Gap Commercial - Khaki Swing

[sketchandobserve]

Nice commercial!

[IDontUsePicks]

@greghmn RATM sucks. Don't act as if it's some obscure hip band.

[hortulanus94]

This swings! :D

[chattychar]

this was cool, before i realized i'd be wearing khaki as my uniform the rest of my life at a minimum wage job.

[logjammin1987]

First you get the khakis, then you get the chicks haha

[aldovanopdorp]

i ain't want a khaki no more..... -puke-

[Ryanl993]

Chandler brought me here

[greghmn]

i was led here by doing research on the video for guerrilla radio (for you uncultured people, it's by rage against the machine).

[StudioGoldsmith]

Chandler brought me here as well.

[iasaqueboleto990]

chandler brought me here

[Fragglevision]

This did a better job of getting people to sign up for lindy hop lessons than making them buy the pants.

[lukaszrus89]

what is the title of this song ?

[lindyhop411]

@lukaszrus89 Jump, Jive, and Wail by Louis Prima

[lukaszrus89]

@lindyhop411 Thank you :)

[suddendee]

@lukaszrus89 Jump Jive and Wail

[yaknbo]

Could you have posted a non-jittery version of this? Thanks for nothing.

[ruddgirl]

These pants look awful when i see this commercial now! khaki crops the biggest NO! for a woman.

[mary8810002]

I remember this commercial. Now I am happy that swing fad disappeared

[lindyhop411]

@mary8810002 It didn't disappear, but it got way more awesome.  See my videos to see why.

[piratelover43]

what in the world has happened to Gap? Their clothes these days are HORRIBLE.

[Keviva007]

49 people can't dance.

[TheSololobo]

I remember trying this on and thinking - why don't they do them more slim fitting.

[junezzz210]

i love gap commercials!

[Aerozmith]

@anythingnew that spells "GAMP"

[nicknameless1025]

@anythingnew that would be "GAMP"

[lenglain]

@anythingnew That's GAMP

[acompanyofwolves]

this reminds me of the Blink 182 video for "What's my age again?" where they run naked through the dancers in khakis.

[TheFishFanatics]

this video is old

[mangarda]

wow. khakis were a BAD idea. and i definitely had like 5 pairs of them in middle school. lol.

[amrit355]

soo true - they are ugly pants-althought cool comercial

funny in a way

[jusaLOSER]

@amrit355 i still wear khakis! they are a casual looking dress pant! they are perfect for loungin around the house, goin to church, and even for weddings and funerals. especially the ones that r pleated in the front or ones that dont have the big bulgy pockets! but even tho i am 38 i do not like the fancy dress pants! i like being able to dress nice but still with a casual look

[Meteor62x2]

I was 18 at the time and completely remember this commercial. As a teen it did attract my attention. It did make me start wearing khakis. It just grabbed my imagination like a lot of people. Weird how "moments" in pop culture happen like that.

[BernardProfitendieu]

fat ass pants

[LelouchOfJapan]

Their pants look like carpenter pants lol

[MoonGlow75]

I hated this commercial when it first came out. Sorry, but White folks have no business swing dancing. It looks awkward and embarrassing when they do it.

[jusaLOSER]

@MoonGlow75 thats ridiculous to say that! ANYBODY can swing dance! i'd rather see people swing dancing instead of this retarded poppin and lockin and "lean back" bullshit!

[trax4wax]

@jusaLOSER What an ignorant comment. First, know the subject you're talking about, then you can make a comment. "Leanin back" isn't the same as poppin/lockin/breakin, and at least those forms of dance are constantly evolving. The same can't be said of East Coast Swing/Lindy Hop/Jitterbug/etc., and especially West Coast Swing. W.C. Swing = SNORE, and ANYONE can dance the W.C. style; doesn't take long (less than a week) to learn the basics. Can't say the same about breakin/poppin/lockin.

[jusaLOSER]

@trax4wax i am old enough to know that i'd RATHER do a swing dance rather than tryin to Lean Back, or crank dat, or this modern day JOKE of what was once a great phenomenon called breakdancing! i know i can't break dance at all, but at least it accommpanied good old fashioned CLASSIC hip hop songs and swing dancing accompanied with fast and fun swing dance! the music nowadays is a DAMN JOKE!!! No one should have to dance to it or listen to it

[trax4wax]

@jusaLOSER - I'd rather lindy hop than "lean back" or "crank dat" too. Like I said, that crap isn't the same as breakin/poppin/lockin. And the music to "lean back" or "crank dat" to is super shit. The breakin/poppin/lockin world still jives to underground beats that the mainstream crowd knows nothing about. And shows like America's Dance Crew are not true representations of the REAL Hip Hop/Breakin/Poppin/Lockin world. It's just mainstream trying to make money off of it.

