An instant classic

Wow.

I got into this industry because of my love (and obsession) with classic advertising.

Before stock image libraries and free font websites, creativity flourished with fantastic illustration and beautiful typography at the forefront of many a great idea.

Much to my delight, this approach has been resurrected.

Thank you Elvis. Thank you Mother.

Two of London's big-hitters have delivered once again, with the former treating us to a 1950s-style 'flight' aboard Virgin Trains and the latter, with my favourite campaign of the last few years, takes us back to the 1960s French Riviera, and artistic home of Stella Artois 4%.

Virgin Trains - 'Fly Virgin Trains'

Elvis' vintage illustrative campaign for Virgin Trains is a real journey back to the 1950s, a time when the world had suddenly become more accessible to us all.

Now, whilst this campaign isn't travelling the world over, it is - in a similar way - championing two of the UK's biggest cities, and the speed in which a Virgin Train can carry you between them. 

The harsh blend of typography and muted beauty of the watercolour scene is what really brings this to life for me, and is why it's quite rightly soaring above most other campaigns currently. 

Get on board here http://www.elviscommunications.com/our-work/case-studies/fly-virgin-trains/

As someone who frequents the train daily, I love being a passenger on this journey, and can't wait to see what comes next.

Stella Artois 4% - 'Triple Filtered, Smooth Escapades'

I'm in awe of this campaign. The outdoor, TV, cinema and press. All of it.

What's not to like?

The style. The sophistication. Both mirrored by the timeless talent of artist and illustrator Robert McGinnis (check out his original James Bond posters), this filters through to the TV spots - most recently 'Triple Trains' - and gives its audience just under a minute of classic cinematography, blanketed by a great soundtrack.

Make this your next stop http://www.motherlondon.com/creative/train-–-stella-artois-4/

'Triple Trains' is the forth in this superb series - hopefully to be followed by a few more - and sees a shaggy young man pursuing a beautiful brunette through carriage after carriage, fortunately becoming entangled with other passengers and conductors which subsequently upgrades his appearance until he finally reaches the girl, suavely dressed and on time to present her with a Stella 4% whilst confidently ordering one for himself.

C'est magnifique.

I [don't] Predict A Riot

Ooooh, what bad luck.

I heard that Wieden & Kennedy Portland had created a beautiful new campaign for Levi's.

Using a wonderful voice over - not so dissimilar to that in Honda's ads -  reading out Charles Bukowski's poem The Laughing Heart, and the inspiring camera work of some fantastic footage, 'Levi's Legacy' is born.

The campaign is about embodying the energy and events of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Not about political themes or any such movements, we are encouraged to 'Go Forth' with optimism, positivity and a pioneering spirit.

The intention was to catch such youthful optimism and to recognise all of the people around the world who are stepping forward, towards a better future and thus transforming the world.

Then I hear that this exciting piece of advertising has been pulled or, "temporarily postponed".

Apparently, the ad appears to almost hero rioting which, in light of recent events across the UK couldn't be any more controversial and in bad taste.

Surely not?

As we all would be, I was really intrigued to see just how 'encouraging' it could be to the idiots that are tearing up our streets...

Look at it, don't loot it, here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn1V9v-v5us

...60 seconds later and I'm shocked.

Shocked that I had to watch it for a second time to catch half-a-second of a young man - wearing some really nice jeans - fronting up to a barrage of riot police.

Whilst this particular scene was nothing more than unlucky, given what's going on, it was hardly devastating enough to the ad, and furthermore the campaign, that it should all be pulled.

Over said scene, the poem reads "you're marvelous".

Who's to say that this was inciting, and not a warm compliment to the many protecting officers standing tall?

Maybe this is just another example of how tight our advertising laws are continually becoming.

Then I thought...

Maybe this is utter genius. A fantastic advertising campaign will always do it's job. That's what makes it so. But how to increase it's recognition, it's online hits, and then it's memory? If only there was some kind of topical unrest that would accidentally become linked with a new campaign right at its launch.

Give it a few weeks while our civil unrest is tackled. And the same few weeks for people to get wind of this 'unfortunate' ad campaign and debate it's misfortune, only for it to be relaunched in a further few weeks and BANG! (Bad choice of word?) You've got pretty much double your advertising space.

