BMW... Fast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plxNfU-PA2c

The new BMW M5 is fast, really, really fast! But how do you have a commercial that says more than it’s a fast car, you show it. It is proven that, at times, pictures are more powerful than words. Therefore, BMW explained the extreme speed of the M5 through a video.

            At first I was a bit confused about BMW’s commercial I didn’t fully understand what they were trying to say until the second time I saw the video clip. The new BMW M5 is so fast that it is used to film someone trying to break the land speed record. While this is obviously fake, I think the visual is great. It is clear that the car is incredibly speedy because it is able to out drive a land rocket looking thing. A BMW was the chosen car to video tape this aerodynamic machine that is supposedly one of the fastest vehicles. Clearly then BMWs must be fast.

            This commercial is so different that I think it is good. I have never seen a car commercial use this method. Usually a car is driving through a city or speeding around sharp turns on a slick deserted road. The BMW is in a desert with a land rocket. That automatically made me stop and watch. Simply being different and bizarre made this ad beneficial and interesting. 

Dove Evolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U

The Dove Beauty Campaign has been a huge success. It stresses beauty in the everyday person, and that beauty is not defined as a super skinny model that has been airbrushed. In many of their advertisements Dove uses a variety of “models.” These models are normal women who use Dove products; they are from all races shapes and sizes. To add to their campaign, Dove made their Evolution commercial.

            The Evolution commercial shows the transformation that a model goes through before she can be deemed beautiful by the media and general public. Dove showed how photographs are digitally altered and how the model’s hair and makeup is done professionally. This commercial is a true eye-opener. Most everyone knows that advertisements and models in magazines are digitally altered through Photoshop, but it is much different to watch it happen in fast forward.  

            This commercial caught my attention because the transformation is so great. I, like many others, knew that those in magazines were not “real,” but I had never seen it first hand. Dove truly brought to my attention how much I aspire to unrealistic beauty goals. I am already a Dove body wash user, but after watching this I became more interested in the Dove Beauty Campaign. I think Dove wants their product sales to go up, but I also think they are honestly interested in changing the image of beauty and that is truly inspiring.  

Fiesta, party party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwtmfeyTNV4

The name of Ford’s new car is the Fiesta, if translated from Spanish to English it means party. The Ford Fiesta is fun, creative, innovative and full of positive energy. The commercial completely correlates to the car. It is colorful, has movement and is depicted in a city environment surrounded by a variety of people. The creative in Ford’s commercial is incredible. They were able to incorporate the different positive aspects of the car into the cities scenery. For example the side of a building and truck have the gas mileage and the umbrellas spell out hands free. Ford created a commercial that makes their new car look like it is in a parade when it is turned on, in reality I think Ford wants you to feel like you are in a parade and having a great time (party) when you are driving their car. I believe they got this point across. Ford’s Fiesta commercial makes me want to at least test drive a Fiesta and see first-hand what the experience is like. 

Banned Bud Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VoeKGeeZvg

Bud Light created this commercial for the 2010 Super bowl; unfortunately the commercial was never aired on television because it was banned. Although it was banned, it was viewed by huge numbers of people online possibly even more than if it had been on television.  The popularity of this commercial spread like wildfire on the Internet and through every demographic.

            Bud Light’s clothing drive commercial drives home the point that Bud Light is one of the best beers and people will do anything for one. It is such a strong commercial because of it use of humor. The commercial is targeted towards middle-aged men who would find the sexual humor used very funny. It uses a typical office that most adults are familiar with and it has the stereotypical boring office girl. The use of stereotypes, and the dull muted colors depict a boring office, but the Bud Light completely changes the atmosphere and make the office a place of fun. 

Hamster Rap?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeVAXSKDup8

Kia’s television commercial for their new vehicle, the Soul, is simply confusing and bizarre.  The use of rapping hamsters has nothing to do with the product or their target audience. In fact I found the hamsters to be a turn off and it hurt the brand and their new car. Most people who drive Kias are younger to middle aged women. They are looking for a safe, attractive, and reasonably priced car. This commercial is targeting younger single men who are more inclined to listen to rap music and dress like the hamsters depicted. Also, the song that the hamsters are rapping lyrics state, “you can get with this, your you can get with that.” I thought this was an appropriate song at first, but they then compared they new Kia Soul to a washing machine and toaster “car.” These comparisons do not relate to Kia and really do not make the Kia look any better. In fact they made me think of the car as a household appliance that you have to have to do boring house chores. Someone who is buying a new car wants beauty and luxury, not boring and necessary. Kia defiantly missed the mark on this Television commercial!

Toyota

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq4nrmnqY9o

I am a General Motors or Ford car buyer, but with the hard economy and push for environmentally safe products the 2010 Prius commercial looked very persuasive. The way Toyota used color, art, and the want for more environmentally safe products made this commercial extremely effective and well done!

