So, if you’re like me you are so sick of the AT&T commercial with the little girl and her stuffed monkey you’re reduced to fits of screaming and spastic scrambling for the mute button when it comes on TV. It sounds rash, but this commercial has been on since 2007 and for those two years has had the same “Sweet pea….apple of my eye…” hooky jingle playing along with its syrupy sweet storyline. Unlike me, there’s a good chance you have no idea who sings that song and subsequently want to choke them for supplying the sound track for so many of your sleepless nights. For this, I’d like to set the record straight. But first, if you live under a rock, play the below video.
I’ve had the pleasure of learning about singer/songwriter Amos Lee in 2005 when my roommate at the time played his song “Colors” for me. Coincidentally, I ended up interning that summer for a company called Klew Media which was doing a marketing campaign at the time for his debut album off of Blue Note Records which had come out that March. Amos Lee is a true songwriting talent and soulful vocalist and I was instantly in love with his album. I ended up seeing him perform at Coachella in 2007 and was really impressed with his live performance as well.
That said, I was thrilled when I heard his voice on the AT&T commercial for the first time – I believe I even gave a nod and a “Alllllright Amos” in the direction of the TV screen. Two years later, I’m not so thrilled with the placement though it’s certainly been paying his bills.
First impressions are hard to shake, and I’m sure there are those who have heard Amos Lee’s song “Sweet Pea” on that commercial and have no desire to hear anything else. To those people I say, let’s give him a second listen. For your listening pleasure, two of my favorite Amos Lee songs. The first “Dreamin’” off of his self-titled debut, and the second “Shout Out Loud,” the single from his second album “Supply and Demand.” For more on Amos Lee, visit his MySpace and check out the iTunes link below.
Enjoy!
