[Excelsior]

My vote goes to this one.

I've never seen a commercial cut so deep into the heart of society and reveal its core, the fundamental foundations that build it into what we take for granted today. It also tapped right into the core of what I consider a uniquely American spirit, and did so more compellingly than I've ever seen.

I could see this bringing a tear to the eyes of many a middle American, and for the first time in my life the presentation made me truly understand their pride.

'Murica.



As a Jamaican, I was also a fan of this one:

I love to see the island spirit touching new places in new ways.

[WestIndianArchie]

Agreed on both.

Paul Harvey's, "So God Made a Farmer"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvm4zCsO0Jw

[Samseau]

That whole farmer thing was really from a bygone era. Farmers were casualties of the 20th century.

It was important and popular to idolize farmers in American politics, if you look at old election speeches from the 19th century right up until around WW2, the farmers vote was very important.

[Emancipator]

I do admit Chrysler's recent Superbowl commercials do a very good job in capturing that classic Americana.

Strange not having any GM presence(ads), find it weird that instead of reaching the most important consumer market in the world with the Superbowl they overspend to advertise with one European football club.

[speakeasy]

I loved hearing Paul Harvey read the news back when he was alive. Nobody did it like him.

[Emancipator]

Has anyone noticed there's that one blonde actress that is in a large chunk of commercials?
She was in both the Audi and Lincoln commercials, and she is frequently in commercials for other commercials (does a lot for Proctor and Gamble)

[Hotwheels]

(02-04-2013 02:44 AM)Emancipator Wrote:  

I do admit Chrysler's recent Superbowl commercials do a very good job in capturing that classic Americana.

Strange not having any GM presence(ads), find it weird that instead of reaching the most important consumer market in the world with the Superbowl they overspend to advertise with one European football club.

GM ran the numbers and decided the Super Bowl rates were not cost effective. I'm not saying they are right... But their numbers didn't support it.

At the same time, there has been a lot of talk about them dropping the sum they did on that soccer team. Thing is, since soccer is a world wide thing, and GM is a world wide company it may make sense.

I have no idea if that British team is followed the world over, but I'm guessing they get a lot of reach off that deal.

Meanwhile, the Super Bowl is a once a year shot. Last year I liked the Cadillac "Green Hell" ad, but then I'm a car guy. I got it. A lot of people didn't.

I'm kinda torn on the Farmer ad. Being a bit older I remember hearing Paul Harvey on the radio back in the day. And, if you consider the demographic they were going after, it may be a very effective ad. Most guys buying trucks, and especially those they were targeting, remember Harvey.

The thing is, it didn't show enough of the truck they were pushing and ran too long in my opinion. They lost the connection.

[Fujiwara]

The VW commercial you posted was honestly a heart-warmer for me... but then again I have also spent the last year turning wrenches on my red VW Beetle with the roots reggae on blast in the garage.

I can attest that riding around in a cool red Beg does have the displayed effect, at least with mine

[Walderschmidt]

(02-04-2013 08:29 AM)Fujiwara Wrote:  

The VW commercial you posted was honestly a heart-warmer for me... but then again I have also spent the last year turning wrenches on my red VW Beetle with the roots reggae on blast in the garage.

I can attest that riding around in a cool red Beg does have the displayed effect, at least with mine

"Respect, Bossmon"

[rastignac]

(02-04-2013 04:43 AM)Hotwheels Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 02:44 AM)Emancipator Wrote:  

I do admit Chrysler's recent Superbowl commercials do a very good job in capturing that classic Americana.

Strange not having any GM presence(ads), find it weird that instead of reaching the most important consumer market in the world with the Superbowl they overspend to advertise with one European football club.

I have no idea if that British team is followed the world over, but I'm guessing they get a lot of reach off that deal.

Manchester United is one of the most followed sports teams in the world.

[rastignac]

Cynical about this one. As an American, I was a bit appalled by the way these images were used. The country has a huge obesity problem, related to a huge food supply problem. Americans would not know real food, from real farms if it hit them in their huge ass.

My grandparents were hard-working farmers, Norwegian immigrants, and they sure as hell did not have a big pickup truck. And more importantly, me buying one is not going to make their values any more alive.

I agree that they point to the heart of what makes America exceptional. It also portrayed men who weren't hen pecked, had a backbone and seemed to understand what they were doing.

But it was about as authentic as the Minnesota rastafarian.

All American men have left is cars as a means of escape, and pretending that they have any autonomy or even any respect. Marketeers know it is their only escape from the matriarchy. The whole superbowl ad schtik (outside the car das) is about selling junk food to make us fat and sick, dumb CBS TV shows to make us stupid, images affirming women are strong and in charge and men are schmucks.

Athlone McGinnis... love your writing on Return of Kings.

Go Packers.

[Blaster]

I liked the farmer one but think it could have been even better as something other than an advertisement for a truck. Seeing that somehow made the rest of it seem a bit hollow, almost a mockery (but not quite).

[Duke Castile]

I used to listen to Paul Harvey all the time. I loved his voice and the way he delivered his stories.

That commercial was my favorite with the cinematography.

I also thought Leon Sandcastle was hysterical.

[Teedub]

(02-04-2013 02:44 AM)Emancipator Wrote:  

I do admit Chrysler's recent Superbowl commercials do a very good job in capturing that classic Americana.

Strange not having any GM presence(ads), find it weird that instead of reaching the most important consumer market in the world with the Superbowl they overspend to advertise with one European football club.

I support Man United, but had no idea how much they were getting from this new sponsorship deal..."$559m over seven years". That's big money.

