Post: #1

What makes a TV commercial powerful? It could be an appeal to emotion. It may tap into some core value. It might be powerful imagery. Or it could be a whole host of other reasons. I think it’s worth starting a thread to share and break down commercials that are extremely effective. These are my top 5 (chronological order).





Year: 1964

Organization: Lyndon Johnson Campaign

Product sold: presidential votes

Why it works: this is the grandaddy of the modern political attack ad. In the most unsettling manner possible, Johnson implied that his opponent, Senator Barry Goldwater, was unfit to be President because, if elected, he would singlehandedly end civilization. Goldwater was a conservative hardliner who wanted to take extreme measures against communists and the Soviet Union—including the use of nuclear weapons in Vietnam. The ad was aired only once on national television (it was pulled immediately after). But the damage was done. Johnson won the 64 election in a landslide.





Year: 1971

Organization: Keep America Beautiful

Product sold: litter and pollution prevention

Why it works: powerful imagery that provokes strong emotion. The ad begins with the noble savage paddling his canoe in a pristine wilderness, unblemished by the hands of men. But the unblemished landscape is abruptly and rudely interrupted as he passes garbage in the stream. All at once, the Indian finds himself in unfamiliar waters, surrounded by machinary and industry. And then the deathblow. After the Indian reaches the shore, the motorist lobs garbage out of his window without a second thought. This is too much to bear for the Indian: he is overcome with grief that people could care so little for the earth and its inhabitants. The ad instills a sense of social responsibility in the viewer. It was responsible in part for the environmental movement of the 70s.





Year: 1984

Organization: Apple

Product sold: Macintosh

Why it works: a masterpiece in symbolism. In 1984, IBM had the lion’s share of the computing market and was well on its way to a monopoly. Taking advantage of the situation, Apple portrayed the computing world as an Orwellian dystopia that was totalitarian and void of any life or color. Recreating the novel that was supposed to occur in the said year, Apple presented the Macintosh as a revolutionary that would challenge and ultimately upend the status quo. The ad only aired once on national televising during the Super Bowl (just once because Apple failed to get the necessary permission from Orwell’s estate). But the ad marked the beginning of Apple’s rise to power.





Year: 2010

Organization: Dodge

Product sold: Challenger

Why it works: not a classic, I must admit, but one I love nonetheless because it is a pure appeal to the American ethos. In the beginning, the impression is given that one is watching an ad for a new Ken Burns documentary. The music is mournful, yet sweet, and sounds of pure Americana. The Redcoats seem nervous, but one has no idea why. Then General Washington bursts out of the woods mounted on a gallant steed with the power of hundreds of horses. The Redcoats have no choice but to flee in terror. And the two things America got right? Fuck yeah.





Year: 2015

Organization: EDEKA

Product sold: groceries

Why it works: a wrenching appeal to emotion and family. The patriarch of the German Fatherland has long been cast aside, his family scattered to the four corners of the globe. He tries to reunify his family, but to no avail. They give him the same old excuses and broken promises to try again later. So he turns to desperate measures. His family, expecting the worst, returns home. But sorrow is turned to joy and a bountiful feast is prepared. Courtesy of EDEKA groceries, of course.

Feel free to add your own.

Post: #2

I remember that Dodge commercial. So much Merica.

Post: #3

That last ad brought a tear to my eye.

Post: #4

(01-24-2016 02:57 PM)The Beast1 Wrote:  That last ad brought a tear to my eye.

Another reason I really like it: it doesn't play to some alternative lifestyle. Just good old traditional family values.

I think it also resonates with a lot of people who have spent time abroad and simply don't go back home as often as they should.

Post: #5

Cherish your parents while they're still alive gents.

Post: #6

This is a good idea for a thread. I respect a good commercial.





