more art than ad

Sometimes it's ponies and puppy dogs. Other ones employ clever relatable situations. Many can be very funny. I do enjoy good ads. However, I'll mute or change the channel on most ads.

remember the funny ads this toddler did?

Yesterday I found a very moving emotional ad. Actually after doing a bit researching I discover the ad apparently is a "spec" ad that two students hope to sell. Since they focused on a well known global company, Johnnie Walker, I just thought it was developed by a contracted ad agency. Perhaps because it was created by new talent it was so good.

No matter, I've watched it a number of times because each time it reminds of strong family bonds.

I recommend you give it a look and listen.

Cool my demons and walk with me brother until our roads lead us away from each other
And if your heart’s full of sorrow, keep walking
Don’t rest
And promise me from heart to chest to never let your memories die
Never
I will always be alive and by your side in your mind
I’m free.

My searching for the words (poem) used in the ad lead me to this article, brandchannel.  There you'll find that the poem was written by the narrator (John ‘Bang’ Reilly) in collaboration with the ad creators. Also the full text of the poem is included in the article.

football fragments less than super

The big game is almost here.  It seems the superbowl gets more super every year.  Not that the game itself is getting better.  There has a been many years when the game wasn't a close match and slightly boring.  There is really two competitions - football and ads.

This blog has some international readers and I'm curious what they think of our hyped-up superbowl game.  Please leave comments below.

I don't suspect there will be a superbowl of Friday Fragment posts.  Mrs. 4444's blog would be the place.  I'm please FF posting is not competitive.  I like relaxed posting for the fun of posting.

an ad from a superbowl long ago

Are you serving deflated balls at your superbowl party? This NFL Patriots ball controversy - All I know during my career I hated working with guys that had over-inflated balls. They were typically full of hot air and BS too.

Here’s a funny play on the deflated balls I found on youtube:





How big is heaven? Plenty of room to move around and check out new people and places? I hope so. Perhaps it would be best if she-who-owns-our-calendar and I don’t both end up there at the same time. We could use a little break. Our modest home has been our home over our whole marriage. Now I spend more time within its walls than ever. The cold of winter makes it more confining than the rest of the year. Business travel use to offer breaks occasionally during the year. I’m sure whoever arrives in heaven first will greet the second one with “what the $#&% are you doing here already?”.

I've hit a recent low on new ideas.  While pondering I recalled that it has been over a year (fall of 2013) since my last gadget video clip.  Well let me know if I have dropped even lower.  My first 2015 clip:
 




Regular readers know I love trying my hand on a parody. I don’t typically mess with recent hits but I might.

Because you know I’m all about that blog,
about that blog,
no twitter!

quick thought

Quick thought, quick opinion?  I don't know, maybe both.  We often jump to conclusions and try to figure out things too quickly.

This quick post is just about the recent McDonalds ad that has stirred up a few people.  Of course, they say all publicity is good.

I watched the ad on youtube.  I thought it was a typical feel-good-about-brand type ad.  Very similar to the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials.  Companies that remind us that they support our troops/first responders/community/causes want us to feel good about the company.

I accept this approach more that companies that attempt to scare you into buying their product (drugs, security service, dating service, whatever).   

While I was watching their ad (called signs on youtube) I found another more interesting one they did.  The following clip is too long for TV but internet is more flexible.  If you can produce an interesting clip it can go longer than 30 seconds.

Now I have not eaten a chicken mcnugget in many many years.  The last time, I told myself they are not good enough to eat.  It appears the story teller in this clip doesn't eat them either.  I found this clip informative and honest.  It doesn't change my mind about eating mcnuggets.






Oh, you might recall me ranting about marketing before on this blog.  Marketing campaigns pushing us and our feelings around can be a problem.  The best approach to stopping it is a backlash against it.  I don't know if McDonalds continued with their freaky Happy Meal character or not.  I still find the character freaky with too much teeth.

