TVAdSongs.com houses a library of 1,515 songs from TV and Radio ads, and that’s how my jingle earworm attached. Pretty soon I’d discovered that Barry Manilow used to include a bit he called "Our VSM" (short for our "Very Strange Medley" of songs he’s composed for commercials) in each of his concerts. (Weezer’s a big fan - previously). That’s where it struck me personally how insidously omnipresent these songs were (and are). Pretty soon, the earworm took over. So, I figure, what better way to get rid of a tune stuck in your head than to share it with the rest of the world? So, here goes — I am prepared for your curses. | "A" is for Apple, "J" is for Jacks • And They Call It... Charlie! • Break Me Off a Piece of that Kit Kat Bar ... [more inside]
posted by not_on_display on May 5, 2012 - 29 comments

Ask for Amazing WATE-ON. Retronaut's collection of dietary supplement ads offers some historical perspective on the obesity epidemic. [more inside]
posted by nangar on Jan 20, 2012 - 17 comments

Melt your brain into goo on an overdose of crass 80s consumerism and TV without the TV shows at 80sCommercialVault. Superbowl 19 commercials. Commercials from Jaws. Saturday morning commercials. Daytime / evening commercials. [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Oct 30, 2011 - 11 comments

There's got to be a better way! A digest of why your life is so hard, as demonstrated in low-budget television advertisements. SLYT
posted by Mayor Curley on May 2, 2010 - 42 comments

The downward spiral that is Evony, a web based multi-player game, advertising. Also: The Best Worst Ads by 1UP and fake in-game ads by Something Awful.
posted by Foci for Analysis on Jul 11, 2009 - 41 comments

Hey Meta,

Just saw a news report that you were on. Cool! Here is the link.

Best,

gnfti
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane on Jul 11, 2008 - 62 comments

Remember the old days of the web, where insane collectors cataloged their manias for the world to see? Where terrible design, including "portals" belied neat things kept by amateurs?

I stumbled onto these bank logos via Ffffound and thought they were neat examples of two-color design. But the primary focus of the site is buttons like these.

Also collected: Maritime flyers, Ads for button suppliers, sample cards… All sorts of stuff.
posted by klangklangston on Mar 10, 2008 - 16 comments

Hummer Ad strikes all the wrong notes. Tofu-eater feels insecure upon seeing an unrepentant meat-muncher, goes buys a Hummer to 'Restore the balance' (previous tagline: 'Restore your manhood'.) Somehow the ad agency forgot that you're supposed to get the message of "Feeling Down on Yourself? Buy Our Product, Show it Off, You'll Feel Better!" across subtly, not explicitly.
posted by Firas on Aug 15, 2006 - 107 comments

British Adidas commercial (warning QT direct link) featuring soccer players on a field made only of the chalk outlines, floating in a void. I'm guessing this won't get shown in the U.S. due to the relative low profile soccer has here, but it's a great spot. More on the "making of" here.
posted by jonson on Jul 29, 2005 - 57 comments

Cool Heinken ad features amazing (cgi?) dancework, catchy jingle, quicktime direct download link.
posted by jonson on Jul 28, 2005 - 31 comments

Want to sue some Terrorists? Put a Public Notice in your Classifieds! Seems like some folks have decided that while they are suing the terrorists, bin Laden, Mullah Omar, and the whole Taliban posse, they'll put public notices in their local classified sections asking bin Laden and crew to get in touch with their lawyers. What an idea.
posted by djspicerack on Oct 3, 2002 - 7 comments

This ad was banned in the UK. Did anyone see it? Sounds cool to me. In a time when advertisers are struggling to capture people's attention and dull advertising reigns supreme, why haven't we gotten over this fear of offending those with 'delicate' sensibilities?
posted by eas98 on Jun 6, 2002 - 53 comments

Aaarrrrgggghhh Gap ads are driving me mad. It's not that I don't like Gap clothes, although their sizing system defies logic. It's just those ads. Juliette Lewis and the robots, some woman I've never seen before declaring her love for Angus Young. It's all just so smug. Every single campaign Gap has done I've hated. Is this the feeling in the US?
posted by Summer on Oct 1, 2001 - 82 comments

Jorn tries pay for play. Seeking to sell links near the top of his extremely-widely-read weblog Robot Wisdom, Jorn Barger has set an (experimental) $20 submission fee: you don't get considered if you don't pay, but if he approves of your site you get a link. (Actually, it's even more complicated than that, which is characteristic of the man.) There's even a $100 fee for certain commercial links. Jorn can do what he likes, of course, but how well do you think this might work?
posted by dhartung on Feb 13, 2001 - 42 comments