This is the most anticipated event of American football for all professional football lovers across the world. For lesser mortals like me who would never trade his Cricket religion for any game in the world, this event indeed is special for not football but for advertising.
In good old times in India around “Ramanyan” time in doordarshan, one used too watch television for ads, perhaps those days in India have gone, in America this annual championship games are a replica of our “Buniad” days. People just love ads as much as the games.
Last year Chrysler’s “Halftime in America” swept the audience with some brilliant writing and an emotional Eastwood’s appearance.
I picked some commercials, which are making waves at this Kumbhmela of advertising:
- Taco Bell for the sheer audacity of using old folks sneaking out of an old age home to have night out full of fun. Great spot to watch and highly charming and engaging, it may remind you of infamous Lipton Tea. (Remember old people sipping tea, while the song says look at all those young people sipping Lipton tea) or even the Switzerland tourism spot where the two old farmers decides to travel to Zurich and discover fun while visiting night clubs)
- Volkswagen “Get in. Get happy.” Beautifully written spot had its field day with racism controversies. Jamaican’ism is the reason for controversy and delight, to me its sheer delight to see almost Chris Gayle cheering the world. Brilliant one-liners like “turn your frown the other way” or “don’t be a no cloud on a sunny day” absolute delight.
- Budweiser “The Clydesdales- Brotherhood”: Very touchy, well-crafted film has won my heart, well told story of brotherhood between a colt and a young man. Spot ends with the brand inviting people to suggest a name for the young Clydesdale (powerful carriage horse)
Some more spots worth mentioning are Samsung “The next big thing”, Mercedes “Soul”, Audi “Prom Night”. Check out on the YouTube. A mix-bag of good, bad and the ugly this year.