Final Notice (they are never final): This is to advise you that, unless otherwise expressly indicated, personal advice contained in this post is not intended to be used.  Also, NO offers of happy meals, fries-with-that, or indigestion were received for this post.  I do own a few shares of McDonalds (MCD).  Their shares pay a good dividend worth a number of large french fry orders.

unusual group of guys

I discovered this unusual delightful group lives in the most unusual place. If you want you can scroll down to the bottom and skip the sequence leading up to this discovery. I think the sequence of events is interesting too.

It started with a newspaper article. I read this article in the Chicago Tribune. (some tree parts and recycled paper were used in the delivery of this article)

The article was about the British Arrow awards which I had never heard of before. They award the best British ads and in a few US cities people pay to watch a screening of the winners. I would probably go to it but the nearest city appears to be Minneapolis.

One of the winners was an ad campaign for Guinness (their stout is a favorite of mine). After watching the ad I wanted to learn more. The ad is NOT directly about their beer, instead it introduces the viewer to this group in the Congo called Sapeurs. The term “Sapeur” comes from the French words for he Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes (the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People).

I know there are groups in New Orleans that enjoy flashy flamboyant clothes and maybe it’s the common French influence between the places. When I watch the ad I’m drawn to the background of poverty in this Congo city. That contrast is really the point of it all.

In this article on The Telegraph web site the filmmaker behind the ad is quoted: 

"The Sapeurs have said to me lots of times that when they get dressed up, when they go out and put on a show, they forget their problems. They feel happy."

lets discount this

With the abundance of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and TU Tuesday savings I wonder if anyone will take their enormous savings, quit work and retire. Have you noticed the word “savings” being hijacked by the advertising industry. “Savings.com” is not run by a bank. No it’s actually a place to find coupons.

I’m not saying coupons are bad or worthless. You need to ask yourself, would you have bought the item regardless of the coupon? In other words, do you really want it or is the distorted savings idea playing tricks on you?

Coupons are great when you are going to buy the item anyway. They (the marketing gods a few clowns short of a circus) know that coupons are more than discounts for items. They are game pieces in the ongoing shopping games. Have you ever bragged to your friends about a great coupon you recently got to play in the shopping game?

I’m a victim of a recent coupon.

An ad in the newspaper caught my eye as I drank my morning coffee last week. A good store for computers and electronics, Tiger Direct, offered a coupon for a toy helicopter. Only, $9.99 with the coupon. Limit one per customer. (that limit is another gimmick I suspect).

Yes I knew this offer was meant to draw me away from my coffee and out to their store. While I was there I briefly shared how this offer was tough to pass up with two other older new-toy-helicopter owners. Hey for only $10 the downside of possibly being a lousy toy was reduced. I’ve spent more on a six-pack of beer when I don’t have a coupon.

Before I get to my final thoughts on the product, I want to point out a problem with their ad. It’s common practice, we have seen it but yet we still get tricked by it. The price in the ad was listed as $39.99. A $30 “savings” or discount. When I got to the store, the sale sign was closer to the truth. Without a coupon anyone could buy it for $19.99 ($39.99 was still listed as the original price). Getting it for just $10 off might not of taken me away from my morning coffee.

Just another side/tangent - Why is it when some product is discounted shoppers typically react positively, but when a stock drops (discounted, on sale?) many investors react negatively? Also, it would be nice if I could check a chart of the selling price over time of products like I can easily find the selling history of a stock.

The actual toy - for a helicopter it did not provide a very uplifting experience. Hard to control. It did take a beating of crashes ok. At one point I dropped the controller and one of the joysticks cracked off. No joy in that stick. I probably should have bought some premium craft beer instead.

react either way

I probably ponder the general subject of them too long.  Too often pleased or dismayed, I have a reaction to ads (just a mental reaction no hives or anything like that).

I've never worked in marketing.  I have been in many meetings with marketing types (do you know the type?).  I consider the late Steve Jobs a marketing genius, whatever that means.  There's a great amount of guessing in marketing.

Often they (the marketing clowns short of, you know) don't care if you react positively or negatively.  Just react either way and their product will have been noticed.

(still with me?)  I prefer funny ads.  Next best, are the well matched musical ads.  Remember those California raisins singing "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"?

