The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Tim's Ad -- The Football Song?

**Posted by dieter** February 8, 2025 11:57 pm

I admit to being old-fashioned and generally preferring the original versions of songs to remakes. But IMHO, Tim Horton's goes far over the line with their ad which turns Stompin' Tom's Hockey Song into a FOOTBALL song for the Super Bowl. "It's football night tonight?" No. Just no.

**Posted by g121** February 9, 2025 8:42 am

dieter wrote:
I admit to being old-fashioned and generally preferring the original versions of songs to remakes. But IMHO, Tim Horton's goes far over the line with their ad which turns Stompin' Tom's Hockey Song into a FOOTBALL song for the Super Bowl. "It's football night tonight?" No. Just no.

i'll admit, i had the same reaction .. it was a step too far .. what next, messing with the iconic "Hockey Night in Canada" theme?

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** February 9, 2025 8:54 am

Anyone remember this 1996 commercial for the Bank of Montreal, which featured a remix of Bob Dylan's song "The Times They Are A-Changin"? The bank took so much heat for using a classic protest anthem to promote an upcoming new product that the chairman at the time, Matthew Barrett, had to publicly defend the commercial at a shareholders' meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0tNUxjZmE

Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (February 9, 2025 8:58 am)

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 9, 2025 9:01 am

dieter wrote:
I admit to being old-fashioned and generally preferring the original versions of songs to remakes. But IMHO, Tim Horton's goes far over the line with their ad which turns Stompin' Tom's Hockey Song into a FOOTBALL song for the Super Bowl. "It's football night tonight?" No. Just no.

Stompin’ Tom is rolling in his grave, quite rightly so! Saw this last night for the first time and think it is a bad call. I’m sure Tim Horton’s will be hearing about it. I hate it when songs are repurposed, especially when lyrics are changed, tacky as hell.

**Posted by Easily Amused** February 9, 2025 10:03 am

BowmanvilleBob wrote:
Anyone remember this 1996 commercial for the Bank of Montreal, which featured a remix of Bob Dylan's song "The Times They Are A-Changin"? The bank took so much heat for using a classic protest anthem to promote an upcoming new product that the chairman at the time, Matthew Barrett, had to publicly defend the commercial at a shareholders' meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0tNUxjZmE

Reminds me of John Fogerty fighting tooth and nail against Levis, when the company thought 'Fortunate Son' would be a good jingle to sell bluejeans. Probably the most notable of protest songs against U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Last edited by Easily Amused (February 9, 2025 10:04 am)

**Posted by paterson1** February 9, 2025 10:26 am

That Bank of Montreal commercial is terrible. Talk about over singing and ruining a classic song. And the kids all joining in singing and walking down the road together....yawn..

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** February 9, 2025 10:36 am

Agreed, but it did cause a bit of a stir at the time. Also worth remembering how The Parachute Club successfully sued McCain's Foods over the use of their song "Rise Up" to promote a new brand of rising crust pizza.

Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (February 9, 2025 10:37 am)

**Posted by ig** February 9, 2025 10:57 am

I doubt he's rolling in his grave. I imagine now that he's no longer composing, he's excited about the song bringing some $$$ to his family via Ott & The Ontario Teachers pension fund.

https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/stompin-tom-connors-family-signs-record-deal-to-release-his-music-59314

https://ca.billboard.com/fyi/teachers-fund-acquires-ceo-stake-ole-founder-robert-ott-stays

**Posted by RadioActive** February 9, 2025 11:40 am

ig wrote:
I doubt he's rolling in his grave. I imagine now that he's no longer composing, he's excited about the song bringing some $$$ to his family via Ott & The Ontario Teachers pension fund.

I strongly suspect he's de-composing...

**Posted by paterson1** February 9, 2025 7:26 pm

I just saw the Tim Horton Football Song commercial. I thought it was very funny. People need to lighten up.

I liked that football is "the second best game you can name"... and the ending is a classic. Sorry...not sorry.. Typical Canadian passive/aggressive. Brilliant!!

The commercial cluster had a bunch of ads I had never seen before. Except one. Those two gomers peddling men's underwear that doesn't bunch up.

**Posted by newsguy1** February 9, 2025 8:31 pm

the first time I saw it I was annoyed but when I watched it to the end the punchline is that football is the SECOND best game you can name...then it says sorry, not sorry.
So, yeah, it's pro Canadian humour. Sorry Americans with your silly football game.

**Posted by RadioActive** February 10, 2025 8:36 pm

Apparently, the entire night on Canadian TV was filled with a lot of patriotic Canadian-isms - something that used to be almost an oxymoron.

Canadian brands say ‘Sorry, not sorry’ in unusual burst of patriotic Super Bowl ads