Maxell Israelites advert

[newfrontier01]

One of the best commercials ever made - so simple yet so effective!

I this era of compressed music and crappy MP3 players this commercial just

reminds us of how listening to music just isn't the same if the source recording is crap.

You can't beat a pure analogue signal!

[IDontUsePicks]

Motherfucking genius..... My goodness, this may be the best ad ever.

[gooner1991]

This is so funny!!

[GedKelly1999]

God, haven't seen this for a million years. This and the Skids one - I cannot listen to those songs now without hearing these versions of the lyrics. Excellent.

[Ebonyuk72]

I remember the first time I ever saw this, i fell off the sofa laughing so hard. I can't hear the song without singing these words now but it still reminds me of how funny it is

[ojm31]

I remember when they filmed this advert in Islington's Chapel Market.

Don't believe the hype. Back in the day, Black people used to love the fact that there was a black person on TV. I used to run into the living room soon as I heard the music. All we had back then was Lenny Henry, Trevor Macdonald and Moira Stewart. Nice. Thanx for bringing back my childhood.

[Cloggerzzz]

8 people are no darling cheeseheads.

[zionravescene]

this advert has ruined that song forever. LOVE IT.

[pacmandem]

My mum told me about this advert that was on telly back in the day. Glad to've finally found it...

[magrpe]

I still hear the Maxell lyrics in my head and crack up whenever I hear this song. I don't know the real lyrics and part of me doesn't want to as it will spoil it.

[notanotheraccount]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR 20 YEARS! I didn't even remember what product it was for, I thought it was sneakers. Classic!! THANKS!

I don't think you could even show this ad now without getting sued into oblivion, more's the pity. :-P

[pacmandem]

@notanotheraccount How on earth could they be "sued into oblivion"? On what grounds?

[notanotheraccount]

@pacmandem I might have exaggerated a little, but I think black activist groups who make their living by seeing or manufacturing racism would be offended and complain until it was taken off the air.

[anonUK]

Actually, this WAS "my ears are alight", wasn't it? Naming the song "The Israelites" was just a joke, or "red herring" about the fact the white English of 1969 couldn't work out what he was singing about.

[Maestrojosh87]

Well, he was half correct.

"Get up in the morning, SLAVING for bread, sir"

and

"MY WIFE AND my kids, they PACK UP AND leave me"

[notanotheraccount]

@Maestrojosh87 Thanks for cluing us in, genius.

[goodflo911]

these things get more boring by the minute.

But joojokes are aokay ofc

[HiVolt8ge]

Pure class. Luv it!

[johnski64]

BEST AD EVER

[indigoattila]

ohmygosh! This is absolutely hilarious. I've never seen this before. Thanks for posting. Brilliant ad.

[neonrider93]

i love this ad. it is the 61st best ad of all time. (No.60 is the 1955 rice krispies ad and No. 62 is British Airways Face)

[dudedude270]

@neonrider93 number one, is the guinness surfers.

[Dristarg]

Mondegreen.

[M3lstr0m]

One of the best ads ever made, no doubt thanks for the upload!

[8SHINIGAMIN1NJA8]

always makes me laugh

[Seth9261]

This is my fave out ov all ads :DDD

[philboboggins]

I remember this when it was first shown Bloody classic "me ears are alight" lol, i agree with the comment made by binzeye too. more ads like this not bloody insurance and accident crap.

[Qonquer09]

No effects, no bells and whistles, just a guy with funny misheard lyric cards and yet I think this advert is by far the cleverest and funniest one I have ever seen. Thanks for uploading it indoloazepine.

[KeybdFlyer]

Thank god I found this again! All-time best commercial, bar none. Whatever happened to creativity in the advertising industry? Many thanks for the upload!

[epsteinsmutha1]

beef-head. Brilliant!

[flyingdamingo]

Thank you so much for posting

[jemmabond]

Very intelligent ad!

[peterhowardlawson]

Ace advert (how sad that I remember adverst from years ago); the version of Into the Valleys by The Skids is great also.

[brownhole452]

A classic take on bob dylan subterranean homesick blues video, anyone remember that one. This ad was a class benchmark.

[palehorse864]

Indeed. So many people parody Dylan's video, and this was a very good one. Another favorite of mine is on a show I used to watch as a kid called The Adventures of Pete and Pete. During one scene, Big Pete is discussing the names for the mystery meat his school serves.