The Toyota Harmony commercial for the Prius, while it is out-of-the-box, is an excellent television commercial. The commercial is focused on how great the Prius is for the environment and how it will help to preserve the environment for future generations, preying on the fears of the public. The scene behind the Toyota Prius looks animated at first glance, and in a way it is, but if you look closely it is actually people dressed to look like grass, flowers, trees, water etc and then digitally altered. This helps stress that the world is for everyone and it needs to be preserved for the future. Toyota’s commercial uses bright colors and the scenery is very idealistic and child-like. This visual brings about a feeling of calm and happiness and it is automatically attributed to the car. In all, Toyota was able to create a scene of a perfect world made possible through their car.

Guilty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K2GAoBTuc4

Guilty by Gucci is their new perfume for women. The main thing about this product is that it smells good, but the commercial has absolutely nothing to do with scent except for one tiny shot where the man smells the women’s neck. Instead the commercial is a woman driving a sports car with flames bursting from it and fanaticizing about having sex with a man. The commercial is also very graphic, and a bit over the top.

While the flames and the sex could represent the feeling of being guilty, I feel the same ideas could be used just toned down a bit. There is no need to see the long road ahead or spend so much time watching the woman drive before the flames appear. The flames are one of the most important aspects in the commercial they add the feeling of the devil and relate to the name guilty. Also, the sex scene could be shorter and less explicit. The scene is important because it defiantly adds to the guilty feeling but it is just too graphic and over done. 

The print ad is much better. It has the man smelling the woman’s neck and it has a sense of sensuality. It is artistic and makes Gucci look like the expensive quality brand it is. 

Head On

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is3icfcbmbs

Head On headache cream has a terrible commercial! The repetition of the phrase, “apply directly to the forehead” over and over is simply annoying. The repetition may drill the fact that the medicine is not normal and is meant to be applied to the head not swallowed but it only makes me want to change the channel or turn off the television. The visuals in the commercial are also terrible. The use of bold solid colors in blue, red, and yellow make the commercial look juvenile and cheap. The general look along with the poor and wording does not make the product look legitimate or safe. 

Mayhem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DU5LKoC1AB

Accidents and mayhem happen everywhere and usually at the worst possible times. All State Insurance’s commercials are amazing. They are perfectly executed and the possible problems they chose are hilarious. Also, the casting for “mayhem” is perfect. His voice along with his facial expressions and the lines make him incredibly entertaining!  When one of All State’s commercials comes on the television I enjoy watching it, sometimes it is even funnier and more entertaining than the show I was watching. In the case of this commercial, All-State is able to include homeowners insurance, car insurance and boat insurance all in a one-minute spot. They simply depicted the “Mayhem Man” as a stupid lawnmower driver who has no clue what he is doing and therefore shoots rocks through the house windows, into the car, and the side of the boat. Oops.

All-State Insurance was able to demonstrate the benefits of having a full insurance plan, not one that is super cheap and barely covers anything, without overtly bashing other companies and keeping their commercial entertaining. They are also able to cover a wide variety of demographics that would use their insurance from young and single to parents and homeowners. In all, All-State Insurance was able to get their point across and remembered by potential customers in a funny entertaining way! 

Got Faith?

Most billboards have too many words and are therefore incredibly hard to read when passing by at high speeds in a car, or they have pictures that over power the wording making it difficult to read again. Contrary to my usual perceptions the “Got Faith” Billboard was easy to read and very clear. The simple white background with the bold black lettering is a copy of the “Got Milk” campaign. This makes it easier to decipher because our brains are more familiar with the visual and slogan. The simple visual added to the billboard appeal as well. It displayed the miracle at Cana when Jesus turned water into wine but it did so in a modern fashion. It made religion and the bible come into the 21^st century and it was able to catch my attention when I was driving by.

I really liked this billboard because it was so simple. Its’ solid white background made it stand out against the trees it was in front of, but it was not an eyesore to the area. It had a very basic concept, to make people think about God and religion, and it did exactly that. The “Got Faith” billboard was not forcing religion on anyone, it was just bringing up the topic and it did so by using one of the most well know bible stories and common phrases. It was very well crafted and appealed to a broad audience. 

Feed the Pig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liCT2DqVfBw&feature=related

The American economy is poor that is a common fact. Many attribute the ailing economy to overspending and lack of saving for a safe financial future. The best way to combat the failing economy is to educate the next generation on smart money practices. These include not over spending, and saving money. You can save money in a variety of ways from choosing a smaller apartment so rent is less, or getting a roommate. You could also cook at home and pack a lunch rather than always eating out. These suggestions and many more could save you thousands a year.

            www.feedthepig.org and their commercials focus specifically on educating young adults on how to save money through funny and outlandish commercials. The use of a large pig as the main role in their television spots to play off of the typical piggy bank is perfect. It adds to the comedy but is also a reminder of the focus to save money. In the majority of the television commercials it starts with someone randomly becoming incredibly wealthy. Then, unceremoniously, the pig states that this never happens and being wealthy is all about saving money and being financially smart. He then will give a tip on how to save money.  

