iTunes - sponsored by Bud Light

I downloaded several clips of Bud Light's popular radio spots "Real Men of Genius" into my iTunes list. To my surprise, when I'm playing my collection in random mode, a commercial will pop up - which makes it fun (and no longer commercial free!)

From Answers.com:

Real Men of Genius is a popular long-running humorous series of American radio advertisements for Bud Light beer created by copywriter Bob Winter. Each ad is sixty seconds in length. The series began in 1999 and was originally called "Real American Heroes". The name was changed after the 9/11 attacks, as the Budweiser corporation felt that they could not continue to use the term "hero" in that context after so many people had performed genuine acts of heroism. As of 2005, over 100 installments in the series have been produced. Winter's campaign has since become the most award-winning radio campaign in the history of advertising.

The ads feature a somber-but-sarcastic announcer (Pete Stacker) and an unctuous rock singer who echoes the announcer's sentiments over schmaltzy "dramatic" piano music. The rock singer's vocals are by one-time Survivor singer David Bickler, not the band's founder and frontman Jim Peterik as is often reported. Bickler was a personal friend of the musician who wrote the "cheesy '80s music" used in the commercials. A female chorus also appears on many of the ads.

Each commercial pays tribute to an "unsung hero" (all of whom are male) such as:

Mr. Chinese Food Delivery Guy
Mr. Pro Wrestling Wardrobe Designer
Mr. Supermarket Free Sample Guy
Mr. Really-Bad Toupee Wearer
Mr. Silent Killer Gas Passer
Mr. Bass Plaque Maker
Mr. Really Really Really Bad Dancer
Mr. Supermarket Deli Meat Slicer
Mr. Foot Long Hot Dog Inventor
Mr. In The Car Nose Picker
Mr. Push Up Bra Inventor
Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer
Mr. Giant Taco Salad Inventor
Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock wearer
...and others

MP3s available here

Lazy way: Download the entire zip file Courtesy of Ryan Hall at theravyn.org

Aspiring cover band? Get yer lyrics here

One of my favorites? Mr. All You Can Eat Buffet Inventor

Like fine wine, don't try to gulp the entire collection in one listen!