Q and A With Stuart Elliott

A. The song, dear reader, is a duet between the singer Bobby Darin and Johnny Mercer, the songwriter who also occasionally sang on recordings of songs for which he wrote the lyrics, like “Accentuate the Positive” and “Blues in the Night.” In fact, the song was written by Mr. Mercer, along with Mr. Darin, and appears on an album that is also called “Two of a Kind.”

The song was recorded during the period in Mr. Darin’s career after his rock hits like “Splish Splash,” when he had a series of jazz-pop hits in a crooner vein that included “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea.” “Two of a Kind,” like those songs, sounds as if it had been recorded in a Las Vegas nightclub with Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack friends seated in the audience. Some call the style bachelor pad music or cocktail lounge music. Ring a ding ding, Apple, you’re so money.

The commercial is by the TBWA/Media Arts Lab division of TBWA Worldwide, part of the Omnicom Group.

Q. There are commercials on TV in New York to encourage business in New York State, called “Big happens here.” The campaign seems to be sponsored by the state’s Empire State Development Corporation.

The question is: What is the jazzy music that runs behind the ad, and who wrote and performed it? It’s a really snappy tune.

Q. I wrote you a few days ago about the song that runs behind the ads encouraging business to locate in New York State. Courtesy of the Shazam for TV app running on my mom’s iPhone 5 — my mom is 78 years old, I’m 53 — the song is called “Cookin’ Boox,” by Detroit Jackson. You can hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7RtzJMDMVM

I helped myself, with the help of my mom. I thought you’d like to know.

A. Thanks, dear reader, for your question, and for your answer. If crowdsourcing can come to advertising, I guess it can come to Q. and A. features, too. Besides, at this time of year, it is nice to remember that they say the Lord helps those who help themselves.

Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/business/media/q-and-a-with-stuart-elliott.html?partner=rss&emc=rss