Samsung-Apple Throw Down

Here we go again, Samsung pokes fun at Apple's new flagship product the iPhone 5 with this feisty commercial above. Just in case you don't already know, the commercial makes fun at Apple's marketing language with respect to the new iPhones's features. My favorite example is the comment about how the headphone jack is now on the bottom of the device and how that fact is viewed as a technological miracle.

The message is, clearly, that the iPhone 5 just doesn’t measure up to Samsung’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S III. Of course I could sit here and argue the pros and cons of each phone until I am blue in the face but I'd rather leave that to those who care. But the spot is funny because it pokes fun at those early adopters who make an event each of being first in line to get the new phone.

What do you guys think the big idea that Samsung's agency 72andsunny was for this spot? Please let me know in the comments below.

Best,
-A.B.

Post Update: Dove, Only You

An anonymous reader that uses the screen name Snootchyboochiez,
provided me with crediting information for the Dove commercial discussed in the “Dove- Only You” post. Also, I believe the ad agency for this spot is SapientNitro, New York.

Commercial Credits:
Model: Janelle Fishman, an Israeli  model (Update)
Director (from C-Entertainment): Vittorio Sacco
Director (from The Sweet Shop): Kathi Prosser
Group Account Director: Lance Porigow
Chief Creative Officer: Kathy Delaney
Copywriter: Susan Phuvasitkul
Art Director: Rachel Donovan
Senior Agency Producer: Erika Best
Editor (from White House Post): Russell Icke
Head of Production: Andy Wilcox
Business Affairs: Jen Kurtzman
Account Supervisor: Riyhana Bey

Best,
-A.B.

Smirnoff's Pure Campaign

The spot above focuses on music and bringing in the different elements of sound, just like an orchestra to make beautiful music. The commercial features Pharrell and the idea of a blank canvas to bring together different musical elements to make music that sounds great when working in harmony. Pharrell brings different musicians, with different musical styles together by simply snapping his fingers.

A surprising bit of information I discovered is that this campaign or at least this particular spot was aimed at the Australian market. This could explain why the ad agency behind the spot is Leo Burnett in Sydney, Australia. Supposedly, Pharrell takes the audience on a journey of discovery on how his mixes are created. Giving them a behind the scene view on how his music is created.

The origins of the campaign’s basic idea lie in how one bartender mixes drinks beginning with “Pure Smirnoff vodka.”  They use the metaphor of a blank canvas as pure. Smirnoff Australia also has its very own Facebook page that you can like.

What do you guys think of "Pure" as the big idea in an ad campaign?

Best,

-A.B.

Allstate Road Rash Spot

Client: Allstate
Brand: Allstate Motorcycle Insurance
Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago

AT&T Ski Lift

It has been a while since my last blog posting due to a lack of motivation to write posts that I don’t think get read at all. But I don’t think it’s just that, I’ve also given some serious thought to changing the format of this blog. I wanted to change the format to video instead of text. I thought that maybe I can discuss more on camera than via typing. I just couldn’t figure out how to show a commercial and provide commentary on top of it. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

Now on to the AT&T ski ad by BBDO, New York. The spot, to put it simply is pure comedy. Two men are going up a ski lift and one friend asks the other if he can ask date his former girlfriend Shiela out on a date. The friend with the ex agrees but tries to quickly explain that she would never go for him. The friend quickly text Shiela on his AT&T phone and to his surprise receives an immediate response while on the Ski lift. Further emphasizing that the AT&T network can be reached.

The response was so immediate and the frequent exchange of messages that it is once again pure comedy. But, does it secure more 2-year contracts for AT&T or simply induce more brand appreciation from loyal customers?

Plus, doesn’t the friend with the glasses look like Zach Galifianakis from the Hang Over?

Best,
-A.B.