[Duke Castile]

(02-04-2013 01:55 AM)Samseau Wrote:  

That whole farmer thing was really from a bygone era. Farmers were casualties of the 20th century.

It was important and popular to idolize farmers in American politics, if you look at old election speeches from the 19th century right up until around WW2, the farmers vote was very important.

It's all mega farms now. The small farmer is basically extinct. They've been bought out or couldn't make payments on farms.

Few farmers like the commercial show exist anymore.

I grew up like that. Cutting firewood, loading it after school, and endless chores like fixing fences and digging post holes. My stepfather is one of those guys. He's a relic of the past. The last 15 years have been the worst.

The way these men worked was insane. They stoically carried out their duties to make a pittance and now they stoically languish in disillusionment.

[WestIndianArchie]

If we're gonna go in on the Paul Harvey/Dodge Ad, how many Latinos did they show in that ad? 2 maybe?

lol. Folks patting themselves on the back for holding up American values, when 2/3 of the people in the remaining agriculture issue are Latino, and 2/3 of the Latinos are Mexican, and a bunch of them aren't here on a "guest worker" program.

WIA

[Duke Castile]

(02-04-2013 01:28 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  

If we're gonna go in on the Paul Harvey/Dodge Ad, how many Latinos did they show in that ad? 2 maybe?

lol. Folks patting themselves on the back for holding up American values, when 2/3 of the people in the remaining agriculture issue are Latino, and 2/3 of the Latinos are Mexican, and a bunch of them aren't here on a "guest worker" program.

WIA

It's still a commercial. Perhaps the ad agency didn't think most latinos could afford a dodge pickup

[Cincinnatus]

(02-04-2013 08:39 AM)Walderschmidt Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 08:29 AM)Fujiwara Wrote:  

The VW commercial you posted was honestly a heart-warmer for me... but then again I have also spent the last year turning wrenches on my red VW Beetle with the roots reggae on blast in the garage.

I can attest that riding around in a cool red Beg does have the displayed effect, at least with mine

"Respect, Bossmon"

The VW commercial was certainly my favorite.

"Aren't you from Minnesota?"

"Yes, I! De land of ten thousand lakes!"

[WestIndianArchie]

(02-04-2013 01:31 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 01:28 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  

If we're gonna go in on the Paul Harvey/Dodge Ad, how many Latinos did they show in that ad? 2 maybe?

lol. Folks patting themselves on the back for holding up American values, when 2/3 of the people in the remaining agriculture issue are Latino, and 2/3 of the Latinos are Mexican, and a bunch of them aren't here on a "guest worker" program.

WIA

It's still a commercial. Perhaps the ad agency didn't think most latinos could afford a dodge pickup

^^Never lived in Texas

[Emancipator]

(02-04-2013 04:43 AM)Hotwheels Wrote:  

GM ran the numbers and decided the Super Bowl rates were not cost effective. I'm not saying they are right... But their numbers didn't support it.

At the same time, there has been a lot of talk about them dropping the sum they did on that soccer team. Thing is, since soccer is a world wide thing, and GM is a world wide company it may make sense.

I have no idea if that British team is followed the world over, but I'm guessing they get a lot of reach off that deal.

Meanwhile, the Super Bowl is a once a year shot. Last year I liked the Cadillac "Green Hell" ad, but then I'm a car guy. I got it. A lot of people didn't.

(02-04-2013 10:28 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I support Man United, but had no idea how much they were getting from this new sponsorship deal..."$559m over seven years". That's big money.

The thing is just as Teedub said, IMO the number GM paid for MAN U deal is pretty crazy, a set of superbowl ads + production value will probably not be over 20-30 million per year over the next 7 years vs. nearly 600 million for one soccer club. Plus would we really trust GM's accounting?

While yes you do get a world wide audience with Man U, you get support in massive soccer hotbeds like SA, Africa and the ME, a large chunk of the markets supported there do not have income levels and along with competition to pay for higher margin vehicles. Those markets will and often do go for the Asian vehicles like Toyota and Nissan. The American market is still the number 1 with higher profit. If the soccer pitch was to grab the Euro market that would be pretty pointless and further sinking money into the Euro pit of GM's Europe operations, and when Europe starts to recover, GM will not benefit the most from it, the Euro companies like Fiat and VW will.

[tmason]

Maybe GM sees a recovery in Europe and wants to capitalize by getting their name out there.

I also believe that they sense, which I do as well, that car ads in the US don't really have that return for your buck that they've been given credit for. Plus, cars are far more reliable; is the new car market really going to start picking up here where even 5+ year old models sell really well? Then we have to consider the still-ailing economy; are folks really buying new cars like that?

[Teedub]

Manchester United is a sound investment on their behalf. It reaches a HUGE global audience and increases brand awareness in many markets.

[Duke Castile]

WIA i'm referring to the latinos you referenced. The ones that are undocumented and not making very much money. I doubt affluent Latinos would want to buy dodges if they showed the migrant workers having them.

[Blackmagic]

My favorite commercial was the Audi one with the kid going to the prom in his dad's S6. Granted, it was just a commercial, but it made me shutter to think the kid was going solo to his prom. He needs to join RVF stat.

BTW, Manchester United is the world's most valuable sports team. They're bigger than the Yankees and Cowboys. It may turn out to be a very smart move to become the sponsor shown on their uniforms as ESPN continues their push to broadcast EPL games leading up to the 2014 World Cup and of course with the Red Devils being owned by an American family probably sealed the deal.

[sucio44]

I didn't get this commercial w/ Will Ferrell.