Last night was rough — especially if you’re a Denver Broncos fan. As much as we love our Tech alumni ( Wes Welker, Manny Ramirez, and Louis Vasquez), the game was an utter blowout — Seahawks 48, Broncos 8.
There was a lot of running, catching, and flailing made by all on the field. The only thing that made the 2014 Super Bowl bearable was “Broadway” Joe Namath’s fur coat he borrowed from Macklemore — and of course, the commercials. As many as there were, I have dubbed these 10 as my personal favorites.
1. Budweiser’s “Puppy Love”
Budweiser has done it again. They always seem to pull us in with their meaningful and heart-wrenching messages. It starts out with a puppy escaping from were he is being cooped up (he is for sale to be adopted) when he wanders into the majestic Budweiser Clydesdale’s barn. The two animals become fast friends.
Out of nowhere the Clydesdale’s barn keeper notices the puppy is not where he is supposed to be and takes him back to where he belongs. The faces this puppy makes toward the horse will melt your heart, and p.s., the song “Let her go” by Passenger is playing the entire time and makes the commercial all more depressing, but not for long.
On a rainy night the mischievous puppy returns to the Clydesdale’s stables, and of course, he is returned. This pattern goes on for awhile until he is finally adopted. As the puppy is put in the car with his new owner he claws and barks at the window as he passes by his Clydesdale friend. The Clydesdale follows the car the entire time the car is leaving down the dirt road.
I AM CRYING AT THIS POINT.
Just when you think all hope is lost for this friendship the puppy’s Clydesdale friend recruits his other horse companions to help stop the car the puppy is in. The man who adopted the puppy lets him go and the puppy and Clydesdale live happily ever after. The hashtag Budweiser used was #BestBuds. I noticed that a lot throughout the commercials. Many of them had a hashtag at the end. It’s all about that social media.
2. Radio Shack goes back to the 80’s
I thought this commercial was fairly simplistic but hysterical. “The 80’s called — they want their store back.” The entire era in one clump arrives to Radio Shack to take literally all electronics you would find from 16 years ago. Mary Lou Retton is there, Hulk Hogan, Chucky, and 20 other characters are there ripping up old computers and telephones like they’re going out of style. Newsflash — they have been for about forever. I will say this was clever of Radio Shack. They’ve kind of been in the bottom tier when it comes to electronic stores. With Apple as our fearless leader we’ve kind of forgot about them over the years. Their new slogan is “Do. It. Together.” I’m not sure what that has to do with them updating their store but maybe it means we can all advance together? New store for them, new speakers for you.
3. John Stamos will make you eat Oikos and like it
John Stamos has been advertising Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt for awhile now. Side note: I definitely ate Oikos before the star made middle-aged women buy bulks amount of the stuff, but it’s whatever. This commercial was pretty risqué to start. The women sitting across from Stamos notices he has some yogurt on his lips, so she happily removes it for him. Stamos does it again, on purpose this time. She kisses him to remove the Greek goodness. And then, the yogurt falls way down south on his pants.
Just when you think this commercial has gone way wrong and should have had a rating on it when it started, a “Full House” reunion happens out of nowhere when Dave Coulier and Bob Saget come out of nowhere with cleaning supplies.
“Take off your pants Greek boy,” Saget demands.
Dannon’s message is “Fuel Your Pleasure.” It’s clever and it definitely works with the ladies and “Full House” fans.
4. Coke’s version of “America the Beautiful”
When I first saw this commercial I was unsure about what I was watching. The refreshing beverage brand commercial starts out with someone singing “America the Beautiful” and the audience might think, “Oh this is pleasant. Go USA.”
The TV shows some of America’s landmarks and different people going about their daily lives with some Coke products in the background. Before you know it, the next line in the song is being sung in a different language while other parts of the world are being shown. Hold up, this isn’t America.
As the song continues each line is sung in American and then a different language while all parts of the world and cultures of different people are shown.
While I was watching this commercial with some friends all of our reactions were different. The friend to my right kind of made a face, and the other to my left said “I’m confused.” This commercial has people talking and has even sparked some controversy. Is this Coke commercial truly America?
