Posted on 03/16/2022 5:44:31 PM PDT by nikos1121
I took an advertising course in college. The prof gave us an assignment to make a radio or tv commercial on any product we chose.
He was an old school guy, who told us that the rules of advertising hadn't really changed since the Clark Gable movie, The Hucksters, came out especially when it comes to "funny" ads.
He said funny ads don't work. People may laugh at the commercial, but they won't be persuaded to buy the product by comedy.
And his next thought stuck with me. People may remember the humor, but they won't remember the product that goes with it.
I think of him every time a "try to be funny" ad comes on the air. You've seen them. It's usually a white pajama boy who is totally clueless, and his wife or girl friend sets him straight.
The ad might start out serious and actually may be pretty good, but they're compelled to finish it with about ten seconds of some goofy gag line.
Then you have those car insurance or cell phone ads. They all try to be funny, and a few are, but the next day, like my old prof said, you can't remember the product.
These companies are paying millions of dollars to these advertising agencies for commercials that are stupid and insult your intelligence, and probably do not sell their product as well as if they presented the product in a straight forward honest manner.
I'm not talking here about a catchy phrase, like "Where's the beef", or "I'd walk a mile for Camel." Those are clever and the product sticks in your mind.
Which brings me to the latest Infiniti Commercial. It's not funny or even clever. It just makes you scratch your head wondering, who thought this would sell their cars.
If you've seen any of their latest ads they seem to be marketing to mainly snooty, rich, white women.
This is the company, that some years back, had this great idea to introduce their latest car, BY NOT SHOWING IT!
Instead, the commercial was silent with words on the screen that said "The Car is Coming!" and "It Will Change Your Driving Experience Forever" etc. before a backdrop of a winding country road.
The current commercial is called "The Band Recital," and it depicts an orchestra made up of these cute well groomed middle school kids who are trying to play the 2001 Space Odyssey Theme. Unfortunately they're playing it badly, and way out of tune, but they don't know it.
They play their little hearts out reminding all of us of those times we sat at a concert of our own kids. We would never think of doing what this gal does in the commercial.
First of all, she has her QX60 parked in front of the band. They're not outside, they're inside! Who drives their car into a school auditorium to listen to their kids band?
That's weird enough, but it gets worse.
This gal has her windows and moon roof opened, but as soon as she hears the cacophony of this little orchestra, she closes the windows and roof, and with a smile of pleasure this rich b*tch turns on her car stereo playing the 2001 Theme by a professional orchestra.
The thought of this commercial, for sure, will remind me of the Infiniti product, but it doesn't make me want to buy one of their cars.
I’m not talking here about a catchy phrase, like “Where’s the beef”,
I thought the Joe Isuzu and Fed Ex ads were pretty good too.
Ugh.
I’ve seen that ad. I didn’t remember what the car was.
I think you got the same idea. Those ads were clever, and the catch phrase worth millions. They were short.
I’d say more than half of the current commercials are mindless, and they’re probably written by young left wing liberal nut jobs who are too lazy to come up with something clever or witty.
Infiniti.
Never bought one.
Hahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!
I haven’t seen it, but it sounds like it misses the mark like this one.
Pretty much left TV when “The Walking Dead” and “Dr. Who” took a dive.
Went back to reading books.
Infiniti is just a mediocre Nissan with a bigger price tag and a (slightly) better class of sales guy.
They tried to emulate the Toyota success of Lexus but never made it.
Most ads have target demos and may be totally incomprehensible to those not in the target group. Sounds like this one is aimed at childless, work-from-home laptop classers. I guess that’s who buys Infiniti - I wouldn’t know.
Yup. Directed at the same kind of people.
... and targeted at the “Aspirational snooty rich”. i.e someone who wants to pose that they are rich.
I only see TV ads by accident but this one isn’t embarrassing or enraging like some. Writer is a sniveler though.
I agree with you. I couldn’t identify with most of the super bowl ads.
This Infiniti ad is strange. I think you’ve pegged who it’s trying to target.
The lady is in her car, and it’s parked in front of the band stage, and she’s listening intently at first so you assume, one of her kids is in the band.
But as soon as she hears the screeching, she rolls up the windows.
“Infiniti is just a mediocre Nissan with a bigger price tag and a (slightly) better class of sales guy. They tried to emulate the Toyota success of Lexus but never made it.”
Actually, they did make it, but in a niche market. Just like the Subaru is the Lesbo Limo, the Inifinity is the homosexual car of choice. Kid you not.
I’ve test driven their SUVs. They’re underpowered, and not even close to the quality of Lexus.
Hahaha.
I think these ad people are lazy. Any one of us could come up with something better.
As a parent who survived numerous grade school concerts, the ad caught my attention. Not so much the tenth time around.
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