Tom Waits commercial

[willamlower]

@DrWoodbineSimms. For real.

[SlightlyShinobi]

I feel like Dalmatian was a poor choice of dog to be narrated by Tom Waits. Should be some kind of shaggy wire haired thing that looks like it's in need of a shave and a good night's sleep. Dog food that makes its own gravy. Just add gin.

[minermike61]

It's Tom. I'd know his voice. nobody could ever fake him this well. It would have been better if the dog was drinking whisky out of a bowl or dgging in the trash can for a cigarette butt

[WelcometoPatRock]

This aint tom waits.... but they got owned, soo their gutted really

[onefromnone]

@WelcometoPatRock yes it is. This is the only commercial Waits ever did, and still regrets.

[WelcometoPatRock]

@onefromnone I swear there was some court case controversy going on at some point, they asked him for permission for a song, step right up (the irony)... it was declined

Then the company found the songs kin... It was one of the first court cases to have one against this kind of plagiarism, and he gave the money to charity

Good man... s'only what ive heard though...

[onefromnone]

@WelcometoPatRock There was, in particular the Doritos commercial. Waits has successfully sued several large companies for this. But, the commercial shown here is in fact Tom Waits...and again, the only one he's ever agreed to do. Click the link below the video to read more about it.

[WelcometoPatRock]

@onefromnone

Aaah fair enough... Just feel kinda, y'know...

Well... one has to feed ones family I guess

[aspiva4]

when you make a comercial like this its funny, and strange. i wanted the dog 2get his heart broken, and get drunk and bang it out on the piano

[playasadonejoe]

That dog don't want no abba-zaba, he don't want no almond joy. There ain't nothing better, more suitable for this boy

[andymotor1]

it is not tom waits

[onefromnone]

@andymotor1 yes it is.

[mrjustinlantz]

When asked about this Waits replied, "I was really down on my luck at the time and i've always really loved dogs"

[TheTransista]

it has to be Tom Waits I'd know that voice anywhere

[MrDaemonB]

my voice recognition software confirms that it is in fact Tom Waits.

[yoda43]

Has the whole world gone crazy am I the only one who gives a shit about the rules! (walter)

[AaronWallace]

@yoda43 That comment really tied the thread together.

[yoda43]

my life has lost all meaning

[Timmybear]

It absolutely is Tom. I remember it from the time. And, if you need proof, check out the Tom Waits bio currently out in the world. He confesses.

[thebridgeofthenose]

Being vegetarian and finding this "meaty" dog food sexy is... confusing.

[ChickCorea1000]

This is Tom Waits.

His one and only time.

[yoda43]

Thats not Tom,  you`ve been suckered!

[reverendflash]

@yoda43

Sorry Yoda and all you other naysayers. As much as you don't want to believe it, my research confirms that, in 1981, Tom Waits did this one commercial (later saying 'never again'). It might be painful to accept, but it's true. Besides, wouldn't it also be hard to believe that such a blatant pilfering of his verbal likeness would not feel Tom's litigious wrath as other companies have in multiple well-known courtroom victories for Mr. Waits? (Clue: he can't sue himself.)

[lauwren]

This is NOT Tom Waits. He always refused his music to be used in commercials. check je wiki page for more info on several lawsuits he won

[doctasax]

@lauwren :

Always, except this one. Check your facts.

[bigmikevt]

@lauwren He needed money and when this commercial won awards he was so embarrassed he vowed never to whore his voice out again

[onefromnone]

@lauwren yes, it is Tom Waits.

[willamlower]

@lauwren I created the spot. I was in the session with him. It was him, the engineer and myself.

[DrWoodbineSimms]

@willamlower For real...?

[lauwren]

@lauwren Oke guys. i was wrong, you are right. But it still hurts a little.

[doctasax]

@robinborneman

You know because that's the way it is? Interesting argument.

[juancasasisthename]

Hearing Tom Waits doing this advertisement makes me not only want to buy the product, but I wanna eat it too.

[nathanaway]

@juancasasisthename hahahaha yeah!

[harry12341234]

Commercials are an unnatural use of my work, ... It's like having a cow's udder sewn to the side of my face. Painful and humiliating.

[trumpzero2]

your work? Is this yours? Are you Tom Waits? If not, it's kind of confusing, the vague comment. I hope you don't just want people to think you are, because that's wrong. But the cow's udder thing was funny.

[AuntyNibbs]

chillax.

