I am curious to know which television ads people remember from their childhood. I am amazed at the stuff that have been etched in my mind from waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy back.
My earliest recollection of a television ad is a stop motion Smarties ad. I would have been around five or six years and the magic of seeing different shapes forming and changing stays with me to this day.
I still hear in my head the catchy music of the 1973 Charlie perfume ad and even the lyrics I candidly remember, “There’s a fragrance that’s here today and they call it, Charlie.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sn8H42FZcI
Speaking of Charlie, the 1970’s local clean up campaign with Charlie is unforgettable. It struck a nerve for being local, topical and even humerous to an extent.
From the 1980 was an atrocious low budget for Kandaff Skin Bleaching Cream, “I use Kandaff” the girl repeated with the most annoying. From and advertising point of view though, the ad worked as I still remember the name of the product and what it did.
Now that I work in the advertising field, I think of why these particular ads have stayed with me. It it because the music was just right? Was it that I liked the product? Did the magic entrance me? Was I shocked? Did it make me annoyed? Maybe.
I am curious. Which ads do you readily remember from yesteryear that you know you will never forget (except Tatil. People are People. That is a lifetime achievement awardee). Drop me a line saying what the ad or ads are and why you think they left their mark on you.
13 May, 2011, 12:58 am
Hi Eric, like you the Charlie ad did it for me…the song was catchy, romantic even and the image of a clean-cut young and smiling girl just made me feel great to be young as well! Funny thing though, I actually had a gift of the Charlie fragrance given to me during that time. Good memories!
13 May, 2011, 2:48 pm
Christine Thanks for your response. Charlie by Revlon touched a nerve at the time. Girls as well as the boys in my class would sing that jingle. I have looked at the Youtube video and it is such a feel-good ad even now. I can understand how it made you feel then.
13 May, 2011, 2:48 pm
Christine Thanks for your response. Charlie by Revlon touched a nerve at the time. Girls as well as the boys in my class would sing that jingle. I have looked at the Youtube video and it is such a feel-good ad even now. I can understand how it made you feel then.
13 May, 2011, 12:28 pm
Carib has done some pretty powerful stuff….like their jingle “In this country Carib, Carib Country, a beer is a Carib…a beer is a Carib”…..images captured the ethos of T&T…..probably in late 70’s, early 80’s was their high point. And what about Percy Parker Williams’ Diquez Petroleum Jelly…” Oh gosh Mr Tarpin a bumble bee ting meh in meh eye”…..what makes great ads so stickable for some many years is that they manage to bring all the right elements together (a piece of magic) in one place. In the case of Carib the advertising matched Carib’s iconic status by reflecting who we are as Trinidadians and Tobagonians in a very authentic and credible fashion. With Diquez it was using humour and Percy’s pioneering quirkyness to communicate Diquez’s attributes. The challenge in advertising is to say something that has been said before in a new engaging way. That’s why I give all ads that I see the vanilla test. If there is no shock, smile, disgust, charm, delight or some such emotion stirred by what I see or hear, then it’s filed in my brain as already seen, dr
13 May, 2011, 2:54 pm
When talking about T&T ethos, I reflect more on the BWIA ads than Stag’s (I wasn’t drinking as yet). They both did have a great “Trinidadianess” to them as well as many other at that time. Thanks for you views.
24 May, 2011, 4:44 pm
I vaguely remember, it was a Kirpilani’s ad with a voice (I believe it was, Hans Hanoomansingh) starting the narration with ‘Chaguanas…’