Commercial gone wrong…you tell me?
I don’t watch very much television so I am not usually bothered by the commercial world that depicts woman as complete idiots in laundry ads or any other non creative 30 second spot. I think the ad agents are just plain lazy when they don’t even try to be creative and fall back on typecasting. I am not sure what bothers me more, the fact that they make women look stupid in the commercial or that they think we are stupid enough to believe their product works and therefore we NEED them? Mascara ads that claim their mascara will lengthen your lashes when we all know the 15 year old model is wearing fake ones. Another great example that sure rings true to me is the one where the Mom lets the dog run through the kitchen covered in mud, shaking, because she has paper towel and all the time in the world to clean it up! Ya right…as if? These ads make me NOT want to use their products just to make a point! Its like saying stupid people buy this! The only way to counter is to NOT buy it!
But when I saw the Nando’s Chicken commercial, I was really disturbed. They use ‘shock’ value in their ads to try and get you to buy their product. I’ve tried their chicken and thought it was ordinary and wouldn’t go back, regardless of how they try to promote it.
But here on Tara Cronica we are dedicated in ‘finding lyrical beauty in everyday happening’, we try to find the uplifting side of things and although Nando’s ads in my humble opinion don’t have an uplifting side to them they do however make other creative vignettes stand out, so if that’s their purpose, they did a great job!
I was going to post ‘Up Close and Personal with Tracy’, but that will have to wait till next week, having been distracted by this topic. I love when you see a great ad that leaves you with a smile on your face! This first video is my idea of a creative commercial/short film. The latter is what a commercial gone wrong looks like! You tell me…T-Mobile or Nando’s Chicken? I would have loved to be in the room when the ad agency made this pitch! “You want to what?…you sick bleeeeep! Really?” Just saying…
T-Mobile ~
And now Nando’s WT…?
I apologize if I turned you off your breakfast or lunch! 🙂
Tracy Westerholm
"Exploring the never-ending desires that fuel all life, while finding lyrical beauty in everyday happenings."
8 Comments
Human person
Except you are doing exactly WHAT that ad agency wants you to do – talk about their advertised product! they KNEW it was awful when they filmed it. The worst thing you could do is NOT notice it, or what I always do, refer to it as a different product. As in, “Did you see that licking KFC commercial? Gross!” By posting it, you just gave them extra mileage.
Tracy Westerholm
I would normally agree with you here, I actually had written in the post that I don’t usually like to draw attention to something such as this, but I think that there are some exceptions to that rule. This being one, bad publicity on a food product will bring attention to their product yes but in this case I think it’s spreading in a negative way.
The ad is not clever or creative, just gross. If it were a younger woman perhaps it wouldn’t have been viewed as so wrong? I don’t know anyone who subliminally would go there hoping to see their Grandmother lick a window?
I was sent an email from someone who told me they actually wrote to the company and complained and their response was they were looking for shock value. (as you will see in all their ads if you YouTube them) But that person also said they would NOT go to Nando’s because of their inappropriate ad campaign.
I like your idea of making reference to the wrong company though, that’s a great idea!! But Kentucky Fried Chicken is soooooooo bad for you! But at least if you go there you don’t have to worry about Grama licking the window!
🙂
anne
i love every single word in this post.
Tracy Westerholm
Oh how I miss Anne! 🙂
jacquie
Too many ads try to appeal to the lowest common denominator and sadly, a lot of people find these ads hilarious. I’m surprised to hear it when one of these stupid ads is praised. It makes me wonder if I’m just a humourless, stuck up, snotty , superior-than-thou bitch. But if that’s what I am, then so are you, Tracy! Yay, for haughtiness!
I know, skip the coffee shop/wine bar! Let’s open an ad agency together! : )
Tracy Westerholm
I would love if someone viewed me as a humourless, stuck up, snotty, superior-than-thou bitch! Well… maybe not but it was fun saying and typing!
It really doesn’t matter what we do together it’s going to be lyrically beautiful! I say we stick with the coffee shop/wine bar and also be in charge of our advertising campaign…win win! Oh I can’t waittttttttt!!!!!
Guy
Agencies work off of a brief given to them by their clients. Nando’s as a brand is known to be edgy and quite controversial. Their ads often get a ton of complaints and get banned off television, but hey, it works for them, and as they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. You’re also comparing a 15 second spot that cost no more than 15k to produce with a million dollar production with hundreds of paid actors. Clients have budgets and limitations which often chip into creative freedom, that’s why you see a lot of lame, redundant ads.
Tracy Westerholm
Thanks Guy,
I understand what you’re saying, but as a potential client for these companies, this kind of campaign doesn’t work for me. When you insult the intelligence of men or women, do you really expect either to go out and buy your product. It’s bad advertising regardless of the budget! I don’t believe it does work for them, I may be wrong.
I still think that ad agencies could use a little more creativity when putting together an ad campaign regardless of the budget. If Nando’s wants to use shock value for their ads, surely they can come up with something a little more interesting and less offensive than an elderly lady licking the wrong side of the glass window because she thinks it has sauce on it? I still say…really, that’s the best you’ve got Nando’s? I don’t buy it…or their chicken!
I’m just saying…
🙂