Did you watch the Super Bowl? I didn’t, because I was at work. Also, I don’t really care for football. Jack and Meg White (or someone associated with them), however, were apparently watching the game and noticed something awfully odd about the Air Force Reserve’s new commercial. Namely, the fact that the ad is soundtracked by a song awfully similar to The White Stripes’ hit “Fell In Love With A Girl.” How similar? Well, judge for yourself: the Air Force Reserve ad can be seen here (via The Huffington Post) and the “Fell In Love With A Girl” video can be seen here. The Stripes’s website has a side-by-side comparison, but the Air Force Reserve has removed the ad from their website since the controversy.
Along with the comparison, the band’s website displays a statement from the group about the song’s usage.
We believe our song was re-recorded and used without permission of the White Stripes, our publishers, label or management. The White Stripes take strong insult and objection to the Air Force Reserve presenting this advertisement with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support.
Since the controversy’s inception, Kem Kraft, composer of the Air Force Reserve ad’s song, has responded to the Stripes’ accusation. “I’m sorry it sounds the same. It wasn’t my intention, truly, truly, truly,” the composer told The New York Times. Kraft also took responsibility for the song’s existence, saying that “as far as I’m concerned, I’m responsible. Just me.” And in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said “I don’t even listen to those guys.”
Mike Lee, owner of Fast Forward Productions, the company responsible for the ad, also made a statement to The New York Times. “I wasn’t familiar with the White Stripes song. I’ve heard of the White Stripes but I’m not a listener of theirs. I had no idea there was similarity until after the fact.”
• The White Stripes: http://www.whitestripes.com
• Air Force Reserve: http://afreserve.com
