A wise man's tools are analogies and puzzles.
Since it's football season once again, I've been watching more concentrated blocks of television than I do during other parts of the year (otherwise known as "the dark times"). As a result, I've seen more than my fair share of commercials. Now, I mean, I majored in communications, so I know what to expect from advertisers. However, there's only so much I can take sometimes. Vonage, you should be ashamed of yourselves. I've never dreaded watching a Notre Dame home game until now, and it's all thanks to you. However, during the breaks, while I'm wishing away these little slices of obnoxious, I occasionally catch a glimpse of some non-abrasive ads. Here, for your viewing pleasure, are two, both of which highlight choice tracks from earlier this decade:
Hem - Half Acre. First, there's this little feel-good spot from Liberty Mutual. In addition to the whole pay-it-forward-ness angle, the commercial sports an addictive soundtrack in the form of this, a track from Hem's 2001 album Rabbit Songs. While I'm not going to run out and refinance, I have to give advertsing firm Hill Holiday credit for their pairing of message and soundtrack. If they were going for memorability, they nailed it. On its own, the song is perfect for this time of year, with hints of frost forming at the edges of singer Sally Ellyson's voice while she ruminates on home and longing. I'm a little late on posting this one, but after seeing it roughly 20 times during the Notre Dame-Purdue game on Saturday, I had to act.
Royksopp - Remind Me. Something different, something the same. In this ad from Geico, we see that society has yet more socrn to heap upon the indignant neolithic pitchmen. The moving sidewalk double take got a chuckle out of me. Once again, song and scene are a perfect fit. The caveman's weariness, whether from travel or from disrepect, is mirrored by Royksopp's ode to wanderlust. In a way, that puts the Norwegians at thematic odds with Hem. I can only imagine what that fight might look like.
Hem - Half Acre. First, there's this little feel-good spot from Liberty Mutual. In addition to the whole pay-it-forward-ness angle, the commercial sports an addictive soundtrack in the form of this, a track from Hem's 2001 album Rabbit Songs. While I'm not going to run out and refinance, I have to give advertsing firm Hill Holiday credit for their pairing of message and soundtrack. If they were going for memorability, they nailed it. On its own, the song is perfect for this time of year, with hints of frost forming at the edges of singer Sally Ellyson's voice while she ruminates on home and longing. I'm a little late on posting this one, but after seeing it roughly 20 times during the Notre Dame-Purdue game on Saturday, I had to act.
Royksopp - Remind Me. Something different, something the same. In this ad from Geico, we see that society has yet more socrn to heap upon the indignant neolithic pitchmen. The moving sidewalk double take got a chuckle out of me. Once again, song and scene are a perfect fit. The caveman's weariness, whether from travel or from disrepect, is mirrored by Royksopp's ode to wanderlust. In a way, that puts the Norwegians at thematic odds with Hem. I can only imagine what that fight might look like.
