Tourism Australia today launched “Transformation”, a new advertising campaign being rolled out in 22 countries around the world. Baz Luhrmann, known for his movies Moulin Rouge and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, was responsible for the television and cinema commercials set in New York, Shanghai and Western Australia.
Original music for the New York commercial, Billabong, was composed by Sydney composer and song writer Elliott Wheeler, from sound and music boutique Nylon Studios.
The music for the New York spot was composed and recorded within a 48 hour timeframe in early September. Film directors Baz Luhrmann and Bruce Hunt called Nylon Studios on a Friday night a month before the launch, asking for a demo to be completed by the following Monday. Elliott composed two pieces on the Saturday before recording them with a string ensemble from Sydney Symphony Orchestra on the Sunday morning.
Once the creative team had chosen one of the tracks further work included the addition of multiple layers of piano tracks to create a a signature sound for the main piano melody, and careful sound engineering and mix by Wayne Connolly. Encouraged by warm response to the soundtrack, Wheeler has written an extended version with lyrics recorded by Abby Dobson from Sydney band Leonardo’s Bride.
“We wanted to use strings, but not on such a scale that we’d be dictating to the audience what they were meant to feel, so in the end we went with a much smaller chamber ensemble. We put a lot of energy into finding a balance between the intimacy expressed in the dialogue, and the grandness seen in the cinematography.”
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Actually, the RCA dog was a mutt - part pitt bull part fox terrier. :) Also, Buster's dog is a Boston Terrier
Can't think of any really wrong mascots right now, but I still laugh at the fact that they suddenly decided the Kool-Aid pitcher needed pants. Remember when he didn't have any? He's a PITCHER!
I've read that they were American pit bulls, and that they were not. I lean to they were, only because the literature from some kennel and professional breeders says they were. I am not sure, though. ;)
Anyway, if RCA never had a mascot before, could they use a dog like they one above today?
Aunt Jemima. Uncle Ben. Very successful. What if someone had just come up with those today? Could they be used? I don't think so.
This is a funny question by the way, calling all adgeeks who remember old mascots.
My vote goes for the Swedish Bikini team btw. I was studying in the states when they were on the cover of magazines (I think it was Playboy even) and seriously offended by those idiotic wigs. No wonder I never drank Old Milwaukee beer - but I guess they never figured me the target.
Sure sure, they were supposed to be ironic - but they rubbed me the wrong way anyway. And the names! Uma Thorensen, Karin Kristensen, Hilgar Oblief, Eva Jacobsen, Ulla Swensen - all Danish surnames. Sheesh. Do it right if you're gonna do it, please. Swedefying these names they'd be; Inga Torsson, Karin Kristersson, I don't even know what "Oblief" should be that sounds old norse if anything at all, Eva Jakobsson, Ulla Svensson. Uma is not a Swedish first name. Hilgar might have been a thousand years ago but is now perhaps found in Norway, possibly in Denmark. Either way it's still pretty old fashioned and a surname rather than a first name.
Do the Robertsons Gollys count?
I would say, yes.
To clarify for everyone:
What I am looking for is commercial mascots, or symbols, that have been successfully used for years (and are
still around today), but if they were thought up today (and not years ago), they would probably be rejected as offensive or inappropriate.
Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben are two examples.