Iced Iced Baby

Let me be clear, I'm not one of these people that gets in a flap everytime an ad creative takes influence from a video/painting/song/etc. To claim originality to be the only form of creativity is a ludicrous and frankly outdated notion. However, one thing that does bother me about adland recycling ideas from other creative media is when the creative hits that awkward gap between parody, tribute and influence. It isn't close enough to the original to be considered a tribute or parody, but isn't quite original enough to work without the original reference point.

Lipton Ice Tea's new ad with Hugh Jackman is a victim of this. On the surface it's a decently executed and choreographed dance routine that nicely hits the 'visual representation of refreshment' buttons.

Irritatingly though, it has the lingering smell of Fat Boy Slim's video for Weapon of Choice, which saw Christopher Walken dancing through a lobby in an often similar way. No matter how different the ad is in places the connection is too strong to ignore.

Little things...

Whilst on the way to see Lost Prophets (again) in Manchester last night, I got a sandwich/drink for myself and Kai Lai.

Whilst waiting on the platform the bags completely ripped open and fell apart, leaving me to pick the stuff up and hold it all in my arms.

Then an old (ish) lady came out and handed me a carrier bag she had to put it in. That really made my day, and reminds me just how nice people can be.

Another thing. I back the efforts of supermarkets and shops to save waste by making thinner bags and using paper ones; but EVERY bag I now get from Sainsburys splits open, so I have to use more bags than before to get my shopping in. (Jaffa cake boxes rip them open in seconds, literally seconds)

The bag that split yesterday was paper, meaning i then needed a plastic one to carry it.

Companies have to be aware that skimping on bag thickness and strength may save waste, but if we need 3 bags instead of 1...then it actually makes things worse.