She-who-has-a-differing-opinion has told me on numerous occasions that a company ruined a song for her by using it in their marketing campaign.  I find a few that bothered her, to be quite good.  She thinks United Airlines ruined the American classic, "Rhapsody in Blue" when they used it extensively in their marketing campaign.

I'd like you opinion of a recent ad by the BBC that uses a version of the Beach Boys hit, "God Only Knows".  Brian Wilson (and many more) stars in the ad too.




Oh if you are now doing the "was that     ?" thing like I did after watching it, here's a BBC site on the who's who in the video.

think outside the blog

In a blog post long ago, I asked: Do you find cemeteries interesting and even enjoyable?

We have. There’s good art to be found in cemeteries.

I’m feeling fine and it’s not sickness that has me thinking of this final dirt nap. My don’t-be-cruel wife often reads the obits in the paper. I’ve posted about it before. Today, I noticed an ad in the obit section. You never see ads for vacations in the obit section and I think that would be great place for them since a reader might want to take that last chance trip. No, it was an ad for death related services. Specifically, for cremation services. I believe cremation has benefits. If you are fortunate you get old. Why would you want to keep that old body around?

Two things caught my eye in the ad (definition of a good ad?), one was the smiling, wife arm hugging, older couple. I swear I’ve seen that stock photo in a vacation/retirement ad. Really, would any couple be posing with big smiles while deciding on a cremation plan? I might get a little suspicious and ask, “why are you so happy right now?”

The second thing gave me a laugh (good ads generate laughs and revenue). The tag line for the company - “Think Outside The Box”. That’s brilliant and funny.

While looking back at my older related posts, I came across my post about funeral theme songs. “My Way” is a popular one. I actually like “Over The Rainbow” better. (future note for any family or friends - don’t try to be TOO funny. “Highway To Hell”, might not be funny to everyone gathered.)

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
"No, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

he did become a brand

Maybe not a brand that you care for but still a brand.

In my last post about hobbies and this unusual LED illuminated mermaid I stumbled upon, I mentioned Hugh Hefner.  I consider him successful in business but I have my doubts if he had a very fulfilling life.  What do I know - not much how about you?  (a few of you left some good Hugh Hefner opinions in the last post)

Speaking of stumbling upon internet things - I just found this beer ad with Hugh Hefner.  He is funny in it.  The funny part comes from his "brand".  If you are unaware of his public persona then the ad is not as funny.  The ad wants you to believe even Hugh has "man cave" stocked with their beer. (oh the ad using music from another "brand" - Sinatra)

do we get too idealistic

Does the world set us up for idealistic holidays?

often its hard to talk about it

While I was writing this post my inbox was hit with this from Pinterest:

Looking for places to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Whisk away to these romantic destinations and spend your weekend with someone special.

What if the only whisking away going on is chasing dust bunnies around the house?

It doesn't mean you'll have a terrible V-day.  Yeah, I understand companies are just promoting their goods and playing mind games with us.  If you were not reminded it was V-day would it have been a great day?

I've never seen these two together before

The mind games, especially now with social media creates unrealizable expectations which can lead to disappointment and money wasted.

Holiday pressure for most, I think, refers to the big year end holiday season. I’ve never felt pressured to find the perfect place to drink the perfect beer on St. Patrick’s Day. While there are a few great beers for my taste buds, the drinking place doesn’t matter too much. The company joining you for the celebration makes the bigger difference. My point here (it would dull reading without a point - right?) is not to let some marketing department full of clowns short of a circus, pressure you for any holiday.

it taste the same with or without the foam shamrocks

However if you would like to buy me a beer for V-day, please let me know.

ads with a message

The combination of the internet and superbowl ad hype started me paying more attention to good ads.

I prefer funny or strange ads.  However, once in awhile an ad with a more serious message comes out and that can get my attention too.

Here are two ads recently that grabbed my attention because of their message.  One is for gum and the other for a beer.  Neither of those products are very serious things and maybe that's why the ads had a better impact.  What do you think?








At first I posted these type of video/ad finds along with all my other posts as I did today.  A few years ago I thought it would be better to post the video stuff in a separate blog.  The other blog that I started collecting ads and videos I enjoyed is called "another circus".   Just click on the circus lane road sign below.
 

not much just beer ads

I came across a good beer ad today.  Now that's not as exciting or pleasurable as coming across a good beer.  I don't imagine there will ever be a way to share a good beer through a blog.  The ads are easy to share.

