Stella Artois Commercial with Theremin

This ad for Stella Artois beer ran in the UK in 2005. It features a recording of Clara Rockmore performing Tchaikovsky's "Valse Sentimentale." Reassuringly Elephants, indeed!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Theremin
• Stella
• Artois
• Beer
• Clara
• Rockmore
• Le
• Sacrifice
• Une
• Histoire
• Surrealiste
• Reassuringly
• Elephants

[jdenial]

Clara Rockmore

[Lothars]

A verb, sir! We need a verb!

[javierenchina]

I think David Firth copied this to make Spoilsbury Toastboy -2. It has the same song, and it has the visual imagery of insects crawling all over the place.

or maybe this commercial copied David Firth

[Lothars]

Both came out in 2005, but knowing how long it takes an ad to be developed, the ad agency couldn't have copied Firth (Spoilsbury Toastboy-2 came out in November, 2005). I think it's all just a coincidence.

[nishville90]

Spoilsbury Toastboy!

[KillerDiaguR]

best advert ever. dark twisted genius no doubt about it beats the shit out of all the cheesy brainwashing shyte you get most of the time

[agentlolipop001]

WHAT.

[stratos23]

@ferretyluv Sure, advertising still works on this brash, predictable and reactionary level - but the average modern viewer is much more savvy. People don't want to have stereotypes shoved in their faces or told what to do. Advertising is now a more complex language than just "hot chicks = buy beer". Although if you're in America, then your references are somewhat relevant. Advertising tends to be more interesting and inventive outside of the States. It's why I don't make commercials in the US.

[ferretyluv]

@stratos23 No, it doesn't. If you watch the ad, the brand name "Stella Artois" isn't very prominent. This is why the California Raisins and Taco Bell Chihuaha campaigns failed.

Also, most people are put off by post-modernism. If this campaign was so successful, you'd think they would have brought it over to the US. They didn't. You know why beer ads always show hot chicks? BECAUSE IT WORKS. Simple and gets the job done.

[stratos23]

@ferretyluv advertising doesn't just work on this mono-dimensional retail level alone - if it did, then all ads would be just that - retail. Advertising is much more complex - it entertains us, makes us aware of brands and how they want us to feel. This Stella ad is one of many that simply tell us a story, entertain us ...and ultimately position the brand in a place they want to be. I think it's hilarious that you're all slamming the ad, yet you're all talking about the brand!

[stratos23]

for all you unimaginative morons who take things far too literally, this ad is satire of the BEST kind - a satirical poke of genius at the surrealist films of the 20's & 30's - so beautifully executed by commercials director Frank Budgeon, who's responsible for some of the best ads ever on telly....and so wickedly summed up in the tag-line: "reassuringly elephants" ....If only all ads were this good.

[Biel7318]

this ad fails to copy the type of movies that Buñuel did, total failure.

[KillerDiaguR]

@ferretyluv although i will agree i am far from the average person, the only reason i wouldn't buy stella is the one too many times i've got loaded off it and smashed things. too old and too wise nowadays old chap

[ferretyluv]

@KillerDiaguR That's you. You're not the average person.

Yet, you were commenting on the ad more than the product. You never said anything about "This makes me want to buy Stella Artois". You just kept talking about the ads and how artistic they were.

[KillerDiaguR]

@ferretyluv i remembered both. BOOM