Just… Damme.

Okee, it’s hard to believe it’s not a fake. And that’s a hell of a lot of makeup. But god-Damme if Jean-Claude doesn’t still have it. And a nice slow clap in fingerless gloves for the brand guys at Volvo for trying something different than a “Dad-saves-his-kids-by-swerving-to-avoid-deer” safety spot. Fresh. Cool. Ouch.

Adtoberfest

In Munich, the city shuts down for the last two weeks of September so that the locals and visitors can down industrial-sized mugs of bier and sing traditional Bavarian songs like Sweet Caroline and Country Roads.

With this little city of a million swelling to fit another 5 million tourists, there’s no shortage of bloodshot eyeballs just waiting for crafty advertisers to catch. Generally it’s the “big six” breweries that do much of the heavy lifting.

After all, a funny ad on the U-Bahn might make the different whether you go into a Spaten or a Lowenbrau tent more than it will help you decide between a Siemens or Bosch ultrasound machine.

And with that, a gulp of the OOH advertising from the ’13 edition of bierfest. Prost!

Marketing walkabout

Advertisers love to pitch “guerilla” tactics to their clients. After all, when done right, these tactics can draw major attention, cost little (plus more profit goes into the creative agency’s rather than the media agency’s pocket) and look reeeeeeeeally dope in a creative’s portfolio. Believe me.

The problem is that generally these tactics are pipe dreams. Any commercial activity that takes place in a public area tends to fall at the mercy at any dozen municipal codes, requirements, approvals and reviews. It’s basically impossible to realize easily.

So when I stumbled upon some greenman-like clad gentlemen with OOH posters stabled to their back, a thought occured: hey, that might work. Not only do they attract attention, but they are in and out of any space before any bureaucrat can raise a stink.

I just wonder: what happens when they have to take a leak?

Tasteful Spots, Tasty Shots

Maybe it’s due to the week I spent drinking my way through Ireland, but it seems like Jameson is one of the few liquor brands successfully finding a way to reinforce a stale brand image.

It’s par for the course for more established brands to lean on their ‘history’ when battling new competitive upstarts, but only Jameson does it with such a high level of wit, humor and blockbuster-caliber cinematography.

Plus, every schoolboy needs an idol. Go get ’em John Jameson.

The One That Got Away

Like a game of “duck-duck-goose”, Axe takes a left out of Usualville with this haunting, clever — and in a way, sweet — spot. Instead of scantily clad babes clawing at dorky, unwashed dweebs, this ad actually takes a bit more human approach (Okee, superheroes and fireworks notwithstanding) to address the USP of their product.

Actual showering not required.

More Positively Awesome PSAs

I’ll go on record: I love PSAs.

Especially the clever, the outstanding, the shocking, the unique. Because if there’s one example of how even the most boring messages (and public service announcements are most certainly that) can be turned into something special, than this is it.

Perhaps the best I’ve found yet is the catchy jingle, dark humor and adorable animations that are used to convince dumb Aussies not to die on Metro trains. Sounds like a real winner, right? Just press play.

Google Gets Geeked

Google is known for the virtualizing of nearly every facet of our modern world. But in its advertising style, it aims for the other extreme — often using outdated, throwback and highly tangible materials as metaphors for its intangible technologies.

Whether meant to be tongue-in-cheek, hyperhipsterist or simply clever, these ads show just how much Google’s virtual world has become more real to us today than the ‘real’ world.

Check Out This ESPN Spot Featuring Michael Jordan

This post isn’t about Michael Jordan. Well, it is, but not that Michael Jordan. Disappointed? That’s the whole point of this commercial, which — ironically — doesn’t disappoint. Ummm, let’s get to the point…

(By the way, why can’t he just change his name to “Mikey”?)

Dreaming of Next Year

Maybe it’s because I, too, dream of the day when a party like this erupts on the North Side of Chicago.

Maybe it’s because I’m still a little bitter about the well-written, but short-sighted Gawker rant claiming that advertising sucks the souls out of creative professionals.

Or maybe it’s just because this short spot for a video game embodies everything that I believe advertising — yes, that demon of modern capitalist ennui — can and should strive to do: just tell a great story.

The Crummiest Advertising Money Can Buy

Great products deserve captivating advertising. Bad products demand the crappy stuff. But sometimes from those low-budget stinkers, bubbles up pure gold.

I’m a huge fan of down-and-dirty local ads. The rougher, the better. So when low-brow patron of the arts, Will Ferrell, took it upon himself to be the face of one of the crappiest of all American brands, I just had to crack open a tall boy and smile.

 

And if that wasn’t great enough, ol’ Willy followed up with a six-pack of a series.