Rach's Musical Brain - w/c 26th April 2021

This week is inspired by my second module. Campaign planning. See as Module Two officially started this week.

Now, I know what you're probably thinking. A playlist about campaign planning? Really? I assure you, it's not that.

Part of a successful campaign is your use of advertising... ahhh now you see where I'm going right? Adverts.

Adverts are the things you see more of in a cinema or during a TV show than anything else, and it's important in the success of any overall campaign because a success of an advert is sometimes the make or break of a brand... And you know what is a TV adverts main weapon of choice? Yup. Music.

Lord knows everyone here has been subjected to adverts with horrendously catchy and tacky theme tunes that just stick in your brain no matter what - Hastings Direct advert anyone? - and there are others that are so good they make you cry - Lloyd's Bank advert anyone? - with others making you extremely glad that most TV shows these days are watched on catch-up, and therefore adverts can be fast-forwarded through. Unfortunately, it's what is pressuring advertising agencies too, because people will skip through adverts if they can... unless they feel an emotional connection to it... or they enjoy the music, like me.

In a cinema, you have no choice on the adverts - unless you're a weirdo and turn up in time to miss them or you miss the beginning of the movie (in my opinion if you miss the beginning you may as well not go...) yes, I take my cinema very seriously. And the adverts you see very much depend on the film you see. If you go and see a kids movie - Disney, Dreamworks Animations, Pixar, etc - you will get toy after toy after toy, before you get to the trailers, which will all be animated/kids movies. If you see any other movie, you get car adverts - which are always cool! - phone adverts, alcohol adverts, premature ejaculation adverts (yep)... and seeing as I spend all my time in the cinema (at least I did, when they were open) I've seen my fair share catchy-tuned adverts. Sooo naturally I thought I'd share my top 10 catchy advert songs... as well as the adverts themselves.

Now enough of me going on about adverts - which I know most of you hate - so lets let the music speak for itself!

As ever, the playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=cI4cIAqBSPKc9D3_x3fpTQ

ENJOY!

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NUMBER 10.

Get Dat - Rayelle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy61LsRq_YI

Now I'm not even a Samsung user and I love this advert because of its music. There are certain companies that KNOW what song to choose to hook their users, and Samsung is one of those companies. Smartphones are a universal thing now, it's just the way of the world, with Apple and Samsung being the main players... and what I love most about smartphones and more importantly what I CARE about most in smartphones is their camera. There isn't a day that goes by where I'm not taking a picture. As I've said before, numerous times on various posts, I take pictures, so therefore I'm more inclined to pay a wee bit more to get that pictographic edge. But no such luck Samsung, no matter how much I love the music in your adverts, I'm an Apple girl. Always have been, always will be. Although if you could both make your phones a bit LESS expensive, I'm sure everyone will appreciate it...

NUMBER 9.

Come With Me Now - KONGOS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYwagHCow-A

Never played Clash of Kings - I've never been into those kinds of games - but I do love this song. I saw this advert in the cinema I think (it's probably a safe answer) and it's been on my playlist ever since. I don't know how to describe it other than it's just good. It's suitably catchy and not too long and it has a bit that's GREAT for drumming fingers to at about 2m30s. It's just one of those songs you can't skip in my opinion. Just not good enough to get me to actually play Clash of Kings lol. Nah, give me Hay Day, Disney Emoji Blitz or Happy Colour any day of the week.

NUMBER 8.

Default - Django Django- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaSrLMONMI8

It's got dogs in it, and it has a Ford Mustang in it. A great advert on all counts in my opinion. It's Ford telling you to Unlearn your perspective on things. Speaking about the ad, Richard Beard, Ford's Marketing Manager said he wanted people to cast aside their preconceptions... having another think at what a Ford car could bring you. It's a make that's always known for being that reliable car, one that never lets you down... with the Ford Mondeo being one of the most popular cars in the world in its demographic. But it's not just the Mondeo, it's the Edge and the GT, which were new to the Ford production line at the time, as well as the new model of Mustang. Part of Ford's performance range, the launch of the new cars meant that "it was a great opportunity to encourage people to reappraise us." The tune is great in this.

NUMBER 7.

My Favourite Things - Jennie Abrahamson- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDy8U_xyGNo

I sense a theme coming with adverts I like. I mean the song is already in the mind of millions (if not billions) of people because it's a cover of one of the most popular songs from a musical... but I think I liked the cinematic nature of the advert itself. Most of these I've seen in a cinema, and cinemas are perfect for adverts like this. In the cinema - if you're a person like me who gets there early - the viewer can't fast forward through them, and has to sit through them. But not only that, you have the cinematic resources at your disposal. You have the huge screen, the surround sound, and the biggest advantage, the viewer's attention because it's the only thing they can look at other than their phone. When adverts are in the cinema, they can be longer too. Most adverts on TV are about 30 seconds maximum, cinema adverts can be up to a minute... maybe even longer. This ad is 2.5 minutes long, but because the ad is interesting and has a great song - not to mention a pretty great car - the viewer is happy to sit through it.