The next scene, he lists all the names on cue cards, complete with black and white video and Pete dressed up in a Dylanesque vest dropping each card as he names the meats. A lot of the humor went over my head back then as a kid

[MrRenbeer]

Classic

[BASCKIT13]

i have like over 200 maxell tapes un opend

[GrilloTheFlightless]

Back then the adverts were usually better than the programs! I agree with binzeye as far as the ads of today are concerned. I used to look forward to the commercials just so I could see this ad!

[uberpedant]

This is the only advert I've actually seen people applaud in a cinema.

[littlesailboat]

lol

[AshleyMarkPomeroy]

What is the strange rectangular object on the final card? It appear to have a strange polygon at the bottom and some circles in the middle. What does it do?

[muzikmachinemobiledi]

Its a cassette tape, ask your dad what it did !!!

[dudedude270]

that is a cassette, it came out before cds, before that there was lps (big black discs, check with your grandma)

[binzeye]

ah, this is when adverts were classics, none of this f##king "have you had an accident in the last 3 years that wasnt your fault" or "are you paying too much for your car insurance"

[dudedude270]

back when adverts were real adverts

[flyingdamingo]

I second that!

[ChrisMcQueen85]

So true!

[supersonic060]

@binzeye IM BARRY SCOT.. AND THIS IS CILIT BANG.. thats a good one aswell xD

[trenthouse4life]

@binzeye fucking aye!

[MrUnidyne]

For me, it sounds like: "Get it in the morning, shaving for rent sir, soda every mountain beef head, oh-oh, me ears realign."

[fizaceman]

me ears realign haha nice one dude

[MrUnidyne]

Thanks! We need more funny and clever commercials like this!

[dudedude270]

its not that far off you know

[xxbrunettehunnibunxx]

ROFL!

soooo funny.

:D

[moosikofgods3000]

LMFAO!

[NaruhinaXSasusaku]

We need more ads like this,less earwormy tunes more awesome..Adverts.

[dudedude270]

they dont do it like this anymore... its sad they dont

[krooza100]

Me too soupdragon. But for some reason I thought it was a duracell ad! Tapes were a pain. Always got chewed up. But maxell were one of the better makes. But a brilliant ad. Knew I would find it on you tube.

[retroreds]

Home taping is killing music !

remember that ?

Damn you Maxell ! Boo ! Rubbish !

[BASCKIT13]

why is taping kill music

[retroreds]

You are obviously too young to remember the stickers they used to put on the back of vinyl LP's ... :-)

[soupdragon65]

I was just listening to The Israelites by Desmond Dekker and suddenly wondered if this was on youtube. I loved this ad back when I was a teenager. It's snappy and gets the point across perfectly.

[depzman]

LOOOL I LOVE DIS ADVERT HAHAAA

[krakenwave]

Larrington Walker's sheepish little grin at the end wraps the whole ad up perfectly. He did a great job.

[GrezH]

This is one of the greatest adverts of all time - it's funny, cool, great music, satirical and gets the message across.

Whoever came up with it is a genius!

[Fitzshizzle]

class advert!!!..hilarious

[magrpe]

Lol! I still sing those lyrics whenever I hear this song. Desmond Decker must be turning in his grave!

[muskndusk]

Thanks, I was hoping someone had posted this.

[tentheagle]

Class, thanks for posting

[Brittnryan]

I'm sorry friend, but if you knew your history then you would realize that Jesus was a Jew who was a part of the Nazarene sect (a Jewish sect from Nazareth).

And yes he did oppose hypocrisy

[papoj1PVR]

Coffinman8, u're like 43

WW2 was @ least 50 years ago, give it a rest already

[spy101thetoon]

Totally brilliant.... thanks for uploading "me ears are alight" lol... love it!!!!

[Rodafowa]

Best. Advert. Ever.

I've been looking for this for ages, thanks so much for uploading it.

[boceebo75]

i remember this from watching comedy shows in new zealand back in the 80s. always sung it in my head. I didnt even know the original song. I thought it was for the advert, till my mum told me.

[BARMYPANTS]

class, class, class. my fav ad of all time. i was telling my son ( who is 12) about this ad today and he looked it up on u tube and loved it!!some things are made to last! well done maxell!!

[zizoe2006]

LOL! Compare what he wrote on the card with the actual lyric below...hilarious!!

Get up in the morning,

Slaving for bread, sir,

So that every mouth can be fed.