Even if this possibility is just pure coincidence, I definitely think it's worked in the favor of 'Levi's Legacy'.

And when all the dust has settled, all the shop windows have been put back in, and we've all got other things to discuss again, we can go back to admiring yet another great piece of work from Weiden & Kennedy.

Part One of...

Do you know when you see and ad, right, and it's kind of average, yeah, but then there's, like, a flash of brilliance?

Well, I do. And certainly more often than not.

So to show my appreciation to these bits of brilliance, I thought I'd introduce this new feature to my blog - starting with a couple of campaigns that just about caught my eye.

The first is the TV spot for Anchor's 'Made by Cows' campaign, by agency Clemmow Hornby Inge Ltd.

Why do I think it's average? To be honest, it's really well put together and superbly directed, but nothing we haven't seen before. Animals replacing humans in the work force. However, about half way through this ad, Clemmow Hornby Inge Ltd absolutely nailed it. What wasn't overly unique became creative genius in a split second.

As the Anchor cows 'worked their shifts', one cow ventured over to a vending machine on its break, selecting a snack from the choices of grass turf. As it dropped off the shelf, I thought 'bang!' Brilliant.

Spot it here http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Cows-To-Work-Anchor-Butter-Range/84196

The second average ad with a brilliant bit is again a TV spot, this time for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter's 'Now Even More Buttery' campaign.

Oi, Rob, why is this average? I'll tell you why.

It's kind of predictable and straight forward, but at the same time, quite nicely done. It didn't make me think, "wow, that's a really well-worked piece of advertising", though it did raise a smile.

The idea? 'I Can't Believe I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Is Better' - a possible new, longer name for the product which, in turn, makes other things associated with the brand appear 'longer' than they originally were. For example, a delivery van becomes a longer delivery van, POS becomes a bigger POS etc, etc.

The bit of brilliance was another example of this exaggerated approach. As a team of footballers begin to make their way from the tunnel to the pitch, the manager is making them untuck their shirts, so that the sponsor can be seen in full.

The sponsor, I Can't Believe I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Is Better, is too long to fit on their chests, so they end up struggling to run as their shirts are literally down to their ankles.

I thought this was a bit different to the obvious exaggerations, and a really nice inclusion.

Try it on here http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Now-Even-More-Buttery-I-Cant-Believe-Its-Not-Butter/84789

So there you have it, the first of my new Average Ads with Brilliant Bits features. Of course, feel free to suggest any more examples of this that you may come across

Until next time, enjoy the commercial breaks!

Cheers, Adam & Eve!

G'day!

We've seen some bonza campaigns for the Foster's brand in recent years - more notably M&C Saatchi's 'Super Chilled' executions - and the new 'Good Call' campaign is no exception.

After beating previous incumbent M&C Saatchi and one of my favourtite agencies, Fallon, to the £7m account in April, 'Good Call' is the first execution from winners Adam & Eve.

Perhaps predictably, this new campaign plays on the so-well-documented, assumed Australian 'laid back' attitude to life, but approaches it in such a way that it instantly stands out as classic Foster's advertising, instead of more of the same.

Not an easy thing to achieve, but Adam & Eve have really delivered.

We are introduced to Dan and Brad. Two chilled-out Aussie blokes relaxing in their beach shack, giving advice to callers in the UK who have found themselves in social dilemmas.

In this particular 'dilemma', the caller is concerned that his girlfriend may end up looking like her mum. He is quickly calmed down and assured that while this could be the case, it's important not to worry about the future and he should just enjoy 'the now'.

Great advice, added to by suggesting that there's always a chance she could "turn out to be a Vorderman".

The caller soon cheers up and stops panicking. No worries.

Get it down you here http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Good-Call-for-Beach-Advice-Fosters-Lager/85130

I can't wait to see what Adam & Eve come up with for the next installment of this campaign.

If this is anything to go by, it'll be a ripper!

There is paintball...and there is PAINTBALL!

Splat! What an ad.

When I first saw EuroMillions 'Paintball', the new National Lottery campaign by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, I thought it looked pretty good - a nice approach, like the Lotto ads by Aegis Group dedicated to 'those who would rather give it a go'.

