Heineken, the switch

There is no secret that Henieken, is one of my all time best loved brands. From the sophisticated communications of it’s brand theory through to the benefits the actual end product provides, really what’s there not to like. Personally I can drink any beer when needed but when I see that red star flushed against the green stamp my lips get just that little bit more excited than usual. It’s kind of like the difference of dating a stripper to that of Victoria Secret model both do the job in more ways than one, however you would only introduce your mother to one of them. Your father however will be there to give you a high five and all of a sudden make weekly unannounced visits to your bachelor pad.

We have all been in this situation sometime or another in our lives lads.  Where late one night you and a few good mates are looking for a watering hole in an area where you have never been. With no local knowledge you stumble across a the only dodgy bar that you happen to find at ridiculous O’Clock and even though you wouldnt normally dare step foot in it, it’s late your boys have covered the whole damn town and right now your tongue feels like Gandhi flip-flop, you really need that beer. And anyway’s it’s 4 guys what could go wrong? The rest they say is history, think of the Hangover (the film not the day after fool) as those nights are those magical nights that are remembered and told for centuries. If you have never had a night like this then it’s time you switched to Heineken beer and upped your game. Just saying.

Booze has that effect we all know it, so big round of applause for the Dutch Agency TBWA Neboko for the creation of this spot for their local market. Taking over from the prestigious Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam, I feel they have done a pretty damn fine job in keeping the Heineken image flowing pure. Apparently there was no CGI involved in shooting this making this all live film, brave very brave.

Keep up the great work guys!

Open our worlds.

Nike focuses on Girl Power

English: Swoosh Español: Swoosh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Every now and again the swoosh pulls out something fantastic, Wieden & Kennedy have the ability to touch you where no one else can. Wait that doesn’t sound right in this context, but you know what I mean. That feeling of power that tingly feeling that gives you that little extra piece of omph to get you super amped to take on the world.  Even I was super influenced by this amazing girl power dominating spot, while I sit at my desk I have the urge to time myself doing a quick lap of the office. Gotta’ love it when an ad can have an emotional pull towards the brand.

Go Nike

Go Wieden + Kennedy

Go Ladies

Nandos vs Santam: are you kidding me

This time last week I posted about South Africa is getting ready for their annual ad awards the Loeries, well it looks like the agencies are trying to push themselves to be in-front of the judging panels. Recently the fast food retail chain spoofed the Santam’s TVC. Firstly let’s be fair this is exactly the kind of behaviour you would expect from Nando’s and Black River FC, Nando’s wicked agency. But then why is a fast food chain taking on a financial services company? Do they have  something against Sir Ben Kingsley or maybe in the past Santam was the bank for Nandos and lost them quite a lot of money of the FTSE, just saying. Well you never know but lets just be safe cause that’s how rumours are started, so please don’t listen to me.

For those who don’t follow South African advertising shame on you because you are missing out on some symbolic radvertising, but I’ll forgive you this time and just because I’m a really really nice guy, I’ve been holding out waiting for Nandos second response before post this because I care about you.

Any how this little gun fight is just far to good to miss out on.

The first symbolic ad by Santam:

 

Then in the traditional Nandos style they got naughty by spoofing the iconic ad.

 

Cheeky very cheeky, but then Santam hit back by dropping the gauntlet with this little number.

 

We love it not only does Santam get cleaver and witty but they also open their hearts to help those in need but seems no one can keep Nandos quite as they were not finished yet.

 

Now that’s what you call giving the bird, how’s that for a great advertising sparring?

Nandos did accept the challenge and they even delivered a day early and then they went a step further, proving they are not chicken. Hold on that can’t be right I thought they were chicken. Ok lets just call them Portuguese chicken, happy?

They delivered the entire order to Johannesburg Children’s Home on Wednesday and not only that but they are going to continue to do so once every month for a year. Touché Nandos, gotta love a man when he admits his loss but is this really a loss?

What would clients pay these days to achieve one of the best  symbolic moving advertising campaign of the year, where the free media and viral WOM out ranks that spent at least 5 fold.

Quentin Cronje, marketing director for Nando’s, told Radio 702′s Bruce Whitfield: it was “nice” to have fun with other brands.

Great stuff by King James and Black River FC, hats off to the teams who worked on this.

Thanks to Pharside and Source from 2 Oceans Vibe

Tastes like AWESOME feels: Doritos Jacked – Joyride

Awesome little spot by Goodby Silverstein for Doritos new range Jacked with flavours like Smoky Chipotle BBQ and Enchilada Supreme.

 

The tagline alone is worth it to try these.

Can’t wait to grab a pack.

Amazeballs.

