everwas

a blog by Ian Kennedy

Tag: advertising

  • More Good than Bad

    More Good than Bad

    Pepsi take note.

    Heineken celebrates what brings us together in this well-timed advertisement. Instead of dancing around or romanticizing the polarization of the world around us, this brand has set up an experiment that leans into the nagging suspicion that we have within each of us what it would take to make the world a better place.

    Take two people from different ends of the spectrum and bring them together over a beer. It’s schlocky in premise but Publis has stuck a timely chord and are following this up with a Facebook chatbot (if someone can find the link, please post it in the comments) to connect people from different perspectives to talk their differences out as part of Heineken’s #openyourworld campaign.

  • Budweiser Founded by an Immigrant

    Budweiser Founded by an Immigrant

    They say this commercial was in development for a long time so they either had a few alternates ready to go or were just extremely prescient. Either way, Budweiser’s Super Bowl ad airing this Sunday will be sure to tap into what is on everyone’s mind in a way that only a few national brands can do when everyone is looking to grab the spotlight.

    By telling the origin story of Adophus Busch’s journey from Germany to America in the mid-1800’s to found his brewery in St. Louis, Budweiser enters the national conversation with its own take on the contribution immigrants have made to this country.

    See if you can spot the cameo of the famous Clydesdales who normally are front and center in their national TV commercials.

    – via Advertising Age

  • Tables – poking fun at tech advertising

    I finished Season Three of Silicon Valley, the HBO comedy series built around the mythical company Pied Piper.

    One of the episodes opens with a brilliant takedown of every over-produced tech commercial you’ve ever seen.

    What do you do when you have a technical product that defies simple explanations? You string together a bunch of stock video of happy people over an acoustic guitar instrumental.

  • Golf as a spectator sport

    Golf is returning to the Olympics after a 112 years absence. I’m not a golfer so don’t appreciate the excitement of watching a four hour match on television (happy to sit through hours of watching the Tour de France though) but this Michelob commercial does it’s best to try and give us a sense of the excitement.

  • SmartNews TV commercials featuring Tamori

    SmartNews TV commercials featuring Tamori

    SmartNews (where I work) is running a series of TV commercials in Japan featuring Japanese celebrity, Tamori. The tagline for the campaign is “禁断のニュースアプリ” which roughly translates as “The forbidden news application” as in it’s so addicting that you binge use it when you’ve got time alone.

    The news app so addicting you look for time to be alone.

    News Junkie are you? Check out the US Edition.

  • Baseball Opening Day

    It’s the first day of the Japanese baseball season today which gives me occasion to share this excellent commercial from last year.

    For a behind the scenes look at the making of this commercial.

  • Heineken Champions League

    Heineken has long-running relationship with the UEFA Champions League tournament in Europe. Each year they run a series of advertisements running up to the contest that feature the fans and get everyone excited about the game.

    This year’s installment is brilliant. The Dilemma pits an Italian fan’s love of the game against his faithfulness to his mates who get together to watch every game together on the couch.

    Last year’s The Match illustrates what a ship of football freak sailors will do to get a TV signal of their favorite game.

    Heineken Spain gets in on the game in 2014. Will you run out on your girlfriend?

    2013 featured The Negotiation where the guys have to convince their wife or girlfriends to spend almost $2000 for a pair of stadium seats, “you don’t even have to worry about the dogs chewing on them.”

    There’s more where these came from. Follow Heineken on YouTube for more.

  • Tesla’s 1984 Moment

    We all remember Apple Computer’s 1984 commercial. It represented Apple’s coming out as a viable alternative to the dull, beige box computer that was foisted on us.

    I proffer to you Tesla’s version of that commercial. Filmed by the Freise Brothers, it features a voice from the past describing a future that has arrived.

  • Volvo Truck, meet Sophie

    Volvo Truck, meet Sophie

    Volvo Trucks is at it again with another promotional video for their trucks. This one features 4-year old Sophie who “drives” an 18-ton truck through an obstacle course using a remote control.

    This is the latest in a brilliant series which, back two years ago featured Van Damme doing an Epic Split.