Slug bug!

I’m a purist. Back in my day (oh gawd, doesn’t that make me sound old!), counting Volkswagen Beetles on the highways was a summer vacation pastime. On long car trips between campgrounds, my siblings and I would battle for bug counting supremacy. First to see and call it gets the credit. Yours truly always trounced my sibs because I had the best eyesight by far. I could recognize the shape of the Beetle from a distance by day and the unduplicated dual above-the-headlights parking lights/turn signals by night. I mean, I killed at this game. I’d develop such a big lead in a matter of hours on the first long drive that everyone pretty much resigned from the competition, although they were never allowed to quit.

There were a lot of Beetles on the road back in the 70s.

What that meant was that my sibs had sore bruises on their arms and legs from the slug bug punches I meted out without mercy. It became such fun for me, deciding who to pop each time I saw a red Bug. And that brings me to the point of this blog: How dare Volkswagen alter the game to not only include Bugs of every color, but Volkswagens of any persuasion? They can’t do that; I mean, come on! How can they add the Routan, Tiguan, Jetta, Toureg and the other eight models? I mean, they don’t look anything like the Beetle.

I ought to slug the powers that be for changing the rules of the game!

I ought to give them a slap on the back for such a brilliant idea.

Punchdub. It is a whole new game.

Passing thoughts…
Has there been an outcry from groups about punching family, friends and strangers? Wouldn’t surprise me. I applaud Volkswagen for ignoring them. PC groups are annoying. Well, most of them anyway.

Punchdub: I can’t help but wonder if there’s a political statement in there somewhere.

   

Technorati Tags: Volkswagen,Punchdub,Punchdub advertising campaign,Punchdub TV commerical,slug bug,Volkswagen Beetle,Volkswagen Bug,Routan,Tiguan,Jetta,Toureg,dub-ya,dub ya,summer vacation,family vacation,roadtrips,camping,campgrounds,driving,highways

A simply perfect ad?

I rarely read magazines and never read newspapers (I’m all digital, baby), thus, the lack of commentary on print advertisements in this blog. Today, I decided to pick up the one magazine I do subscribe to, Sports Illustrated, and write about the first ad I came across. To make it sporting, I grabbed an issue, closed my eyes and flipped it open. Lucky me, there was an ad on the right hand page. Maybe I should purchase a lottery ticket.

Maybe I should purchase a bottle of Patron Silver tequila, too. The advertisement is crisp and clean and practically satisfies my thirst just looking at it. I like the generous white space, the judicious distribution of the lime green color and the visual balance between the text and the bottle and glass.

A little closer look and my thirst for a taste of Patron Silver tequila begins to wane…just a smidge.

Breaking down the copy, the headline is lame and lacking in appeal. Why is a seat at the bar perfect? How is that compelling? In some establishments, that’s the last place I want to be. You get jostled, bumped and bruised and risk getting drinks spilled on you at the bar. Put me at a table or in a booth please. Even at a fine establishment. Personal preference.

I chuckle at this copy line: “Hand-selected 100% Weber blue agave.” Really? Someone hand-selected the agave? Thank goodness. Glad it wasn’t foot-selected or pelvis-selected.

The last line of text reads: “The world’s finest ultra-premium tequila.” Okay, maybe it is; who’s to argue?

Simply Perfect is the tagline and the quality and experience claim Patron is making. Everything about the product is perfect. Drink Patron Silver, and your experience will be perfect. Simply Perfect.

Underneath the tagline is the URL based on the tagline. I haven’t visited the web site or been exposed to other Patron Silver campaign elements (yea, I know it’s been running for at least five years…sorry Richards Group) so perhaps as a component of an integrated campaign, the copy  and the Simply Perfect tagline work.

 

A study of the “photo” of the bottle and glass has me questioning if it’s an actual photo or a computer-generated visual. The rounded bottoms of the glass, the hard black lines on both sides (especially where the line intersects the lime wedge), the viscosity of the tequila and the uneven level of it in the glass, plus, the weird texture and shape of the ice suggests an artist went overboard in PhotoShop. Alas, but now I’m being nit-picky.

Educated and discerning tequila drinkers know to seek out brands with 100% de Agave on the label and it’s clearly visible. Weber blue agave is the preferred variety for the finest tequilas. Not being a tequila aficionado, I had to look that up. I found it in more than one place on the web, so it must be true. Besides, why else would Patron and The Richards Group dedicate 25% of their copy to assertion if it could be assailed?

What’s up with the green ribbon? In the context of the campaign, what does it mean? When I have a question I need answered, I go to the ultimate online authority, Wikipedia. Here’s the first sentence: “The green ribbon has been used as a symbol for many campaigns, including environmental justice, cannabis-liberation, and agriculture.” Do you doubt me? Check it out here. None of those and the laundry-list of medical, political and cultural issues in the Wikipedia article seemed like something Patron would support. I’m forced to go to the Patron web site where I find absolutely nothing about the green ribbon. Maybe the Simply Perfect campaign web site will explain the green ribbon.

