Tag Archives: Commercials

From Where You Are

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I’m numb from having just experienced this wonderfully poignant song called “From Where You Are” by Jason Wade of Lifehouse, one of my favorite bands. He wrote the song for the AllState’s Teen Driving Progam and dedicated it to all teens that have perished in auto accidents. It was also a tribute to his friend who died in a car accident at the age of 16.

The music video is so well-done that it leaves you full of so many emotions and memories of friends you don’t see anymore for one reason or another. Perhaps they’re no longer with us, maybe you just lost touch through the years. Still, so many people touch our lives in deep profound ways that they last forever even if they physically disappear from your daily life.

Personally, I’m thinking of my childhood chums Charlie, Dave B, Lee, Cesar, Gerard, Big Peter, little Peter, Joey, and everyone in the North Ward of Newark, NJ. I don’t see any of them anymore and haven’t for many years but memories remain. The echoes of laughter and goodtimes still reside inside my head and heart. The same for all the first girlfriends and boyfriends we had growing up. Remember how monumental it was to hold hands? GASP! Ah, the sweet innocence of youth.

The ending of the video is extra special. It’s such a moving message that hits you hard. It’s a serious subject matter that I hope and pray improves with increased awareness and knowledge. Maybe experiencing songs and videos like this one will help change some lives? Also worthy of note, the long line of cars driving and disappearing all of a sudden is powerfully symbolic.

The lyrics follow the video

From Where You Are

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you
So far away from where you are
Standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here
I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things I never thought that they’d mean everything to me
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here
I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here
I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they’d mean everything to me
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here
So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

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1984 All Over Again

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Ridley Scott has always been one of my favorite directors so you can imagine the surprise I had today when I learned that he was the one who directed the memorable 1984 Apple commercial! Obviously, looking at it now with this knowledge makes perfect sense. It does have the same look and feel as his classic Blade Runner and Alien movies. It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since this commercial was originally aired!

Here’s a special behind the scenes interview

Here’s the classic commercial that was aired during the SuperBowl

Here’s Steve Jobs introducing the 1984 commercial at the 1983 Keynote

Just for comparison’s sake, checkout Apple’s first TV commercial from 1977!

Fast Forward again this time 30 years to 2007 for the ground-breaking iPhone commercials

Final Thoughts
Even though I’m a big supporter (literally) of Microsoft and their Windows systems, I have a deep respect and admiration for Steve Jobs and Apple. I think Steve and Bill both realize that they needed each other in order to push the industry as far as it could. Because of their rivalry we’ve all benefited. Their  companies continue to innovate and take technology to the next level.

Here’s a post about the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” which covers the history of Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Steve Jobs (Apple).

Also worth checking out is “Triumph of the Nerds” which is a documentary covering the history of computers including Microsoft and Apple.

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Wazzup!

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Budweiser’s True commercial campaign was a hilarious and infectious marketing phenomenon! It was a prime example of viral marketing in its most powerful form. People loved it and couldn’t wait to share it with their friends and so on. It’s been many years but people old enough still remember the original series of commercials as well as all of the countless clones it spawned!

Here are my favorite Wazzup commercials:

1. The Original that started it all.

2. The Wasabi sequel

3. The honky version that was extremely clever and painfully true!

4. The Jewish edition

5. Granny edition (false teeth version)

6. The SuperFriend’s version

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