June 30, 2009

That’s one way to help a starving artist

Dunkin Donuts had street musicians promote their 99 cent breakfast.

This guy told me he was paid for the gig and got to keep anything people gave. Judging by the haul in his guitar case, the headline inspired people to throw in a dollar bill instead of their spare change.

June 29, 2009

What do you have against fruit?

It took me awhile to get this one.

But once I recognized the splatter as a pineapple slice, I laughed at the straws blasting it away like a shotgun on a skeet range.

Not sure if the cherry and cocktail sword is supposed to be a head on a pike, but eliminating fruit by any means necessary does a fun job of paying off the line “The rum that needs nothing.”
Although it does make me worry that the brand has some self-loathing issues about being named named Appleton Estates.

June 25, 2009

You weren’t planning on talking about anything besides Michael Jackson today anyway, were you?





(The Pepsi spot that set his hair on fire is in an earlier post here.)







Won't anyone remember him as the King of Soda Pop commercials?

Please don't let all of the memorials and tributes about his successes and tribulations cause you to forget Michael Jackson's amazing string of Pepsi commercials.

Of course, the work was just as famous for the moment immortalized in Phil Dusenberry’s book, Then We Set His Hair On Fire: Insights and Accidents from a Hall-of-Fame Career in Advertising. Here’s a great excerpt. And here’s a movie reenactment:

Is there really a secret to selling soda?

11 herbs and spices made The Colonel famous. But has anyone cared about Coca-cola’s formula since they got rid of the cocaine?



Maybe the strategy has been working for Dr. Pepper? They've been touting their 23 flavors for a while now.

I guess you can make a connection between the keyhole graphic and a secret being locked away. But it's a stretch. Selling the simple joy of having a Coca-Cola is much more true to the brand. (Remember “Have a Coke and a smile?”

I hope they just keep focusing on “Open Happiness."





On a side note, combining two words to form a nonsense word is the new black.

June 24, 2009

Do you like it fast and dirty?

McDonald’s is apparently reusing the same strategy as their much discussed "I’d hit it" cheeseburger banner ad.


Not as risqué as the Burger King Super Seven Incher fellatio ad that’s making the rounds this week.

And on a more family-friendly note, here a few more ads they’re currently running:




June 23, 2009

What could be worse than globalization?


I assumed this was a new video game until I saw “this film is not yet rated” on the the D-9 site.

Forcing aliens into refugee camps makes for an interesting trailer.
I’m sure the video game is already in the works.

June 22, 2009

Reach out and touch someone


The model in this Times Square billboard for designer Vivienne Tam is reaching into another ad for the HP TouchSmart PC.
At first glance, I thought it was another co-op ad (similar to HBO’s True Blood promotion) but look closer and you may notice that the second model is clutching the HP Mini Vivienne Tam edition.
Very smart indeed.
(Thanks to Lauren and Jordan for the photo.)
I know I've seen this technique in print with a character from a fake ad reaching out to grab the beer in another ad, but can’t remember the brand.
Can anyone thing of it or other examples?

June 19, 2009

Why do we love booze?

Jameson Whiskey is still questioning their appeal.

(Previous work in this campaign here.)




It could just be the taste. Or maybe it's that tingly, warm glow that lowers inhibitions.
I hope Alcohol Advertising Awareness Week has prepared you to enjoy the weekend with the libation of your choice.

June 18, 2009

Does your liver deserve a more sophisticated palate?


Thanks to that headline, I can’t help but wonder how cucumbers had delighted her in the past.

Hendrick’s Gin was recommended to me by bartender at The Balcony Club above the Lakewood Theater in Dallas. Cucumber and rose petals sounds like an odd mix, but I thoroughly enjoy it. And I have to say that everything about these ads feels right.

Tie one on for Alcohol Advertising Awareness Week.

June 17, 2009

Is Ketel One's new campaign better than a blank page?

An example of their past work:

Here's the new work that just went up:

Their site is still under renovation though.

But the big question is will copyranter have anything better to say about it than his replies to their previous ads?

It's Alcohol Advertising Awareness Week here at Ask A Copywriter, so wash your stress away with the libation of your choice.

June 16, 2009

Can you handle a shot of the truth?


The truth is sometimes you just need a cheap drink.



Raise a glass and celebrate Alcohol Advertising Awareness Week.

June 15, 2009

Do people drink more during a recession?

Or do liquor marketers just run more ads?
Either way, I’m declaring it Alcohol Advertising Awareness Week. So it's all booze, all week here at Ask A Copywriter.

It sounds like another word made up by a copywriter, but maceration is actually a real wine term.

June 13, 2009

You want acorns with that?


Yes, that’s a squirrel eating a french fry.
Must be a friend of the little guy I saw last year munching on a packet of Heinz ketchup.

I fully expect to see a furry, little rodent sucking down a milkshake next. Everything at the Shake Shack is that good.

June 12, 2009