'Around the Bend,' by the Asteroids Galaxy Tour

When Apple is brave enough to label one of its products "the funnest iPod ever," they'd better back it up. And they do with Copenhagen's the Asteroids Galaxy Tour's 'Around the Bend.' Bouncy, dance-ready drums? Driving bass line? Horns? "Oooh yeahs"? A promise of "good, good times around the bend"? Okay, we'll play along with that.

"It's a song about sexual energy," Lars Iversen of AGT, who make their U.S. debut this Wednesday at New York City's Pianos, tells Spinner. "An energy that you want so bad from someone, and you'd do whatever it takes to get it." Ah, there's the fun.

Iversen, who says he and music partner Mette Lindberg complement each other like some sort of yin/yang, king/queen pair, is having visions and dreams of Apple products despite remaining schwag-free. "We attended our personal guru last week. He looked into his crystal ball and saw this great sight: Apples everywhere!" Iversen jokes. "He then told us that a big load of toys should arrive very soon from the big fruit company. Steve? Are you there?"

'The Ecstasy of Gold' (Bandini remix), by Ennio Morricone

It's a nice thought: that star athletes such as the San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson and the Pittsbugh Steelers' Troy Polamalu were fated from birth to meet at the highest level of competition. Set to the cinematic majesty of one of Ennio Morricone's grand soundtrack scores, however, this mini-tale of two kids living their pro-sports dreams takes on truly epic proportions.

From Clint Eastwood's classic Western 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,' 'The Ecstasy of Gold' poses the biggest of all questions -- Why are we here? -- with no need for a single word. Hark, the herald angels vocalize, punctuated by rumbling orchestration and a periodic death knell. It's all mountaintop stuff, and the hip-hop remix used in the commercial just adds to the grandeur. (The Morricone original was tailor-made for hip hop: Jay-Z sampled it on the title track of 'The Blueprint 2.')

'Bruises,' by Chairlift

Apple debuted the fourth-generation of the iPod Nano this week in nine different uber-bright colors -- or, as the company itself puts it, they're "nano-chromatic." So what better to compliment the new TV ad's visual feast of, like, a totally awesome rainbow explosion than, say, the sound of the '80s? Cue Chairlift.

The self-described folktronica trio hails, as its name might suggest, from Boulder, Colo., where the quest to find the raddest powder stash never dies, dude. But what it doesn't suggest is that their tunes are heavy on the synth 'n' psych -- not the jam and crunch. And while the band, who relocated to Brooklyn in 2007 and keeps company with local "It" outfits like MGMT and Yeasayer, admits that it initially drew inspiration from faux goth architecture and haunted houses, it knows how to make a pretty pop song, too.

'Samson and Delilah,' covered by Shirley Manson

Anyone who watched the first season of 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' knows that the film-trilogy spin-off is all about action -- blowing up vehicles, buildings and people have all proven to be fair game. And if Monday night's premiere was any indication, the second season will be no different. So while it isn't surprising that the show opened with pistol whipping and a house fire, it was a bit strange that the sequence was rendered in slow-motion and set to a slow and creepy gospel track. Where was the Slayer?

The opening song, 'Samson and Delilah' was originally composed by Reverend Gary Davis. It follows the biblical story in which Samson, a Jewish hero, is betrayed by his love after he confides in her that his remarkable strength is compromised only with loss of his hair. (For fans of the show, you'll remember last night's episode ending with John chopping off his locks in front of the bathroom mirror). The song has been covered by a number of musicians -- Ike Turner and Tina Turner, Peter, Paul and Mary and the Grateful Dead, to name a few.

'Pot Kettle Black,' Tilly & the Wall

Last night's highly anticipated, two-hour premiere of the new '90210' was punctuated by many a musical moment. But the most significant one arrived when Omaha indie poppers Tilly & the Wall performed 'Pot Kettle Black,' the first single off this year's 'o,' at Naomi's (AnnaLyne McCord) sweet sixteen party. So we hooked up with the group's resident tapdancer (yes!), Jamie Pressnal, to talk about the unlikely collaboration and hear about her favorite 'Beverly Hills, 90210' episode ever.

How did this whole thing come about?
The producers contacted our label and wanted to fly us in for a performance. We were already on tour and about to be in L.A., so we ended up filming just a few days later. It was complete crazy scheduling for a few days, but so awesome and totally worth it.

Are you/were you a fan of the show?
Umm, funny you should ask. Yes! I would have '90210' parties at my house every week. It was honestly a dream of mine to play the Peach Pit, so when we got the call I could not believe it -- I feel like my life has come full circle. [Laughs]

'Only in America' by Brooks & Dunn

Brooks & Dunn blasted over the loudspeakers Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention after Barack Obama concluded his history-making speech, accepting the Democratic nomination for president. Despite the nonpartisan, patriotic message of the hit country song, some may find it a bit of a surprising choice for Senator Obama. That's because the same song was used in President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign. Brooks and Dunn were also supporters of the president, performing at a Republican rally the night before the 2004 election.