Only you- Dove

So above is another example of marketing and advertising taking the easy way out, a cop out if you will. Why do I say that? Well the above commercial features a beautiful, skinny girl devouring her Dove ice cream bar. That should be considered false advertising. A girl as beautiful, skinny, and confident doesn’t make love to the to the ice cream bar while inhaling it. I’m just saying it doesn’t seem right to me.

Why does watching a commercial about a snack food suddenly feel like watching porn? I mean sure, it’s soft care porn but porn none-the-less. What do you guys think?

I haven’t figured out who the ad agency but will let you know in an update to the post. Here is something I bet you all knew, the ice cream bar has both a Facebook page and a Twitter following.

Update: I've been asked who the actress in the spot above is? Her name is Janelle Fishman, an Israeli  model.

Best,
-A.B.

The Real Wendy Thomas

There isn’t anything particularly special about the creative execution of the ad above. The product isn’t all that special either but it does provide a little education on advertising history. For years I thought the little girl that is the face of Wendy’s was simply a logo designed to attract people to the restaurant chain but nope it’s Dave Thomas’s daughter. In the spot above she’s back “in real life” promoting Wendys’ new product lovingly called Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger. In the spot Wendy (the real person not the logo) states that since her father named the restaurant chain after her, she named the new menu item after her father, Dave.

The spot above is the first time the real Wendy appeared in an ad for the restaurant chain. She is scheduled to appear in three more spots for the restaurant. The spots are by The Kaplan Thaler Group

Anyway, I thought this was interesting because it discusses advertising history. Found this spot thanks to Adfreak.

Best,

-A.B.

Ken Jeong Comes to Advertising

Ken Jeong, better known Leslie Chow from the extremely funny movie “The Hangover” now tries to conquer the advertising world. In the spot above he is featured in the new Adidas commercial with NBA superstar Dwight Howard. They are promoting “The Beast” the footwear giant’s new high-top sneakers. I had to blog about this spot because of the Slim Chin character Dr. Jeong brought to life in the spot.

Slim Chin is a man gold jumpsuit, stands on a pyramid of blond, gorgeous ladies, and is filthy rich because he is so fast. Dr. Jeong gives a very energetic performance, so energetic that it makes Howard seem a bit uptight. The spot is awesome to watch, not for the shoe but for the featured, fast talking comedian.

The ad agency is 180 LA.

Here is a spot featuring Derrick Rose.


Best,
-A.B.

Thicker Hair Polamalu

Here is another spot for Troy Polamalu but this time for P&G’s Head & Shoulders brand. In the spot Polamalu uses the above mentioned shampoo when he shouldn’t have. Why shouldn’t he have used the shampoo? Because it’s only intended for people who want thicker hair, Polamalu obviously doesn’t need it.

The spot, I believe was created by Saatchi & Saatchi, New York. Also, you should know that Polamalu’s hair was insured for 1 million dollars.

Yeah, that’s some expensive hair.

Best,
-A.B.

Chalupas and Yankees

For the life of me, I can’t find out for sure who the ad agency behind the Taco Bell/ Yankees spot shown above is. I think it’s either TBWA Chiat/Day or DraftFCB but again I am not sure. If anyone knows for sure please leave a comment below. If you’ve watched any preseason baseball on TV then I’m sure you have all seen it at least once.

The whole idea behind the spot is that they use a baseball metaphor to present the joke behind the spot. In the spot the rookie can’t finish the job of eating the whole Chalupa so the manager (Joe Girardi) pulls the rookie out and brings in veteran pitcher Mariano Rivera to finish the job.

Does the spot make you guys wonder why these two wealthy Yankees need to be making Taco Bell commercial appearances? But I guess, make your money while you can, right?

Best,
-A.B.

Shake Weight For Men

The Shake Weight, a dumbbell like piece of exercise equipment has enjoyed tremendous notoriety thanks to the suggestive-way the weight is held. The weight is an arm toning workout product. The way the product is held and used is very sexually suggestive. All you have to do to have a full understanding of what I am saying is watch one or both of the videos.