NUMBER 6.

You're Not Alone - Astrae - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oppRL_mkEgY

Raise your hand if this advert brings tears to your eyes? *Rach raises her hand* Just me? Oh... Well... YOU PEOPLE ARE MADE OF STONE. When I first saw the advert, and you see the people all leaving their homes, dressed in pyjamas, you do start to think where the hell are they going...? or what the hell is this advert for? But as soon as you see these BEAUTIFUL black horses galloping through the spray, you just know what it's advertising. I don't know who is in charge of the Lloyd's Bank marketing / comms team, but whoever is leading it does a hell of a good job with these adverts. Every single one they've done is so well, and hits the right heartstrings. Gosh, when one horse goes over to a pregnant couple and he rests his nose gently on the woman's tummy... or a house being quieted by a man with Down's syndrome, standing quietly... aww, my tear ducts. Lloyd's Bank is by the side of everyone... They've got me so it's safe to say the ad worked in this case. Although don't worry, I didn't just choose the bank because of the advert... I'm not. that ridiculous.

NUMBER 5.

Wings - Birdie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqxY7iLkbmc

Oh look, another Lloyd's advert. Lloyd's Bank, by your side... for 250 years. I had no idea Lloyd's Bank was 250 years old before I saw this advert. Apparently started by Sampson Lloyd II, John Taylor and their 2 sons, the first Lloyd's bank prospered in Birmingham with a single store, they're now the only bank with a marketing team that actually knows what they're doing. Plus it's Birdie. I love Birdie's voice... so soft and melodic. Beautiful.

NUMBER 4.

X Gon Give it To Ya - DMX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KykM1kwdaOA

This is one of the weirdest one. This advert came out shortly after Deadpool... which essentially sky-rocketed DMX's song to the top (again). Unfortunately, DMX passed away this year, but his songs will live on... through Deadpool and this amazingly weird KFC advert. Now X Gon Give It To Ya was actually going to make it later on my playlists but as I was listening to songs in adverts I might recognise, this one popped up. I was cooking, not paying attention, so thought it was something to do with Deadpool... but nope. Chickens. I also think its quite funny because it sounds like Eggs Gon Give It To Ya... Okay maybe not funny. But still a good song though. A KFC anthem!

NUMBER 3.

Love Don't Let Me Go - David Guetta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSKZPNXGoko

The original Transformer car. This advert is from 2007, as is Transformers... so it's kind of like a chicken and egg situation. I reckon the movie came out first and this followed suit, and maaaaybe that's why I remember it so vividly. Because as quite a few of my friends know, I do love the Transformers movies, for my sins. But I also really like David Guetta. I love a good beaty tune does me.

NUMBER 2.

Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_bx8bnCoiU

All this advert is, is thousands of tiny bright-coloured balls making their way down the streets of what (I think) is San Francisco. It's a Sony TV advert, something about the high definition of the balls against an ordinary backdrop of a sleepy town, to show the high definition injection into a regular setting. It focusses on the tiny details of some of the balls, showing true high-definition, focus... which I think is the point of the advert, as it is selling Son't newest addition to the HD TV family. In terms of the song, I first heard Heartbeats from One Tree Hill, one of the better teen shows from my teenage years so it's got an instant connection for me. It's not an overly complicated song, nothing builds or quietens, it's just a lovely song.

NUMBER 1.

Look After You - Aron Wright - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr3ybKC44XQ

Oh hey, another Lloyd's advert! And this one is so cute with the little foal, showing that Lloyd's bank accounts aren't just for adults... its can help children. The adult horse and the baby horse learn from each other... the horse encourages the foal it's okay to go in the water, whilst the foal encourages the horse it's okay to cross the ice. Aron Wright is featured quite a bit amongst my playlists at the moment. I haven't heard an entire album from him, but he's featured in After We Collided as well, so he's definitely on my radar. I love this advert though. Who can't resist the little foal. Seriously cute. Lloyd's Bank blowing the advert-sphere out of the water once again... and I'm genuinely looking forward to what they're going to show next.

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So there we have it, my top 10 favourite advert songs. Now top 10 favourite actual adverts will take a bit longer to decipher, given there are MILLIONS of adverts out there... You can now tell I'm a fan of Lloyd's Bank adverts lol... but there are plenty more with catchy tunes that could feature in another playlist at some point. Car adverts are usually a safe bet. Love a good car advert.

But I will show you the creepiest and most traumatising advert I've ever seen.

Born from an R8... meet the Audi RS3 Sportback in the Audi advert labelled 'Birth'... I think you'll get why some people might find it traumatising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnMxcM7Gbjo&t=5s

Right now that you're traumatised... I'll be off.

The playlist is here and if you want to revisit any of the old tracks, you can hear it here... Happy listening!