| The Sunday Scoop Edition #2 Let your brain decide. No one can argue that the soft drink market hasn't brought out some of the most ridiculously far-fetched ads; cans and bottles of sugar and water promising to turn you somewhat into a mini version of Superman: faster than a running cheetah, able to attract bronzed bikini babes in a single gulp ... and here is where I use my favourite word again: puh-leeze. However, this week I had the unfortunate experience of viewing a soft drink ad that didn't promote body enhancement (and just between you and me, I think they should stick with the false promises. At least then we're just bored and not afraid. Scratch that--very afraid). I am, of course, talking about those ridiculous "let your taste decide" Pepsi ads. The ad starts out with a couple making out in a car which, granted, isn't unusual (except that the woman is wearing a horrible red lipstick that I don't think even Cher would be caught dead in--and that�s saying something). But unfortunately the little love session is interrupted by a knock at the window, which turns out to be a hooded figure with a throaty voice (think Linda Blair ala Exorcist style), holding two cups of Cola soft drink on a tray. No, it's not your friendly Coles sample lady, but some freak who likes to sneak around at night dressed in black robes asking for people's opinions on Cola. Why? No one's really sure. Maybe he's been at the Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner. Now maybe I've just been making out at all the wrong places, because I would have thought this behaviour somewhat psychotic and motivation enough to lock your doors and drive away as fast as possible before the hooded mystery man decided to sample his kitchen knife on you. But no, the couple are only too happy to oblige. Sure, the woman screams at first, but I'm sure it's because she mistook the hooded psycho for someone dangerous. But with a hearty guffaw of comprehension ('Oh, of course! It's time to sample some Cola from this total stranger in dark clothing who sounds like the Devil.'), the man takes a cup and drinks to his heart's content, while the woman looks on, smiling with anticipation (I suspect they've been at the Sunsilk too). So, after sampling both drinks, the man decides that the second one is his favourite, which (surprise, surprise) turns out to be Pepsi. The woman giggles and the mystery man rasps, "Whoops!" which totally befuddled me until the final shot, which shows the hooded man walking away from the couple's car, which has the name of a rival company sprawled across the side of it. Ohhh, of course! It all becomes clear now! Why else would you go on a night time stroll dressed in suspicious clothing asking people to drink Cola, other than to make a mockery of your rival company? It's so simple ... so brilliant ... So something that was thought up by a ten-year-old! Where the heck do people get these ideas? I have a suspicion, but it's a bit too crass to mention here. But I think it's the slogan that gets me: "let your taste decide". Decide what? That Coke is better? Or that your advertising is crap? Whatever the answer, I'm letting my brain decide and chucking this in the I-will-never-touch-not-even-with-a-ten-foot-pole pile along with the Sunsilk. Dangerous stuff I tell you--very dangerous. Sarah Taylor, Professional smart-ass. |