Entertainment

'80s Kids Will Love This Commercial's TBT

by Kristie Rohwedder

In a new TV spot for audio equipment titan Bose, a teen boy and a teen girl sit next to each other on a couch. In the background, ethereal music plays. As the music builds, the boy and girl lean in for a kiss. But before the smooch can land, the music coming through the Bose speakers suddenly changes — a song from a kids' show. It kills the mood. The dad of one of the teens lurks around the corner, tablet in hand. Wireless technology strikes again!

I gotta say, I'm a big fan of both of the songs in this ad. Before dad interferes, the teens listen to “Wait,” a soaring track by by shoegaze band M83. “Wait” was the fifth single off of 2011’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, the band’s Grammy-nominated, critically lauded sixth studio album.

And the second ditty? “Skinnamarink” by Sharon, Lois & Bram. If you were a) a child in the late ’80s/early ‘90s who b) watched a TV show about three humans and an elephant, then you are no stranger to “Skinnamarink." (Or “Skidamarink,” if you’re so inclined.) Ready for a quick history lesson? The song was born on the Great White Way: “Skiddy-Mer-Rink-A-Doo Means I Love You” by Al Piantadosi and Felix F. Feist originally appeared in 1910 Broadway musical The Echo. The version in the Bose commercial, however, is the one that appeared at the end of every single episode of The Elephant Show, a Canadian children’s television series starring the musical trio of Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison.

Here is the music video for M83’s “Wait”:

And here’s Sharon, Lois & Bram singing through the Elephant Show credits:

The “Skinnamarink” choreography is everything.

Image: Bose/YouTube