Here's the one I found today.






This next one is much older and I found it years ago. I still like the ad. Actually I don't care much for the beer. I do remember drinking it on a fishing trip to Canada long ago.

 

creativity alert

I didn't plan on posting another youtube clip (just did one the other day) but some of them get me excited to share. This is one of those "oh-oh-you-gotta-see" ones.
 
This very creative commercial idea called for filming out in nature. As you know nature has wild animals who are curious too.

Any readers familiar with bears?




another circus 

marketing annoyance

Countdown to Christmas?

Seriously, (or would the SNL “Really” approach work better?) would anyone in the US or most other western countries forget Christmas if they were not reminded of it by ads?

Oh my, look George, all those houses being decorated around the town? Is there some event coming?
Oh nuts, I forgot it was Christmas again! A statement I have never heard anyone utter.

We are launching Jesus and need a countdown!

Christmas Countdown - yes we have an app for that! 

(oh I think it happens around the end of December. If you see lots of people counting in the middle of night and watching a lighted ball drop, you missed it.)

all ads should be

this creative!

I found this on G+ a few weeks ago.  It's about Google's fiber optic project in Kansas City.

I was fun to watch and listen to.  The modem sounds at the beginning bring back many memories of slower bytes.

another circus 

grateful for mom

Happy Mother's Day

I believe this is a very happy day and it should be.  But it's sad too for me and I suspect others too.  I miss my mother.

The emotions (except writing this is tough) don't overcome me as much now as they did during the months after she passed on.  Of course those emotions are still there and can surprise me at times.

Having these emotions is actually a happy thing if I consider the alternative of not bonding with my mother.  The sad emotions of missing her shows that she gave me memories that stayed and will stay forever.  She is not going to age or be far away anymore.  She is fixed forever in my heart as she was.


I am happy to have these memories.


Here's a picture of her (late 1950's) that I shared on G+ for a Blast-from-the-past post.  People share old pictures and I have done it a few times.  You can check my G+ page to find more.  You know you are older when some of the "old" pictures are from the 1990's.  My kids were all in school in 1990's.

thanks for going to bat for me - mom

I found this ad about moms today.  I shared it on FB already with our daughters who are moms.  You'll enjoy it.  I did.
 

Wishing you the best of Mother's Days.

She is a mom that goes by "unknown" but I know her kids know her well.  Please check out the photos at Unknown Mami's. 

love to see this

Typically I post odd youtube clips on my "Another Circus" blog.  You'll see youtube clips here too but they are usually related to the post.  My other blog has clips that are the post itself.  

I just watched this one on G+ and thought it's so good I need to share it.  Also I didn't do a post yet today.  The problem with youtube clips is some people read the blog at work or a place where they can't listen to a clip or are blocked from youtube.  

I really believe (maybe it's a grass is greener thing?) that Europe has much better ads than the US.  I submit this as evidence.

 

This is going viral.  (have your sound on)

 

another circus 

not a super bowl ad

Great Super Bowl tonight. I like a close finish. I've posted about how social media has influenced the release of the ads this year more than ever.

However, did you notice the word "not" in the post title?  This short post is about an "ad" I created for my A Few Clowns Short blog.  If you take time to watch it (2 min.) please let me know what you think.  I consider some of my other youtube clips to be better.

Oh did you know I had a few more youtube clips.  You can find most of them here.

This past week, Barbara over at Long Hollow posted a question/answer on the topic of "electrifying emotions".  Being an electrical engineer my training kicked off ideas about real electricity in addition to invigorated inspiration.  

My answer contains both electricity and creativity.  I like to create odd "toys" from pieces out of the recycle bin.  Combine an old CD player motor, plastic lids and a very fresh batteries and you get junk in motion.  LED lights from old cellphones add to the display.  Here's one such creation: 

Oh if I still have your attention, I occasionally post my blogging thoughts over on I Can't Blog (It's the eye ball blog)

super ads

Are you ready for some 

great ads?

