The Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” to be used on American Idol?

By On 01/26/2009 · 20 Comments · In Uncategorized

This, from the folks at mlive.com:

It’s easy to visualize contestants on “American Idol” crooning renditions of the Verve Pipe’s forlorn-sounding Top 10 smash hit, “The Freshmen,” from 1997. After all, the single which propelled the Grand Rapids band to multi-platinum success was an everybody-sing-along hit.

On Saturday night during his benefit concert for the Rockford Education Foundation in the Rockford Fine Arts Auditorium, Brian Vander Ark revealed he was contacted last week by “American Idol” about licensing use of the song on the show, so keep your eyes and ears out for a different sort of West Michigan “Idol” connection.
It’s uncertain when the song might get used, but Vander Ark told me today “American Idol” representatives “need it rushed, so we assumed it was this week.”

With the allusions to suicide and drug use, I’m having a hard time figuring out how Idol would use this song.   It’s probably going to be background for one of the audition packages this week.

Check out the video after the jump.   What do you think?

 
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  • MrsTrep

    An interesting song choice for AI to say the least! One of my best friends had a friend commit suicide in college, in 97, our freshman year…. that’s all I think of when I think of this song. Interesting choice.

  • Lisa

    WTH? All I can think of here is the ordeal with Paula.

  • http://www.myspace.com/gwendolyndiane GwendolynD

    All I can think of here is the ordeal with Paula.

    Yikes. Oh man. I hope they don’t bring that up.

    Maybe it’ll be used with someone’s backstory.

  • t2

    Don’t assume that TPTB actually listened to the song to understand what it is really about. I could see them just using the refrain “we were only freshman” to be the goodbye for the “non-winners” in the Hollywood rounds.

  • Duke

    Quite odd:

    And i agree that it will be used on the last person who auditions in one of the cities with a huge backstory (that they will be pimping all show).

  • soundscene

    The song itself is about abortion and yeah, suicide, but not really drug use (unless you count the Valium the girl used to kill herself).

    Even as background to a sad tale it’s kind of a heavy song to use, though. The only use I can think that would fit the song without it being about abortion or suicide would be to use it in the context of the stupidity of youth. I doubt American Idol is that deep, though.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    (unless you count the Valium the girl used to kill herself).

    Taking Valium other than prescribed is “drug use” I believe…

  • MrsTrep

    I think I am with you on the using valium to commit suicide being drug use thing MJ…

    And what happened to our ‘wholesome’ tv show that we are using songs about abortion and suicide and drug use? Seems rather contrary….

  • Michelle

    wth? inappropriate subject matter and the song is 10-plus years old. Oh wait, it’s TPTB…makes total sense now :P

  • neonorange

    Do they have to license the audition songs? If so, perhaps it’s just one of the audition songs. Just a thought. Otherwise, I don’t know how they would use this type of song in a “family” show.

  • BootStar

    Oh, Lord, I hope it’s one of the songs a contestant auditioned with and not meant to accompany some poor sad sack’s sob story. I say this as somebody who had a brother commit suicide with Valium and a shotgun when I was in college.

  • jersey

    My guess would be that one of the contestants sang it and that we’ll only hear an innocuous snippet during an audition that the producers decided they want to show. Maybe by someone who’s already getting some buzz?

  • sabby_rina

    How lovely. Abortion, drug use, and suicide… all the ingredience you need for a family show. Hurrah!

    Well, its my favorite song from The Verve Pipe so I won’t mind having to hear it on the show.

  • sunchick

    Bootstar, I’m so sorry to hear that. :down_tb:

    You know, at first I was kunfuzed and thinking they really meant The Verve, and Bittersweet Symphony, which makes more sense. It’s been covered on Rockstar.

    Hmmm…when I realized I didn’t read it wrong, my first thought went to Cook. I can hear him covering it. Should be interesting to see how it pops up.

  • NickDaddyo

    I have always loved that song.

    I would guess a contestant sings it, probably during Hollywood Week.

  • yeahyeahsure

    This song was one of my favorites back then. It should be interesting how Idol would use it though.

  • star

    I used to love this song! I never really took time to think about what it was about though, lol. I’m betting someone auditioned with it. I can’t see them using it in an audition package since it’s so old. Most of the songs they’ve been using for those are fairly current, right?

    The forgotten 90s favorite I’d most like to hear someone sing on the show is “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind. ;P

    Well, its my favorite song from The Verve Pipe so I wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t mind having to hear it on the show.

    Do they have any other songs? Heh.

  • vixen

    The forgotten 90s favorite Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d most like to hear someone sing on the show is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Semi-Charmed Lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  by Third Eye Blind. ;P

    speaking of “inappropriate” lyrics, lol. i saw them in college and the lead singer was talking about how hilarious he found it that their song about doing drugs and getting laid was being used in the trailer for some disney movie.

    i love “the freshmen” pretty much completely. i saw the verve pipe when i was 17 or so and it was amazing.

  • seattle_girl

    Ahhh, THAT’S the name of that song. Couldn’t place it until the vid played. I’m gonna vote for approval to show an audition clip. After hearing how tough it was to get “Crazy” cleared for Jason and David A, I’ve got a whole new appreciation for the legalities behind the music biz.

  • http://myspace.com/susanatfox sumidol

    After some comments made last night when putting a few thru – gosh I cant remember exactly but they were like – “she will be crazy, very interesting” does anyone remember? But it is like they are putting thru some real crazies to create drama – like the weird laughing girl, etc. I hope it doesnt weird