[whenyoulovethe90s]

@trax4wax people really don't "crank that" anymore thats kind of really old.... like 2005 old

[catchersmitt0]

@whenyoulovethe90s more 1942 old, youngster.

[trax4wax]

@whenyoulovethe90s - i was quoting "jusaLOSER" smartass. figure it out...

[eloropeza1985]

@jusaLOSER I totally agree with you.. all this new stuff makes me sick to my stomach... music aint what it used to be

[kaleidokarma]

@MoonGlow75 no it just looks awkward and embarrassing when Gap bunnies do it. real swing is alive and vibrant, funky and playful and everybody does it. its actually a very uniting force for people of all kinds in my super diverse city.

[trax4wax]

@kaleidokarma Doubtful they're "Gap bunnies".

[kaleidokarma]

@trax4wax hahaha. got an email with your original comment. man, did you misunderstand me.

[trax4wax]

@kaleidokarma I haven't signed into youtube in a while and was confused with the new reply format. Thought your comment was also posted by "jusaLOSER", thinking he/she was just adding more nonsense. When I figured out your comment was from you, I deleted the original, since your comment wasn't negative at all.

[lindyhop411]

@MoonGlow75 Have you see my videos?

[dexter280]

Jump, Jive and Wail

[freddrick08]

I think khakis are still cool casual wear and come on the 90's still lingers in everyone...believe it or not people still wear at Starbucks lol if that ain't so 97 I don't know what is? And the hairstyles are coming back weird...

[alfapolaris]

i think the blond girl is kind of cute

[armybear1960]

@alfapolaris I definately aggree!

[dthendon]

Classic!

[lacouerfairy]

Back when Gap was good. Now it's all dark grey jackets and mauve tops. Talk about hideous.

[ScarletAmbition2008]

Chance MISSED, a back-to-back flip!

[jurmongler]

Just add some Blue Polos to everyone and you have a BEST BUY commercial HAHAHAHA

[McBangus]

The Go-Go commercial was the best one.

[fdelapena001]

I remember I was a freshmen in college the first time I saw this commercial, that was about 13 Years ago.

[doh1959]

the first girl has the cutest of butts

[chokujou]

This ad campaign is probably one of the most amazing stories in PR history. They managed to take easily the most boring article of clothing ever created (Khaki pants) and sell them to trendy teenagers...by using swing dancing. And they were wildly successful.

Its pretty amazing that they were able to pull that off, when you think about what they were doing.

[Lola6041]

@chokujou the ad campaign really threw Gap into the mainstream.. i couldn't get enough of them and I admit, I bought a pair of khakis..

[champainless]

@chokujou that's not Pr, its marketing dummy.

[mcteeth]

@chokujou also notable for the use of "bullet time" camera effect.

[chokujou]

This ad campaign is probably one of the most amazing stories in PR history. They managed to take easily the most boring article of clothing ever created (Khaki pants) and sell them to trendy teenagers...by using swing dancing. And they were wildly successful.

Its pretty amazing that they were able to pull that off, when you think about what they were doing.

[L0VECHILDD]

this sucks on big old balls

[UNENDLICHLIEBE]

Does anybody know the name of the song?

[kayvicchen]

@UNENDLICHLIEBE

jump jive and wail by Loius Prima

[UNENDLICHLIEBE]

@kayvicchen Thax!!!! =D

[dustypork]

Hey it's Christian.

[Fartynuggets]

0:14

nice hair.

[catchersmitt0]

crappy quality of this video, for such a good commercial

[TRwalnut]

not a big fan of gap but good dancing!!

[Grooveraider]

I remember when friends and I would refer to this Gap ad to The Matrix because at the time ( circa 1999 ) we didn't know what the term "Bullet Time" was XD

[virginiarules510]

Khaki's are SUCH ugly pants!

Too bad I still have to wear them to work. I really wish I had a more flattering uniform...

[sslohier]

the 90s seem so under- dressed don't you think? looking i wonder how such outfits made sense..

[aymyeyehurts]

Haha, khaki swing

[auroral]

There is something about 1998...I think 98' must have been the height of the 90's.

[mannhorn34]

Gap is not my scene.

[Drenched07]

-.- worst thing ever created for women to wear

[harvey1954]

How's a dame suppose to work that skirt in such ugly pants?

[mountaingirlcanada]

I so remember these commercials..I was like «mom I NEED some Khakis right now!!»...And they were hideous, pants from the 90's just plain old made women look fat...I'm still waiting for Bell bottoms to come back in style, that shit is flattering on everybody!

