This set of postcards was available in 2003 at the time of the release of the iPod Generation 3 with an all-touch interface and dock connector. This was the first iPod redesign following the original iPod design (with FireWire port and a mechanical scroll wheel in Generation 1, followed by a touch-sensitive wheel in Generation 2). The postcard set featured a black silhouette dancer on a bright single-color background with the dancer holding a white iPod and wearing the iPod’s white earbuds connected with its white wire.
The visually striking silhouette concept began as print ads and posters, but in 2004 expanded to TV commercials featuring dancers and then-popular songs available on the iTunes Store. Among the many iPod silhouette commercials produced between 2004–2008, the two I remember best were Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” and U2’s “Vertigo.”
The postcards measure 6 x 4 inches. The back of each postcard is printed with the same text:
iPod and iTunes. Mac and Windows. Rock and Roll.
Together, they changed the way we listen to music. And now everyone can enjoy the most acclaimed digital music player and music software ever created. Because now iPod and iTunes work together on a Windows PC the same way they always have on a Mac. Walk, ride, run, drive, and go anywhere with up to 10,000 songs in your pocket.
Easy to load, easy to love.
The ultraportable iPod comes in 10GB, 20GB, and 40GB models and holds up to 10,000 songs. And iTunes makes it a cinch to organize, arrange, and sync all your music from your Mac or Windows PC to your iPod.
Shop the record store of the 21st century.
In the iTunes Music Store, you can download most any song for just 99¢, then load it on your iPod. You can also preview any song for free and create an account to let your kids shop for music.
www.apple.com/itunes
In researching this post, I found an impressive compilation video titled “Every Apple iPod Ad ever. 2001-2012” by YouTube user way310. Using Apple’s Shazam app, I made a list of every silhouette-style video shown. I identified 21 different songs that either use the original silhouette style or a style closely inspired by the concept as it evolved over the years [notes included in brackets]:
- N.E.R.D, “Rock Star” (Jason Nevins Remix Edit)
- Jet, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”
- Black Eyed Peas, “Hey Mama (Mixed)”
- Feature Cast, “Channel Hopping”
- Steriogram, “Walkie Talkie Man”
- U2, “Vertigo”
- The Vines, “Ride” [live-action commercial, silhouette posters come to life]
- Daft Punk, “Technologic”
- Gorillaz, “Feel Good Inc”
- Ozomatli, “Saturday Night”
- Eminem, “Lose Yourself” (From 8 Mile) [background uses multiple colors and patterns, artist rendered in more detail]
- Caesars, “Jerk It Out” [green background with animated iPod shuffle arrows]
- Bob Dylan, “Someday Baby” (Alternate Version, “Modern Times”) [white background, artists rendered in muted tones]
- Wynton Marsalis, “Sparks”
- The Fratellis, “Flathead” [stylized, multicolor design for backgrounds and silhouette figures]
- Paul McCartney, “Dance Tonight”
- Wolfmother, “Love Train”
- Quantic & Nickodemus, “Mi Swing Es Tropical” (feat. Tempo & The Candela Allstars)
- Mary J. Blige, “Work That”
- Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
- The Ting Tings, “Shut Up and Let Me Go”
Source: Wikipedia (iPod), way310 Every Apple iPod Ad ever, 2001-2012
