Ad Digger – 6.2.2015
Stressed? Today’s dose of dandy ad sync ought to put a smile on your chops, with dreamy power-pop car chases, glam rock geezers and hard-rocking breakaway brides.
The Super Bowl dust has fully cleared, and allowed inquiring minds to assess how ads affected brand image – turns out Budweiser and Godaddy have the most to thank their puppy and absence of puppy for, respectively. Meanwhile, the lovey dovey spots are starting to sneak in the door. Kingsday makes a fair go of making drones seem less sinister (cute little R2D2 noises were the answer, of course), whereas Aquafresh may take away your St. Valentine’s Day appetite altogether. There was high-drama ridiculousness from two masters: Canal Plus told the ill-fated story of the unicorn, while Midttrafik sexed up the bus pass with gallons of high-gloss Nordic humour, also plentiful in Aðalskoðun‘s spot. Samsung had fun with digital sleight of hand, while in the UK The King’s Trust broke hearts with equal deftness.
Honda Australia – The All-New Honda RV
Honda’s new spot is a surrealist treat: playing with dream tropes without feeling hackneyed, the surrealist narrative creates enough freshness and momentum that Eurythmics’ well-used ‘Sweet Dreams’ feels new and mischievous. Bonus points for the John Hurt-sounding Shiba Inu.
Song: Sweet Dreams
Artist: Eurythmics
Agency: Leo Burnett Australia
Production: Good Oil Films
Director: Nathan Price
Prostate Cancer UK – Men United
This warming reminder of the power of friendship for support against prostate cancer forgoes scare tactics or gloom for a lovely evocation of the dynamic of long-term pals, enjoying the finer (and sometimes muddier) things in life together well into the silver-haired years. Hyde & Beast, a duo of drummers from Futureheads and Golden Virgins, add to the smiles with a very pleasant, Marc Boland-evoking buzz and bounce.
Song: Keep Moving
Artist: Hyde & Beast
Digital agency: Zone
Film Production: Partizan
Director: Tom Beard
Miss Dior – It’s Miss, Actually
Anton Corbijn directs Natalie Portman as a luxe bride with misgivings in a doubled-up spot for Miss Dior that’s refreshingly strong on story. Janis Joplin’s raw, soul-dripping vocals are a nice counterpoint to Portman’s initial tight-laced nervousness, and fun complement to the inevitable tether-breaking finale.
Song: Another Piece of my Heart
Artist: Big Brother & The Holding Company
Director: Anton Corbijn
Levi’s Commuter – Born To Ride
Levi’s have re-released this nicely-shot 2012 spot for their cyclist-friendly line of light, weather-protecting clobber, which shows a trio of dapper fellows wending their two-wheeled way through various locales to the ethereal tune of Grimes’ ‘Crystal Ball’. Bicycle commuting never seemed so serene.
Song: Crystal Ball
Artist: Grimes
Agency: Imprint Projects
Production: Ways & Means
Directors: Andy Bruntel, Felipe Lima
Heineken – the match
Heineken’s accompaniment to this UEFA spot, in which a typically handsome sea-captain must McGyver together a suitable match-viewing rig for his men, starts out a little bit Anton Karas but quickly reveals itself as a number belted out with typical gusto by Italian 1960s star Rita Pavone. Short, but amply sweet and spirited.
Song: Viva la Pappa con Pomodoro
Artist: Rita Pavone
Agency: G2 Worldwide
