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.