A GIANT 2012 Super Bowl

Insert glaringly obvious blog post. However, this was my first Super Bowl experience in America and so I will rightfully blog about it. I love that the first time I watched the half time show, it was Madonna performing. Major. I lost all sense and was dancing around the lounge room to classic Madonna. Girl, those boots were beyond. 

This was the first time I watched the ads in unison during the game (apparently there was football too).  I loved watching the placement of the brands at different times during the game. At one point, Chrysler was pretty on its game, as was Lexus, Honda and Toyota...but no Ford. Eventually Ford came to the party, but she was wearing the same dress she wore for the last 10 parties and I was left too bored to even mention it here. 

I was tweeting like a mad woman and joining in on the #superbowl, #adbowl, #brandbowl, #whartonfoa party. Super fun. I'm a super nerd. 

Here are my all important top 4 from Super Bowl 2012: 

M&Ms - "Sexy and I Know It"

This was a brilliant introduction of 'Brown' to the M&M's advertising series of characters. It's not just me who loved the tone, message and creative content of this ad. Kellogg School of Management Clinical Professor of Management, Tim Calkins agrees. "At Kellogg, our review evaluates the ads based on strategic execution and the potential to build brands, and M&M's did this well".  On a side note, I think I can relate to Red just a little too much.

Chrysler - "It's Halftime in America"

Anytime you bring in Clint Eastwood, you're bringing in the big guns. Amongst the clutter of fast cars with hot girls doing ridiculous tricks (seriously, the Sonic car sky dived out of an airplane), Chrysler brought a heartfelt clear message to America. The execution of this ad was flawless as it was played during half time. Eastwood's delivery of the message had me proud and motivated for America and hey, I'm not even close to being American. It was a brave sentiment that stood out from every other ad during the Super Bowl. It was deep and provided Chrysler with amazing cut through of the metal clutter surrounding it. Nice.

Doritos - "Man's Best Friend" 

This was one of the first ads shown in the first quarter and it had me laughing for the next three quarters. Doritos is the master of Super Bowl ad execution and now it seems social media influence; Man's Best Friend scored 73, 724 tweets in the 45 minutes after the ad was shown. Doritos always provides a clear message to their audience: you will do anything to get your hands on those Doritos. It's true too, I tried to run down to the CVS on the corner to get my husband some Doritos just before the game and the place had SOLD OUT. Doritos stayin' on top! 

Sketchers - "Go Run Mr. Quiggly!"

I have to say it, any brand that swaps Kim Kardashian for a dog is genius. Dogs had the run of the ad world last night and I think Mr Quiggly was easily in the lead. I mean, he moon walked over the finish line in his red Sketchers. What more do you want? The creative is genius, the message is clear and the product placement is sublime. Mr Quiggly also had a nice response on Twitter with 35, 256 tweets in the 45 minutes after the ad aired. Now, to go get me some red Sketchers and a Mr. Quiggly! 

If you'd like to join me on Twitter, I'd love to see you. I'm over at @therealkatielee

Good Parenting

Super Bowl is a huge time of year for football, but more importantly, advertising. It's the mecca of advertising. Brands spend months preparing for this one day's advertising spot and will invest millions to ensure it's shown where it will gain most exposure to their target market. They're witty, they're fun and they're designed to get your attention. One context that is particularly rare in Super Bowl advertising is good parenting. Last year for the 2011 Super Bowl VW launched a campaign in which a child's imagination was nourished by his parents.

When I was a child there was camping under sheets that were propped by chairs, lounges, beds, washing baskets...anything we could get our hands on. The linen cupboard was left bare and my Mother only supported our fortress, as long as we cleaned it up afterwards. We even had a secret code to enter. Yes, it was that serious. That was the 80's. In 2011, I see things have changed for kids, but the good parenting remains. This makes my heart warm. I don't want to give the element of surprise away; I'm too crafty for that. So watch the film and give it up for awesome parents everywhere nourishing their child's imagination, in whatever form that may be.

Dr. King

August 28th, 1963 was a brilliant day in world history. This film shows Dr Martin Luther King leading men and women of all colors, races and backgrounds, linking arms, walking together to secure a different future for themselves and their children; a future of "riches of freedom and the security of justice". 

Today is Martin Luther King day in the United States. What an important day it is. 

Number One Christmas Ad Campaign

....As voted by me. Obviously, that means a lot. So, I've been thinking about this blog post for the last couple of weeks and trying to find an ad with enough spunk + Christmas spirit. At first, I though Best Buy's Game On Santa was entertaining, but where was the holiday cheer for all to hear? Enter Tommy Hilgifer with the models and cow bell. Winner. Enough said, watch this and enjoy my festive friends. Happy Holidays!

George Dawson

In my haze of unemployment I've found numerous things to fill my days: internships, volunteering, reading, coffee chats with girlfriends in similar positions and of course, wedding planning. All have been rewarding and given me a greater purpose in my days, but I have found one stands out from the rest: reading. I have read a bunch of online PR publications and read about branding daily (sorry for the non-share, I will pick up my game). The biggest reading project I've had is Life is So Good, a biography by George Dawson. Far.Out.

George Dawson learned to read at 98 years old. He spent his entire life remembering things because he couldn't read and he couldn't write. If someone gave him directions, it was up to him to remember them accurately. In diners, he would order what he saw other people were eating because he couldn't read a menu. This book brought tears to my eyes. This man worked so hard his entire life and never took one moment that God gave him on this earth for granted. George started work at age 4 at his parents cotton farm. When he was 11 he moved away to work on another farm in a neighboring town to him. Never once in his life was a complaint about his position in life or the fact that he had to work hard.

Every once in a while you get a window into the life of someone else. This is one window I will keep in my mind. I never want to forget how hard this man worked and how much he lived and loved life, because I think there is a beautiful lesson in it. A lesson of being thankful to be given the life you have.

All Shook Up

Dear Blog, 

I apologize for my tardy behavior, constant neglect over the past couple of months, and now my American English. No, I did not leave you for Twitter. I live in America now and found myself in the middle of some culture shock. I absolutely loved Philly until I realized it is now my home. I freaked out, ate, ran, freaked out, did yoga, ate some more and then had a visit from my Mama. I can strongly say I have got my head back into gear and I'm ready to load you up with my brilliant witty posts once again. I even have some ideas scurrying around in my mind. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you a whole lot more. 

Sincerely,

Katie 

Steve Jobs

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

- Steve Jobs (someone who changed the world).


May you rest in peace.