Advertising

Daniel Johnston's 'Story of an Artist' Helps Apple Top This Week's Most Shazam'd Ads

Sofia Reyes for Target also makes the list

by Tim Nudd

July 6, 2018

11:30 am

2 min read

Apple has always championed misunderstood genius, most notably with its legendary “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” commercial from the late ’90s. And it’s hard to imagine an artist who embodies that sentiment more than Daniel Johnston—the cult singer-songwriter whose track “Story of an Artist” anchors Apple’s new anthem ad for its “Behind The Mac” series.

The spot far outpaced all other commercials in being Shazam’d by viewers last week. And the spare piano track perfectly fits the theme of the campaign, which shows artists following their muse, with help from Mac computers.

See the Apple spot here:

Apple | Behind the Mac

Johnston, 57, has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and manic depression and has been institutionalized at times throughout his life. “Story of an Artist” is a melancholy self-portrait of troubled genius, casting artists as anachromisms in a society that prizes more digestible entertainments.

Here’s the song in full:

Apple’s commercials appear frequently on our Shazam list, and the brand has a second new spot on the list this week—”How to Shoot Soccer on iPhone X” featuring the track “1,2,1,2” by George the Poet.

See all of this week’s most Shazam’d ads below.