Comments on: Nike Shox

Nike Shox

hama7 — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 15:33:40 -0800

Nike Shox NZ: "And he's off like a bull with gas." [Quick Time video]

By: hama7

hama7 — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 15:34:36 -0800

(via Coudal)

By: eyeballkid

eyeballkid — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 15:49:07 -0800

Shakira shakes it for Pepsi!

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:01:26 -0800

HO HA! That's certainly is one entertaining commercial for a hum dinger of a coporation.

By: muckster

muckster — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:09:01 -0800

Here's an ad I can get behind.

By: the fire you left me

the fire you left me — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:32:59 -0800

Thanks hama7. Post another one tomorrow from Gap. Hey, if your not busy, I'd love to see some more advertising for a GM SUV. Maybe if I buy enough, I'll be happy. You can only help, hama7.

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:46:28 -0800

Dear lord, you guys act as if hama7 said 'Nike is a great corporation, buy these shoes!' I liked the ad. Hadn't seen it. Don't watch TV. I think most MeFiers know Nike is a terrible company. But they can still make a good ad. Damn people get cranky around here on a Saturday night.

By: bshort

bshort — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:49:52 -0800

Note: its being discussed on MeTa. The problem in my mind is that it was not only a link that was an ad, but there was also nothing otherwise redeeming about the post.

By: Shike

Shike — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:51:06 -0800

nike shoes fall apart

By: gsteff

gsteff — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:00:46 -0800

I think everyone here needs to get themselves a puppy dog. Except Hama7. He needs to get himself some of these.

By: 111

111 — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:02:49 -0800

What you people are probably not taking into account is that those players are actually underpaid vietnamese farmers, the crowd is 100% cheap labour from Indonesia and the very grass on the field was recklessly taken from the tropical forests of Papua New-Guinea. Good work, Hama!

By: hama7

hama7 — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:07:15 -0800

I thought it was an interesting idea; bending the 'rules' of advertising by blurring reality, (I couldn't tell if it was a hoax or not the first time I saw it) having the main character a reprobate, and it was funny. I missed it on TV, but I'm a bit outside broadcasting range. I think the ramifications for an ad of this type are enormous. If Nike can do it, who can't? In other words; how can we verify the accuracy of the information that we receive, by supposedly 'authentic' sources, which is also transmitted via highly malleable and alterable mediums?

By: quonsar

quonsar — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:11:16 -0800

how can we verify the accuracy of the information that we receive, by supposedly 'authentic' sources... you mean like, the white house, the pentagon, etc? fuck man, they never lie. you hate america or something, hama7?

By: SweetJesus

SweetJesus — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:14:40 -0800

I think the ramifications for an ad of this type are enormous. Uh, maybe you're over selling things a bit.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:19:19 -0800

this wouldn't fool a single person in the UK... everyone's too familiar with everything football.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:40:58 -0800

The best part about the commercial and this link is I can add the American Family Association's crusade against the ad and other "offensive television." Won't somebody please think of the children!

By: scarabic

scarabic — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:53:16 -0800

"Come on, but it's funny!" Don't you understand that this is exactly the reaction the advertising cleverdicks are shooting for? Some of the brightest creative talent of my generation is working in advertising (much to my dismay) and their entire job is to diffuse our righteous indignation toward giant corporate brands with catchy tunes, hip humor, and boobies. No matter how much you like the Gap dancing kids, or the wassaaaap guys for Budwesier, or the funny Got Milk ads, they're still just materialist propaganda. Yes, I'm uptight, gramcracker. But with good reason. This schlock is the best-funded cultural vandalism around.

By: rotifer

rotifer — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 18:20:49 -0800

Yes, I'm uptight, gramcracker. But with good reason. This schlock is the best-funded cultural vandalism around. Yet we aren't fooled. It's clever; when I see ads like this I admire the mind that created it - not the product. Nike makes crappy shoes. They would kill to tap this demographic, if only they knew ... ha ha ha ha.

By: MUD

MUD — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 18:52:31 -0800

Somewhat astonishing tone of advertising when you consider Nike's stance on a recent ad in the UK for John Smith's. This seems all the stranger given that one of the other ads in the same series for John Smith's (all of the ads can be found here - I'm thinking of "Top Bombing") mines a vein eerily similar to this Nike one.

By: hama7

hama7 — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 19:09:31 -0800

Interesting point, MUD. (The BBC link was down for me, but I found this too): "Nike is threatening legal action against brewer Scottish Courage over a John Smith's campaign in Great Britain using the slogan: "Just 'ave it."" And I do see the similarity to "Just do it", but what great ads! The 'Top Bombing' one was fantastic.

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 19:16:30 -0800

they're still just materialist propaganda. I'm completely aware of that--hell, if I had to pick something, I'd call myself a socialist lately. I know the Kodak ads are made to tug at my heart strings, and that the Ikea ads are supposed to be funny and quirky and make you buy their stuff. But I recognize that, and in most cases, that greatly reduces their effectiveness (go see Adaptation for a perfect example). But a clever ad is a clever ad. I can't help it if my brain decides, "Hey, I liked that." I mean, hell, people that watch those Fox reality shows know they're crap, but they still watch them, right? Yes, I'm uptight, gramcracker. But with good reason. This schlock is the best-funded cultural vandalism around. I think your point is totally valid, scarabic, if this were posted on some other venue besides Metafilter. Maybe I'm wrong here, but like I said before, people here get that Nike is a company without a conscience. I'm still as disgusted as ever with their labor practices and deceitful advertising; all I'm saying was that I liked the commercial. It's not going to get me to go buy any of their silly athletic shoes; I'll stick to my Skechers, slightly less-overpriced as they may be. Mathowie: Where do you find this stuff? Mailinglists? You're good, you.

