Game of Thrones

I'm not that big on shows set in ye olde times so I've not been watching Game of Thrones.

This ad from the New York Times isn't likely to change my mind.

But man It's a good ad. Don't you think?

Love to know who created it.

When Rolex had charm

These days Rolex is a luxury brand that does stereotypical luxury brand advertising.

No wit. No warmth. And usually an overpaid celebrity.

Back in the 1970's things were obviously a little different as this lovely press ad shows.

Not enough to make me fork out ten grand for a watch.

But definitely enough to sway me from purchasing an Omega Seamaster.

Rolling Stones and Chrysler

I'm currently reading what is considered one of the definitive rock books - Stanley Booth's The true adventures of the Rolling Stones.

Booth was a journo who basically embedded himself in the Stones entourage during their 1969 tour of the USA.

This tour is best known (not sure best is the right word) for culminating in the free concert at Altamont Raceway.

At this concert a young fan was savagely beaten to death. An incident that could hardly be regarded as good publicity.

But good publicity from the Stones is what Chrysler were looking for in '69 when they supplied vehicles to transport the band during the tour.

In Booth's book he quotes a Chrysler representative who says, "Chrysler wanted nothing from the Stones in the way of endorsements or promotional photographs."

They simply wanted to be associated with the Stones brand which they could then use to tap into the burgeoning youth market.

This is very different from today's world of massive corporate sponsored concerts.

Although I suspect Chrysler ended up keeping very quiet about their involvement with the Stones in '69.

Album covers riffing off Homeland

Everyone loves a personal project. And this is one of the nicest I've seen for a while.

Jazz album covers in homage to the award winning TV series Homeland.

Made extra specially good because of the use of modern jazz in the show.

They're by Californian design studio Mattson Creative.

Toyota tackles the Space Shuttle

When I worked on the launch of the Ford Ranger about 18 months or so ago we had literally dozens of torture test ideas.

We envisioned building a veritable treasure trove of rough 'n tumble video content.

I left Wunderman before the Ranger launched so I'm not going to comment on what was or wasn't produced for the launch.

But what I will say is none of our ideas came within a mile of towing the Space Shuttle across LA.

Tasty or tasteless?

Someone sent me this Fanta press ad yesterday.

Nice idea. I think. By OgilvyOne in Dubai.

But then again how can you truly experience a fizzy drink by chewing on a piece of paper?

Way way way too much copy too.

And if truth be told this whole taste the page idea was done way better way back when.

Just wish I could remember the agency that created it.

Who's to blame?

Over the course of my career I've seen a lot of great ideas turn out anything but great.

Most of the blame for this lays firmly with the client.

But should it?

Or should the agency take take some responsibility?

After all if a demanding client demands changes it's really not easy to say no to them.

But saying no is what required.

I suspect a lot of the client related issues in today's agencies are a result of cutbacks to training.

When I was at JWT in the 90's training was encouraged.

In fact once you completed 10 training courses you were given a cheque for $1,000.

I spent almost five years at my last agency. During that time I got to go on one training course.

One.

And that was really just a one day agency workshop session.

I think you get my point. Don't you?

Faster and faster

Nothing makes me smile quite like the sight of a dog with its head out the window of a car.

I can only imagine the feeling of exhilaration they must feel.

So it stands to reason I love this ad from W&K in London.

I think I'd love it even more if they changed the word scream to howl.

But that's just me being picky.

Inventing on Vine

Tap the screen and tell us your favorite blueprint from National Inventors' Day! #loop #magic #IWantToInvent vine.co/v/bvPAd0dd1W3
— General Electric (@generalelectric) February 12, 2013

It's very early days for Vine.


And I'd hate to see this fun platform get swamped with ads 'n stuff.

But seriously how nice is this little piece by GE?

Excellent use of the medium.

Fingers crossed we don't look back on it one day as the beginning of the end of Vine as a medium of six seconds of self expression.

The original iPod ad

Stumbled on this while trawling YouTube last night. It's the launch ad for the original iPod.

I don't know whats improved the most over the years - the advertising or the product.