There has been great Super Bowl games but there has been a few duds too. The entertainment value of a Super Bowl commercial break is more reliable.  The supply of great ads during the show is a given. The Super Bowl has become an unofficial national holiday. 

They should be great for the money spent just for showing 30 seconds of one. NBC who sold out back in November is averaging $3.5 million per spot. (BTW I would sell a whole year’s worth of ad space on A Few Clowns Short for a tiny fraction of that price) Oh, remember that $3.5 million does NOT include the money spent to create the ad. I bet they paid Regis Philbin more than a free Pepsi supply for his gig.

While certainly not the first time, this year we have the largest number of pre-released Super Bowl ads. (I’m including what I think will be a big hit near the end this post) The pre-releases are all done via the internet. Social media can make an ad viral before the pre-show even starts. 

We like to be entertained by ads. When we are entertained we like to share the experience. Social media and good ads are a prefect mix. 

At this year’s party those know-it-all been-there-done-that types will spouting off 

“oh watch, this one is great, wait till you see the …” 

Hopefully, someone will cram a dip filled chip in their pie holes so the other guests who prefer to be surprised by the ads can enjoy it.

(warning skip this ad if you want to be surprised during the Super Bowl)


 

The following ad was never shown during a Super Bowl show but I consider it an all time great one. It has a celebrity, beer, music and a surprise.




BTW I have another blog focused on video clips and ads.  It is named "another circus".

 

pill to swallow

I like simple. Being blunt is good sometimes. I don’t like medicine. Too many of us are over-prescribed. Medicine should not be mass marketed.

According to this Wikipedia article only TWO countries - United States and New Zealand (New Zealand is mostly sheep so that’s ok if they watch) allow drugs to be advertised directly to consumers.

Now that I got that out of the way, let us move on.

I just sat through another dumb big bucks big pharma ad. I could help them shorten it and get the message across quicker.

I present to you my big pharma ad script:

[some soothing relaxed background like a blue sky with a couple of fluffy white clouds - drug name grows bigger on the screen - no music] 

vogenitavozy 

[some great sounding lady voice-over narrates - more people trust a woman’s voice for health advice]

Feeling beat to shit and wondering what truck hit you? 

[a version of the following picture on the screen] 

Vogenitavozy can help you. 

This shit can kill you and possibly make you want to die or become a blogger.

Please talk to your doctor and find out if we could sell you some.

In addition to possible death and increased pain, Vogenitavozy is known to empty the wallets of those that take it.

[return to title screen - end of ad] 

If more big bucks big pharma ads were like the following. It would be a better world.

another circus 

boyfriend ex-boyfriend what do you have on

Excuse me while I ponder how I got so far behind. In the world of fashion there exists a loop that if you get far enough behind you’ll be trendy again. I can only hope I am in that loop.

I read ad wording after moving my eyes off the cleavage, that described the pants as boyfriend jeans. I’m totally out on limb here, but the jeans didn’t look like any boy had ever put them on (maybe taken them off - but I’m losing my focus).

Really - do you find boyfriend jeans in the women’s or men’s section of the store?

Also, are there girlfriend jeans for guys? I doubt it but I believe there is a niche market for girlfriend underwear.

It wasn’t long into my searching that I discovered yet another type of jeans. Women apparently buy ex-boyfriend jeans. Must be lots of fights going on in some closets. (hey look who’s getting off the hanger tonight, suckers)

If a couple (probably not married) were shopping together and the lady went looking for ex-boyfriend jeans would the guy know what's going on?  Probably not since we are typically clueless.

Do women wear any other ex-boyfriend stuff beside emotional scars?

This just convinces me even more that most marketing departments are a-few-clowns-short-of-a-circus. I might have just called them relaxed rolled up jeans.

So boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, whatever you are wearing, I suggest you not ask your husband (or current guy). “How do I look with my ex-boyfriend on me?” might not get the respond you were expecting.

I know not everyone has a brother, but do you think they ever thought of “brother” jeans? It would probably be shorten to “bro” jeans.

Oh BTW, I have some old jeans. Any takers? You can call them anything you like. I would like to call them sold.