 year ago
Rot in hell Jacko you peado
TheInnerRevolution 1 year ago
@TheInnerRevolution
If you are a real fan of the beatles... you must know why paul didn't by the rights for that catalog, and what said yoko about Michael? ...so if you know...why are gealous????? you realy know that Michael wasn't a pedophile..he was killed like Lennon...so be onest with you
eleiordache 1 year ago
@eleiordache
Jacko slept with little kids so it hardly makes him a model human being.
John Lennon was murdered by a headcase and Jacko od'd big difference
TheInnerRevolution 1 year ago
Whoa... THEY ACTUALLY USED A REAL BEATLES RECORDING IN A COMMERCIAL!!!
aquafieldrocks 1 year ago
Revolution baby!!!!! The Beatles yeaahhhhhh
resiev15 1 year ago
Essentially Nike is not part of a revolution, and never will be.
The song talks about revolutions, just like the french
Nike have used it in a way, that says to the consumer, "we are a revolutionary company or we are part of the revolution"
So if you buy Nike you will also be part of the revolt! We are good people! we just want your money first. "sucks consumers cock"
Thats how it's disrespectful.
thefrenchmanband 1 year ago
It is not disrespectful what so ever. Nike created this commercial (an advertising campaign) in 1987 when their profits were on a declining trend. This campaign was launched for Nike to regain the industry lead and set itself apart from all competitors. It was time for the industry to change and Nike was the one to do it.
cammanyates 1 year ago
how exactly is this disrespectful?
ClavitoPAZ 1 year ago
This really is a disgusting use of John Lennon's music. Taking a serious song about world revolution and using it to push a fucking corporate product honestly makes me ill. Good upload though. Never actually saw the infamous commercial.
GrungeRock1991 1 year ago
no respect for john and the music he wrote...
what a shame...
farseer611 1 year ago
This caused a big upset back in '88, but nowadays this kind of shit is common place. The artists go along with it!. So I guess this commercial "revolutionized" the use of classic songs to sell bullshit. Irony. You gotta hate it.
UncleErnie71 1 year ago
I saw this ad a small handfull of times before it was pulled.
paisan357 2 years ago
this commercial sux and was curious to see if the song was going to the annoying left-right paneling. Thx goodness it didn't at least!
Saternoc 2 years ago
could somebody be nice to me and tell me why the beatles dont allow their songs in ads/commercials
jg1988 2 years ago
@jg1988
yes....check the inteviews with sir paul, and you will find
eleiordache 1 year ago
@eleiordache McCartney would have had to sign off on his share of the songwriting to allow this sync to happen.. Don't believe a word of what he's saying about not agreeing to the ad. He would have made A LOT of money from this sync.
andyfordays 1 year ago
didnt mj write in his will to give the beatles catalogue back to mcartney?
maihan1989 2 years ago
mj didn't own all of the 50% share he did own of the Beatles catalogue. Sony owned half as well. Do some research
devtrash 2 years ago
@devtrash
yes but this was in 88' and then michael own 100%
eleiordache 1 year ago
@maihan1989
no...it was a big rumor
eleiordache 1 year ago
The Moonwalking, The Face Butchery, The Sleepovers at Neverland, The Drug Abuse, guess what? IT'S ALL OVER!!!! The lesson of MJ's Life? A good-hearted, well-adjusted person doesn't need constant shots of Propofol-Diprivan just to get to sleep all the time....
DrGeneSquatt 2 years ago
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What does michael jackson have to do with this?
NeilKensington 2 years ago
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jajajajajajaj Paul McCartney was bitching about this right?? saying that the song was about revolution and not a shoe? jajajajajaja well... i guess the olympics and all the athletes in the world are here for absolutly nothing and do no good, damn you nike! jajajajaja Paul was only mad because he didn´t get a penny out of it! and made it look like he was offended by the use of the song jajaja what a pussy!
hildelizza 2 years ago
I might get thumbed down for this but....
