SubscribeFor those around in the 1980s, Verizon Wireless’ latest 3G ad slam against AT&T should have brought back some memories.
Someone at Verizon probably spent some time reviewing advertising collections of the 1970s and 1980s and ran across Big Red, the cinnamon-flavored gum with the long-lasting flavor. First appearing back in 1976, the gum really took off in the early 1980s when the William Wrigley Jr. Company commissioned a catchy jingle for its advertising campaigns. It stuck, and most still remember it to this day.
Verizon, which bathes its corporate image in red, made the connection, and managed to recreate most of the imagery of several Big Red commercials, mostly from the early 1980s, albeit with updated lyrics. They certainly got the classic corporate 1980s Reagan-era jingle sound down pat.
[flv width=”640″ height=”500″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/Verizon Big Red.flv[/flv]
For those too young to remember Big Red gum, I’ve brought one of the original advertisements together with Verizon’s reproduction so you can appreciate the scope of their recreation. Verizon actually borrowed from several Big Red ads, but you’ll get the point. Too bad it’s the gum priced at 25 cents and not the 3G. With the gum, you could have any many sticks as you wanted — no chewing limits either. (1 minute)
Wow…just…wow. If I were Wrigley’s, I’d sue to crap out of Verizon, but they probably changed the song enough to count it as not copyright infringement.
I’m sure “Big Red” especially in this context is covered under Trademark by Wrigley’s. I imagine an agreement was worked out between the two companies for the reproduction. It’s kind of a win-win for both. I like Verizon’s parody of this commercial, and now I’m also in the mood for some Big Red chewing gum 😀