Andrew and I were watching a program about commercials the other night, and I was absolutely amazed at the creativity that is poured into some of these advertising campaigns. Let's face it: like it or love it, McDonald's has been phenomenal with their advertising. Happy Meals? Genius. (Have you been to a fast food restaurant lately that doesn't have a kids' meal of one kind or another?) And their partnership with Coca-Cola? Well, if you haven't had a Coke in the past year, you're obviously not doing your part in teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony.
On the other hand, there are those ads that you just have to wonder, "And they paid someone to come up with this for them? I'm so sorry...." Whatever Eagle Man has for me, I'm certain that it's nothing I want.
And let's not forget about jingles. How many of you finished the song by singing, "Sometimes you don't!"? They stick in your head. That, my friend, is when you know you've been successfully marketed to. It could be the dumbest commercial in the world, but if it has a catchy jingle... well, you'll never forget that product, will you?
In honor of Presidents' Day being exploited by every furniture store in America today, tell us about your favorite (and not-so-favorite) commercials, slogans and jingles throughout the years.
I'm waiting to hear about the pink spoon from Baskin Robbins, T Pea. Or, "Except the dog."
ReplyDeleteI like any commercials with monkeys in them. Especially monkeys dressed like humans. Hee hee.
As an advertising junkie, I could go on forever with this. However, I'll choose to simply drive everyone crazy by making them single the following jingles this afternoon.
ReplyDelete773. 202. *do do do do* LUUUUUNA.
588. 2300. EMPIRE!! (I love that little guy - how cute is he??)
My favorite commercial(s) ever were for Baskin Robbins several years ago, when they'd show the little pink spoon in public places (like the subway) and it would be talking to people. No, it wasn't animated. There was just a voice associated with it. They absolutely cracked me up.
ReplyDeleteAs far as pure marketing genius, though, I'm sticking with McD's and the Happy Meal. (Incidentally, the guy who came up with Ronald McDonald and the gang is a Valpo alum.... betcha didn't know that!)
Something's "magically delicious", but I don't remember what...........
ReplyDeleteLucky Charms!
ReplyDelete"Don't hate me because I am beautiful."
ReplyDeleteJust look at my picture and you will know why I love that ad!
Who remembers this one:
ReplyDelete"Smurfberry Crunch is fun to eat, a smurfy, fruity breakfast treat..."
Maybe I watched too many Saturday morning cartoons, since all the jingles I remember seem to pertain to children's breakfast cereals.
what about "it's shake 'n bake. and i helped!" i *hated* that commercial!
ReplyDeleteUgh, I hated that little Shake 'N Bake chick, too.
ReplyDeleteHow about this one? "My kitty cat craves chicken, my kitty cat craves milk, my kitty cat craves tuna, so my kitty cat craves Crave, yeah my kitty cat craves Crave."
Who can finish this? "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father. Greetings from Camp Hiawatha..."
Have to say an oldie but one that really stuck..."where's the beef??" Haha. People said that line over and over again for a while.
ReplyDeleteI really like the careerbuilder (or was it monster?) commercial about "oh yeah, well I work with a bunch of jacka**es." And she's surrounded by donkeys.
Da da da dada--I'm lovin' it.
And, btw, It's frosted lucky charms that are magically delicious.
There's something about those Liberty Mutual commercials where they show one person doing a favor for someone and some bystander sees it and goes and does a favor for someone else and like 8 favors later, it comes back to the person who originally paid the favor. That commercial is genius.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial a few years ago where everyone stands up and claps for the soldiers walking through the airport...that one has a special place in my heart.
"Where's the beef?"
I am completely biased, but there is a new commercial for the Marines that brings me to tears every time. It has them bringing their sabers to their shoulders in rhythm, with different shots around the world. It is awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnd as a marketer I will never understand why Quizno's thought an obnoxious hamster would help them sell sandwiches (what kind of meat is that anyway?)!
t pea said: Who can finish this? "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father. Greetings from Camp Hiawatha..."
ReplyDelete'swimming's cool here, but this place is, not like home i'm missing my fresh pillow cases!'
'you use downy. i can tell it. april freshness just wait and smell it.'
am i right? huh? huh?
The response from Mom that I remember is:
ReplyDeleteYou miss Downy, it's so pleasin'.
April freshness, that's one reason,
Downy softness, that's another,
Downy's freshness makes a difference.
Love, your mother.
Hoo boy. How is it that I can forget a conversation I had last week, yet the dumb Downy jingle sticks in my head for 25 years? (That was rhetorical. Please don't write back with all of the physiological responses involved with short-term/long-term memory and associations with music.)