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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This song is Neil Young's critique of artists who "sell out" and allow their songs to be used in commercials. It mentions Coke, Pepsi, Miller, and Bud.

Artists like Young and Bruce Springsteen have never let their songs be used in commercials, feeling it cheapens their artistic integrity. Many other artists, like The Who and The Rolling Stones, have made lots of money by letting companies use their songs. Some Classic Rock artists like John Mellencamp resisted for years, but allowed their songs to be used for commercial purposes when they realized it was the best way to get them exposure. A band with a particularly interesting take on the subject is Devo, who feels it is part of their art.

MTV originally refused to run the video because it mentioned products by name. This created some controversy, prompting MTV to put it in rotation. It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video of the Year in 1989.

This is the title track to the only album Young recorded with The Bluenotes as his backup band.

This was released as a single with the A-side as a live version and the B-side a studio cut.

The video makes fun of Michael Jackson. For the line "Ain't singing for Pepsi," a Jackson lookalike is shown with his hair on fire, referring to the Pepsi commercial shoot where a spark sent his hair into flames.

Comments:

Neil Young was sued by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes due to Young's backup band on the album bearing the same name as Melvin's band, thus rendering the album as a Neil Young solo recording. Young responded by renaming the band used on this 1988 album as "Ten Men Workin'", after the opening track on the album.
- Benjamin, Milwaukie (Oak Grove), OR

I'm appauled when I hear a favorite song used in a commercial. But who am I to tell an artist what to do with their song? My rule for artists selling their songs for use in commercials: Sell all of the song you want, but you then forfeit the right to have that song played on the radio. Since you've associated that song with a product, having it played outside of that commercial context is then just more advertisement for said product. "Art for art's sake. Money for god's sake".
- Bill, Martinsville, NJ

I love the video for this song, which shows terribly stupid ads and how the ruin great songs.
- Joni, New York, NY

I like this song because it knocks endorcements. A good musician should not have to sell-out to be successful.
- Joel, Anchorage, AK

THe Who actually used their songs in commercials because in their early days they had shifty accountants and managers, so they put their songs in commercials trying too make some money.
- Andrew, Springfield, MO

This song was liked by me very much.
- Sejun KIm, ft. Morgan, CO