Ad-Vers[e]-ary: Ad Critic

The advertising for the Vancouver 2010 Spring (WINTER) Olympics was brilliant from many of the sponsors.

Particularly liked the musical one ending on a hockey rink; "Let Them Know ... Who's ... Game ... They're Playing!" Lots of fiddle music, amateurs playing street hockey for fun, crowds in stands, faces painted, Canada gear on, screaming...

Who'd have thunk that an advertisement showing ecstatic crowds *all* in colours and face paint would, in fact, be the most accurate depiction of the whole of Vancouver?!? The whole of Canada even. Incredible to experience, says this Olympic skeptic.

President's Choice is running an advertisement for their water filters.

They present the fact(?) that there are >17,000 pieces of plastic in every square kilometre of the ocean!

They pitch their water filters as saving on plastic trash, as an alternative to plastic bottles.

They ignore the fact that 99% of the population of Canada has perfectly fine tap water, so bottles aren't necessarily the only alternative.

That nitpick aside, I admire their appeal to environmentalism, but sheesh Mr President, where were you 20, even 10 years ago?

Otherwise, a good advertisement.

...nee O'Reilly On Advertising.

First thing on this blog, a big shout out to Pirate Radio in Toronto and CBC Radio for The Age Of Persuasion.

It's probably the best show on CBC Radio One in any given week.

And, ironically, it's a show dedicated to advertising on a station that has no advertising.