What's That Song From Justin Timberlake's Target Commercial for William Rast Jeans?

Posted on Jan 3rd 2011 11:30AM by Phil Brondyke
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'Entrance Song,' the Black Angels

Yes, that's Justin Timberlake promoting his William Rast 'New America' denim brand. To fit with the American outlaw persona of Timberlake's line of jeans, he and Target use 'Entrance Song,' by the Black Angels, as a musical foundation for the 30-second commercial.

In the spot, attractive young people pose in iconic leather jackets and William Rast denim while Black Angels' neo-classical guitar riffs play at a medium volume in the background. Angels vocalist Alex Maas is heard 20 seconds into the commercial singing the lyric "Rollin' fast down I-35," drawing further parallels between the jeans and '50s icon James Dean.

With a name taken from the Velvet Underground's 'The Black Angel's Death Song,' the Austin, Texas, quintet is -- in its own words -- 'Native American Drone and Roll.' The band described its sound to Spinner after playing 2010's South by Southwest music festival in Austin: Citing musical influences such as Massive Attack, Radiohead, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Joy Division and the Black Keys, the Angels are staking their claim in the field of American psychedelic rock.

It's doubtful that the William Rast brand wants to convey the darker side of the Black Angels' music, though.
After taking a stab at vending to high-end retailers (Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Fred Segal), Timberlake's clothing brand has shifted to selling at Target. And it's safe to assume that the big red bull's-eye will not be playing 'River of Blood' -- the track that precedes 'Entrance Song' on Black Angels' 2010 album, 'Phosphene Dream' -- anytime soon.

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