Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Heineken Prevents Suicide?

I love a good Heineken. I am very much a beer girl at heart and Heineken is one of my favorites. I'm generally a fan of their advertising as well. In fact, I've been meaning to blog about how much I enjoy the Share the Good spot they're running right now.

But I'm not so sure about their 'Suicide' spot. Well, I'm not entirely sure it's actually theirs since I've heard rumors it may be a fake. Still, it's in poor taste. I get the idea, it could be funny if done right, but somehow this execution just isn't. It's not completely off, but with a concept like this, you have to be dead on and funny or it just doesn't work—and this one just doesn't work.

What do you think?

4 comments:

deziner said...

I certainly hope that isn't their's... there are some subjects that just should not be used in marketing. I think suicide is one of them!

gesika22 said...

Don't you think the Sharing the Good spot could be taken as whoever has the beer doesn't want it and is passing it on?

"I don't want this...take it."

You never see anyone drinking and enjoying it!

(I'm partially kidding about this...I think.)

Megan said...

I agree with deziner. Suicide isn't funny, no matter how you spin it. Is this spot actually running? Is it running in the United States? Other countries, in general, seem more liberal with advertising and might be more open to this sort of "humor."

Jessica, you make an interesting point. I hadn't thought of it that way.

Bill C. said...

I have to believe this is a fake. GM received harsh criticism after it showed a factory robot committing suicide in a Superbowl ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3NGN4t4hm4

I don't think showing a person putting a noose around their neck, in any context, could fly in advertising.