BURN IN HELL MICHAEL JACKSON
(He was responsible for the use of the Beatles song in this ad)
DrGeneSquatt 2 years ago
@DrGeneSquatt
he pay for it....so shut up
eleiordache 1 year ago
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This and the new "Rock Star: The Beatles" game is why I am GLAD Micheal Jackson is dead. Bastard.
zerothought 2 years ago
Dhani Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr more or less designed that game. It was Dhani's idea and he championed the whole project. This commercial is a travesty, but leave Rock Band out of it.
emilyrosexwords 2 years ago 18
The Beatles wanted that game to be made.
zeppzo4 2 years ago 5
Upon remembering this, I find I'm not that sad about MJs death.
JustGimmeSomeTruth 2 years ago
@JustGimmeSomeTruth
yes ...but he is more free and happy than you are now....so keep the comment for yourself
eleiordache 1 year ago
paul mccartney got mad at nike for making this commercial. then i think SNL or jay lenno or someone made a spoof for this commercial for KEDS
stupidcrapcanyonlake 3 years ago
SNL. A spoof showing the dead members of the heaven's gate cult.
ichbindaswalross 2 years ago
michael jackson is a jackass
Cmed1970 3 years ago
dude, I could have sworn I saw a nutsack.
DrVonNostrand 3 years ago 4
Moron revolution wasnt about revolution it was a parody of people who got to worked up over the idea of revolution...maybe if you actually listened to the lyrics instead of only reading the song title...
sweettooth314 3 years ago 3
"Songs like Revolution don't mean a pair of sneakers, they mean Revolution."
beatlesgirlyy6828 3 years ago 65
@beatlesgirlyy682 or maybe Air Jordan heeeeeee
luismdot 1 year ago
wtf so stupid u cant do that it makes no sense the had to pay 250,000 to apple for using this song
unclepic1 3 years ago
hahaha man that nutsack is hilarious
AmbulanceProductions 3 years ago
hahaha thats def a nutsack at 0:16
kevin121 3 years ago 3
0:16 nutsack
voondebayosh 3 years ago 3
I remember this commercial...one of my favorites of its time...I even recall the controversy over the song
dellaprosper 3 years ago
Yoko Ono gave the go-head without consulting Paul, George or Ringo. As George said, (paraphrase) "Nike was going to have Julian Lennon do a cover version, but because Yoko doesn't like Julian, she gave Nike permission to use the original Beatles version." Since then the involved parties made a rule that no original Beatles recordings can be used in ads. But you will hear cover versions of their songs in ads.
Butlins 3 years ago
Yoko Ono didn't own the rights to the original version.
Pretty convincing bullshit, though.
smitty01209 3 years ago
Here I'm quoting from the book BEATLES FOR SALE by John Blaney, pp. 124-125: "Nike licensed the song from ATV, but rather than use a cover version it received permission from Yoko Ono to use the Beatles' recording. As a member of the Apple board, Ono should have consulted the other Beatles before giving permission for their recording to be used. Likewise, Capitol should have checked with Apple before issuing a license."
Butlins 3 years ago 4
michael jackson will burn in hell for this catastrophe
kevin121 3 years ago
right, this is the reason he'll burn in hell for.
WantonChicken 3 years ago
@kevin121
Michael Jackson live in Haven right now...and he will live there forever...
eleiordache 1 year ago
Don't you know it's gonna be allright?
karstdg 3 years ago
beatles fans everywhere have to get together and raise money to buy the rights to the songs from micheal jackson
to stop the comericals and bad covers and prevent future damage from being done, so that these songs can live on forever without being "that song from the diaper commerical" or "that song that the jonas brothers covered"
me24546 3 years ago 2
the jonas brothers covered a beatles song? it is the end of the world.
