Shortlist.com - Paul Houlding’s Top 5 ads
In our lifetime we’ve seen thousands of the blighters. Some good, some bad, some just indifferent. We see them every day. No, not roads – do you really think we’d pen some exotic prose dedicated to the A12; although come to think of it… – but adverts. Specifically, TV adverts.
So we started thinking, what are the best TV adverts ever made? Those ground-breaking commercials that have made us laugh, cry in wonderment and, hopefully, encouraged us to part with our Betty Windsor notes. After much head scratching, we decided to ask an expert.
So step forward advertising guru Paul Houlding, managing director of the award-winning London agency Isobel, who has named his five favourite ads from the 1960s onwards.
Without further ado, over to you, Paul.
1960s: British Egg Marketing Board – Go To Work On An Egg Alfred Hitchcock famously said that you need three things to make a great movie: “ the script, the script and the script”. This deft, witty ad from the 60’s which was part of a massive £12 million campaign by the Egg Marketing Board is all about the writing. Starring the peerless Tony Hancock it really does stand the test of time which gives you some idea of just how good it is.
1970s: R Whites – Secret Lemonade Drinker The secret lemonade drinker first crept down the stairs in 1973 and a nation was instantly hooked. Featuring a great song (written by Elvis Costello’s dad and featuring the 19 year old yet-to-be-famous songster on backing vocals) the ad is engagingly fun (and brilliantly silly) and got this 11 year old hooked on advertising.
1980s: Apple Macintosh - 1984 A watershed moment - it spawned a new genre of ‘epic’ advertising. Directed by the ‘Alien’ man, Ridley Scott, it aired only once on TV on January 22nd 1984. Audacious, ambitious and infused with a confidence verging on arrogance – this strangely prophetic ad that launched the Apple Macintosh was the very best of the 80’s.
1990s: Blackcurrant Tango – St George Ever been accused of blowing something out of proportion? Well this ad from the 90’s takes the concept to a whole new level. A great idea coupled with technical excellence (it looks and feels like one continuous take) make this a stand out ad. Guaranteed to have you grinning from ear to ear by the time the white cliffs of Dover come into view.
2000s: Guinness - noitulovE “I know, lets film the history of evolution, in 60 seconds, backwards.” Silence; followed by incredulous laughter…but Guinness being Guinness they weren’t joking. Brilliantly executed with a cracking soundtrack (Rhythm of Life from the musical Sweet Charity) – it’s a class act that deserved all the plaudits that came its way. Big budget (£5m), big idea, big ad.
Shortlist.com - Paul Houlding’s Top 5 ads
In our lifetime we’ve seen thousands of the blighters. Some good, some bad, some just indifferent. We see them every day. No, not roads – do you really think we’d pen some exotic prose dedicated to the A12; although come to think of it… – but adverts. Specifically, TV adverts.
So we started thinking, what are the best TV adverts ever made? Those ground-breaking commercials that have made us laugh, cry in wonderment and, hopefully, encouraged us to part with our Betty Windsor notes. After much head scratching, we decided to ask an expert.
So step forward advertising guru Paul Houlding, managing director of the award-winning London agency Isobel, who has named his five favourite ads from the 1960s onwards.
Without further ado, over to you, Paul.
1960s: British Egg Marketing Board – Go To Work On An Egg Alfred Hitchcock famously said that you need three things to make a great movie: “ the script, the script and the script”. This deft, witty ad from the 60’s which was part of a massive £12 million campaign by the Egg Marketing Board is all about the writing. Starring the peerless Tony Hancock it really does stand the test of time which gives you some idea of just how good it is.
1970s: R Whites – Secret Lemonade Drinker The secret lemonade drinker first crept down the stairs in 1973 and a nation was instantly hooked. Featuring a great song (written by Elvis Costello’s dad and featuring the 19 year old yet-to-be-famous songster on backing vocals) the ad is engagingly fun (and brilliantly silly) and got this 11 year old hooked on advertising.
1980s: Apple Macintosh - 1984 A watershed moment - it spawned a new genre of ‘epic’ advertising. Directed by the ‘Alien’ man, Ridley Scott, it aired only once on TV on January 22nd 1984. Audacious, ambitious and infused with a confidence verging on arrogance – this strangely prophetic ad that launched the Apple Macintosh was the very best of the 80’s.
1990s: Blackcurrant Tango – St George Ever been accused of blowing something out of proportion? Well this ad from the 90’s takes the concept to a whole new level. A great idea coupled with technical excellence (it looks and feels like one continuous take) make this a stand out ad. Guaranteed to have you grinning from ear to ear by the time the white cliffs of Dover come into view.
2000s: Guinness - noitulovE “I know, lets film the history of evolution, in 60 seconds, backwards.” Silence; followed by incredulous laughter…but Guinness being Guinness they weren’t joking. Brilliantly executed with a cracking soundtrack (Rhythm of Life from the musical Sweet Charity) – it’s a class act that deserved all the plaudits that came its way. Big budget (£5m), big idea, big ad.
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