E-lites

An amazing advert recently hit our TV screens to advertise electronic cigarettes. This ad tests the almost 50-year long ban on promoting smoking on TV.  What is somewhat a rather controversial product to promote. E-Lites use a highly humorous advert that promotes the benefits of puffing on a product using nicotine.

The national campaign features Mark Benton, who plays a father who nips outside for a quick ciggy and misses his baby’s first steps…the humorous twists arrives in the form when the baby suddenly breaks out into the Gangnam Style dance.

Under the current UK law and with what must of been a difficult brief to advertise cigarettes that don’t have an overall goal of helping smokers quit, this advert adopts a brilliant concept using the tag line ‘What are you missing?’  

Agreed that it is controversial to promote such a product, the underlying message of this advert is somewhat more hard hitting; the aim is to provoke the thought in smokers that if they continue to smoke regular cigarettes, it may be more than just their baby’s first steps that they are missing…

David Beckham, H&M

The new ad for David Beckham’s H&M range, directed by Guy Ritchie, is a guilty pleasure. David takes on the role of a ‘superhero’ doing all sorts of impressing jumping, running, kicking and diving in just pants. During Beckhams quest to get his robe back, he coincidently loses his vest.

I like the way the music on the ad puts adds a humorous twist and shows that the advert is not to be taken too seriously.

Just picking my jaw up off the floor after that one. Though, David really needs to sort out his wedgie.

Super Bowl XLVII

So Sunday was ‘Game Day’. A big day for America and all American Football fans, globally. For me, it was a big day for advertising. Super Bowl commercials are an American institution. These adverts are the creations that advertisers spent months and millions making.

Below, you will find a few of my favourite adverts of the Super Bowl XLVII.

Budweiser, ‘Clydesdales’

To begin with, what could be becoming the most popular advert of the Super Bowl 2013, it’s the Budweiser Clydesdales Advert. When this aired, I hope everyone watching let a glistening tear roll down their cheeks. Flat out winner out of the gate for me. This ad makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time, and maybe just buy a horse. For those who don’t like this advert, come on, don’t be cynical. It tugs at all the right heart strings.

Doritos, ‘Goat 4 Sale’

When I first saw this, I was thinking…What have Doritos done? I didn’t get it. But essentially, I was intrigued to know what this goat advertising crisps was about. It was the moment when the goat realises that the Doritos are all gone, he is horrified (naturally) and lets out a humorous and strange ‘scream’. Then, with the ending scene of the goat up for sale, again, it became clear. Though I am not sure how well this actually sells Doritos, it is pretty funny.

Audi, ‘Prom’

This advert reeks of a huge budget and some naff moral lesson attached. But, I actually quite like it. Yes it’s cheesy and yes it is slightly obvious. But the overarching message about how the Audi made this poor geeky lad feel is pretty powerful.

And a few of the worst…

Oreo, ‘Cream or Cookie’

Now, I really don’t get this. I may be biased because I love the English Oreo adverts, but this, just doesn’t make sense to me. People causing horrific bodily injuries over cookies? What is that about, it certainly isn’t a place I want to be!

Old Spice, ‘Wolves Irresistible’

Really not much to say about this one. Just plain weird.