Suffice to say that clunky old iPod only holds 1,000 songs.

Now I've got a phone that can do better than that.

Oh and in case you didn't recognise him that dancing fool is Jeff Goldblum.

What a tosser

I've lived in Australia for most of my adult life.

But there's a little bit of Pom in me that I just can't seem to shake.

And that bit of Pom is currently wondering if I'm the only person who whinks that headline is seriously wrong.

Unless you're a junior looking to get a fast track promotion. Obviously.

Happy Valentines Day

Listen to Picasso

Andre the giant

Beautiful little ad by Etch-a-Sketch in recognition of the passing last week of its creator Andre Cassagnes.

Click the pic for a better look. 

Soccer goes social

The AFL has been debating the merits of putting player names on the back of their jerseys for ages.

While they been busy going around in circles the A-League has trumped them by putting player Twitter names on their jumpers.

Genius. Don't you think?

Social media and so called 'second screen' devices are a massive part of the football experience these days.

Soccer in Australia has capitalised on this.

The AFL has not.

Name that brand

Know what shits me?

Fashion advertising.

It's all the bloody same.

Pictures of people wearing clothes and looking moody.

Blue Steel style as Derek Zoolander would say.

Case in point - the ad above.

It was in The Age yesterday.

Don't know 'bout you but I reckon that could be an ad for any brand.

I've scribbled out the brand to prove my point.

My wife says the woman has been used in a lot of Country Road advertising.

But it's not Country Road.... 

George Lois v Don Draper

It's been said many times that George Lois was one of the Madison Ave figures that Don Draper was based on.

Hell they even look alike in the pic above.

Old George is a towering figure. One of the greats.  But unlike me he's not a fan of Draper or Mad Men as this biting quote shows:

"When they announced that the show was going to be about ‘the incredible period of the advertising industry in the 1960s,’ everybody thought it was going to be about me. All over the world I’m called ‘the original mad man.’

My bitch about it is the fact that it’s a show about a bunch of scum bags. All they do is screw the secretaries, drink themselves to death, smoke themselves to death and produce piss advertising.

And this is happening during the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and women’s liberation? All the important things going on in the world and they’ve got that piss-ass show?"

Banned Super Bowl ad

I don't even care about Super Bowl yet this is my third Super Bowl post in a row.

Don't worry. Normal service will resume tomorrow. Promise!

In the meantime check out this ad from Sodastream which was banned from airing during the game by the CBS network.

Once you'll watch I'm sure you'll understand why.

It certainly has nothing to do with being offensive. That's for sure. 

Dunking in the dark

Even a power outage at an American football games qualifies as news in Australia these days.

Of course it is the Super Bowl so I suppose it's okay.

Big thumbs up to the folks at Oreo who didn't just take advantage of the blackout but also approved and put live an ad in under an hour.

According to Sarah Hofstetter from agency 360i the ad was written, designed and approved in minutes.

This was made possible because Oreo clients and agency people were gathered together at a social media mission control centre to monitor brand chatter during the game.

And there was I thinking those mission centre things were nothing but hype.

King of the Super Bowl

As has been the case for the last few years the internet is currently alive with chatter about Super Bowl advertising.

And why wouldn't it be? There's been some bloody great ads.

But how many of them will we still be talking about a year from now?

Very few I suspect.

The Apple 1984 ad however will still be talked about 50 years from now.

It is the definitive big budget high impact ran only once Super Bowl ad.

But guess what - the original concept was put to Apple two years earlier for the Apple II.

Apple wasn't that keen on it so it was filed away.

It eventually saw the light of day two years later when Apple launched the Macintosh.

To enable them to enter it into Cannes agency Chiat/Day booked a 1am spot on a regional channel in addition to the Super Bowl spot.

Of course it went on to take out top prize at Cannes.

It was the stuff of legends. And a legend is what it went on to become.

Bamboo bicycles

My friend Dan has been talking about building a bamboo bike for ages.

He moved up to Brisbane last year so I'm not sure how his bamboo bike build is progressing.

Suffice to say I think he'd like this ad.

I know I certainly do.