In my opinion, this commercial was shot well and it’s a neat concept. The commercial is showing America today. Whatever culture you have or what language you speak, this is what makes the America we live in right now. Some might disagree or don’t want to see our country in that light, but I thought it was bold and beautiful.
5. Microsoft
I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m an Apple user. I’ve grown up with Microsoft my entire life, but as of recent I tend to be attracted to Apple. This commercial made me reconsider my choices in electronics.
It shows all of the different technological advances sciences has achieved, like: looking at x-rays through motion sensors, the controlling of a bionic arm and hand, prosthetic legs for a child, and helping a blind artist paint. It’s an inspiring commercial. It gives you faith in technology for the years to come.
“Technology has the power to unite us” the commercial voiceover says and then an image is a solider Skyping his wife who just gave birth to their baby. The best part of the commercial is when Steve Gleason (a former NFL player who has Lou Gehrig’s disease) gets to interact with his son thanks to Microsoft’s technology. It’s quite sweet.
6. Bob Dylan makes you want to buy a Chrysler
“Is there anything more American than America?” Bob Dylan asks the audience. You should ask Coke about that, Bob. (too soon?)
The cinematography for this commercial was awesome. To me, it seemed like a work of art. There are landmarks of America shown throughout the commercial, film of famous stars like Marilyn Monroe and Rosie the Riveter that show the foundation of America’s pop culture.
Then Dylan mentions that Detroit was a huge asset to America because they gave us cars. “Detroit made cars and cars made America,” he says. He continues by comparing America to other countries and their products that they manufacture. American pride cannot be imported or made anywhere else, according to Dylan. Like I said, the filming is great and his voice is so smooth, which makes this Chrysler commercial a solid.
7. Doritos Time Machine
This commercial was one of my favorites for sure. Doritos is known for their clever advertising. Who could forget, “Keep your hands off my mama, and keep your hands off my Doritos.”
Well this time, a kid is definitely involved with their humor and creativity in tow. A child is shown playing outside with his dog when a neighbor, Mr. Smith, walks buy (he is a grown adult who just so happens to be eating out of a Doritos chip bag.) The little boy tells him that if he gives him some of his Doritos he can try his homemade time machine. Being a good sport, Mr. Smith sits in the massive box and shares some of his Doritos. The little boy begins kicking the box and making noises to replicate what a time machine might look and sound like. It’s quite precious to be honest.
“THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE,” Mr. Smith yells as he lets his guard down and childhood back in. Then out of nowhere an older man appears from the house that we think is the little boy’s, but isn’t. Hilarity only ensues and I suggest you watch it.
8. False alarm. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is not making a sequel liked we hoped.
The advertisers at Maserati are a bunch of tricksters. The moment Quvenzhané Wallis appears on screen you think you’re watching a commercial for the sequel to “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”
Sorry folks, that is definitely not the case. The commercial tells a story of redemption and courage. The dialogue for this commercial is beautiful and so is the cinematography. Their message is to “We have prepared, now we strike.” You have to watch it. It’s another piece of art.
9. Why am I not Anna Kendrick?
If you’ve watched “Pitch Perfect,” you get it. Anna Kendrick is the most sarcastic woman on the planet and she’s really funny on top of it all. She’s supposed to be advertising for a beer (Newcastle Brown Ale) and apparently the people didn’t even have the money for the commercial so they can’t physically say Super Bowl nor hire her.
The scene is set like this. It’s supposed to be behind the scenes for the making of the commercial and Kendrick is venting to her hairdresser the entire time.
“I was surprised that I even go offered the part. You know? Because I don’t think of myself as beer-commercial-babe hot. You know? I mean, I’ m hot, but like, approachable hot. Like the hottest girl in your improv class hot,” she vents.
If that’s not enough to make you want to watch it then I don’t know what is.
10. Chevy will make you believe in miracles
You know this commercial is going to be good when the song “You Sexy Thing” starts playing in the background. It’s a story about a very eligible bachelor cow that finds love — all thanks to his owner and a Chevy truck. That’s all there is to it.
About Lauren Estlinbaum
