Volkswagen Advert

[maureen & harry]

There is an ad on some tv channels for Volkswagen and the tune being played is a musical upbeat version of Portrait Of My Love. Wish they had used Matt's version instead.

Has anyone else seen this ad?

[mariana44]

Is this the same one that Paul has recently mentioned-I know he was less than impressed with it.

[paul jh]

The Land Rover commercial in the US featured the Matt Monro version of Born Free with a third-rate singer who tried to sound like Matt Monro, but failed.

I heard it again this morning.

I would find an up tempo version of Portrait of My Love to be very disturbing.

[Eman]

Paul, My Dad and I saw that Land Rover commercial and we both said yeeeechhhhhhhh!!! I'm with you an upbeat of Portrait of My Love would be ghastly...

[paul jh]

I'm glad that you and your Dad had the same reaction as I did. The singer tries to copy Matt Monro, but the low note ("as") is particularly awful.

[Eman]

Paul, my Dad actually caught that bum note, and said the words "Projectile Barf" when he really listened to the singer..

[maureen & harry]

This is a completely different ad. It is for a Volkswagen car and there is no vocal at all just the tune in an upbeat version of Portrait Of My Love. It's still pretty awful we have to say as Portrait should only be played as a ballad. Maybe it's because we love Matt's version so much this just doesn't do it any justice at all.

It would be interesting to know what you think when you come across it.

[john]

Yes, I think I heard it in the background the other day Maureen and Harry. I was on the computer and the TV was on low but remember thinking it sounded like "Portrait".

[Rmoore]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyj4yPSU0gg&noredirect=1

The recording is actually a 'Ska' version of portrait dating from the mid 1960's by some one called Baba Brooks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEm-BvCTHx8

[Eman]

Somehow a "ska" version of Portrait of My Love, doesn't work for me..it's a tender ballad and should be sung and played that way. I do like "ska" music though just not this!!

[paul jh]

I spoke too soon. I actually like this ska version of Portrait and the ad is really neat.

[Rmoore]

It's certainly an interesting listen, I have nothing against it. A good tune always wins through, but thank heavens there's no vocal!

Much as I love Matt's version, I don't think it would have worked with the ad - Although any ska track would probably work with it!

Richard

[paul jh]

Did you find Baba Brooks from an internet search or did you already know about the version?

[Rmoore]

Purely though a comment on you tube. Never heard of him before or know anything about him.

[hpooch]

I just saw the commercial, and Baba Brooks sounds like a poor man's version of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass!

I wonder if this VW model will be available in the US later this year!?