Althouse: "I'm so sick of ads using overly feely music to manipulate us so I changed the music. Now instead of feeling sappy emotions you shall feel terror!"

October 12, 2017

"I'm so sick of ads using overly feely music to manipulate us so I changed the music. Now instead of feeling sappy emotions you shall feel terror!"

22 comments:

Bill, Republic of Texas said...: The music changed nothing.; 10/12/17, 2:53 PM
Nonapod said...: It takes much more than spooky music to overcome the pure, goofy sweetness of a golden retrievers.; 10/12/17, 2:57 PM
sparrow said...: Music was a distraction in both cases: first case the voice was too saccharine while in the second case it didn't fit.; 10/12/17, 2:59 PM
mockturtle said...: They show that damned commercial every few minutes during a MLB game. Do they really think we don't get sick of the repetition and, by inference, pissed off with the product?; 10/12/17, 3:00 PM
Henry said...: That's awesome.; 10/12/17, 3:03 PM
reader said...: Music has nothing to do with it. That stately canine countenance brings a smile to my face.; 10/12/17, 3:08 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "It takes much more than spooky music to overcome the pure, goofy sweetness of a golden retrievers."

As Meade pointed out when he saw the original commercial: That dog does not like that baby. When the baby reaches out, you see a controlled snarl on the dog's mouth.; 10/12/17, 3:10 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "They show that damned commercial every few minutes during a MLB game. Do they really think we don't get sick of the repetition and, by inference, pissed off with the product?"

The commercials are repeated soooooo often on the baseball games. I insist on speeding by them or at least muting them. I've seen the dog-lion commercial many many times with the sound off.; 10/12/17, 3:12 PM
tcrosse said...: The dog suspects that it's what's for supper.; 10/12/17, 3:14 PM
Ralph L said...: Needs a satisfying CHOMP at the end.

God bless the mute button.; 10/12/17, 3:32 PM
Nyamujal said...: That's a cute ad. I really like the original one.; 10/12/17, 3:36 PM
Ralph L said...: Wish they made more charming ads like this instead of weird or noisy ones.; 10/12/17, 3:42 PM
traditionalguy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/12/17, 3:47 PM
traditionalguy said...: When you pick a Turner Classic black and white 60 year old B movie western, you don’t need to figure out the plot which I.S complicated like a Charles Bronson flick. All you need is to understand what the studio symphony music is telling you is going on and about to happen. The old silent film traditions died out slow. But this guy brought them back.; 10/12/17, 3:48 PM
The Elder said...: "Controlled snarl???" Are you kidding? It's a freaking Golden Retriever!!!

It just wants to be loved.; 10/12/17, 4:34 PM
whitney said...: Love it; 10/12/17, 4:50 PM
Leland said...: So the change just made me think the owners wanted the dog to look like a member of a 80's hair rock band rather than a lion. We're not going to take it, or something.; 10/12/17, 5:47 PM
paminwi said...: That commercial is completely and totally unbelievable. That baby is sitting up. How old is a baby that can sit on its own? Somewhere between 4-8 months old. Anyone who has a dog knows that by that age a dog has already formed a relationship with a child, especially a golden retreiver. For a child that age to be afraid of a dog that has been in the home just doesn't make sense.
I hate that commercial.; 10/12/17, 8:21 PM
Static Ping said...: The "creepy" music needs work. I found it more amusing than scary.; 10/12/17, 10:34 PM
wholelottasplainin said...: paminwi said... I hate that commercial.
***************************************

Look again. The father is obviously propping up the baby.

You assume w/o evidence that the baby arrived after the dog.

What if the parents got the dog as a companion for the kid? And were introducing him?

I can't tell you how many times, when walking my Golden, that little kids--some barely out of the toddler phase--would come up to him, an animal taller and three to four times their weight, to give him a hug.

But some not. After all, our Clancy, as goofy and friendly as he was, was a *big* dog.

The ad shows a happy outcome, one the parents hoped for.

What's wrong with that?; 10/13/17, 12:49 AM
Wilbur said...: If I hear the opening seconds of that "Sweet Caroline" ad (which is all I can stand to hear) I'm gonna go all Elvis on my TV. Or that chick whining about her car "Brad".

Wilbur is ready to snap.; 10/13/17, 8:23 AM
Caligula said...: "In vain the Am'rous Flute and soft Guitarr,
Jointly labour to inspire
Wanton Heat and loose Desire;
Whilst thy chaste Airs do gentle move
Seraphic Flames and Heav'nly Love.

"The Fife and all the Harmony of War,
In vain attempt the Passions to alarm,
Which thy commanding Sounds compose and charm."

-- Ode to St Cecelia (excerpt), 1692

And the theory that music can influence emotions was old even then.

Nonetheless, the near-universal "heartwarming" music of commercials does get overdone. Sometimes twice the sugar is not twice as sweet, at some point it just becomes cloying.

As well as manipulative, but, it's a commercial, isn't it?; 10/13/17, 8:51 AM