Historicist: "The city that nobody loves"
Elsewhere in the Ist-a-Verse
On a particularly desperate TV day, try tuning into The Main on Food Network Canada, and you might find yourself wondering why the hell Spoon licensed their song "I Turn My Camera On" to be used as its theme. And then you'll realize that—gasp!—it isn't a Spoon song at all, just a song with pretty much the same beat, hook, and vocal line (no biggie).
Google any variation of "spoon food network ripoff" and you'll find thread after thread of commonfolk looking to discover just what on earth that delightful little ditty is, until a hipster know-it-all (see: us) swoops into the conversation to yammer about Spoon and expose the latest in corporate plagiarism to all.
Such blatant ripoffs are obviously total lamesauce, but really not all that shocking or uncommon, especially in the ad world (see: Tom Waits' take down of Audi, Frito Lay, etc). But since no charges have been made in this case, who's to say the band isn't into it? Food is delicious, and Spoon probably supports the making/eating of it. Many otherwise credible acts have allowed worse fates for remakes of their songs. Remember that Moldy Peaches Atlantis ad? That post-Juno cash-in saw the band allowing their song "Anyone Else But You" to be redone, with the new version playing over images of a cushy resort in the Bahamas and lyrics like, "Let's go ride a couple of dolphins/maybe play tennis/or do some golfing."
But without any documentation of Spoon's loving partnership with Food Network Canada, one fan recently took it upon himself to e-mail the show to ask about the song and received this response:
Thank you for contacting Food Network Canada .Phew, it's an original! Just a big coincidence, case closed. Any lawyers in the house?We are delighted to hear that you enjoy The Main’s theme music so much! The composer of the music is Asher Lenz from Lenz Entertainment, and it is an original track produced specifically for the show. We hope this information is helpful to you.
Thank you for taking the time to write to Food Network Canada . We hope you continue to enjoy our programming.
Sincerely,
Viewer Relations
Food Network Canada
Photo by kk+.
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i have ALWAYS thought this when watching the show... there's definitely something stolen there--more than the Food Network's canned letter is willing to admit.
I hate contact companies for reasons that reply illustrate: you can never get a straight answer free of branding and on-messaging.
they're even both in a minor. i love it.
I tried to find the music credit, but clearly gave up too easily.
But yeah, there is no way that this is "an original track" - I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Ripped off songs aside, I will admit that I kinda like The Main.
The Main is unwatchable on account of the host's (stereotypically canadian?) accent. Something about the vowels: "Thot ouas hôt!" I can't stop cringing long enough to judge the food.
Wrenkin: I totally hear what your saying. I cannot pinpoint his accent at all. I have nothing against people with accents, but his is just too annoying to listen too for more than 5 minutes.
What a ripoff. I am officially banning Food Network from my house. (Never watch it anyway.)
Anthony Sedlak (the host) was born and raised in BC. His accent bugs me too, but that's not typical of BC speakers is it?
Man, I must've written that on Twitter more than three months ago.
But I'm so glad other people think Anthony Sedlak's "o"s are weird. Thought it was just me.
I was really surprised to hear he was Canadian. He sounds like the stereotypical California surfer.
In defense of The Main, there are what, two whole chords in that song?
And speaking of accents, anyone wonder why Britt Daniel sings with an English accent when he's supposed to be from Texas?
I'm actually a huge Spoon fan but I always found "I Turn My Camera On" a bit simplistic.
i turn my tv on/and see the food net's ripped me off/....
great post! pretty balsy response from the foot network. their original theme music is not close, not similiar, not 'inspired by' but exactly the same as 'i turn my camera on'.
methinks asher lenz has some explaining to do.