Take Me To The River

We're taking a lesson from the making of a Talking Head's classic! This short lesson about making it you own instead of duplicating an original. It may be easy to mimic an idea that is working, instead think about taking a step back and finding a way to make it your own.

💡 What you’ll learn:

• Listeners will learn the value of focusing on their own brand’s identity, needs, and goals.
• Create something distinctive rather than mimicking existing content.

 

Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications, Maine's Premier Marketing and Public Relations Company, presents The Briefcase—quick, insightful conversations delivering actionable tips for business and marketing success.

Gotta question for the Sutherland Weston team? Connect with us at SutherlandWeston.com!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Let's talk about what you want.
Let's talk about what you need, and let'swork to make something that's your own.
This is The Briefcase, from SutherlandWeston Marketing Communications.
Quick conversations from everydayobservations, delivering practical
marketing ideas you can carry with you.

(00:20):
I'm Ric Tyler, audiovisualstoryteller with Sutherland Weston.
We have a phrase here at SutherlandWeston based on the Talking Heads
track, Take Me to the River.
It's a cover of the song by Al Green.
The legends told that Tina Weymouth,the bass player, and Chris Franz,
the drummer, wanted the TalkingHeads to perform the song.
David Byrne was resistantto doing any covers.
They wore him down to the point thatDavid Byrne said he would consider it.

(00:44):
And it was either Tina or Chris whosaid, let me go to the car, get the
cassette and bring it back so wecan play for you Al Green's version.
David Byrne cut him off and said,no, I want you to teach me your
version of take me to the riverand then we'll make it ours.
Today, it remains a fanfavorite of the talking heads.

(01:05):
So many times a client willcome to us and say, I want a
commercial just like that one.
Or I want a radio spot just like this one.
Sometimes they'll even showus what a competitor is doing,
saying that this is what I want.
We then ask if they will pause just amoment and not take us to the river.
Let's talk about what you want.
Let's talk about what you need.

(01:25):
And let's work to makesomething that's your own.
So you too might have a classichit, like the Talking Heads
cover of Take Me to the River.
You have been listening toThe Briefcase from Sutherland
Weston Marketing Communications.
Got a question for theSutherland Weston team?
Email us at SutherlandWeston.

(01:46):
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