[cajungial]

@mountaingirlcanada - you right, girl!!!

[Burblez]

Urgh, khaki looks AWFUL on women. And I used to wear baggy khaki trousers in 2000! I was 10, so I didn't know any better. XD;;;

[newguy90]

I just came here from the Hellzapoppin video.  This is almost painful to watch.

[anthonyray0323]

WOW the dancing in this commercial is HORRIBLE

[crazycheatta]

I miss this commercial I didn't think YouTube would have it round. Right on.

[TalentLuver]

If you guys think this is good - HEHEHE. Check out CCHS Talent Show Swing. They only practiced once and they are even better now.

[graypaint]

talk about Khaki overkill..

[latinguy67]

Gap needs to get back to this. Basic, functional clothes. Good campaigns like this showcased the smart product it used to carry.

[timujin]

Awesome

[TexTK]

thats a bit too much khakis in one room

[Syrial]

wheres Shannyn Sossoman? :(

[kxmode]

I think that first woman is Milla Jonovich. It looks like her.

[RTCMAHL]

The invention of bullet time . .

[ladyrasberry]

What is this song calleD?? and who sings?

[passionate4pens]

ladyrasberry; this son is called "jump jive and wail" and it is sung by louis prima

[emtodawa]

@ladyrasberry The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Jump Jive An' Wail

[hlegister724]

Loved this commercial...the Gap has taste...Plain clothes allow the person's personality to actually shine...Love it!

[chrisredfield3636]

You know thats indiana jones pants

[Anorexorcist2371]

Wow, The Matrix inspired GAP comercials...

[fkrunaway]

This came out before The Matrix.

[Magestrix]

I loved this commercial. However I never liked the clothes I saw in GAP or Old Navy.

[SkittlzAnKomboz]

I forgot how horribly ill-fitting clothes were on women in the 90's. Those pants are not flattering in any way, shape, or form. :o)

[Zeaky0arteest]

Amen amen amen!

[Magestrix]

I don't think "flattering" was the look of the 90's for women. It was more about comfort and actual ROOM to breath in what you're wearing. Laidback.

I actually LOVED the clothes in the 90's compared to the skinny jeans I'm seeing nowadays. It's like clothes lack imagination now as they're all supposed to be "flattering."

[5678tothestage]

regardless of what the pants looked like, the point is that this was the first time ANYONE in the mainstream public had seen that kind of freeze-frame 360 camera movement. EVER. I guess anyone who wasn't young at the time won't remember what a huge impact this had on pop culture in terms of what we got used to demanding of our visual entertainment technology as well as the fact that this commercial was responsible for the swing revival

[unicornus33]

here here

[Magestrix]

Actually it was used in some videos before this commercial. I can't remember which was the first exactly, however I do remember it being used in a 98 degrees video.

[5678tothestage]

innnneresting... I definitely must have missed those :)

[halimski]

true. i think the Kewanzinga camera was used in this one as the freeze only rotates quarter rotation.

[chelsearoosers]

Those pants are nasty junk.

[Diamondgrl2007]

heyyyyy!!

i remember this commercial when i was a kid....i think spring or summer '96 or '97...=)

[hellonicetomeetyou]

Gap became popular in the late 90s due to these ads (and Sharon Stone). These commercials weren't bad. Back then it was like whenever you see an all white background you automatically knew it was going to be a Gap commercial. Blink 182 even mocked these commercials in What's My Age Again.

Now Gap can't come up with creative advertising like these. The Old Navy ones can't compare to these.

[tewkewl]

back in the day, this commercial was the stuff!!! it propelled gap into the statosphere. now gap is hurting because their clothes are ugly.

[bmotx]

We gotta get jobs. Then we get the khakis. Then we get the chicks.

[animelvr99]

this makes me think of gap as a gang against....old navy. suddenly they meet and snapping ensues w/ dancing. "west side story"

interesting twist to the commerical

[poppinkinc]

Gap owns Old Navy......

[zelemont]

fucking faggot-ass gap commercials

[edibleantelope]

That is some good dancing in some ugly pants. Nothing was fitted in the '90s.

[ijllii2]

@edibleantelope you are so right, lol

[stephenry2]

@edibleantelope This is probably attributable to the low quality mass produced clothes that they are wearing.

[olexia07]

lol love it. I remember this when it came out.

[lillockdownjr90]

they look ok on guys but not on women

[spartansfan868]

I never got this excited about wearing khakis. Is that a problem?

[drcoffeecup63]

What a shame that they are selling stuff - blah

[hiscreation78]

Actually this commercial ushered in the death of swing dancing as a resurgent trend. While serious swing dancers had been dancing before and after, the trend had picked up a couple of years before this and, from what I heard, the commerical had a negative impact.

