Easy does it.

Adverts vary. From the over the top (Toshiba Chair, please stand up) to the stupidly simple (yes you, Go Compare). Yet some are epic (Guinness, if you would) and some are beautifully simple.

These two adverts are so straight forward and simple, the message is clear to the audience. Yet this simpleness takes huge levels of intellect, creativity and research. From studying advertising for 3 years, I can tell you that the best adverts, no matter how epic or simple they are, are beyond difficult. I mean, everyone hates advertising right? Well if that's the case, how come some adverts are shared on blogs, social networks and emails? Because they are good. Very good. People want to watch them, they want others to watch them, and this makes them all the more memorable.

There's my dissertation summed up in about 100 words.
Anyways, check these adverts:


From simply understanding your target audience and using that insight:


To conveying the message so simply it resonates with the audience:


See? Easy does it.

Music Monday 1.

I know I've upload new songs I've found in the past, but I'm going to try and make it a little more regular. Seeing as there is a Monday at the beginning of every week, I might as well do it then.

Wild Beasts - Hooting and Howling



I likes the sound of new music and I likes the sound of Wild Beasts. They're a strange mixture and can only be described as Editors featuring Mika. Yeah I know. But they're good trust me on this one. This is an excellent song and the album "Two Dancers" is also very good. Looking forward to seeing them at Sixty Million in Bournemouth


Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leaper



I appreciate that Frightened Rabbit aren't the newest band in town, but they're not exactly U2 yet (thank God). The album "The Midnight Organ Fight" has a great tempo to it that doesn't let up, letting you listen to the album straight the way through with ease. It could be argued that the songs are a bit "samey" but not always a bad thing. I like it anyways.


Professor Green - I Need You Tonight



Something a little different, variety is the herb of life and all that... Professor Green is just being introduced to Radio 1 and is surely about to hit the mainstream hard. I'm a bit of a sucker for old school tunes samples in rap and hip-hop, this is exactly what Professor Green does. Green has taken the INXS classic and intelligently uses it as he does what he does best over the top. Excellent, excellent tune (sorry it's not the greatest version of the song, I've been hunting around for it for days). Also check out his tune with Lady NY, Don't Let Go and also what he's done with Adele's Hometown Glory.

Wrangler Campaign

Keeping on the denim theme, the current Wrangler campaign is one that I really like. Not do I think that it is a great concept or a fantastic and orinigal 'big idea', I just think that the execution is incredible. This is not a new campaign but they have just brought out a new range of print ads 'Red' which reminded me how good it is. Just take a look.

2009 Print adverts





2009 TV advert


2010 Print adverts

Advertising is too smart.

After recently seeing the new Diesel campaign, not only did it make me smile and like it, but it also made me think. It made me think about how it can be applied to a lot of aspects of life, and one big one in particular: advertising.

The print and viral campaign is telling us to ignore the one phrase that everyone of us has heard a million times as a child "Don't be stupid".







I'm not going to bang on about how I think this is a great campaign that will capture audiences' attention, get a few people talking and that its a good and relatively original angle to take to a campaign. I agree with all of this, it's just a bit obvious.

This concept of being stupid needs to be applied to advertising. We are all painfully aware that 90% of advertising is utter shite, but it's that 10% that keeps me for one, wanting to work in the industry. That 90% are smart. Going by Diesel's viral, they have the brains and not the balls. It is likely to be brand managers with big pay-checks that are set in their ways and do not want to take a risk. It is the 10% that take the risks, the risks that pay off. They are the Cadbury's Gorilla, Comparethemeerkat.com and the Guiness of the advertising world. Without these people being 'stupid' we would not have these great campaigns that get noticed and everyone talking. The very essence of what advertising is about. Creativity over research any day.

A Few of My Favourite Things - 8/1/10

Favourite song
Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club


After checking out Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World, with Huw Stephens, I left it playing and just heard this song and instantly loved it. Love it when that happens. Only found a few of their songs so far, but it's all excellent. "Big things for them in 2010" as they say.

Favourite Video
Onto the Next One - Jay Z


Not a huge fan of this song, not one of my favourite songs off BP3, but this video is incredible. Love the way the black and white really makes you pay attention to every single image, its all very simple, yet very powerful. Have to give credit to the gorgeous Phoebe Lovatt for drawing my attention to this (http://www.phoebelovatt.com/blog/).

Favourite Object
Panasonic 152" Plasa TV


Its huge. And noone will buy it. Enough said.

Favourite TV show
Green Wing


After just finishing the boxset I got for Christmas, I have been reminded just how amazing this show is. Dr Statham (who now reminds me slightly of Basshunter) is one of the most brilliant characters ever, along with Sue White. This show is just insane brilliance.


My Least Favourite Things

• Jonathon Ross leaving the BBC. I don't care about a stupid phonecall which everyone overreacted to or the fact he was over-paid. I now don't know what to do with my Friday nights.
• This dissertation. I'm about 4,000 words in, but not looking forward to the next step of research. This whole thing is too bloody time consuming.
  

Albums of 2009

Yes, I know, albums of the year, sorry. There is a million of these coming out at this time of year, and by no way is mine meant to compete with them, but I thought that I would just share it.
In no particular order:
Alexisonfire - Young cardinals/Old crows

For me, this was probably my most highly anticipated album of the year. And yes I know I should have grown out of this screaming shit, but I havn't and I don't care. One of my favourite bands ever and having seem them recently live for the first time, my affections towards the Canadians continue. Like any great band, the album is a clear progression from the old but with Alexisonfire still scribbled all over it. Starting the album screaming "We are not the kids we used to be" they burst into what they do best, ever so slightly maturing this time. I never want this band to stop.

Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3

Probably one of the most anticipated albums of the year full stop. And with anticipation comes hype and expectation. And yes of course Jay-Z lives upto it. I'm not claiming I love every single song on here, but others more than make up for it. Empire State of Mind has dominated the latter part of 2009, with Run This Town also having huge success. Many of the songs have collaborations, some big names, Kayne, Rihanna and Alicia, some are new on the scene; Drake and J Cole. But you know if Jay Z has picked them, they are some thing special. Something to watch out for. Blueprint 3 sees the Jigga Man boasts his albums success slamming Elvis and The Stones, some may see this as arrogance and disrespectful, but boy can he back up his claims.

Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blue But Shook Them Loose

BBC fully exploded onto the scene in 2009, mainly due to a big helping shove from BBC R1 introducing. Having only just left school, these guys produced an unbelievable album of clever riffs and equally lyrics. Songs such as Magnet and Always Like This will never grow tired to me. There surely has to be even greater things to come from this band, and going on this album, that is very exciting.

Miike Snow - Animal

As soon as I heard 'Animal' it had something special and different about it. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the two-eyed Miike Snow initally, however their credentials soon appeared. The Swedish pair have produced songs for Madonna, Kylie and even Britney's Toxic. However do not let this put you off. The indie/electro/pop group pack in a mixture of tunes, giving a good variety, not something that you get from most albums. It produces some huge tunes such as Animal and Black & Blue.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Again when I first heard the single of this stunning album, "Little Lion Man" I instantly wanted to hear more. Accompied by the autumn months, this acoustic folk produced some of the most beautiful music I have heard this year. The array of instruments offered something different from the other indie and acoustics acts around, and in this case different was definitely better. Beautiful playing matched with an amazing rusty voice is perfection.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus

This insanely happy French electro indie pop act are going to be big very soon. Already featured in big advertising campaigns, this catchy album is simply a pleasure to listen. It will make you smile, nod your head and ears happy.

Florence and The Machine - Two Lungs

Like many of the artists here, Florence and The Machine suddenly burst onto the scene and possibly Florence more than any other, dominating 2009. With fiery red hair, an amazing voice and individual style, Florence and her Machine produced an amazing debut album. Many of the songs have been played to death on radio and TV, forcing me to tire of the album. But listening to it just the other day reminded me of just how damn good it is.

Passion Pit - Manners

After hearing the song "Sleephead", that has turned out to be one of my singles of year, I quickly got my hands on Chunk of Change. This EP was written for the lead singer's girlfriend for Valentine's Day. Soon followed was the album, Manners. The electro pop act is something pretty new and fresh to me. With a strangely good voice, and family of synths this is a very, very good album.

The Maccabees - Wall of Arms

There a so many great, great songs on this album, No Kind Words, Love You Better and Can You Give It? to name but a few. This is a fantastic piece of mature indie pop, with great riffs and uniquely beautiful voice, it all comes together very nicely.

Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

I will be the first to admit that I jumped on the Biffy bandwagon along with everyone else this year. I've got friends that liked them when I was in year 9, but I shamefully did not give them a listen until this year. Puzzle is a fantastic album, I loved every single song. Is Only Revolutions better? No, not in my opinion. But its very close. There are some massive songs on there, Bubbles, Captain and of course, Golden Rule. Puzzle set a very high standard for me and Only Revolutions is almost up there, which is no way a bad thing.


So there you are. My top 10 albums. I think. Its difficult to remember albums from the first half of the year, and I strongly relied on my Last.fm. I don't claim this is a definitive list or a fantastic review, but I'd like to hear what you think. If you havn't heard any of these albums, I obviously strongly suggest you do, and if there's any you think I've missed, I'd love to know.

The Phonebox Experiment - A Good Theory

The website reads (http://phoneboxexperiment.com/): "There is a phone box in the middle of nowhere. Rob's camping next to it for as long as he can hold out, just so we can see who calls. This is the Phone Box Experiment".

Rob Cavazos, a 27 year old, who is fluent in English, German and Spanish, was selected from a host of applicants to become the ‘Wilderness Man’. From the little introduction clip, he appears to be a normal guy who just wants a bit of adventure, and Skype are looking to give it to him. As well as a bit of publicity and free PR for themselves no doubt.

Great idea right? A 24/7 live feed when people can call this random guy using Skype and talk about whatever they want for as long as they live. You can also watch him stay within the frame of the camera and listen to his side of the phone calls. So all is good yeah? No.

Orignally, I thought that this was a really cool concept and a great piece of viral work. However when you actually interact and go on the website all you see is this:
There Rob is, chatting away to some random person, it happens to be in French now which is completely useless to me. Also I can only hear his side of the conversation. And what is the conversation going to be about?
Hi
Hi, where you from?
Russia!
Excellent, I've already spoken to a couple of people from Russia.
Oh cool... I probably don't know them.... So what you up to?
Just sat on my sofa chatting to loads of random people, many of which I don't really care about.
Oh right... isnt that abit boring?
Um... yeah.

It can't be that much fun for poor old Rob! It probably sounded exciting, and for every great conversation he has with a random person, there's got to be at least fifty mundane, pointless conversations.
Unless you ring him and have a short, random chat, you just sit there and watch him. Great. It's not the sort of brand experience that you can really get involved in and immerse yourself as a consumer.


I admit that if I was in the room when this idea was being pitch, I would've thought, this sounds amazing! Its online, its viral, its original, consumers can get involved; perfect!
In reality: not so much.