B^cubed (Biggie Burt Blogs)

Typical or Atypical?

What's a typical situation for you?  How do you view a typical situation? Good? Bad?  What about those atypical situations? 

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, "Typical Situation" (12.20.03)

Target hoping Legend makes it an underground Legend?

A little over a month ago I was at the Christopher Street stop for the 1 train heading Uptown to the gym.  Like most days I was listening to my iPod Shuffle.  As I walked down the platform towards where the front of the train would be I noticed an interesting billboard-esque ad on the side of the subway wall.  It was a Target ad for John Legend's new live album. 

 

(click image to enlarge)

 

What was different about this one is that there is a little box sticking out with a plug in for your ear phones.

(click image to enlarge)

Being a curious human I thought, "what the heck?"  Some music from the starts to play and within five seconds John Legend's voice kicks in, "Thanks for plugging in and checking out some of my favorite songs on my new live album...you can get it but only at Target."

I thought this form of advertising using digital media was pretty brilliant. While I haven't bought the album, the ad did it's job and got me to plug in to check out some John Legend music. My only real knock against the ad is the music/voice overdub was way too loud.  Either put some form of manual volume control or make it quieter.

Agency: Peterson Milla Hooks (PMH)

Ad Age article:  Target begs to be heard in John Legend Subway Promotion

Adios,

BiggieBurt

Why own it?

In recent weeks, I've really become more aware of packaging.  That's not to say I ignored it in the past but I now find myself really looking at the packaging of products.  Sometimes it's easy to recognize what it is visually trying to convey. Other times, it doesn't seem to make much sense. 

What sparked this little ramble?  Samsung's Wide LCD HDTV.  Let's take a look shall we?

(click on image to enlarge)

The packaging is fairly simple with the TV being the main focus.  Boy, isn't she a beaut!  What I don't understand is why there is a woman reading a newspaper with her back turned towards the TV?  Does this make any sense at all?  "Oh no thanks. I don't watch TV. I just have it for decoration. It ties the room together quite nicely. I'm going back to reading an article on the latest break through in flu shots." 

Samsung's TV packaging isn't going to make or break the sales for it. No one really cares what the packaging looks like.  It's all about the picture quality, price, performance, etc. 

However, my suggestion is that Samsung make it look as if the woman is mildly interested in her expensive purchase.

Until the next one...

Adios,

BiggieBurt

I can't get around you

Observation:  I'm not sure anyone in New York City can walk a straight line (this includes me). I'm not referring to the "whoa that person is totally hammered" walk. It just seems like every time I try to walk around someone they veer off in my passing direction and cut me off.  How do they know I'm going to that side?  I almost got angled off into a tree today due to a veering walker.  Luckily I am still agile at thirty years young. 

Almost been in the city for one month now.  It's pretty great.

Adios,

BiggieBurt

A beer branding problem I'd like to solve...

Ever notice that when someone is say brand loyal to Budweiser here in the States, he or she usually ends up drinking one of the local beers when abroad (Europe, Japan, etc.)? It makes sense, right?  If you are in Japan, you're probably going to drink a Kirin or something along those lines even if Budweiser is offered at the place you are downing a cold one. 
Questions (rhetorical):
1. Is this person really loyal to the Budweiser brand if he or she abandons it for a local country beer? (I didn't use "domestic" because that might be viewed as an "American" beer)
2. How do you get this person to drink Budweiser while abroad?

The novelty of it all...
People in countries will drink import beers, sometimes because it tastes better than the domestic stuff, but it may be more that it is being consumed for the novelty.  For example, look at the States. Stella Artois had become an (underground) phenomenon.  It's foreign and it comes with it's own glass!  Don't miss the bandwagon folks!  Does the glass really make the beer taste better? To a beer expert, perhaps. The average American Johnny at the bar might be trying to signal a certain status, attempt to come off as sophisticated to woo that girl over in the corner of the bar who keeps checking him out or maybe just express his position against giant American corporations.  There are some American Johnnys out there that love the taste of it.

