Creative Commercials This Week Pt. 4

I like watching commercials and analyzing them. The more and more I watch them the more I learn about these companies. I think to understand these commercials, you need to understand the history of the company, or at least care about the history. Understanding how brands evolve with time, and how successful ones adapt to the current societal trends allow me to  critique these visual renditions of these companies.

Internet Explorer 8: G.R.I.P.E.S

This was done by Bradley and Montgomery which is based in New York.

This commercial is terribly funny, it kind of reminds me of myself while I teach my mother how to attach a document to an email (terrible). Internet Explorer 8  actually has a string of these commercials on Youtube. The one thing I don’t understand is how this falls into place with anything Internet Explorer stands for or if they ever stood for anything, but the first browser used by most. Then again they have never had adverting campaigns that I can remember. If they have taken the same path that GM has with their recent ads, I think it would make it more memorable, and allow people to go back to their old ways, instead of this popular Firefox browser I’m using. Also I feel it was smart to use the second version of Superman as a way to reach out to my generation, who remembers Louis and Clark. (This was before Smallville)

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McDonald’s: Are We There Yet

This was done by DDB out of Stockholm.

This was was kind of freaky. It has a little bit of a Children of the Corn theme to it. I like to think the group of extremely creative individuals working with McDonald’s are not being held back much.  As a brand that can roll off the tongues of every continent in the world I feel that the management of this account has taken a backseat when it comes to restrictions. Either that, or they’ve gotten overshadowed years ago by the Creative people. Overall though it was a memorable commercial, and for a brand like McDonald’s that’s all they really need to do.

Nike: Driven

This was done by Wieden + Kennedy of  Portland. As I show the type of emotional advertising that W+K has done for Nike for almost 30 years. Does it make you want to go and buy something from Livestrong?

With the help of a multimillion dollar company, this multimillion dollar non-profit has made numerous strides towards cancer research. In fact I feel very sympathetic when I see bright yellow or even bright pink (Susan G Koman). This commercial however is not about being down about cancer, but more how survivors of cancer are fighters against everything. Lance Armstrong is getting back at all the haters and the doubters.  He has beat cancer, and even thought the critics don’t believe in him, cancer survivors do.

This coincides with Nike’s whole image, and falls in line with their usual forms of  advertising which never stressed the benefits of their products, but rather the value of  their lifestyles.

Pepsi: Michael Jackson Street

Last but definitely not least I had to put this one in here as a tribute to the late great Michael Jackson. This was done by BBDO of New York  some 20 plus years ago.

Honestly Pepsi has always been my favorite over Coca Cola. While growing up however I have noticed that everybody has been a fan of Coca-Cola. I must have just started to walk when this commercial came out, but this is one of the few things I remember prior to turning 5, I also remember my brother attempting the moonwalk then falling. (A few years later I had a better moon walk than him)

As one that pays attention to media, and word of mouth. I’ve noticed a lot of negativity towards Michael Jackson.  Both negative and positive point of views are culturaly influenced. Growing up in an urban area in Essex County NJ, I heard nothing but late versions of Disco and Hip-Hop compared to the steryotypical Bon Jovi, or Bruce Springtein that Jersey People are known for. Every piece of music I heard had a dance to it that was inpired somehow by this man. He will be missed.