This commercial caught my attention because it takes a serious and rather boring topic and presents it in a funny and entertaining way. I make many of the mistakes the pig preaches against and just seeing a reminder on television makes me want to save money and be prepared for my future. While not being the heir to a country and randomly becoming a millionaire is sad, the pig and his friendly reminders help me to try and stay on track and save! 

Washing the Day Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf4ufAwdCao

I’ve always felt showerheads, and sink faucets were boring. They were like other household necessities like dishwashers and laundry machines. Although, faucets and showerheads are household basics, Delta has found a way to make them much more interesting and innovative. Delta has a wide variety of commercials focusing on various products but the most creative and eye catching one is definitely for Delta’s In2ition showerhead.

This showerhead allows one to have a detachable head and a stationary head so whoever is showering can have water all over. Their commercial explains this in a beautiful and visually appealing way. I love the way the shower washes away the painted clothing. It is as though Delta is washing the stress and grim of the workday as well as the sweat, dirt and pain of athletics. They are sending the message that through their showerheads they can help bring peace and tranquility.

Strictly through visuals Delta is able to show the quality of their products and that their showerheads are more than just boring household appliances. They are works of art that can bring beauty and peace to you and your house. 

Bang Bang

The purpose of women’s perfume or men’s cologne is to make one smell better, but if you were to look at a majority of perfume and cologne ads they have nothing to do with smell or anything relating to personal hygiene. Instead they focus on sexuality and what “could” happen if you wear said perfume or cologne.

Marc Jacobs uses this same advertising technique. Their ad is extremely sexual and almost vulgar. The name of their men’s cologne is Bang. If that doesn’t scream sex, I do not know what does. The photography and ad layout also adds to the extreme sexuality of the brand. Bang, by Marc Jacobs, is depicted as an overly large bottle covering a naked man’s crotch. Although this is very sexual, the background of the ad looks like a foil material. This material gives the advertisement more of an edgy futuristic look.

Marc Jacob’s, Bang, men’s fragrance ad may be extremely sexual, and oddly futuristic but it is eye catching. It immediately drew my attention when flipping through a magazine and it made me stop and look at it. It stands out and is different from other ads. Although I originally thought it to be too sexual and slightly vulgar I have come to the conclusion that it is a strong advertisement. 

Ipad is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKxoqRoRB0c&feature=channel

At first I believed the Apple iPad to be a waste of money. It seemed like a computer that couldn't do as much as a computer and had an unprotected screen. But After watching Apple's commercials I cannot help but to be interested! 

The commercial is clean, comprehensive, understandable, and fun. Apple was able to clearly display many of the iPad's qualities with out it being boring or redundant. Apple’s commercial featured cooking, science, astronomy, art, work, sports, video games, and music apps. I loved the music in the beginning how it was played on the piano and then continued through the entire segment. It was very effective. 

I believe Apple is trying to market to people in their early 30s. The commercial has a young feel and the apps they decided to focus on are geared towards that generation. They used cooking and recipe apps. As well as a science app that could be helpful for a child doing a school project.

Apple, through their commercials entitled iPad is…, has changed my mind. I am now more than interested in the iPad and would definitely go check it out. 

Levi's All Asses Were Not Created Equal

The ad has a page next to it that reads,“ALL ASSES WERE NOT CREATED EQUAL. Bring us your tomboys, your curvy girls, and all girls in between. We believe that hotness comes in all shapes and sizes. That we should be able to go into stores and find jeans that fit us instead of having to fit into the jeans. And that every Tina, Toya, Teresa, and Talia, deserves jeans that make her curves look like a national treasure. It’s the new democracy of jeans! Finally, jeans for us. GO FORTH”

From a girl who hates jean shopping I love this Levi's ad. It actually motivates me to deviate from my usual Banana Republic and J Crew jeans to try theirs. The Last line that states "Finally, Jeans for us. Go Forth!" actually makes me want to "go forth" and try their jeans. It makes me feel like I will be liberated from the dressing room drama and body hatred that os always sure to come with a day searching for the right jeans. 

How many times have you gone to a store and the only real variation between types of jeans is the length. They may say one is for curvier girls and others are for the super skinny string bean, but in reality they are all made for a perfect 5 foot 9 girl with a little butt and pencil thin legs. Although I do not know if Levi jeans fit like they claim to, it is nice to see an advertisement that acknowledges that all women's bodies are different and clothes need to be different to accommodate our different body types. 

I thought this ad was bold and eye catching. It brought up a usually hushed up topic and it did so in a blaring way. The Ad copywriting is amazing, and is truly the part that makes this ad great. The pictures look like any usual jean advertisement, but because the writing was so good and almost any woman could relate to it, it makes up for the mediocre picture.