Red Bull Goes 8-Bit And Gatorade Makes Us Cry: 5 Ads You Should Watch Right Now
Gatorade somehow makes us cry about baseball, Chanel makes fashion interesting and Red Bull gets a power up. Yep, it’s just another week in AdLand!
So which ads have caught fire on the web over the last seven days? Here are our five picks.
Enjoy!
5. Monster Energy – Recoil 2: Unleashed in Ensenada
The latest entry in the increasingly popular genre of “cars do things cars aren’t supposed to do”, Monster Energy’s spot is among the most excessive. It certainly has the most excessive title, described on YouTube as “Monster Energy: Ballistic BJ Baldwin Recoil 2 – Unleashed in Ensenada, Mexico”. Phew, even saying that is an adrenaline rush.
In any case, the ad finds the supposedly ‘Ballistic’ BJ Baldwin barrelling his dangerously bouncy vehicle through the streets of a real Mexican town. Watching it, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the sequence in Michael Bay’s “Bad Boys 2”, in which Will Smith careens in similar fashion through a Colombian favela. Although I should emphasise that that was a film and Baldwin’s antics are (in theory) decidedly real. That’s a handy distinction to draw with this kind of madness.
4. Chanel – Paris by Chanel
Even if you’ve never had any interest in Chanel or haute couture, the brand’s latest ad will convince you that you do. A mini documentary about the fashion house’s heritage in Paris, the spot takes a gushing view of every aspect of the Coco Chanel legacy.
Presented in quick edits and info graphic swipes, we see the evolution of the brand from its meagre beginnings on Rue Cambon. Flash forward to now, and Chanel owns half the street, with cyberpunk villain Karl Lagerfeld sitting magnificently at the helm of the company. See, I knew nothing about Chanel four minutes ago and now I feel like I wrote my thesis on it.
3. Gatorade – Made in New York ft. Derek Jeter
The retirement of a sporting hero is always a good time for a little nostalgia-fest, and brands are certainly getting their fill of Derek Jeter’s final turns at bat. The legendary New York Yankees player is calling it quits soon, but not without a victory lap of the neighbourhood, taking turns to shake everyone’s hands like a Martin Scorsese mob boss.
Yankee stadium has historically played host to greats like Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio, and Gatorade has infused its spot with a hefty dose of old New York charm. Grab a hot dog, drink some black coffee and tip your hat to an athlete whose achievements you only partially understand.
2. Red Bull – Jason Paul Freerunning In 8-Bit
Red Bull sure loves a bit of childish whimsy. Last year, the energy drink brand captured online imaginations with Danny MacAskill’s ‘Imaginate’, a video that will be make you as nostalgic and wistful about your youth as any video about bikes riding over ramps can. Looking for the same giddy spirit, its new spot turns parkour champ Jason Paul into an 8-bit video game sprite.
Complete with loading screens, irascible villains and insufferably upbeat music, the ad pulls out all the stops to evoke the arcade games of your childhood. Not to mention the stunts themselves, which predictably produce the simultaneous reaction of “Bet I could do that”/“I should really do some push-ups”. Also, look out for the reveal at the end, which suddenly makes the whole enterprise seem twice as dangerous.
1. It’s On Us – Sexual Assault PSA
The recent focus on women’s rights and sexual assault in the media has already started a domino effect towards cultural and (eventually) legislative change. Grassroots movements like ‘Take Back The Night’ and sexual consent workshops for university freshers show positive steps, but there’s obviously still a long way to go.
American campaign ‘It’s On Us’ strives to raise awareness with a star-lined spot, including actors Jon Ham and Rose Byrne, athlete Tim Howard and some-time viral video star President Barack Obama. The ad re-emphasises important truths concerning victim-blaming and social responsibility and hopefully will spread the message even further.