By: LimePi

LimePi — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 21:38:57 -0800

People, people. Please, relax. Can't we all just get along around here. I think we all need to take a few deep breaths in through our noses and out through our mouths, exhaling all that tension. Get up out of your computer chair for a minute and take a walk around. Stretch out. Before you sit back down, pour yourself a tall, refreshing glass of BerryTastic™ Pepsi Blue©. Don't we all feel much better right now?

By: Salmonberry

Salmonberry — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 22:02:33 -0800

If you want to discuss advertising, here's the place to do it - adland. It's all about ads & commercials so you can say "Hey, seen this one?" to your heart's content.

By: jdaura

jdaura — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 22:10:09 -0800

Well, I've seen that commercial so many times during the last seven days on all the major networks and cable channels ...(Nike, like Microsoft, does not seem to be limited in any way by advertising budget)... that I was kind of horrified to see it here. Regardless, it's interesting to see how major US corporations are starting to effectively use the internet as part of their overall media campaigns - I don't believe a year ago that video would have been accessible online in tangent with the television airplay. Come to think of it, Nike just put its commercial in front of *cough* uncountable Metafilter readers. Hama7, you've made me feel dirty inside.

By: hama7

hama7 — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 22:29:32 -0800

Hama7, you've made me feel dirty inside. All in a days work. I hope your insides are not easily soiled by potato chips or the new Volkswagens, because otherwise this is going to be a hell of a day!

By: biscotti

biscotti — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 23:35:32 -0800

Yet we aren't fooled. It's clever; when I see ads like this I admire the mind that created it - not the product. Exactly. This style of ad, with the quasi-factual (or even fully factual) element taking up much of the airtime, with a clever zinger at the end to change your impression (even if the only zinger is the swoosh, which makes you say "ha! It's a Nike ad"), isn't new, it's just a variation on the bait and switch (like the Ikea lamp ad), and it's been done in this manner before. I don't really see that it has any ramifications beyond garnering more business for the agency that created it (because it's clever). But I don't mind that it was posted, I think discussing ads here is perfectly valid, but a bit more commentary in the original post would have made more sense.

By: jonson

jonson — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 00:33:36 -0800

As far as the cinema verite style, the "is this home video footage I'm watching, or a commercial" aspect of these commercials, it's been done, in a series of spots by PowerAde last year, featuring in one, a tidal wave being shot by an amateur weather buff, then zooming in a on a surfer, or in another, a quarterback practicing his throws, and launching balls out of the stadium. They were effective, more so than this Nike spot IMO.

By: kavasa

kavasa — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 02:09:04 -0800

I thought the one person's assertion that advertising is "cultural vandalism" was laughable and worth retorting... But to really do that statement the justice it deserves would probably require an FPP, which is all sorts of work. I dunno. Maybe tomorrow or Monday or something.

By: Orange Goblin

Orange Goblin — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 05:36:11 -0800

You know, its really not that great an ad...

By: jaronson

jaronson — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 07:46:04 -0800

Nope. Not a good ad. I have a feeling it would catch the eye of my eight-year-old neice and nephew, though. I don't think they have seen it, but I can imagine them giggling and snickering if they did.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 08:19:29 -0800

Well, I've seen that commercial so many times during the last seven days on all the major networks and cable channels ...(Nike, like Microsoft, does not seem to be limited in any way by advertising budget)... that I was kind of horrified to see it here. i said the same thing but matt deleted it when I said it. [applies pout, hangs head, shuffles away]

By: ?!

?! — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 12:10:35 -0800

scarabic: "Some of the brightest creative talent of my generation is working in advertising." Well, I don't know your generation, but I think that is true of every generation. kavasa: I'm looking forward to your FPP. I have to tell you that proving the advertising isn't "cultural vandalism" will be tough. Good luck on that one. Sure, you'll find a few adverts that are interesting or maybe even helpful, but for the most part advertising exists merely to put some of your cash into the pocket of someone else. Still, I'm looking forward to your retort.

By: kavasa

kavasa — Sun, 26 Jan 2003 14:49:15 -0800

Jesus. Ok, I'll give it a shot. It'll take a few days, though, because I am lazy.

By: jedrek

jedrek — Mon, 27 Jan 2003 03:08:00 -0800

Some of the brightest creative talent of my generation is working in advertising. Yeah, them talented people, they like to eat too.

By: Down10

Down10 — Mon, 27 Jan 2003 19:21:35 -0800

I thought the ad was funny. I still don't care for Nike — shoes, ethics or otherwise.

By: Frank Grimes

Frank Grimes — Tue, 28 Jan 2003 18:16:14 -0800

The copywriter behind the ad, Jonathan Cude. And some background information on the ad.