Year: 2007

Organization : Nissan

Product Sold: Cars

A superbowl commercial ripping off TopGun. A squadron of pigeons, with wing leaders call signed Dirty Bird and Skyrat, attempt bombing runs on a fleeing Nissan set to Kenny Loggins Dangerzone. Complete with advanced targeting systems, a preflight briefing and a dueced up wedding.

Post: #7

No commercial speaks the truth like this redneck pimping Chevy trucks

Post: #8

Brilliant.

Post: #9

(01-24-2016 04:56 AM)Habano Wrote:  

Not gonna lie. This one choked me up. Heavy, but true.

Post: #10

From Thailand,

Remember to be kind. (ninjas chopping onions alert)

Post: #11

And another

Post: #12

(01-24-2016 03:46 PM)Buck Wild Wrote:  Brilliant.

Perfect choice in song. There really is a beauty to the Irish countryside and the folk who live in it. But that red pill ending is fantastic.

Not gonna lie. If I see that whiskey in the U.S., I might get some even if it's cheap garbage.

Post: #13

The Edeka commercial was pretty intense.

Post: #14

Post: #15

https://youtu.be/ikmd-vtRCqo

Year: 2015
Organization : Under Armour
Product Sold: Clothing

I only saw this commercial twice but immediately thought of the forum, specifically Giovanny (consistent positive attitude, young girls) and CleanSlate (deaf game). Y'all have put in so much work that it probably comes off as natural now but I love to think that all of us at the forum keep working toward improvement. It's great to just reflect on that and imagine every fucked up approach, every minute under weight at the gym or home, every grammar mistake in a foreign country, all being done simultaneously as steps in the right direction.

Post: #16

Bank commercial.





Not ashamed to admit this commercial brought me to tears.

Post: #17

(01-24-2016 05:14 PM)urbannomad Wrote:  

An instant classic. I was thinking about putting in in my OP, but left it out. Glad you brought it up.

It portrays the world as an idealized version of what we want it to be. Everyone is happy and gets along.

Hell, it's so good, it was the closing for Mad Men, a show dedicated to ads.

Post: #18

(01-24-2016 05:02 PM)Habano Wrote:  Not gonna lie. If I see that whiskey in the U.S., I might get some even if it's cheap garbage.

It's not bad, actually. Try the 12 year.

Post: #19

Released during the playoffs before the Seahawks won the big one.

Post: #20

drinking milk gets you bitches.





This commercial would be banned today. It has it all...encouraging young men to go to the gym so they can pick up chicks.

Post: #21

^ Pretty redpill... but that Cherry 7up commercial after it. Damn.

Post: #22

This one stopped me cold when I first saw it:

"So God Made a Farmer".

https://youtu.be/H7yZdOl_e_c

I'm not religious at all either. I think it was starkness of Paul Harvey's voice with no background music and the reminder of how hard people like farmers work.

Post: #23

Let's talk about anti-drug spots for a second. Regardless of what you think about drugs, these ads are some of the most powerful appeals to emotion ever produced for TV.




Rachel Leigh Cook smashing up a kitchen to show the dangers of heroin use. as an aside, WB.




Kind of hokey now, but would this probably have freaked me out if I had seen it as a little kid? YESSSSSSSSSSS.




I don't know what's creepier here, that dead-eyed woman or the little girl singing "howww old are you noowwwwww" in the background.




I actually did see this one as a kid and it did freak me out. The smoky room, the creepy-looking kid in the glasses hanging from the strings, and that flute music...




My male protective instinct when seeing a girl in distress has been dulled over the years by fake female histrionics, but it always comes back when I see this ad. I don't know if this is real or not but if it is fake then this girl is one hell of a method actress.

More to come...

Post: #24

1972 - SOUTHWEST AIRLINES




No SFX. No fine print. No $$$$$$ SAVINGS!!!!!$$$$$. Just a fine young lady and a 737-200 blowing smoke out of an early set of low-bypass turbofans.

Beauty.

Post: #25

1996 Nissan 300ZX





Alpha Fux and Beta Bux

-CP