 

Monday Madness: Brain Farm’s show reel

Wake up people, it’s Monday. There is a world out there to take and call it your own. Now I’ve seen my fair share of show reel’s in my day some great and some good just to laugh at however the 2012 show reel for Brain Farm’s Digital Cinema is simply, Mind BOOM-Blowing. It’s that good that it need’s the sound effect, true story.

 

How good was that, these guys have done work for almost every cool brand on this planet and it’s no wonder why. Now that’s a show reel but what is a show reel without Awolnation’s Sail? Don’t worry they have done one of those as well.

 

Epic

The worlds most downloaded Man

This is for all those who siphon through stock libraries looking for the perfect image and battle with royalty fees.

 

South Africa gets ready for the Loeries awards

Every year the South African ad industry turns from an vigorous mustang to a fully fledged stampede of  raging bulls, well at least the young guns do, as the more mature stallions seem to take it within their stride. The reasons behind this is for both pride and party which are two total different areas but two of the biggest when you think of any ad industry. As the 34th Annual Loeries awards entrants are opened. The quality of the South African advertising is up there amongst the best of the word, where every year a few loeries winners go on to make a name for themselves at the internationally recognised Cannes or D&AD awards and few are lucky enough to walk away with a Lion or pencil. Every year the Loeries ask local advertisers to create a campaign and this year nothing has changed.

This little skit just goes to show why there is so much excitement and hype created around the awards, with the industry’s leaders passionately explain why they are “Ad Men”.

 

Goosebumps

Nice little motivational speech reminding us why we do what we do.

Good to also see the rock star @mikeschalit still dominating the scene.

Have fun at the after party peeps and good luck to all those who are submitting entries.

Great viral for a launch: Prometheus

If you have not heard of Prometheus yet then you ought to climb up from under that rock you are hiding under. The social webs are currently going mad over this new sci-fi film that’s due to be released on the 8^th June with an incredible cast to say the least. Have a look at the trailer if you have not seen it yet.

 

Looks good doesn’t it? Now have a look at the little viral piece which they realised recently, this is what really impressed me.

 

Even though it’s been done in a few features before like I Robot and A.I. It still has that unknown force which pulls you to want to know more. Now that’s some great advertising featuring Michael Fassbender, well done to the team over at RSA Films.

Can’t wait for this to come out.

Levi Roots’ Reggae Reggae Sauce: First campaign

A Jamaican born Rasta, Levi Roots‘ has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride with his career and come from strength to strength ever since his appearance on Dragon’s Den way back in January 2007. Where he was successful in signing not one but two dragons, with the likes of both Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh, as investors by singing his pitch. He sold 40% of the company for a mere £50k but the investors did quite a bit more than just help with cash they also aided him get into stores and to where he is today.  The company produces and sells a few variety of sauce’s which has twist of a Jamaican flavour, which he learned the recipes from his Grandmother. Gotta’ love Grandmothers.

Today Levi is basically the face of Reggae Reggae after all he is the perfect personification for the brand very much like Branson is for Virgin. So the obviously solution for the advertising is to make him the brand personality and to follow this through with every touch point in all communications. Keeping to the Jamaican rasta roots will inevitably be the largest POD as well as the simplest to succumbed successfully, yes there is direct competition and well done to you if any come’s straight to mind because basically Levi has created his own product category amongst the sauces. In the end Levi also basically did the job for the agency well at least made their lives that much simpler to do. If it is ever that simple, which we doubt.

 

JWT London was responsible for bringing Levi Roots to life, using the same production treatment to that of the British favourite Wallace & Gromit and you already have a winner. Then add Levi singing reggae to his BBQ food, while slightly adding in a touch of product information and their benefits amongst a catchy track. Finish off with the strap line, “Put some music in your food” and there my friends you have an ad straight from the advertising handbook for dummies. Before you judge let’s be honest now because this is simply is the best and only way in which you can advertise Reggae Reggae Sauce because if it were anything different it wouldn’t be on brand and even though it is the obvious it’s still a great piece of creative. Just goes to show sometimes the simpler is the best solution.

Well done JWT we likes.

Tupac comes alive at Coachella

Wow we just posted about Charlie Sheen making a come back and now Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996) is ALIVE after showing up for a performance at Coachella.]

 

Don’t worry peep’s it’s only a hologram but it’s still pretty awesome, it’s amazing what technology can do these days.

Can’t wait to see them bring this into the ad world taking it a step further from the 3D building holograms.

Imagine seeing a live commercial of let’s say a giant David Beckham wearing Adidas, dribbling a ball down Oxford Street amongst all the traffic of  buses and taxis. Rebounding it off the buildings and finally bending it into the top right net which is positioned at the cross section of Regents street, which also just happens to be where the Nike Flagship store is. Just saying.

and who said advertising is dead.