Poor me, the Israelite.

My wife and my kids,

They are packed up and leave me.

Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen.

Poor me, the Israelite.

[BeatlesChick1972]

Love it!!

[UBCrump40]

Love it :)

[frammy7]

HAHA - Classic!

[miss2tone]

I remember being at the ad awards in about 1988 when this swept the board!! Its GENIUS.

Thanks for this.

[thescallywags]

Ive made another video of this with the third and forth verses. Click on my site then 'Israelittes - misheard lyrics'.

Godfather of Ska.

[Muffinthraka]

Some just had to thump me on the back to stop me choking I was laughing so much.

[fieryredhead4u]

absolutley fabulous i love this am hysterical with laughter everytime i see it

[catsbunnytails]

Absolutely priceless. Even funnier now than it was in the first place!!

[Thiefree]

hahah this advert is badass. Fave'd.

[naganokumas]

I love this song, and this portrayal of it. This portrayal has it's text presented. I would love to see the original lyrics presented, too.

[DocKissinger]

Wonderful ad!!

I still think Desmond Dekker sings that.

[wlasichu]

In this commercial they did have the original artist, Desmond Dekker sing this song. Since alot of reggae tunes use patois, type of language or consider it slang, you have to listen very carefully. That is why this commercial rates high up there. I laughed.

[geoffcharlesb]

This performer is superb. Who is he? Goes brilliantly from confience through doubt and bluff to resignation!Who is he?

[vastariner]

The chap is Larrington Walker. I agree, a fantastic comic performance in 30 seconds.

[veniceadriana]

One of the greatest adverts of all time

[dancinggenius]

lol this is funny.

I could never make out what he said i had to look them up. I always thought he was saying "Wake up in the morning, same thing for breakfast" lol, what a silly i am.

[mrrk]

Classic

[RubyCosmos]

I like his version better.

[maisyn6]

Hahahahahaaaaaa!!! Thats fab! Makes me wanna go out and buy some Maxell!

[L1ZZ1771]

lol i had to watch this in my lecture today, nearly killed myself trying not to laugh!!!

[vicket76]

this is so funny. does anyone have the commercial where the guy is in his car on a bridge that's swinging, and he turns down his car stereo? i thought it was panasonic...

[drlovepants]

an absolute classic

[warren218]

Great ad - one of the all time best

[rainfordmetallica]

legend of an ad

[UChoobya]

R.I.P. Desmond Dekker!

[sophieuk2006]

Darling cheese-head I was yards too greasy

[SimonTrew]

Yep, still funny. I suppose it is worth pointing out that it's also a visual pun on a Bob Dylan video (i.e. the use of the lyric cards.)

[emalyse]

One of the great ads from the 80's. I would love to know how many times the guy did this before he got it this smooth.These are now the only words I can hear for this song now.

[grrrrrsum1stolemynam]

Hehe thanks I saw this on the 100 greatest ads or whatever lastnight and wanted to see it again, it's so funeeeee! Really clever for a tapes ad too.

[Nobbyplancton]

this is a legendary piece of high art.... fuck Gilbert and George and fuck Tracy Emmin... this is the bomb !

[trottd02]

Legendary

[ravenst1]

thanks very much for posting this video, it's one of the best ads ever in my opinion. Desmond's dialect isn't the easiest to understand, what better way to promote a new "high quality" tape than to use such a song, pure genius!

[shandamoon]

Hahahaha! I never saw or heard of this one, it's just hilarious. Most of the Maxell commercials I remember were Wagner's <i>Walkurung</i> (or am I thinking of Memorex?)

[yoosnay]

I remember seeing this commercial on a 'world's funniest commercials' show years ago, and ever since then when I hear the song, I cannot recall the actual words to it. "Sold out to every monk and beefhead" and "darling cheesehead I was yards too greasy" fit so much better than the original words.

[mayb60]

I think this interpretation video of Desmond Dekker and the Aces song "The Israelites"is quite comical!!

Desmond was just singing about how he has to start out early in the morning working hard to feed his whole family; even when his pants and shirt are being very worn out/torn up he (the Isrealite)has to keep going!!!

[ebbechi]

This isn't an "interpretation video", it's a commercial for high-quality tapes. It's supposed to be comical, make people laugh because the guy can't hear properly unless it's recorded on a better tape.

[mayb60]

OK, I have never seen the commercial. It's funny