Who would have thought that the music we recently wrote and produced for the Kaplan Thaler Group and their client, Trojan Condoms, would be heard in reports featured on The O’Reilly Factor, The Colbert Report and VH1’s Best Week Ever? Or that the spot, featuring pig puppets, would wind up with FOX and CBS refusing to air it?

It all started with a call from Blast Music Management CEO Aaron Jacoves, who brought us the spot to demo. The assignment was right up our alley: produce a great piece of music that worked well with the spot, but didn’t sound like “a commercial.” If anything, it needed to have the feel of an older recording with a healthy dose of personality.

With the agency needing quick turn around on the demo, we pulled an instrumental piece written and recorded a few years ago by Rivers Rutherford, who at the time was a staff writer/producer for iV. Since then, Rivers has amassed a string of #1 hits and was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year in 2006. Steve Keller, iV music group CEO and Creative Director, built on the foundation of the old track, adding a new melody and penning the lyrics. With the clock ticking, Steve jumped in the booth and sang the vocal, never intending for his performance to be anything more than a demo. Daniel Noga finished mixing the spot, adding a little sound design to create the illusion of something old and classic.

The rest is history.

Kaplan Thaler loved the track, complete with Steve’s vocal as he originally recorded it. Little did we know what was around the corner once the spots hit the air. While the tempest created by the “ban” has simply served to bring more attention to the spot, we’re happy that part of the buzz has been about the music, with a number of inquires about who recorded the song and where folks can find it.

We’re grateful for the recognition of a job well done. A job where we could combine the unique marketing needs of the agency and the Trojan brand with some interesting music. And one where we could create a composition with well crafted lyrics, a clever hook and a musical integrity that allows it to stand on its own.

Thanks, Aaron, for bringing the job our way.

Thanks, Kaplan Thaler, for giving us some great creative to inspire us.

And thanks, FOX and CBS, for bringing us the unexpected attention that’s certainly given the spot wings.

You'll find the spot on our e-reel or you can check it out on YouTube.