Traditional Advertising’s Place?
February 13th, 2006
I hope most of you caught the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. It was truly magical - as they usually are. I was also surprised with quality of the commercials that ran. The spots from GE, Home Depot, Exxon, Visa, Nike, were all truly wonderful. They made the Superbowl ads look like Saturday morning cartoons. Maybe it’s my age, but I appreciate it more and more when a company’s advertising actually makes me think and feel, instead of just laugh. As much as I have been a soldier in the battle to eradicate traditional advertising from our lives, I must say my faith in the “traditional way” was restored after seeing it so beautifully executed. The people out there who say, “People are not sick of traditional advertising, people are sick of bad advertising,” may actually have a good point. Well, in any event, great advertising can still be done. I saw it for myself and I’m really glad I did, because I got to hear a little voice in my head I hadn’t heard in a very long time say, “Wow, I wish I’d done that.”
Be great.
Other posts by Cordell.
Matt Galloway says:
Amen!
February 17th, 2006 at 12:28 pmAndy Woolard says:
Though I believe in the “30-second spot is dead” mantra, one positive outcome of all this morbid ad talk is some advertisers are doing better. Today’s GOOD ads are taking cues from consumers and adding interactive elements. The NY Times had a great article on this topic with R/GA’s Robert Greenberg Sunday.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:31 pmBilly says:
“Life Takes Visa.” Man, I wish I’d come up with that.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:32 pmOlivier Blanchard says:
Amen squared. I even heard angels singing.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:32 pmBrian says:
RE: Opening Ceremonies Magical
I felt like I was watching some futuristic circus, the outfits, Yoko, etc. Looks like they hired the girl from the 1984 Apple Commercial and made her look like a guy beating on that anvil.
Since I am complaining I might as well continue with the horrible job NBC is doing with the chopped up coverage. Sunday at 3:00pm ish they show Men’s snow boarding. They give me about 20 minutes of that and then I am told I can see the rest tonight. When? 8? 9? … turns out 10:45 or so. I happened to wake up to see the kid do an extra run. I missed it. How about show the whole thing in one shot. You got my attention, keep it. Don’t think I am going to spend 4 hours Sunday night watching you bounce me from event to event. Give me a schedule.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:33 pmZedzian says:
The VISA ad was pompous and just silly. Life takes VISA? That’s the kind of “clever” BS that makes vice-presidencies in the vapid world of advertising, but which is ultimately meaningless and without redemption.
If you don’t have a VISA card, you’re just not livin’, man. What utter drivel, especially considering the interest these corporate usurers slap on their plastic.
“There is no salvation in adapting to the world’s madness.”–Henry Miller
February 17th, 2006 at 12:34 pmolivier Blanchard says:
Excellent post, Greg. I have always been a fan of good advertising - or at least beautiful advertising. The Games’ ads were definitely of a different caliber.
The question I wrestle with is this: As a sales tool, is advertising (even GREAT advertising) really all that effective, or is advertising more akin to an art form that gives shape, life, and context to a brand or product? (In the latter, advertising becomes more about awareness than “selling”.) Thoughts?
October 11th, 2007 at 7:18 am