Saw the new Honda Odyssey ad today and got hooked right away. While channel surfing the thing that grabbed my attention and made me stop from moving on was the heavy sounding guitar riffs. Don’t hear much of these lately. Then I noticed the accompanying animie-like video and that was not bad either. (I am not an animie fan BTW, but this one sure looked good).
So what I found was, apparently this commercial is a new one in a series of Respect The Van campaign, where what looks like a a Viking god and other similar Viking characters like unicorn riding princess, a merlin etc come to life.
A new Honda Odyssey van blooms into picture alongside magic mushrooms and crystals to the rocking sounds of 1977 rock track Barracuda.
Just like the Apple mac air showed, a good back ground score goes a long way in endearing the commercial to its viewers.
This ad was developed at RPA, Los Angeles, by freelance producer Randy Morton, art director Tatum Cardillo, copy writer Dirk Vandeman (quite a connection eh?), and creative services director Larry Postaer.
Watch the ad from a youtube clip here, although the quality is kind of tacky and does not give the same high quality impression that one gets after watching it on TV.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A3fSXSxIo0]
Interestingly, this song is a big hit on Guitar Hero 3 as well, where playing this song even on an easy version is considered a mighty feat.
Watch the original song by Barracuda by Heart from here
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=johPctN0WQY]
I think it’s really cool that “Respect the van” is really speaking to the 40+ age group as well as the “kids of today”that feel they are the first to use bell bottoms, black lites etc.!!
My compliments on the advertising. Can I get a poster like this? Patrick
I thought that this ad was made by someone who must know me! It’s so cool!
The wizzard, pegisis, and the princess. The evelution of the van from the coolness of the 70’s to the minivan moms of today. We all have a warrior in us!! and “Respedt the Van” is right out of my archives. GREAT COMMERCIAL!!!!!