"We never intended for the women's device ad to have innuendo," says Johann Verheem, the inventor of the Shake Weight according to Adfreak. Verheem goes on to say that if you use the product based on the three exercises provided, it’s not suggestive at all. Later in the same article the inventor goes on to admit that sex sells.

Me personally, I’ve never seen an infomercial that I liked simply because they always sell you things you don’t really need. Not only do you not need the product being sold but they usually are being sold to you by companies you never heard of. But I guess the objective of an informational spot is to inform consumers, although these spots usually come on when people aren’t fully conscious.

The primary ad agency for the Shake Weight is Euro RSCG but I am not 100% confident in my Google search results.



What do you guys think?

Best,
-A.B.

RIP Goes Out to the King of POP

I am sure you all know by now that Michael Jackson, the king of pop died today at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. The news of the tragedy caused some site to temporarily crash due to so many people logging on to read about the tragedy. A lot of famous people have been dying off recently and I don’t know what its all about.

The ad above is a commercial Jackson did for Pepsi. Where a freak accident occurred and his hair caught on fire. I think that may have been his most famous advertising moment. It’s a bit mean spirited to say about a person who just died today but it’s the first thing that came to my mind.

The agency behind the commercial is BBDO. I wonder what the agency did to convince Michael to keep doing the commercial even after being burned. Do you guys think they made as much money back in the eighties for a TV spot as they do today? I’d love to read your comments.

Jackson was certainly controversial throughout most of his career but he is by far one of the greatest entertainers ever to live. He did his last moonwalk. The king of pop is now gone forever, 1967 to 2009.

Best,
A.B.

Increase Currency by Making Love

Bontrust Bank in Germany takes the idea of multiplying your money to a whole new level in the spot above. The spot shows Abe Lincoln who is on the $5-bill and the German pianist Clara Schumann who is on the 100 DM note (getting it on). Eventually they multiply aka have babies that look just like their father but everything must always must come to an end and the pretty lady on the 100 DM note falls for Chairman Mao the first president of China.

The main message that the Bontrust Bank is trying to send is that banking with them will cause your money to multiply. Multiplying is the metaphor for "getting it on." The thing I can’t quite understand is why the German agency felt the need to use the image of a well-respected American president for this creative execution? To me it is disrespectful and somewhat of a political statement. I know that they don’t like us but there is no connection between the two people they used in the ad at all except that they appear on currency. What do you guys think? Also the ad is very racy and suggestive.

Why does almost everyone think that sexually suggestive ads are worthy of a discussion, myself included of course? Starting today, May 11th I will not discuss any ads with sexual innuendo for at least two weeks. I think it will force me to find new points of discussion for every ad I post on the blog.

By the way, the agency behind the ad is, or in this cast the “agencies” Grabarz and Partner, and Optix Digital worked on the animation behind the ad.

You should also know this is another ad I discovered on Adfreak,

Best,
A.B.

Arby's Sweet Cherry Pie

I wanted to discuss the T.V. spot above for Arby’s bacon cheddar roast burger in comparison to the Mercedes Benz post I wrote about earlier. Simply put the spot above is funny, it makes sense, and it’s memorable. In this spot it is easy to make the connection between the greasy burger and the missing four digits of the phone number. In the Mercedes spot what’s the connection between the monsters and the car itself? There may have been a connection I just couldn’t see it.

Arby’s made the connection between the beautiful girl (Tori Praver) and the guy on the bench trying to get her number. The spot was well executed because it was memorable because of the sexy model, it was funny because the commercial is saying a greasy burger could cost you a pretty girl’s number, and Ayby’s got their message across that if you buy our sandwiches you won’t have to deal with grease all over your hands.

Merkley & Partners, the agency that created this spot for Arby’s used all the right tricks to make this particular commercial absolutely awesome. They used sex appeal and humor in just the right balance to make the perfect ad. I honestly believe this is the kind of stuff that shows up during the Super Bowl. They were right on the money with this spot and I think it worked to perfection.

