Sky Atlantic HD

Ad release date: Jan 2011

Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Flight of the Conchords and Curb Your Enthusiasm, but to name a few. I don't know many people who aren't raving about Sky Atlantic's programs since it's unveiling on February 1st. Sky have recruited Dustin Hoffman to introduce the channel, he converses over The Cinematic Orchestra's 'To Build a Home' from the 'Ma Fleur' album. I know I usually lay all the plaudits on the music in my posts, but this is the best example to date, of a voice over working in tandem with a beautiful sound bed. Honestly, this channel didn't need much of an introduction, but this advert made sure we were all counting down the days.

CinematicOrchestra.com/

P.S. Sky Atlantic's latest trailer, which features Florence & The Machine's 'Howl' is equally as powerful, but I featured the Cinematic Orchestra because they aren't as well known as the mammoth-lunged Florence and her long bandy legs. Here's a link to watch it anyway...


Sky Atlantic HD - Let The Stories Begin

Richmond Sausages - The Taste That Brings Them Home

Ad release date: Jan 2011

I always intend to write about the influence a song has had on the whole advert. But, in this case, it is one particular part of a song that is the making of the ad. When the bloke who deemed it acceptable to drag a double-bass on to a bus sings 'coming home' in a higher octave, it harmonizes with a new melody of voices underneath it. It may just be me, but I love it when a part of a song is played and it feels like you were the only one to appreciate that one subtle note. Anywho, the band who came up with that divine subtlety more importantly, are called 'The Molloys' and the song is called 'Meet You There', they are an elusive bunch though as I can't find much information about them at all. You can download the song now from iTunes and Amazon.

Ad developed by Quiet Storm

Magic 105.4 - Feel the Magic

Feel the Magic - Michael Buble & The O'Jays

Ad release date: Jan 2011

Two adverts for the price of one Volauventers. Magic 105.4 are promoting more music and less talk in the convoluted London radio market and they've demonstrated the idea by mashing up old classics with modern smoothies. 

 

Firstly, the video at the top of the post starts off with the intro to 10cc's 'I'm not in love' and the opening lyrics from Michael Buble's 'Home'. And then, just as your eyes close and your toes start a'tapping, Queen's - 'It's a kind of magic' gets those fingers a'clicking too. I don't know who put it together, but they deserve a pat on the back.

 

As for the second Magic advert, you'll have to click on the link to see it. But, it is worth the extra 1.5 seconds that it will take you to click on it and wait for the video to load. Mr Buble features again with 'Hollywood' but this time he is on top of 'Love Train' by The O'Jays, a bit more upbeat and appealing than the first advert but both of them are an excellent demonstration of how to use music in advertising. B-E-A-utiful.

Both ads developed by St. Lukes

Creative team: Andy Drugan and Simon Friedburg

michaelbuble.com

myspace.com/tencc

 

queenonline.com/ 

 

myspace.com/theojays 

Skins Trailer - Series 5

Ad release date: Jan 2011

Slightly deviating from the advertising theme to the trailer on this one. And those crazy kids from Skins are at it again! As the cast fall naked endlessly, clothes start to cover them up as they fall and it all looks very impressive until I ask myself why? Well, yes it's majestic and yes they're young and yes they were cooler than me when I was their age but I'm not bitter, no. I just think it's worth noting that Ready to Start by Arcade Fire makes this trailer more meaningful than it actually is. The power of the song alone, diverts the attention away from the pretty pointless message of the trailer.

arcadefire.com/

myspace.com/arcadefireofficial

Amazon Kindle - Zest

Ad release date: Nov 2010 

'Four friends sat at a table with four ice-cold beers, each fighting for shade from the July sun, in a beer garden on a Saturday afternoon.' Well, that's what I imagine when I hear Bibio's 'Lover's Carvings' in this advert. Funnily enough, I don't see any of my friends reading a passage from a Kindle in this fantasy, but I digress. This advert is well-shot and it does put a little sentimental smile on my face when it comes on. It is a credit to the music in an advert when you don't have to rely on voice-overs or any other audio for that matter, just the visuals and the music. Bibio's 6th album, 'Mind Bokeh' comes out in April 2011, but you can download 'Lover's Carvings' for free on Amazon.

www.myspace.com/mrbibio

4Music - Summer 2009

  
Ad release date: June 2009 

We all know the artist and the song that feature in this ad. Very rarely does a song come along like Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap, a song that practically unites everyone who loves any genre of music. This song could accompany thousands of ads, even thousands of genre's of ads. So, when 4music promoted their coverage of summer festivals in 2009, they not only captured what the festival experience is all about visually, they also bagged the soundtrack to put the viewer right back in their muddy tent and underneath that wonky gazebo. Aaah, the memories.

thetempertrap.com/ 

Advert filmed at the Hop Farm Festival in 2009

Developed by Channel 4

BT Fibre Optic Broadband - Infinity

Ad release date: March 2010 

BT pull at the heartstrings with this Ad. It's especially easy on the eye since the guy from My Family and Love Actually isn't in it, but even if he did feature, I'd happily endure looking at his English face if this song by Allie Moss was on in the background. The song is called 'Corner' and it's available to download on iTunes. I don't usually understand the appeal of acoustic songs, but when it compliments the nostalgic visuals of this advert, I completely get it.

www.alliemoss.com

Developed by AMV BBDO

Creative Director - Brian Campbell