The most interesting man in the world, or not
July 18, 2011
I kind of like finding new music via television commercials. The most recent song that I love is, I have learned, “The Golden Age” by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, a Danish outfit. The song is featured in a Heineken beer commercial.
Part of the reason why I like the commercial is because of how the main character interacts with each person he comes upon. Then I started thinking about it more. Do I like the commercial in general because I am influenced by loving the song?
No. I like it because it’s well done all the way around. It’s essentially Heineken’s version of Dos Equis’ The Most Interesting Man in the World. Only Heineken got it right. (Links to all videos at the end.)
The problem with the Dos Equis Most Interesting Man in the World is that he just sits there, attempting to exude smugness but coming off as arrogant, as he or the announcer tells you why you should be creaming your pants over this guy.
On the other hand, the dude in the Heineken commercial actually does interesting stuff. Clichés become clichés because there’s some element of truth in them. Actions do speak louder than words. The Heineken guy is doing interesting stuff and the people around him are reacting in a way that lets the viewer know that they adore this fellow. And so do I. Well, I’d at least like to be at that party.
The Most Interesting Man in the World just sits there looking creepy, assuming that the voiceover will convince us that he is. Interesting, that is, not creepy. But creepy he is. I would not like to be one of his arm candies.
I do try to be fair and give credit where credit is due. While watching the Most Interesting Man in the World compilation, I smiled when the voiceover said, “People hang on his every word, even the prepositions.” But that doesn’t make up for the rest of it.
And in the interest of point-counterpoint, as a flute player myself, I do not believe for an instant that the Heineken guy is actually playing that flute. Twirling it perhaps (though most likely computer generated), but not playing it. You can always tell by how they hold it and how unbent their fingers are. The rest of the commercial/video more than makes up for that. Everybody knows actors don’t really play their instruments.
So check them both out and tell me what you think.
Oh, and I do know that when I’m finished posting this, I’m running right to iTunes to buy everything The Asteroids Galaxy Tour have for sale. You should, too, says I!
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour/Heineken full-length video
Heineken commercial (1:30 version)
Dos Equis The Most Interesting Man in the World compilation
photo by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (Facebook)
Hangin??? at the Cooper
January 27, 2011
Maybe you don’t know what to expect when you walk into a new place for the first time, but thanks to Bizzy, some of the element of surprise is taken away with its recommendation engine.
Bizzy already knew that I like Kieren’s Irish Pub, O’Donovan’s, and ADORE Brit’s Pub. So there was a good chance that I’d feel a kinship to the Cooper Pub & Restaurant which it recommended for me, and so I did. And that’s for two reasons, the second of which follows from the first.
I probably don’t need to admit it in public, but I am a bit of a beer nerd. The Cooper doesn’t have an extensive selection of beers but the ones they do have are good, and what’s more, they’ve managed to get branded glassware in the optimal shape that’s correct for enjoying each beer to the max. That thrills me! From a purely aesthetic perspective, I love drinking beer from a glass emblazoned with its own logo, and that these glasses are in various shapes designed to enhance your beer-drinking enjoyment of that particular variety (such as IPA or Pilsener or Stout) is a bonus. I appreciate that.
For those who need to know, the Cooper has Guinness Draught, Boddington’s, Newcastle, as well as local favorite Summit EPA, and several others on tap. They also stock at least five (yes, FIVE) varieties of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Turns out the Cooper is owned by Kieren, and Kieren is Jameson’s best customer in the US. Just like Minnesota is Bell’s best market for Two Hearted Ale, but I digress.
In addition to, and peripherally related to, the branded glassware is something I’ve notice from sitting at the bar. Every few barstools, there is a privacy divider. It’s lovely etched glass framed by darkly stained wood. And when you look at it more closely it’s—wait for it—IN THE SHAPE OF AN UPSIDE DOWN GUINNESS GLASS! None of the bartenders have been able to tell me if that’s intentional or not, and it doesn’t matter. I’m assuming it is!
Thus far, I’ve been there a little bit later in the evening. There is a happy hour menu and from that I can say that the mushroom and herb pizza, as well as the fish bites, are tasty options. But I’m mainly focused on beer.
The staff, in particular, bartender Casper on Monday nights, are eager to accommodate your needs. As British-style pubs in America go, this one is rather cavernous, but the service and selections make up for it, especially if you’ve never actually been to Great Britain.
Go to the Cooper! Or at least see where the Bizzy recommendation engine sends you. Chances are, it’ll work out as it did for me in Minneapolis!
Photo from The Cooper’s website.
Watch this
December 6, 2010
I only just recently watched the video for “Walk Like a Panther” for the first time, even though I’ve loved the song since the first time I heard it on London’s XFM. I’m trying to figure out why I love the video so much. I think there are three reasons.
Tony Christie. The main one might be the guest vocalist. I knew that All Seeing I makes use of guest vocalists and for some reason, I thought the main voice on the “Pickled Eggs & Sherbert” album was Jarvis Cocker of Pulp. I guess he did a version of the song with All See I, too, but the radio and album version turned out to be Tony Christie, as I learned from the video. I think I’m charmed that he’s an old guy, relatively speaking. It would be kind of like Tony Bennet singing with Gorillaz or something. And he’s being such a good sport with the acting that he has to do for it, even though, here and there, he looks just a trifle exasperated.
Hand gestures. When I watched this video for the second time, I realized that what I first thought was an homage to the zombie dance in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video was really customized gestures to go along with the chorus lyrics of “Walk Like a Panther”: fly like an eagle, prowl like a lion, leap like a salmon, keep up with me, and walk like a panther. Video actors one and all, young and old, move in weirdo almost-synchronization.
Sci-fi style. What makes it all come together is what I think of as the science-fiction style of videography. It’s shot through a robot-eye-shaped frame in the herky-jerky style, the frames go forward and backward to make that fake in-time-with-the-music impression, and it has wonderful 1970s faded photograph colors. Top that off with the location which to me seems like some anonymous Underground station complex in London.
It all just works.
Kelly’s Unnecessary Blog 