[dt7870]

@trumpzero2 I think you'll find that is a quote which Tom made at some point and they are just repeating it

[sirmustapha]

I don't get what is so bad about Tom Waits having done this. It doesn't at all hurt his principles of not having his MUSIC in advertisements. Besides, a well done advert can fully qualify as a work of art, and I think this particular advert was quite brilliant. Amazing work by Tom Waits there.

Come on, even Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart did work for adverts; check out the crazy ad for Luden's Cough Drops.

[willamlower]

@sirmustapha Yea and this one won a Lion at Cannes...just a bronze..but a Lion nevertheless.

[ruffian1868]

NOT Waits !

[drseuss620]

Definitely Tom Waits... Bad Ass.

[joeygarage77]

yea and some other ad companies tried having a guy doing Waits' s voice on a song Waits did, and Tom sued their asses!!!!!!!!!!!

[kindachris]

beef. liver. bacon.

[WindBlownLife]

That was fuckin' hilarious!! He whispers "Beef...liver....and bacon..." I LAUGHED loudly. Tom Waits only refuses to use his music on ads. He doesn't seem to have anything against using his voice.

[BloodMoon]

This is not tom waits, any real fan could tell the difference

[reticulianoverlord]

...I think it is him. What a badass voice he has, too.

[bifaybump]

mate if you do you were a real fan youd know that this is the only ad he has ever done. apart from this he has refused. im surprised a 'real fan' like yourself didnt know that

[Ohfishyfishyfish]

At least it was a classy ad

[Goatboy2die4]

but...waits...is against...ad's

[BountyHunter233]

its a guy that sounds like him and i remember this ad got sued by tom waits for copying his voice

[Mullahgrrl]

That is, odd.

[bifaybump]

this is the only ad he has ever done and is relatively famous because of it, look it up

[illustriouschin]

thats definitely tom waits, i can see why he doesnt do that shit anymore

[mrtonya69]

"Tom Waits doesn't do commercials. This has to be someone else. "

agreed.

[Dellis1497]

Follow the link. It's real. One ad, 1981. He holds the original tapes.

[littlesongbird1]

nope I read it in his biography. That is him.

[holysnaakes]

mmmmm, yes Mr. Waits, whisper those words to me again [2]

[weholdparties]

Tom Waits doesn't do commercials. This has to be someone else.

[SH1TLIPS]

mmmmm, yes Mr. Waits, whisper those words to me again

[cedredecat]

I remember this ad airing in Canada, though I had no idea who Tom was at the time.

[megaplayah]

This commercial fits him perfectly. it has style you know?

[mahoodworm]

Anybody got the Levis advertisement that used Screamin' Jay Hawkins' cover of Waits' "Heart attack and Vine"? The advert was removed after Waits objected: Levis apologised though no money crossed hands. Loads of Levis ads on youtube, but not this one..

[jarvisel]

Was the dog food made of cigarette butts, gin, and rusty steak knives?

[LadyeXo]

@jarvisel Hell yeah it is.  Makes a normal dog sexy with a strange yet smooth voice.

[awaggenspack]

He was broke and had a baby to feed. What kind of asshole is going to fault him for that? Clearly he is not an artist who sells himself around, so one mistake early in his career is perfectly negligible in my book.

[Chadhead]

This commercial was done in 1981 and was created by a Canadian advertising exec named Bill Lower.

Mr. Lower has since returned the tape and contract to Tom Waits rather than selling it on ebay or something. Waits sent him a letter and a personalized autographed memento for his gratitude.

Tom Waits has said that he tried it once and will never do it again.

I feel the same way about tripe soup and PCP.

At least he gave it a go and can say from experience that it wasn't for him.

[Chadhead]

It sounds exactly like TW to me. If you can prove it's not than please do. I know I will be very pleased if you can.

[Chadhead]

Tom Waits sold dog food? aw man that just ruined my week. Please tell me it aint so?

[vicfirth]

The first and last commercial Waits ever did. A very rare find.

[GreatLemur]

Somebody does awesome shit that you enjoy and becomes someone you admire, and then after that they somehow owe it to you to only ever do stuff you think is cool? Fuck, people, let the dude earn a few bucks workin for the Man.

[Chadhead]

Waits never sold out to anything so this is a bit of a shock for me. I wont judge him for it though. It's really not my business and we all gotta make a living. Hell I'm just an admirer of his craft. I'll just pretend I never saw it.

[mariakyann]

yeah, at least it was dog food and not like, Ford Pick-Up Trucks or something douchie like that!

[Chadhead]

True that. It would be hard for me to reconcile him doing a pepsi ad.

I love my dog and if their was a Tom Waits brand dog food I would feed it to him.