[milpool311]

Why would this affect swing dancing negatively if it puts it on the consciousness of everyone who sees the commercial. I liked this commercial and it made me remember that I liked swing dancing?

[Kalvet]

@milpool311 it's the khakis.

lol

[milpool311]

hahahaha

[jumpingjigowatts]

I finally know what that one guy on daria meant when he said he was pre-khakis commercial.

[xinyxan]

i love it

[locoranchers]

this is fuckin gay, and I worry about the people that actually like it

[CoolTravellerChannel]

What about this early pre-matrix effects!!

[esprit15d]

I remember that this commericial just took the world by storm when it came out.

[tamisweetie]

awsome commercial!!!

[andreisama]

maybe the worst ever

[brooklynsweb]

I think this may have been the clip that got me into Swing ahahha sad .. but may be true..

[ColombianMamacita]

I love this commerical..

swing music rocks..love it

[aldezmail]

Khaki must die

[XYZandTime]

"I was pre-Khakis commercial!" said the fellow in Daria.

[iamhewhoisiam]

Shannyn Sossamon's in this advert. On the right hand side...

[rollindts44]

why did the nintees want to be the fifties so badly?

[iamhewhoisiam]

for the same reasons that the 'noughties' want to be the 80's so bad.

[XYZandTime]

I wouldn't say they wanted to be the 50s...there was a hefty dose of deconstruction that came along with the renewed interest in swing etc, Take the movie Pleasantville for instance. I think it was just aesthetic and nothing more.

[trigga1uk]

Well the 80's was quite into american 50's as well.

[goblinb]

thats totally true, and the 40's too.

[Lonesomeroad26]

if only music were like this nowadays...dance instead of fights and teen drama

[miraclay]

my all time favorite commercial

[siennabea3]

awesome. swing is the best!

[hyphyswagg]

commercial chandler was talkin obut! haha

[baronvg]

I can't remember if it was this commercial or another one involving a mountain bike splashing into a puddle of mud where I saw bullet0time for the first time ever. And yes, this was well before The Matrix came out.

[zeldagrrrl]

I loooooved this ad. I remember when it came out, I was in college...when it would air everyone would stop and just watch it, transfixed. This was back when The Gap was the coolest thing on the block.

[FyLiP14]

is that the commercial that Chandler from friends talked about(Season 7-Episode 17)

[Nuttymeg83]

I love this commercial! Watching it brings me back. I was a freshman in high school when it came out and I totally went out and got a pair of those khakis! Thanks for posting this!

[abbysayeg]

Love to watch and hear "the swing" no matter where it is shown.

[HorrormovieQueen]

man the swing phase in the 90s when cherry poppin daddies were out and lou bega

[daveheel]

khakis just don't look good on women

[freshPrincess626]

if you get ones that fit right they do.

[WilliamBrothers]

Swing Dancing, Matrix style!

[Dorfkanal]

It introduced bullet time 1 year before 'The Matrix' did.

[tinotica]

Best gap commercial ever easily!!!

[ALLINKNOTS]

That guy in the the black shirt is hot.

[ppie1970]

MORE BLACK PEOPLE,,,,,

[davidls11]

How about at least one gay couple too?

[tumsabai1]

fuck that shit !!!!

[tumsabai1]

All aight now. That what I be talking about.

E to the Z. You know what i'm saying?

Them hoes can swing like a mutherfucker.

Ain't got no money to do a "Micheal Jackson" change, so I just use that bleach

shit. Got's to get me some swing moves going !!!

[SuperBrianm]

tumsabai1- Are you retarded? Just curious because you talk like you are.

[consuelo1962]

can somebody tell me the name of that song...?

[rubeecube80]

The name of the song is Jump Jive an' Wail. There are two version of this song a newer version by Brian Setzer but the one featured in this commercial is Luis Prima. :)

[sabi41]

when i was a little girl i used to buy clothes at gap!! before they had really good clothing!! now they do not have good clothing!!

[JediJen7]

This was a great commercial!

It made me want to start swing dancing and it made me want to buy Khaki's!

The perfect commercial- it did what it was supposed to!

Thank you to whoever posted this- I was thinking about this commercial recently!

[arhaznook]

A jedi who is so effected by a commercial is a rare find, indeed.

[geishapeach]

what happen to The Gap.. there clothes dont look as good as they use to and their commercials arent as exciting. =(

[birdgirl1975]

I worked at Gap when this ad campaign came out. We had to answer the phone "thank you for calling gap kids baby gap downtown where khaki's swing! this is mary, how can i help you?" EVERY caller laughed their arse off. Soooo embarrassing.