U2's 'Bad' gets a NASCAR makeover
Los Angeles Times

Heroin and NASCAR, who knew? U2 fans watching the NFL playoffs on Fox this weekend surely heard what would seem to be an oddly placed song scoring the network's preview of the upcoming Daytona 500: U2's mid-'80s hit "Bad." The commercial features little more than a snippet of one of the Edge's most recognizable guitar riffs -- the few slow, glistening notes that set the table for the song's explosive rock 'n' roll release.

U2 hasn't exactly shied away from commercial endorsements of late, or massive sporting events. Also, anyone who has attended any NFL, NBA or MLB game in recent years has likely heard "Beautiful Day" piped throughout the arena or stadium, further linking U2 with the sporting world. Yet judging by some previous NASCAR-branded music releases, U2 seems to be a bit out of place with the barroom hits and country rock more closely tied to the sport.

Granted, it's more a story these days when rock 'n' roll doesn't appear in a commercial, but are U2 fans ready to have one of the band's most iconic songs forever associated with auto racing? If the quick responses on Twitter are any gauge, then no.

Though Bono's lyrics in "Bad" are vague and open to interpretation, it's a song long believed to be about heroin addiction, making it feel a bit out of place in hyping the Feb. 14 race. Watch the commercial below.