phillyd44 3 years ago 4
yeah, they covered hello goodbye
its pretty disgusting
me24546 3 years ago 5
@me24546
people...you must to understand that this business, yoko ono said that michael was the right person for by and own this rights...if paul own the rights, he will made the same thing if he was smart enaugh....so why paul didn't by the rights then?...or if you are a gealous Beatles fan, then i understand.....so keep going maybe you can by the rights finally :))
eleiordache 1 year ago
jehternf, its not fuck nikey. its fuck michael faget jackson. that dick gave this song to nike to use for a fuckin sneaker commercial ! DAMN PEDOPHILE ! ugh. sorry, but this shit just pisses me off, immensely !
xhappyaccidentx 3 years ago
THIS SONG IS NOT ABOUT SELLING SHOES.
AllieHalfEmpty 3 years ago 6
this commercial is a bunch of fucking bull shit
the song is anti commercial, fuck u nikey
jehternf 3 years ago
revolution is about a revolution no about stupid pair of sneakers
phillyd44 3 years ago 3
this commershul was the best thing that ever happened to that song cuz the beattles weren't on anybodies radar in 1987.
t3rr3nc388 3 years ago
you'd be surprised to find out who was listening to the beatles in 87 and even today.
urlocalSAVAGE 3 years ago 3
I didn't say today...obviously they are back in the collective conscious. I promise you though 21 years ago it was to old to be recent and too recent to be retro. all you have to do is check the fact that Mcarntney let himself get outbit at any price. If people were snatching the music up, it would have been a no brainer to own your own music, but even he didn't realize the potential.
t3rr3nc388 3 years ago
uh yall sound like a bunch of dumbasses. it's the music business...if you think emi isn't a multinational corporation and the beattles gave their music away your retarded. they buy and sell music as a comodity. you want to make speeches about this being sacred. it's not. paul maccarntney aint fight in no revolution, he could hire an army if he needed one because you people support his lavish lifestyle by purchasing this shyt.
t3rr3nc388 3 years ago
im never buying nike or target again
ultamatebeatlefan 3 years ago 5
i love targets hello goodbuy commercials!
lbonista 3 years ago
i dont they ruin a song and i hate target
ultamatebeatlefan 3 years ago 4
totally understanable! Target is my guilty pleasure even though is tres' trashy
I dont like nike though, adidas all the way
lbonista 3 years ago
If Mick Jagger owned the rights to these songs the anger and resentment would not be as great. Save your defense arguements cuz i dont care. It pisses people off that a black man (albiet looking like a white woman) owns the rights to these songs. How bout all the sacred/meaningful songs white men leased out to other companies that were written by black men. "War" by Edwin Starr is an equally powerful song/chant...they used it in the "RACIAL COMEDY" Rush Hour. But I didn't hear any complaints.
DarthDeez 3 years ago
a classic red herring.
tinderhorn 2 years ago
Put down the "Boycott Nike" signs, people...this ad ran in 1987! And it ran with the permission of Yoko Ono. It's not Nike's fault that Michael Jackson, who owned the rights to the song, sold Nike the rights to use the song in this ad.
reamteam7590 3 years ago 2
why does michael jackson even own the beatles work. who does he think he is..fucktard
Lodat225 3 years ago
the mutha phuka who could afford it. Not like ur broke arese or even paul who he out bid...hahahahahahaha
t3rr3nc388 3 years ago
Nike doesn't care about anything except making a profit. Don't take it personal the song is great, but the company that exploited is terrible.
crlopez05 3 years ago
McCartney didn't allow this.. Michael Jackson did.. he had rights at the time.. McCartney was PISSED about this. I don't blame him.. it's horrible to attach ANY Beatles song to a stupid shoe... might as well attach Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds to My Pretty Pony commercials. Assholes!
scorpwarped 3 years ago 7
This is disgusting. Shame on Nike for exploiting priceless art. I will never buy another Nike shoe again.
