M.I.A., Karen O, Joan Jett to sell Converse sneakers

by Jarrett Martineau | February 26, 2008 at 03:04 pm

6467 views | 2 Recommendations | 33 comments

"Your Prime Minister to ya employer,

Ego lovers need more power

The trend-setters make things better

Don't sell out to be product pushers..."

Ok, let's see now.
Who was that again?

Oh riiiiight....that was M.I.A., of course!

Yes, kids, hypocrisy is alive and well in the music biz. And so is using your indie-chic celebrity image to slang Chuck Taylors.

We tend to associate Common with dapper headwear (and safe sex and vodka), but a new advertising campaign will use the MC's likeness-- as well as those of M.I.A., Sid Vicious, Karen O, Joan Jett, and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong-- to promote shoes.

Converse is celebrating its first century of existence this year with a campaign called "Connectivity", which gets its name by "visually 'connecting' past and present Converse icons," according to a press release.

In addition to the aforementioned musicians, the "Converse icons" in the campaign include James Dean, Hunter S. Thompson, and NBA star Dwyane Wade. "Connectivity" will also feature a few other, region-specific faces, including Ian Curtis (UK), Jane Birkin (France), and Nina Hagen (Germany).

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Amy Judd

at 15:09 on February 26th, 2008

That upsets me, I really like M.I.A.!

Alfon18

at 16:35 on February 26th, 2008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfon18/2292827980/

Alfon18 has contributed a photo to this story.

Karlinha Pics

at 17:30 on February 26th, 2008

A rock'n'roll Converse... At a first look seems to awfull but after a while, it fits with everything.

Karlinha Pics has contributed a photo to this story.

Rob Peters

at 17:47 on February 26th, 2008

Ian Curtis wore Converse? Somehow I just assumed he wore fancy loafers.

tlachtga

at 18:59 on February 26th, 2008

I started wearing Converse when I was 13; the Replacements were wearing them on the cover of Let It Be. I've been wearing them ever since. So I guess it was rock'n'roll that got me wearing them, but not a marketing strategy.

nynavey

at 19:07 on February 26th, 2008

Converse are still great shoes. Stars.

nynavey has contributed a photo to this story.

greeneraser

at 19:17 on February 26th, 2008

greeneraser has contributed a photo to this story.

nick.kwok

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:29 on February 26th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.

reneguillen

at 20:06 on February 26th, 2008

stars. nuff said!

reneguillen has contributed a photo to this story.

tallmomof2boys

at 20:34 on February 26th, 2008

I freaking love my converse!!!!

tallmomof2boys has contributed a photo to this story.

η.α.ω.α.я.ι

at 21:07 on February 26th, 2008

Umm im not a big fan of converse but i just like to see them on others ..
thank you for adding the shot :)

η.α.ω.α.я.ι has contributed a photo to this story.

ocean.movie

at 21:14 on February 26th, 2008

All stars are an american "Icon " shoe....I think I seen them first in movies and on skaters than rock bands....

ocean.movie has contributed a photo to this story.

lindseyy.

at 21:39 on February 26th, 2008

Converse are addicting.
There will always be at least one pair in my closet .. or four.
(Worn them since seventh grade, and still going strong.)

lindseyy. has contributed a photo to this story.

jujustars

at 21:44 on February 26th, 2008

jujustars has contributed a photo to this story.

rbshan333

at 22:40 on February 26th, 2008

Got this picture from the now world famous prison inmates in Cebu, Philippines. Over 12 million viewers of You tube saw them dance in rythmic fashion. -ruben shan

rbshan333 has contributed a photo to this story.

ian_zone

at 23:16 on February 26th, 2008

Been wearing them since first grade. Definitely a classic!

ian_zone has contributed a photo to this story.

blacknwhiteshadows

at 23:25 on February 26th, 2008

Thanks for adding my pictures. Converse is an icon.

blacknwhiteshadows has contributed a photo to this story.

Emazab

at 23:48 on February 26th, 2008

"Ocean Movie says: All stars are an american "Icon " shoe....I think I seen them first in movies and on skaters than rock bands...."

In Catalonia are an Icon too ;-)

Thanks for add my picture.

Copy_Waste

at 23:53 on February 26th, 2008

Copy_Waste has contributed a photo to this story.

emadivine

at 23:57 on February 26th, 2008

cconvErsE sOLd oUt???!
awEsoMeee......

emadivine has contributed a photo to this story.

melcar

at 00:29 on February 27th, 2008

It's funny how Converse makes "green" shoes and shoes to promote peace and allll that good stuff.. yet it's owned by Nike? The very same megacorporation who has used child labour in the past.

Converse used to be a sign of non-conformity but now there's just as many kids wearing them as Ugg boots. Way to be original guys!!

GamiKun

at 01:11 on February 27th, 2008

i was resting under a tree taking photos, i tought would be good to take one of my converse (so common, i have a lot of them), sorry, not to much to say, but... i like Converse shoes.

GamiKun has contributed a photo to this story.

gaboja00

at 04:05 on February 27th, 2008

my 1 converse

gaboja00 has contributed a photo to this story.

KAKA .

at 07:31 on February 27th, 2008

is very simple ..

KAKA . has contributed a photo to this story.

Local girl in the photograph

at 09:03 on February 27th, 2008

You couldn't reach his soul, he couldn't reach yours. Suddenly, you're again in a bad day, you're again wearing your listless look, you're again thinking about things you thought that were dead. You try to smile. You remember you learned to smile when you were sad. So, why can't you now? Maybe the clouds are hidding the Sun, maybe you won't find the four leaf clover, maybe it's easier than it seems. Hey, let's go! Shout it, shout you'll be happy. This is not a failure. This is the end of an end, the beginning of a new beginning. Don't give up if you haven't tried it!

Local girl in the photograph has contributed a photo to this story.

♥ girlnextdoor

at 12:27 on February 27th, 2008

This pic was made in the car of my mother. My friend wrote this on my sneakers.

♥ girlnextdoor has contributed a photo to this story.

john paul bosbolo

at 13:45 on February 27th, 2008

hihi my brand new converse

john paul bosbolo has contributed a photo to this story.

jrzy64

at 18:54 on February 27th, 2008

What's Up!! These are my hand painted Dunny Converse that I made for a client. I do custom artwork of all kinds....
Check out my art on www.flickr.com (jrzy64)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23052808@N08/sets/72157603827511419/

PEACE....
Jrzy

jrzy64 has contributed a photo to this story.