It's late and I'm tired.

Good night all,

BiggieBurt

Coming soon: Super Bowl ad reviews

I plan on reviewing all the 2008 Super Bowl ads and sharing my thoughts, comments, likes/dislikes and analysis soon.  Hang tight and love life until then. Heck, love it after then too!

BiggieBurt

I.U. Hoop predictions

Earlier this decade I really got into the NCAA basketball tournament, aka: March Madness.  As an Indiana University alum, I'm excited about our team's chances of making it to the Sweet 16.  We had a little bit of a bump/wake up call on Saturday when we lost to UCONN, 68-63. UCONN played very well and I.U. barely got any points in the paint.  Regardless, of the loss we still stand at 17-2 overall, 6-0 Big Ten.  National ranking of #11. Not too shabby my friends.  I don't think we'll win it all (Memphis, Kansas, etc. are just too damn good.)  However, it ought to be a pretty exciting journey from here until we get knocked out in the Big Dance. 

Eleven games remain in our regular season.  My guess is we go 9-2.  One loss against Michigan State and the other against Purdue.  Don't ask me why. Just a guess.  That'd make us 26-4 at the end of the season, 15-2 in the Big Ten.  Provided we kick some a$$ in the Big Ten tourney we could have a sweet seed!

BiggieBurt

Monday Night...

I’ll Have Some Of That:
+ Internal anticipation of the Ryan Adams  solo acoustic show in Claremont, CA
+ Phoenix Coyotes record  (over .500)
+ Chuck  returns for back-to-back new episodes this Thursday night
+ Lauren Conrad  of The Hills
+ Martha’s sun-dried tomato scramble; get some wheat toast with it and put some scramble on a piece of toast- D-lish!
+ Murg Saag (sp??? It’s an Indian dish with spinach and chicken)
+ Howard Stern , Mon-Thurs.
+ Urban photography
+ Peter Lik photography
+ Face-to-face time with friends who don’t live in the NYC area and getting to say “goodbye”
+ Family Guy

I’ll Pass, Thanks:
- People who don’t understand what “OCCUPIED” means on an airplane lavatory
- Phoenix’s lack of culture and the arts
- Three hour delay for an hour and twenty minute flight
- Howard Stern, Fri. (they did into the old school archives, not as entertaining to me)
- Reality TV…it’s only a matter of time before I score my own show for who knows what?
- Tank tops at the gym
- Sushi – I’ll eat it; I’m just not that into it anymore  -- use brown rice and maybe I’ll change my mind
- The dude at the gym who spends more time hitting on girls than he does working out (can you not read their facial expressions that show signs of disinterest and annoyance? Are you that clueless or do you just not give a damn?)

Hells yes. This is what I'm talking about.

Was searching YouTube tonight and ran across this little gem.  Acoustic guitar version of Damien Rice singing "9 Crimes."  (he usually plays it on piano.)

If only I had the pipes to sing like that...

Adios,

BiggieBurt

Now this is what I want to see...again.

Packaging can play a major role in the appeal of a brand.  "PICK ME! PICK ME!"  I'll tell you what would make you pick you damn it...(wait towards the end of the video. sorry couldn't find the lone ad for it)

How bad ass is that packaging??? Too bad you can't tell how awesome it is with all those super bright lights in the cereal aisle of a grocery store.  Come on now cereals companies. Don't try to lure us with overly busy packaging with a zillion different colors.  Turn off the lights and Ghostbusters cereal would fly off the shelves!  Keep it simple like in the video.  Bring that sh*t back!

Staying on the subject of cereal, does anyone aside from my two brothers and mom remember this cereal? 

If this were an ad today and if I had kids, there is no way I'd buy a cereal for my kids whose mascot is a coked up cowboy!

Ramble over.  More '80's ads in the future...

BiggieBurt