SoaringEagle5344 3 years ago 3
'"Revolution" isn't about shoes, it's about a REVOLUTION!' ....~John Lennon
nowheregurl34 4 years ago 2
i correct myself, Paul McCartney said that.
nowheregurl34 4 years ago 3
boycott nike! send emails telling them to stop using revolution for advertising!
iluvringoandkeke 4 years ago
i am so glad john dosn't have to see what became of his prized songs....... this is so digusting
TheFoolOnTheHill1980 4 years ago 3
When paul made that apple ipod ad you all didn't bitch so shut up because nike revolutionzed the way we buy shoes
drivesolw23 4 years ago
damn it this is what grindes my gears about the media
AeroBeatlesDoorsLed 4 years ago
$250,000.00
theUMMC 4 years ago
"Commercial prophets shout of revolution...Throwing dirt upon a good man's name. Watch them sell his soul for shoes and dance upon his grave"
Quote from the song "Cool Zero" by Pat Benatar
retrorocker 4 years ago 5
this is so stupid. this song wasnt meant for nike commercials. i cant believe someone actually thought this was a good idea.
whywontthesework 4 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I hate the beatles
lbonista 4 years ago
son of a bitch
silvana19932 3 years ago
over.fucking.rated
I like some of their songs though
DMB is the most overrated band EVER though
lbonista 3 years ago
dude...ur GAY
jake6192510 3 years ago
lol ur comment is so gay i had to stop and make out with another girl after i read it
lbonista 3 years ago
"Revolution" is not about running shoes made in Chinese sweatshops.
This is such a disgusting ad.
pilkingtonfreak 4 years ago 6
Paul McCartney
"Songs like Revolution don't mean a pair of sneakers, they mean Revolution."
rapmanej 4 years ago 9
I feel betrayed. How the FUCK could you use a Beatles song to sell SHOES?? Ugh.
saveourplanet14 4 years ago 9
This comment has received too many negative votes show
What the hell is wrong with you people??? It's a damn commercial!!! They made this song to SELL it, for like...MONEY!!! Sounds fammiliar? It's a great ad ideea.
mutyuputyu 4 years ago
Michael Jackson needs to drop dead. Selling Beatles songs just so he can continue to make money that he himself is not earning. Like selling "All You Need is Love" to Luvs for their diaper commercial. Are you freaking KIDDING me?!?! Yeah. A tennis shoe has everything to do with a revolution. A diaper has everything to do with the worldwide message of love. I'm sick of Michael Jackson and if he wants money so badly, then WORK FOR IT! Don't sell others' work for your own gain. Fuckwad.
stewartsgrl 4 years ago 7
This has been flagged as spam show
"Michael Jackson needs to drop dead"
WELL I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
SpamNapkin 2 years ago 17
@SpamNapkin That is SOOO funny how you said that and look, it happened.
tjsmith51 1 year ago
For those of you who don't know, since '85, Michael Jackson has owned the rights to pretty much all the Beatles song catalog. He bought the company that owned the rights to over 200 Beatles songs for 47 mill, outbidding Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. He continues too license their art to shitty advertisers to this day.
inquisitiedspaniard7 4 years ago
Nike used this song without getting licsening, and they got sued accordingly. Michael Jackson did not give licsening to Nike to make this commercial. In fact, I'm suprised that this was even uploaded here. Won't be long before it's pulled.
magi115 4 years ago
It wouldn't matter if Michael Jackson gave permission. Jackson only had the publishing rights, not the rights to the original recording. That belonged to EMI. That is why Nike was sued.
When you hear a Beatles song used in a commercial today, that is with Michael Jackson/Sony permission, because it is not the original recording. EMI has never licensed the original recordings of Beatles music for commercials.
redbirdpat 4 years ago
Thanks to this commercial, I went out and bought beatles tapes left and right. So the commercial did some good ya know.
Rightsideup 4 years ago
This horrible.
Horrible.
It's a fucking disgrace to humanity.
Lovemichellebelle 4 years ago