Dispepsi
Encyclopedia
Dispepsi is an album by the band Negativland
. It was released on July 29, 1997 by Seeland Records
, Negativland's record label. It is structured to be a statement against the major soft drink companies and contains many samples of advertisements therefrom.
and Pepsi
, who are believed to flood the airwaves with advertisements. The title is a variation of dyspepsia
, which is synonymous with indigestion. The word "Dispepsi" deliberately does not appear anywhere on the album artwork, but a telephone number was set up to provide the proper title. It is scrambled into anagram
s including "Pedissip" and "Ideppiss", as the band originally believed they would be sued for trademark infringement
if the actual title was shown. Once Pepsi lawyers indicated that they had no intention of ever suing Negativland, they began referring to it by its actual title.
Notes on samples include:
A music video
for "The Greatest Taste Around
" incorporates clips of Pepsi ads synchronized with the song.
Negativland
Negativland is an experimental music and sound collage band which originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970s. They took their name from a Neu! song, while their record label is named after another Neu! song...
. It was released on July 29, 1997 by Seeland Records
Seeland Records
Seeland Records is an independent record label created by Negativland in 1979 to release their own recordings. It is a reference to the song "Seeland" by the band Neu!, who also gave Negativland the basis for their name, Sea-Land Corporation, a freight company, and the micro-nation of Sealand,...
, Negativland's record label. It is structured to be a statement against the major soft drink companies and contains many samples of advertisements therefrom.
History
The album was an attack on the highly competitive soft drink companies Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
, who are believed to flood the airwaves with advertisements. The title is a variation of dyspepsia
Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia , also known as upset stomach or indigestion, refers to a condition of impaired digestion. It is a medical condition characterized by chronic or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen, upper abdominal fullness and feeling full earlier than expected when eating...
, which is synonymous with indigestion. The word "Dispepsi" deliberately does not appear anywhere on the album artwork, but a telephone number was set up to provide the proper title. It is scrambled into anagram
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
s including "Pedissip" and "Ideppiss", as the band originally believed they would be sued for trademark infringement
Trademark infringement
Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees...
if the actual title was shown. Once Pepsi lawyers indicated that they had no intention of ever suing Negativland, they began referring to it by its actual title.
Notes on samples include:
- "All of the cola commercials that were appropriated, transformed, and reused in this recording attempted to assault us in our homes without permission. Other sources reused include: talk radio, MOMMIE DEARESTMommie Dearest (film)Mommie Dearest is a 1981 American biographical drama film about Joan Crawford, starring Faye Dunaway. The film was directed by Frank Perry. The story was adapted for the screen by Robert Getchell, Tracy Hotchner, Frank Perry, and Frank Yablans, based on the 1978 autobiography of the same name by...
, tabloid TVTabloid televisionTabloid television, also known as Teletabloid, is a form of tabloid journalism. Tabloid television newscasts usually incorporate flashy graphics and sensationalized stories.Often, there is a heavy emphasis on crime, stories with good video, and celebrity news...
, Pepsi and ShirliePepsi & ShirliePepsi & Shirlie were a British pop duo who released two albums, All Right Now in 1987 and Change in 1991.-Career:The act comprised Helen "Pepsi" DeMacque and Shirlie Holliman , who had been Wham! backing vocalists. Holliman's original singing partner, Dee C...
, documentary TV, Bryan FerryBryan FerryBryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
, the news, Ice-TICE-T* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
, public service announcements, Asha BhosleAsha BhosleAsha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
, MC LyteMC LyteMC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, The Clio AwardsClio AwardsThe Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
, traditional Burmese music, the O.J. Simpson murder case, motivational marketing tapes by advertising executives."
A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "The Greatest Taste Around
The Greatest Taste Around
The Greatest Taste Around is the second and last single by Negativland from the 1997 popular release Dispepsi. It is a satire on Pepsi's promotion campaigns for Crystal Pepsi and Coca-Cola's failed campaign for New Coke, using such lyrics as "I nailed Jesus to the cross" and "Children dying of...
" incorporates clips of Pepsi ads synchronized with the song.
Track listing
- "The Smile You Can't Hide"
- "Drink It UpDrink It Up"Drink It Up" is the first single by Negativland released from the 1997 album Dispepsi. The song is about a man who is gleeful thinking about Pepsi, but gets exaggeratedly depressed with other soft drinks. Its music video was released on the Our Favorite Things DVD.-Structure:"Drink It Up" was sung...
" - "Why Is This Commercial?"
- "Happy HeroHappy HeroHappy Hero is a single by the experimental band Negativland, appearing on their 1997 album, Dispepsi. The song talks about how a man would get publicity by putting himself in danger so he would promote Pepsi on the stage...
" - "A Most Successful Formula "
- "The Greatest Taste AroundThe Greatest Taste AroundThe Greatest Taste Around is the second and last single by Negativland from the 1997 popular release Dispepsi. It is a satire on Pepsi's promotion campaigns for Crystal Pepsi and Coca-Cola's failed campaign for New Coke, using such lyrics as "I nailed Jesus to the cross" and "Children dying of...
" - "Hyper Real"
- "All She Called About"
- "I Believe It's L"
- "Humanitarian Effort"
- "Voice Inside My Head"
- "Aluminum Or Glass: The Memo"
- "Bite Back"