“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz”
Salvador Dali takes an artistic approach to neutralizing stomach acid in this Alka Seltzer commercial from 1974.
Dali made himself available to do commercials for the price of $10,000 a minute. A bargain.
Author of Crash and Empire of the Sun, J. G. Ballard once said that a commercial showing ‘robots’ building a Fiat car was his favorite advert of all time.
Ballard made the claim on Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4’s long-running music and interview show, in February 1992, when he shared the 8 records that best represented his life with presenter, Sue Lawley.
As Ballard explained:
‘I like the overture to Rossini’s Barber of Seville, which many people will have heard as the background music to a wonderful Fiat ad. that was shown on television a few years ago. I think my favorite TV commercial of all time.’
It was Rossini’s “Figaro’s Aria” from the opera that was used in this famous Fiat Strada advert from 1979. The commercial was directed by Hugh Hudson, who is best-known for the Academy Award-winning Chariots of Fire. Hudson’s ad was a compelling mix of technology with opera, and was well-known for its tag-line:
Hand built by Robots
That was later famously spoofed on Not the NIne O’Clock News as:
Hand built by Roberts
Amongst Ballard‘s other favorite tracks on Desert island Discs were Noël Coward’s version of “Let’s Do It”, Astrud Gilberto being breathily seductive on “The Girl From Ipanema”, Rita Hayworth and “Put The Blame On Mame”, Henry Hall’s “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” and Marlene Dietrich singing “Falling In Love Again”.
Ballard also remarked that he considered himself a “disappointed painter’:
‘I think in many ways I am a sort of disappointed painter, I always wanted to be a painter, but simply lacked the technical ability, lacked the talent. In fact, people say my novels are tremendously visual, in a sense I paint my novels, there you have the life work of a frustrated painter.
Listen/download the full interview here.
Previously on Dangerous Minds
When I think of Jim Beam, I think of Raymond Chandler or Kid Rock, not Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s just ain’t hardboiled enough. But the unshaven face and dark circles around his eyes does give him that “Lost Weekend” look.
Nice moves.
This is wild: An actual TV commercial from the late 1980s with cult comedian Brother Theodore—of all people—shilling for an investment firm!
I wonder if this helped or hurt Vestor’s business?
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Brother Theodore, one of David Letterman’s all-time most memorable guests, lectures us on ‘Foodism’
Seems like a good choice to have Bryan Ferry shilling for Japanese clothing line Jun.
These commercials were directed by the renowned Japanese photographer Kazumi Kurigami.
An oldie but still freaky. David Lynch sells coffee. Which, for some reason, reminds me of Family Guy‘s Peter Griffin doing his Danny Aiello impression….
Previously on Dangerous Minds
With thanks to Krystin Ver Linden
What exactly glamor-modeling has to do with revolutionary consciousness isn’t explained - other than making it fashionably chic to the bourgeoisie. Which is ironic, for it was the perceived, pernicious influence of the bourgeoisie (and its revisionist view of capitalism) that led Chairman Mao to instigate his Cultural Revolution in May 1966. While the ad men, magazine stylists and Beatles co-opted Mao’s revolutionary sentiments, the reality for millions of Chinese was a brutal and murderous oppression.
A Beginner’s Guide to Mao Tse-tung
The little red book which contains hightlights from The thought of Mao Tse-tung is the most influential volume in the world today. It is also extremely dull and entirely unmemorable. To resolve this paradox, we, a handful of editors in authority who follow the capitalist road, thought useful to illustrate certain key passages in such a way that they are more likely to stick in the mind. The visual aid is Sharon Tate and, to give credit where credit, God knows, is due, she will soon be seen in the Twentieth Century-Fox motion picture, Valley of the Dolls.
‘6.
‘Whoever wants to know a thing has no way of doing so except coming into contact with it, that is, by living (practicing) in its environment...If you want knowledge, you must take part in the practice of reality. If you want to know the taste of a pear by eating it yourself.’
“On Practice” (July, 1937)
More retro revolutionary chic, after the jump…
Via WFMU
Nick Cave once said that Blixa Bargeld’s voice could mimic the sound of cats being strangled or children dying. His group is well known for the use of power tools in their music. Who better than the front man of Einstürzende Neubauten to shill for DIY retailer Hornbach, Germany’s answer to Home Depot?
Elevates advertising to an avant-garde artform.
Perhaps the Salford-born bard was an odd choice to put in TV commercial aimed at kids, but the paycheck probably kept him in heroin for… weeks.
The year on the YouTube uploads says 1970, but these corny Centenario Terry brandy ads, made for Spanish TV, actually date back to 1964.