There are many advertisements that are remembered for varying reasons. Did it have a catchy tune... Or maybe a good looking bird...
Did it have a catchy tune… Or maybe a good looking bird…
I’m sure each and every person can remember a few of their favourite ads – most likely knowing all the words to its slogan or jingle!
On Saturday 8th April, there was a segment on the Channel Nine’s Today Show where Peter Harvey listed what he believed to be Australia’s 10 best TV advertisements.
They were as follows:
10. Yellow Pages – Goggomobil
Created in 1992 by George Patterson, the Yellow Pages – Goggomobil is regarded by many as one of the classic icons of Australian television advertising.
9. Qantas – I still call Australia home
Created in 1998 by Ogilvy and Mather, the Qantas “I still call Australia home” with their combination of Peter Allen’s song, choirs of children wearing white shirts and stunning locations, is enough to give every Australian goose bumps.
8. Winfield – Paul Hogan
Created in the 1970’s, Winfield’s advertising utilising Paul Hogan popularised the brand among Australian smokers. The slogan “anyhow… have a Winfield 25’s” is still easily recalled today. It is hard to find a copy of any of the advertisements online (maybe due to the fact that cigarette advertising is now illegal), but this below video shows one of the versions of the campaign if you skip to 1 minute 30 seconds.
7. Antz Pantz – Sic Em Rex
Running in 1989/1990, 2003 and 2005, this cheeky advertisment caused quite a stir in the Australian community, mainly due to its sensual nature. Were Australians ready to be licked by echidnas?
6. Stainmaster capet – Pro Heart
In the 1980’s, well-known artist and Australian icon Pro Hart used his unique artistic flair to cover Stainmaster Carpet with food to create his famous “Dragonfly”.
5. Mortein – Louie the Fly
Created in 1957, Louie the Fly always seemed destined for stardom. Louie has come a long way since his first appearance back in 1957. This television advertisement was broadcast in 1962 in one of Louie’s first TV appearances.
This evolved into a recent campaign which asked the Australian consumer whether Mortein should kill off Louie the Fly for good. There was a public outcry of support for Louie, gaining 200,000 Facebook fans. One fan of the Facebook page stated “The last standing aussie icon is, louie the fly! and as true australians, do you really want to take away, the last standing memory, we have of this beautiful country we have! louie was there through the good times and the bad times, louie has been part of of every australians life, if you, kill louie the fly. then why dont you kill the aussie meat pie, the thongs, the lammington, the aussie barbie, millions of fond memories, and of course me. louie is all we got left, louie is austalian”
The Australian public has decided that Louie HAS to stay!
4. World Series Cricket – C’mon Aussie C’mon
This jingle, originally written to promote World Series Cricket back in 1978 has now become one of Australia’s greatest cricket anthems.
3. Aids Awareness – The Grim Reaper
Until this advertising campaign, much of Australia believed only homosexuals and drug users were at risk of contracting AIDS. This TVC scared the concept into the minds of Australians and generated talk about this life-threatening disease.
2. Victoria Bitter – The Best Cold Beer
Introduced in the mid-1960s was this innovative television advertising campaign featuring the music from the film The Magnificent Seven, images of working-class Australians at work and play, and a voice-over by notable Australian actor John Meillon.
“For a hard earned thirst, you need a big cold beer, and the best cold beer is Vic, Victoria Bitter”
1. Vegemite – Happy Little Vegemites
Vegemite’s rise to popularity was helped by this campaign that began in 1954 on radio, which was later incorporated into a television advertisement in 1956. Before this time, most of the advertising had been focused on the health benefits of Vegemite. Utilising smiling, healthy, attractive children and a catchy jingle ensured the success and recollection of the Happy Little Vegemite anthem with every Australian to this day.
One of my favourite Australian television advertisements that was not mentioned in this segment is for Holden with their “Football, Meat-pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars”.
Have I missed any out? What are some of your favourite Australian Television advertisements?