I would NOT drink Tom Waits Soda though. I would take a sip but it would most likely taste like car exhaust, licorice and bone

[deathwhisepered]

that comment about the Tom Waits soda is classic.

[funkyfreakkkkk]

this is not a real Tom Waits voice, it`s a crap. TOm Waits wouldn`t do that

[killit88]

He makes ME want to buy it and eat it myself.

[Alephvoid]

It really is him.

And I support him fully.

I know about maintaining artistic integrity and all that, but his lable just dropped him, and took all of the rights to his music, and all he had in the world was "$20 bucks" (his somewhat hyperbolic words), Kathleen, and at least one kid to feed and raise. Sure it's slumming, but who hasn't taken a hit and worked a crap job to help your family? In fact, it sounds like something one of his characters would do (except Tom's not a midget amputee.)

[voodoochild1138]

I've never heard of this, but I do know he has sued companies for using sound-alikes and such. I do think that te fact that it's a dog food commercial advertising three meaty tastes might just be twisted enough for him. Also, it is quite a dated commercial, and it might have come from a time when Tom was financially unable to seek legal recourse. Just a couple of theories. It is hella funny.

[shanethepoet]

okay so i am a huge fan and i am reading a book of interviews with Tom calle innocnent when you dream...and he said he hates commericals...so this could be after he said...or could be an impersonator like the one on the dorritors commerical.

[webstercat]

Tom could do depends commercials and they would be helarious.

[Seanthomson8888]

....wow....

[ignaurus]

I love the man, but its bizzare to me that he did a commercial considering how many companys he has turned down to do commercials for. He has also sued multiple companies for using his songs without permission. Check out his write up on Wikipedia.

[kloten]

I hope this isn't the dog food which secret ingredient was bull's penis

[lyonlamb]

He could advertise food for flies and I'd buy it.

[zaloo]

he kinda IS, if you think about it.

..and are patient.

[lyonlamb]

That's quite clever, I laughed!

[oneguycoding]

Isn't this quite old. I seem to remember seeing this advert ages ago.

[TheTrueKingOfClubs]

Meh Tom Waits can do whatever the hell he wants with his work. plus this is more of a tom waits commercial than a purina commercial haha.

[DrLaslow]

holy freakin crap im sold

[poples]

I'd buy the shit out of that. And I don't even have a dog.

[RomoloMampieri]

Hahaha - same here. That's probably the coolest commerical I've ever seen.

[seanmaher1000]

"Beef... liver.. and BACON."

Yeah, this is the best advertisement I've ever seen for anything.

[togetherless]

That was worth whatever Purina had to pay. In fact, no matter what they payed, Tom was ripped off. Hilarious.

[PebbleBreeze]

three meaty tastes, baby. I wish I could offer that.

[harrycarayhere]

Um...Tom Waits hates having his OWN stuff ripped off for commercial use, but I don't see why he wouldn't agree to do a commercial.

[PebbleBreeze]

THATS NOT TOM, wtf

[cultictwalette]

It is, you spa. Read the comments.

[PebbleBreeze]

i posted on impulse. If they say it is, then so be it. who gives a *! anyway.

[doctasax]

Apparently you did. :-)

[frylokk]

i heard there was a commercial that claimed the voice speaking was tom waits' and it was just an impersonator and he sued the company for millions

[littlecoot]

That's true. The company was Frito Lay. It was a Cheetos commercial with an animated tiger. I think he got a couple of million.

[toddsantos]

do you know where I could see that?

[znajka]

"In 1981 Waits decided to do voice-over work on a television commercial for Ralston Purina (now owned by Nestle). The product was a dry dog food called Butcher's Blend. It appears this is the only time Waits has done an advertisement for a for-profit company. It's not clear whether or not he wanted to do this incognito, but his name is listed in the credits.."

[bigrab]

OOOooops! I've found out it IS him! I think I'll try Butchers Blend instead!

[bigrab]

If that is Tom Waits I will eat my own shit.

[doctasax]

Fine, post the vid when you do.

[DeathBoy2098]

check the tom waits archive, it confirms it.

[BPMead007]

hahahahahaha

[AaronWallace]

@bigrab How can you claim to be a Tom Waits fan and not recognize that voice?

[pilgrimskrew]

IT IS TOM WAITS... END OF STORY.

[mahoodworm]

Listen up dumbos - It is his voice. Do your homework before you comment. It's the only time he has done a voiceover and has mentioned it at least once in an interview (and vowed never to do it again). For more go to the T.W. Library, click on "extras" then "commercial". It give all the info on this commercial and the other ads/courtcases/lawsuits etc.

"Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction" - Lord Byron.

