Music is no doubt a universal means of communication. So what a better way to help people come together from all parts of the planet and make a change for the better than through song. Playing For Change is like one colossal virtual open guitar case asking for donations to their cause -- creating music & art schools around the world.
From big names like Bono and Keb Mo to unknown street musicians, artists of all stature and genre lend their voices, guitars, keyboards, drums, harps, washboards, and cowbells to this ongoing project. The music is soulful. The multimedia format is innovative. And the journey they've gone through to put it all together is inspiring.
See more or donate at: playingforchange.com or playingforchange.org
And enjoy a few of their wonderful tunes below.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Bing it on!
The search engine war has seemingly been over for quite some time now. Google is king and everyone has to accept it, right? Well, Microsoft, the czar of a different sector of computing, has decided to see about that.
Bing is the name and helping you cut through the search clutter is the game. To introduce its latest innovation, Microsoft's advertising establishes the problem of how much time and energy we waste on search engines (ahem, Google) that lead us in the wrong direction. They then sell Bing as the solution to that very problem. Bing is not a search engine, but a "Decision Engine." I checked out Bing and I am not exactly convinced that is the case. It's a little more eye-friendly than Google, but is it a revolutionary breakthrough good enough to dethrone King Google? I'm not so sure.
I do like the Bing campaign, however. It makes me think twice about Google and the search mess that's certainly exists. And I like the thought of a decision engine. Is it all sizzle and no filet? Time will probably answer that.
Bing is the name and helping you cut through the search clutter is the game. To introduce its latest innovation, Microsoft's advertising establishes the problem of how much time and energy we waste on search engines (ahem, Google) that lead us in the wrong direction. They then sell Bing as the solution to that very problem. Bing is not a search engine, but a "Decision Engine." I checked out Bing and I am not exactly convinced that is the case. It's a little more eye-friendly than Google, but is it a revolutionary breakthrough good enough to dethrone King Google? I'm not so sure.
I do like the Bing campaign, however. It makes me think twice about Google and the search mess that's certainly exists. And I like the thought of a decision engine. Is it all sizzle and no filet? Time will probably answer that.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Deadline
Not much to say about this other than ENJOY. This video tells an age-old story of procrastination and deadlines in a whole new way. The stop motion is a very well executed and a lot of fun.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A bloody nice idea
A vampire fan I am not. The sharp teeth, the aversion to sunshine and all that blood, I just don't get it. However, the latest promotion of HBO's True Blood is something I could sink my teeth into.
True Blood sprayed fake ads targeting the vampire market throughout various media. Using appropriate brands like Gillette and playing off popular campaigns like Geico's "This is the money you could be saving," the show certainly got creative to remind everyone the second season was about to start. I'm not sure I'll be tuning in, but I do think the campaign would make Dracula's CMO proud.
Plus, they've got a pretty substantial website called bloodcopy.com worth taking a look at and some nice viral videos.
True Blood sprayed fake ads targeting the vampire market throughout various media. Using appropriate brands like Gillette and playing off popular campaigns like Geico's "This is the money you could be saving," the show certainly got creative to remind everyone the second season was about to start. I'm not sure I'll be tuning in, but I do think the campaign would make Dracula's CMO proud.
Plus, they've got a pretty substantial website called bloodcopy.com worth taking a look at and some nice viral videos.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Lebron vs. Kobe
ABC had the promos edited and ready to go. David Stern was giggling with anticipation. And basketball fans everywhere were all amped up for the matchup of all matchups. Kobe vs. Lebron. Only Clevelanders, well versed in the agony of defeat, and the Orlando Magic seemed to think it would be any other way.
Well, even though the cards didn't play out as expected, the latest campaign from Nike brings Lebron and Kobe together for us... sort of. Nike has created the puppet version of these 2 slam-dunking athletes. Filled with hilarious one-liners, trash talking banter and other antics, this is great, great stuff. And hopefully, for those Cleveland fans muttering "next year, next year" as they now focus on the last-place Tribe, this is a foreshadowing of the 2010 finals.
Well, even though the cards didn't play out as expected, the latest campaign from Nike brings Lebron and Kobe together for us... sort of. Nike has created the puppet version of these 2 slam-dunking athletes. Filled with hilarious one-liners, trash talking banter and other antics, this is great, great stuff. And hopefully, for those Cleveland fans muttering "next year, next year" as they now focus on the last-place Tribe, this is a foreshadowing of the 2010 finals.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sing for Beef
Songwriters historically have found their muse in such things as love, heartbreak, tragedy, anger, sorrow, and so on. Beyond Cheeseburger in Paradise by Mr. Jimmy Buffett, songs inspired by red meat are a rarity. That is... until now. A1 Steak Sauce brings a promotion certain to get crooners out in full force to sing about Beef.
The promotion via youtube asks you to serenade them with your best love song about A1. Posted on youtube, your song and video might not only win you some tasty steak for a year, but it could be your stepping stone to fame. Okay, probably not. But this promotion certainly should serve up some hilarious odes to meat. Just think of the possibilities.
I like Big Butt Steaks and I cannot lie.
A little ditty about Jack and Steak Diane.
I will always love Au Jus.
Let's get it on... the grill
New York Strip of Mind
Check it out at: www.youtube.com/a1
And here are a couple videos. This is certainly a fun idea and great way to get people engaged with your brand. Well done, ha!
The promotion via youtube asks you to serenade them with your best love song about A1. Posted on youtube, your song and video might not only win you some tasty steak for a year, but it could be your stepping stone to fame. Okay, probably not. But this promotion certainly should serve up some hilarious odes to meat. Just think of the possibilities.
I like Big Butt Steaks and I cannot lie.
A little ditty about Jack and Steak Diane.
I will always love Au Jus.
Let's get it on... the grill
New York Strip of Mind
Check it out at: www.youtube.com/a1
And here are a couple videos. This is certainly a fun idea and great way to get people engaged with your brand. Well done, ha!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Another 5 Inventive Ads
How do you get people to think about foot fungus? See the above shoe. Nasty? Yes. Disgusting? For sure. Effective? You bet. That's a fungal work of art from Lamisil.
Smooth Ice. Smooth shave. This is a perfect marriage of machinery for Gillette.
Okay, so I'm not sure I want to find myself on the beach staring at this guy's very pale ass. However, I enjoy the clever device of discarded clothing to draw one's attention. Fiji certainly contrasts nicely with the surrounding environment.
Not sure this ad tells me anything new, but it does deliver its message in a way I've never seen before. The print piece reacts to UV rays, showcasing who does (the semi-tanned female) and does not (the lobster-red guy) use Sundown sun block. Pretty cool.
This is such an excellent use of advertising space, I just want to break out into a jig... at the Camden Irish Music Festival of course.
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