However, now I've seen it more than a dozen times in just a few days, I thinks it's fantastic. There are literally millions of ways that winners could enjoy the money, but Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO went for a Rambo-style, extreme paintball circuit.

The idea is an evolution of the more tactical jackpot-focused and EuroMillions 'Pinball' ads - and really starts to open up the imagination as to what could be possible if you won the jackpot.

What's also nice about the approach of this new campaign is that the emphasis is not just on the huge jackpots, but encouraging winners to share it amongst friends too.

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/thework/news/1010792/EuroMillions-paintball-Abbott-Mead-Vickers-BBDO/

I'd love to have been on this tropical set - and took part in the game!

The campaign launched with a 40-second TV spot, followed up by this 60-second version (link above) shown on cinema screens. Other supporting media includes press, radio and online.

The 60-second cinema version is especially refreshing if you're about to sit through 90 minutes of predictable love story, just so that you're allowed to watch a World Cup game as a reward!

World Cup streaking, in HD

Now that World Cup domination of the commercial break is in full swing, I thought I'd juggle watching the opening game with blogging about the hilarious TV spot for Freeview HD.

The £12 million campaign 'Tiny Streaker' has been produced by 18 Feet & Rising.

The TV spot breaks during the World Cup matches - including the last break before South Africa kicked-off against Mexico.

It shows a tiny Londoner with a scroll-like beard convincing us that this will be his World Cup, as he takes advantage of Freeview HD using it as an excuse to strip and streak, and get involved in the not-so-beautiful-anymore game - all to the sound of 80s club classic 'Safety Dance', by Men Without Hats.

This passionate character has already launched online, unbranded, appearing seemingly unannounced on football fan sites.

The campaign really doesn't take itself too seriously, which is great. It's just a bit of fun that will compete with every other South Africa-inspired campaign this summer.

See it in all it's naked glory here http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/theWork/news/1004678

And you can follow the Tiny Streaker via his blog and see how his character is developed further here www.tinystreaker.com

Really lovin' it

Many happy returns, literally. In October 2009 McDonald's celebrated its 35th anniversary as a UK restaurant by launching their 'Favourites' campaign. It featured all kinds of people coming and going as they just passed by, each enjoying the McDonald's experience in their own unique way.

Supported by outdoor and print ads as well as being reflected on the brand's website and throughout its social media channels, the TV spot was the crowning execution for me.

Leo Burnett London really nailed it with this concept, together with superb copywriting by Tony Malcolm and Guy Moore and perfect delivery from narrator David Morrissey.

Featuring the classics, Big Mac, French Fries and Chicken McNuggets - which fist appeared on the original McDonald's menu in 1974 - this ad brings particular attention to and really sums up how much the franchise has evolved over decades. And it continues to do so.

There's also a particularly clever line in the ad and fantastic attention to detail where we hear about how some of us choose to remove the gherkins from our burgers. Like I do.

Tuck in to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDxLtKQZfIU

So, why am I only blogging about this now? It's been and gone...hasn't it? Well, no it hasn't. Just like the rest of the world's big brands, McDonald's is also on the 'plane to South Africa this summer and with it goes their new-build 'Favourites' TV spot.

Tailored for McDonald's in England, Wales and Scotland, the updated ad has been created as part of their marketing drive around this year's World Cup.

The new campaign kicked off on Saturday (June 5th) and is every bit as brilliant as its original. Still focussing on all the different kinds of customers, it identifies those of us who are completely taken over by World Cup fever as well as those who really aren't. After all, there is a McDonald's for everyone.

Enjoy it here http://www.brandrepublic.com/Discipline/Advertising/News/1007161/McDonalds-unveils-World-Cup-ad/

Oh and, this time around it sounds like previous narrator David Morrissey has been replaced. Any idea who the new voice belongs to?

Whoever it is, he's part of an ongoing advertising masterpiece.

The creative minds, it takes all kinds, to come up with then revamp right in time, a World Cup ad that stands out and is so refined, weren't just passing by. The folks at Leo Burnett have been doing great things for many years. And long may it continue.