[asylumyears]

not tom.

[SirenVisual]

There is no chance that is his voice.

[Zaknrfamaa]

Haha, it sounds nothing like Tom...

[ElighBrown]

what in god's earth are we watching, i take that back, what are are we hearing. I'm at a loss of something other than words

[posen123]

one can easily hear that this is not tom waits, i can not understand how he won that lawsuit.

[Rattlesnake07]

of course it's his voice

[DeathBoy2098]

tom waits archive states that it is him, it's the only ad he did, and it's not the ad that he sued over.

[BPMead007]

I heard he did a Doritos ad

[nadaiv]

hey, dummy!! you're thinking of the frito lay ad...do you eat dog food??

[Ravenbomb]

the Fritos thing was because they used music that sounded exactly like Step Right Up because Tom wouldn't let them use the actual song in the commercial.

[pivonka42]

I don't know if it's actually his voice or not. In "Small Change: The Life of Tom Waits", "The Tom Waits Reader" and "Tom Waits: Wild Years" it makes no mention of him ever doing a t.v. commercial. He did sue frito lay, and has in fact sued many companies for using his voice, likeness, etc. However, if it is Tom Waits' voice, I think it's awesome that he would do a dog food commercial. It just seems to suit how eclectic he is.

[Cosmoline]

Waits lived for two months off nothing but Purina Dog Chow and rum.

[NicosNicosNicosNicos]

so he speaks from experience when he says it's delicious!

[Nyarlathotep1926]

It's how I show my love, keeping him straight.

- I missed this on first pass. That is beautiful.

Hey, Dummies. This is not Tom Waits' voice. He sued the makers of this ad for mimmicking him, and he WON a large settlement.

- Hey, don't be a dick. Show me a source that backs you. My inclination is to believe you. Trust, but verify.

[zappafrank38]

My dog was very captivated when I played this commercial. He kept looking at the computer.

[daveTmkio]

Well when financial constraints happen Tom Waits figured he had to do it just once.

[thprfssnl]

at least its not as bad as orson welles' wine commercials

[muziktrkr]

This is Tom's voice circa 1981-82, but wasn't doing the ad in his "singing" voice. The Salsa Rio Fritos was a lawsuit that would be 10 years later. It IS interesting that it has to do with dogs, considering "Raindogs" came outa few years after this ad.

[doctasax]

"He sued the makers of this ad for mimmicking him, and he WON a large settlement." I think you're mistaking this for the Frito/Lay one.

[doctasax]

AFAIK, this is the real deal, and the Tom Waits Supplement will back me up on that. Not related to past & recent lawsuits. Way back in '81 or so, he wasn't that vocal about it, and broke/just married, so he did one and said he'd never do it again. And he didn't. Integrity-wise, I don't hold this one against him - the fact that he kept his word since counts a lot more. Of course it's a bit embarassing that it should resurface. It's how I show my love, keeping him straight.

[capnhank]

On the bright side, that commercial won a Clio and two international advertising awards in 1982. It seems that even when he's stooping, he's head and shoulders above the rest.

[Pod]

Bizarre - I had no idea he'd done an ad, and his views on the biz as a whole are well known. I dunno, maybe it's another impersonator. :)

[mammynuns]

mannn....

thats kinda depressing. i mean, i dont really have a moral objection to selling your image to commercials etc... but tom waits has always been so vocal about his opposition to this kinda thing. now i dont know what to think.

[zepsloan]

I hear that. Tom's always been a real champion of artist's rights and copyright infringement and so forth, so to see this is a little, er, bothersome. Maybe this is the reason he's so vocally against rock star endorsements? It IS pretty lame.

[mammynuns]

yeah good call on that... maybe he saw the final product and started his crusade because he was so disgusted.

[MightyTiny]

As I understand it, what Tom Waits has been dead set against is attaching his MUSIC (or any good music) to commercials - the point is that he views that a good song in a commercial ruins the experience of hearing the song. Nothing worse than getting an image of toilet paper in your head every time you hear your favourite song.

I don't think he's ever said anything one way or the other about lending his (speaking) voice to commercials. Bit surpricing, but not inconsistent with his statements.

[McNuckles]

Isn't this the commercial that Tom sued over b/c the company used someone who appropriated his vocal style? I don't know. . . it sounds an awful lot like him, though.

[webstercat]

So one commercial ruins his credibility? Nonsense, the commercial is cool, tom doesn't have to apologize. If it really offends then put your cds on amazon and someone will buy them.

[tambourinegirl]

Haha, I love hearing Tom talk about dog food.

[JamesCarr]

cool!