World Cup 2010 Excitement!

Ok, so we've all been gone from this for awhile. I thought maybe I'd try and bring it back, and while doing so, get everyone maybe a little more excited for the World Cup this summer. Everything World Cup has been a good chunk of my life the past few months (and not just all the time I spent playing FIFA), so it's really fun for me to see what work is being done in anticipation/building excitement for one of the world's favorite sporting events, like the Pepsi spot BBDO did below.



also, a fun little follow up i just found.

http://www.youtube.com/user/PepsiFootball

Tons of behind the scenes stuff, and even a couple fun little spinoff spots.

It started out as Pepsi vs. Coke, and became a long advertising rant. Enjoy.

Yea, I know there's another two days before the Superbowl.  But clearly I'm excited (about the ads). I've watched all the ones that are out already...and I want to discuss the age-old debate between Pepsi vs. Coke.  Not being a soda drinker myself, I could care less which one tastes better.  What I am interested in is who has the better spot.    

Here's one Coke spot, Heist.  And another, Avatar. 

And here's Pepsi's Refresh Anthem.

Personally, I LOVE the Pepsi spot. I don't know if I'd consider Will.I.Am to be comparable to Bob Dylan, but the idea is great. The music is great.  The comparisons are fun (and must have been damn expensive).  I think Chiat did a good job (sorry, Sean).  Not a huge fan of their Pedigree spot, though.  Meh. I like their simpler We're for Dogs campaign a lot better.  Says more about their brand.  Less flashy, more touching.

I also really like Coke's Heist.  I think the music is great and the whole feel reminds me of their Happiness Factory spots, but better.   Not a fan of Avatar....blah.  Not for the masses, which is what the Superbowl is.

On another note, the Pepsi Max Superbowl I'm good commercials annoy me.  The whole "let's show how our product promotes extreme manliness in a humorous way" is a smart strategy, I think.  But it's been done. And done. And done again.  Dial for Men, Milwaukee's Best Light, Snickers, are just a few more recent examples.  I'm getting sick of it.  I realize that when you find something that works, you use it.  The "Use this product to get laid" strategy is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and somehow never seems to stop working.  I just can't help wanting something new.  Maybe I watch way too many commercials/am not the target and that's why I'm annoyed.  But isn't there something else besides sex and machismo that can sell products to you guys?

I'm all over the place.  Lots of good spots to watch in this post though.  Sorry I can't embed. (When I paste, a weird box pops up at the very bottom of my browser?)