Again with the Mercedes spot you couldn’t make the connection between the product, message and the commercial’s storyline. The Mercedes spot was just plain bad, in my opinion.

Best,
A.B.

Pepsi’s I’m Good

I saw the above Pepsi Max spot during last night’s Laker game against the Jazz and must admit I fell out of my chair because of laughing so hard. The ad is more of a slapstick comedy routine versus true promotion of a product. Several guys from the commercial would have severe brain damage if the ad was “real.” I should probably feel bad for finding humor in grown men hurting themselves and then quickly proclaiming, “I’m good.” But doesn’t our culture condone watching people hurt themselves for our amusement? I mean that why the ad above is so funny, right?

The ad agency is once again TBWA Chiat/Day, I seem to be discussing ads for clients they work on a lot the past few weeks. The spot apparently appeared during this years’ Superbowl but I don’t remember seeing it at all. The ad barely shows the product until the last two seconds of the commercial. Pepsi must think that they will be in the forefront of the consumer’s mind simply by being funny. Never mind that they won’t recall what product was being advertised.

As stated earlier, I seem to be discussing Chiat/Day’s work quite a bit the past few weeks. And I know that there is some great advertising out there with agencies that deserve some recognition. So if you have some campaigns or ads that you would like me to discuss please let me know.

Best,
A.B.

Cavs Playoff Proposal

I thought the spot above was extremely funny. It a parody on the Heineken commercial created by TBWA\NEBOKO in the Netherlands. Except in the Cleveland Cavaliers commercial they are screaming about shoes while the ladies in the other room are going wild about an engagement. I prefer the Cavs version a lot more then that of the beer brand. It a lot more humorous then its beer counterpart. I feel like I've seen so many beer spots that I've actully grown tired of them.

But to see a pro sports team making fun of themselves, that's not something you see everyday.

The one thing I can't find about the Cavs spot is who created it? Do the Cavs have an in-house marketing department or did they work with an outside agency?



Best,
A.B.

Disabled Dancer

Saatchi & Saatchi, London created commercials that feature a disabled dancer for its "Life Flows Better" campaign for Visa. The dancer, Bill Shannon uses his crutches and skateboard to perform his dance routine. I guess they figured that his routine meshes well with the theme of the campaign. Out of all the creative campaigns that they could have done they chose a commercial idea that centers around a disabled dancer? Does visa have an image problem that they are trying to resolve?

I mean I have nothing against the disabled making a living, I am one myself. But I am sure that an agency with Saatchi's reputation could have come up with something more with all of its creative power.

And no I am not jealous of his dance skills I just hope he asked Visa for money. And that he wasn't one of those people that say oh I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in your commercial I'll do it for free.

Best,
A.B.

Viagra in the Mid-East

A couple of days ago I thought of an ad I once saw in Saudi Arabia many years ago (2002, I think). So, trying to be the best ad blogger I could be, I tried to find that particular TV commercial. The commercial I saw was a spot for Viagra but even that I am not sure of. All I know for sure is that it was a commercial promoting some erectile dysfunction medication.

Now before I tell you about the commercial you should know that television in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general is highly censored. You should also know that I can’t recall every exact detail of the commercial but I do remember the important points of the spot. The spot involved a vending machine and some Saudi dollars not being accepted by the machine until they get some Viagra.

The main point I am trying to make with this story is that in countries like Saudi Arabia and others in the Mid-East agencies must be very clever and creative to get around cultural taboos. It is not permitted to display affection between the sexes like what is shown in Western media. Therefore, to make people understand the message of the Viagra commercial, the message is often cloaked in metaphor.

Now I could never find the spot involving the dollars and the vending machine but I found another spot involving fast food soda cups and straws. Please remember I saw the vending machine spot many years ago. It’s a similar idea in that Viagra gets its point across without using men or women only inanimate objects.



I Believe the ad agency is Young & Rubicam, Jeddah, but I am not certain how accurate that information is.

Best,
A.B.