Still, the song was a natural fit to conclude Obama's speech, given its patriotic "dreams come true" message. And the country duo have not come forward with their political preference for 2008.

Listen to 'Only in America'
Buy It on iTunes
Can't find that song from that commercial? Send the commercial, movie or TV show to us at whatsthatsong@aim.com.

'Train Song,' by Vashti Bunyan

The National Football League certainly has its share of freaks of nature. But freak folk isn't exactly the first style of music that comes to mind when we think of HGH-addled behemoths in high-tech armor.

Yet here's an impossibly wispy, nearly 40-year-old recording by Vashti Bunyan, sometimes called the "Godmother of Freak Folk," providing the soundtrack for Reebok's "Join the Migration" ads. In the commercials, NFL players are portrayed as migratory animals, drawn back to the arena after their off-season breaks in warmer climates. "Don't even know what I'll find when I get to you," quavers Bunyan, once a contemporary of Donovan, the Stones, Nick Drake and the rest of foppish London. She sounds as though she might shatter. No great success in her day despite cheerleading by such well-connected blokes as Andrew Loog Oldham and Joe Boyd, she dropped out of music and raised a family and a barnyard of animals in Scotland. Until her recent rediscovery, she had no idea her music had become a cult favorite of psych-folkies such as Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom. In the U.K., her song 'Diamond Day' was used in a mobile phone ad, which might explain how her music made its circuitous route to the American sporting goods market.

'Love Me Dead,' by Ludo

"This is Dr. House. He's too brilliant for introductions." So begins the promo video for Season Five of everybody's favorite dysfunctional doc-drama. In the preview, we're treated to a peak at another season chock-full of snarky one-liners and deadpan sarcasm from the rebel MD. How appropriate then, that St. Lois-based pop rockers Ludo, a band as popular for their wit as for their hooks, were chosen as the musical accompaniment. Although Tim Convy, Ludo's Moog player, admits he's "not really sure [how the producers' found 'Love Me Dead], but we're glad that they did! "

Ludo were formed in 2003, originally as an acoustic duo featuring vocalist Andrew Volpe and guitarist Tim Ferrell. Taking their name from the friendly beast in Jim Henson's film 'Labyrinth,' the guys set out to write catchy power pop with clever lyrics and a sense of irony not heard since Weezer's 'Pinkerton.' The group's major label debut, 'You're Awful, I Love You' showcases their knack for over the top theatrics and zany storytelling (the group had already taken a stab at writing a rock opera with their 2003 EP 'Broken Bride').

'5 Years Time,' by Noah and the Whale

It's a Tahoe, it's a Trailblazer, it's ... an Outlook?! Saturn's latest, progressively named auto may look like just another eight-passenger gas-guzzler, but in its latest commercial, this division of GM claims to be "rethinking everything." Translation: Better gas mileage -- the best in its class, according to the automakers. And to drive home the "green" message (even though it isn't a hybrid), the company enlisted the help of a happy little tune by quirky indie troupe Noah and the Whale for its TV spot.

As the vehicle meanders through an urban landscape, cardboard images begin to envelop both their surroundings and the vehicle itself. And all the while, Noah and the Whale's catchy '5 Years Time' seems to cue the images as they sprout from nothingness. Tunnels are accented with sun rays, walking businessmen are now canoeing, and all of a sudden the Outlook has sails! With repetitive lyrics like "And there'll be sun, sun, sun/All over our bodies" and "It was fun, fun, fun/ When we were laughing" -- and, let's face it, the ukulele and clapping don't hurt -- the song is indicative of the London quartet's sunny-on-the-surface music. But, as Noah and the Whale's 22-year-old singer and principal songwriter, Charlie Fink, will tell you, "There's an underlying melancholy that I think most people understand."

'Paper Planes,' by M.I.A.

Doesn't 'Pineapple Express' sound like a cute little kids' movie about Koko the talking tropical fruit, who feels like an outcast among all his popular apple, pear and raspberry friends? Well, that couldn't be further from the truth. Sony Pictures chose 'Paper Planes,' M.I.A.'s highly aggressive track to support the cutesy titled film trailer, but a song built around gunshots most definitely does not complement a kiddie flick.

This comedy, starring Seth Rogan and James Franco, centers around Dale (Rogen) who witnesses a murder while he's toking up. In a panic, he drops his Pineapple Express marijuana before leaving the scene. His drug dealer, Saul (Franco), informs him that this strain of ganga is so rare that it could in fact be traced back to Saul. The duo take off, running for their lives while a dirty cop and the city's most dangerous druglord are hot on their trail.