Oops…guess not. So that element of the ad goes unexplained.

Is Patron Silver tequila simply perfect? Maybe. This advertisement is close to perfection, too.

Technorati Tags: Print advertisement,Patron Silver tequila,Simply Perfect,green ribbon,The Richards Group

Tweet this all you webinators

Two more radio commercials in the revived Motel 6 campaign are on the airwaves and they are quite entertaining.

Radio spot #1, Tom Bodett announces Wi-Fi availability at Motel 6.

Cue the violin…

“I’m Tom Bodett with a message for all of you world wide webinators. Motel 6 now offers wireless internet, also called Wi-Fi…probably because it’s short and it rhymes.  Plus, it makes you sound like a bigger deal, like you’re late for something important…I’m ToBo for the Mo and we’ll…sorry dude, gotta bounce.”

How do you top that? This webinator is left speechless.

In radio spot #2, spokesman Tom Bodett shares his first experience with Twitter.

Cue the violin…

“Hi Tom Bodet doing my very first tweet. or twerp or whatever it's called. Okay, here goes:

M6 has clean comfy rooms numeral 4 dollar sign dollar sign of N-E nutnul chain ~ I heart it cuz…

And I'm out of characters. Oh, see why this is so popular. I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6 and we'll leave the light on for ya. Book online at motel6.com.”

Love the biting sarcasm, Tom. Were you wearing your sassy poncho while typing that tweet?

Technorati Tags: Tom Bodett,Motel 6,Twitter,tweets,Wi-Fi,radio commercials

Ponchos pilot

If Tom Bodett is to be believed, ponchos are about to come back in style. Tom returns as the Motel 6 spokesperson and he’s predicting ponchos will the next big thing. If you accept the rationale Tom presents in the latest Motel 6 radio commercial, it has to make you wonder.

Cue the violin…

“Ponchos may not be in style, but mark my word, they will be. How do I know?” Tom goes on to explain that for more than two decades Motel 6 has been talking about how their guests can get a nice clean room with a comfortable bed for just about the lowest price of all of the national chains. Suddenly, frugal is in and everyone’s bragging about the great deals you can get. “What’s next? Ponchos!” Tom exclaims.

“I’m Tom Bodett in a sassy poncho for Motel 6 and we’ll leave the light on for you.”

I’m so glad you’re back, Tom.

Embrace life at the moment of impact

There are some advertisements that are so very, very powerful and moving, they become a global and social media sensation almost overnight. Do you recall the Texting While Driving PSA that caused quite a stir last summer with its graphic depiction of the consequences of distracted driving? Embrace Life is rapidly moving toward that same level of global awareness and impact. Check it out.

Are you in awe?

The instance that really captures me emotionally is at the imaginary point of impact when he thrusts forward and the table and glass goes flying in super-slow motion. His wife and daughter hold onto him for dear life, protecting him and keeping me from flying through the windshield and potentially into another life. That's a WOW moment.

The advertisement artistically impresses me immensely. I hold in high esteem those with the creative minds and directorial skills to produce such an important message (with no spoken words and a magnificent music bed) in a 90 second window. Simply wonderful.

Embrace the message…Embrace Life.

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To learn more about the Sussex Safer Roads Project and the Embrace Life campaign, click here: Sussex Safer Roads Project

An independent Facebook group supports getting this PSA placed on TV stations around the globe. If you’d like to join it, click here: Embrace Life Facebook group  NOTE: By clicking, you may automatically join the group.

embrace life seat belt ssrp advert creative film family car motoring driving crash psa commercial video sussex safer road official daniel cox

Call off the tanks

While watching the Alabama Crimson Tide tackle the Texas Longhorns in the 2009 BCS National Championship game, I found myself more engaged with the commercials than with the program they were sponsoring. That’s not unusual for me because I love advertisements.

What made enjoying the commercials more challenging was that the party hosts muted the television during every game break. I find this behavior amusing, and, as an advertising professional, a bit disturbing. But what are you going to do?

As a new installment in the Bud Light “Drinkability” campaign began, I uttered, “I love this commercial.” One party guest turned to the television and said he liked the commercial, too. That drew the attention of a few others. We laughed softly as the Paintball “Too Heavy” air attack ensued. After the two combatants clinked bottles and the winner raised his walkie-talkie, I parroted his last command, “Call off the tanks.” Several people chuckled. The gentleman who first paid me attention turned and asked, “Is that what he says?”

“Call off the tanks” is probably spreading across the continents as the latest catch phrase. If you hear it, write a Comment describing when, where and under what circumstances it was used.

Technorati Tags: Bud Light,drinkability campaign,paintball,paintball commercial,call off the tanks,catch phrase,commercial,TV advertising,2009 BCS National Championship,Alabama Crimson Tide,Texas Longhorns