Zoom in on Average
Joe’s ear. He’s got those classic mutton-chop sideburns and his shoulder length
black hair is slicked back. There are goose bumps littering his skin, showing
how content he is. Hanging from his ear, where a headphone ear bud would be, is
Elvis Presley. He’s shrunk down to size and, wearing his signature white
jumpsuit, is singing directly into his ear. This advertisement is selling the
personal concert experience without the expensive ticket.
This advertisement
is meant to catch your eye. It’s simple, aesthetically pleasing, and right off
the bat, it makes you think. Not many ads have a miniature Elvis hanging from a
man’s ear. The message comes across clearly. It is a good product, it works,
and if you love music, you should buy it. This is better than watching music
videos online or on the television. This is better than dropping hundreds of
dollars on concert ticket after concert ticket only to barely be able to see
the stage. For a little over two hundred dollars (www.samsung.com) you’re getting the
experience of the singer taking your requests on your time.
The man’s
Elvis-esqe cut, the way he has his hair slicked back like the famous performer
always did, is there to appeal not only to lovers of Elvis Presley, but to
lovers of music in general. It shows how easy it is to immerse yourself in the
music with this product. The ad makes it more personal to music enthusiasts
everywhere. In addition, using the iconic image of Elvis is meant to play off
the credibility that comes with his name. Elvis Presley was and still is loved
by millions of people, and his name means something, especially in the world of
entertainment.
The lack of a
slogan, while detrimental for other advertisements, makes this particular one
stronger. Usually the slogan is what sticks in your head once you walk away
from an advertisement, so you think about it and later come to buy the product.
In this case, a slogan would almost be overkill. The audience already has the
image of Elvis Presley hanging from a man’s ear in their heads. It’s hard to
get more memorable than this. Here, the slogan and the ad are the same thing.
The photo, and therefore the product, sells itself.
This advertisement
is very good. It’s simple, it’s eye-catching, and it’s straight to the point.
It pulls in your attention and doesn’t let it go right away. It makes you
think, and really brings home the idea of a personal concert without the
ticket.
