The Argos Christmas ad features Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget About Me” a song I’d completely tired of to the point I would skip it should it appear on the radio or a playlist. The ad focuses on the drumming and it’s brilliant ( the ad and the drumming). It’s completely reinvigorated the song for me and suddenly I can’t get enough of it. Has this happened to you and what was it that reconnected you to a previously tired old song?
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Rigid Digit says
More TV ad based reconnection
During the summer (remember that?), TUI were using The Strokes Someday as the musical backdrop.
I knew the song and had a couple of albums, but never felt overly moved by them – until then.
18 years after the event, I suddenly saw what the fuss was all about
Moose the Mooche says
A couple? The Strokes have done… other albums?
Dave Ross says
It makes you wonder what an ad can do to a career. I’m sure there’s figures somewhere about renewed interest in REO Speedwagon…
Neilo says
@Dave Amitri: If I recall correctly, REO’s Kevin Breslin married for love. I believe the divorce settlement would make Ray Parlour say ‘thank f*** I only have to pay out 33% of all future earnings’. If John Cleese makes another film, ‘I’m Going To Keep On Loving You’ will be on the soundtrack.
Rigid Digit says
Know what you mean about that SM track though.
The focus on the drumming changes the focus from the la la la la la singalong chorus- it’s better than I remember.
Cynically though, which came first: this ad or the release of the SM best of album?
A happy coincidence perhaps, or the same marketing agency for both?
Dave Ross says
Either way it’s very clever. ..
Moose the Mooche says
When that song first came out I couldn’t understand what had happened to JK’s voice. He sounded like he was singing from behind the sofa.
Dave Ross says
Changing vocal over a career? Paul Weller is the one for me
Moose the Mooche says
What happened to his voice in the 90s was a glorious thing to hear, he was finally up there vocally with his heroes Winwood and Marriott.
JK’s just singing in a more understated way I suppose. He’s incredibly strident on, say, Sons and Fascination in comparison.
The best “vocal change” is of course Bowie, who on Diamond Dogs stopped the trebly stuff and started crooning like a motherfucker.
Sewer Robot says
Minnie Mouse early Madonna?
Iron Giant late period Leonard Cohen?
Moose the Mooche says
Try the early Scott Walker. I mean the really early stuff – Funny Face and all that. Dude’s balls didn’t drop, they plummeted to the earth’s core.
exilepj says
have a well deserved up Moosey … or should that be a down
johnw says
I don’t want to take the focus from the thread and I’ve seen the advert (or bits of it) lots of times and I would have had no idea what it was for. I wonder if the companies spending money on these ads can actually justify it in increased sales. I’ve seen bits of lots of different christmas adverts this year but (to someone not really paying attention) they all look the same and some of them are so long that I’ve lost interest and I’m buried back in my tablet or phone by the time it identifies itself.
slotbadger says
John – I wonder the same. We’re in the age when the launch of the advert itself is big news in the case of some brands, which is rather depressing when you consider it. There are big companies have the marketing savvy and nous of a dinosaur reversing in a cul de sac, as the hand that signs off the final cheque is usually attached to a somewhat conservative and hidebound owner.
I have just wasted 10 months talking to a big retail brand who said they wanted 202 to be a year of sponsoring artists around the world, hosting pop up exhibitions, connecting with artist communities in the Middle East, China etc etc. They were very excited and for a while, were all about “art” as a means of expressing “generosity” and ergo, promoting the former would hopefully translate into the latter in their clientele.
Now after lots of back and forth, presentations, false hopes, lengthy silences, changes of mind back and forth, they’ve just gone and spunked $gazillion hiring Jack sodding Whitehall as their new ‘face’ instead and have ditched our whole plan. BRANDS, eh.
EDIT: Sorry for hijacking your thread even further, Dave.
Black Celebration says
My brother did copywriting in London’s glittering West End for many years. He told me that it’s the clients who stifle creativity – not the agencies.
Dave Ross says
No apologies needed at all for giving my little thread a change of direction. The majority do blend into a Christmas pudding of ads where it’s impossible to tell currants from Orange peel. I’d love to know what gems of ideas were discarded..
Sewer Robot says
Famously the Nick Park Creature Comforts ads were voted by the public as among the greatest ever.
“And what were they advertising?”, the public was asked.
“British Gas”, the public replied.
The ads were for the Electricity Board.
Moose the Mooche says
We still say “turn off- and on-able” in our house.
Davidg says
Like the adverts with Joan Collins and Leonard Rossiter. When asked, people thought they were for Martini, not Cinzano.
Won lots of awards for the advertising agency though.
deramdaze says
Jack Whitehall … hmm … stunning how bland and without wit a comedian has to be in 2019 to really hit the jackpot.
A great career move surrounding himself with sportspeople.
James Taylor says
Dont you forget about me – Peak Mel Gaynor, one of the best drummers IMO
fentonsteve says
I’d love to see what Mel Gaynor could do with a 4-piece kit…
Rigid Digit says
Read something once – don’t think it was Smash Hits, but might’ve been – where Mel Gaynor, and others, were up against a drum machine. Mel G (as he later became – possibly?) was the closest of all drummers tested
Dave Ross says
I’m no expert but it is just a lovely noise
John Walters says
I remember the Phil Collins / gorilla advert, but I can’t remember what was being advertised.
Was it for a chocolate bar ?
moseleymoles says
Of course to a certain group of Simple Minds fans it was the rubicon moment. Before the majesty of post-punk to disco krautrock, after American stadium production and Belfast Child…
The Good Doctor says
For reasons I can’t fathom, Jim and Charlie dispensed with the services of Mr Gaynor a couple of years ago. I hope the sticksman is getting a few quid from this advert which hinges on his work – albeit on a song that SM didn’t write – anyone know?
Milkybarnick says
Sticking with Christmas adverts, I’ve listened to REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight this Feeling” a couple of times since seeing the new JL advert – it’s a mighty decent chunk of AOR (or is it MOR – never sure of the difference). The cover on the advert – not so great.
johnw says
I seem to recall having heard that song recently. I must have been in the room when the JL ad was on. Hearing something that awful isn’t going to make me turn my head towards the TV for more than a second.. I imagine the channel was changed by the remote holder (not me) before any recognisable identity hit the screen.