Tie a Yellow Ribbon around a Dodge Vehicle?

Sometimes material of the past really stands the test of time and sounds as fresh as it did when it was created new, years even decades previous.

And then again, there's stuff that sounds as dated as a 70s wah wah pedal or 80s synthesized drums. You dig it out now and then maybe chuckle a little bit, then put it on the shelf again for when you feel nostalgic and maybe time for another chuckle and a WTF I can't believe someone produced this s*** moment.

Wanna guess which catagory this month's exhibit belongs?

Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando and Dawn was a Monster # 1 hit from 1974. According to Wikipedia "sold 3 million records in three weeks" and was "the sign a released convict requested from his wife or lover to indicate that she would welcome him home. He would be able to see it from the bus driving by their house, and would stay on the bus in the absence of the ribbon."

You can see where the song ends can't ya? Even if you never heard it before...yes, 100 yellow ribbons are on the tree and so the song ends on a happy note.

How this emotion translates to selling Dodge Trucks and Cars is something I could ponder for eternity. The only answer I can come up with is someone thought it would be cute to redo a popular song as a jingle for Dodge. Geesh, couldn't pick something more upbeat and happy? If anyone is familiar with the song and it's meaning, it just...well, sounds bad, back then, and 37 years later this month.

Still, it's these little "gems of corporate embarrasement" we like to pride ourselves in digging out now and then here at the jetsam. This is for everyone who wants a bit of a chuckle in your otherwise cloudy day. Pop these mp3's into the ipod and grin from ear to ear thinking that modern day advertising isn't as bad as this.

Enjoy!

NOTE: The quality on these jingles is below what we usually post here, the source material is to blame, a dub of a dub and possibly more generations down. As displayed on the pic of the tape box, it isn't a dub right from the agency. It looks like one station typed the label for a dub for another station, which is often standard practice until tape usage stopped some 10 years ago.

I've broken the reel into 2 files of 6-:60 sec spots each for easier downloading. please see the tape box pic above for detailed cut listing.

Cuts 1-6


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Cuts 7-12




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Cars Cars Everywhere.....

Car salesman are...well....Sales Weasels. They have to be. They have to convince you to buy a big ticket item, often tens of thousands of dollars. they're livelihood depends on it. Some are sleazier then others, but they all bend the truth to a degree, but as long as you both walk away satisified, what's the problem?

When I heard this jingle, I thought, yeah, I can see 3 salesmen in suits plastic as one would expect doing this off broadway infomerical to get you all hyped up to buy a car. You get so enthralled in it all you're so hyped up, and can see anyone at the end of it all yellling "WHERE DO I SIGN?"

OK, back to reality.....

A fun jingle with some well established industry known talent:

- Canadian Artist/ VO Guy Keith Hampshire, known for his 1970s cover of Cat Stevens "First Cut is the Deepest" and his years of doing VO for McCain's Fries National TV Commericals (if I ever meet the guy, I want to hear him say "tastitaters" in person) he's still singing. keithhampshire.com is the place to find our more.

-Mike Kirby, a veteran national canadian voice talent, has been the voice for HGTV canada, and various national campaigns (including as of this date, one promoting Burger King's new Steak Burger in canada) also teaches his craft at voiceworx.com

-Jayne Eastwood, who does the female intro and extro, because, well, she's female. You KNOW a TV movie destined for the american market is made in Toronto, or in canada in general, when Jayne appears. she's carved a 40 year TV and film acting career and still stayed in her home and native land (which is not an easy thing with the lures of hollywood) I guess she picked up a few extra bucks here. details on her wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayne_Eastwood

OK, probably too much talk, but even though it's 20 years old (ish) and long time jetsam, it's still fun to listen to.

From 1989, GM Atlantic Dealers "Delivery Boys-Full Sing Version" R-ATD-90-401-60E
Produced by Mccann Erickson Advertising, Ltd
From Panfor Dubbing Tape # 121013
:60 sec full Sing







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This is just..well fun! You can really see this happening, that's what gets me. I can't tell you anything more... except it's an actual commerical and not strictly a jingle. If I tell you anything more, it will ruin it.

From 1996, Thrifty Car Rental "Byron" 96-TCR-01:60E
Produced by MJM Media Productions, Hamilton Ont.
:60 sec Commerical




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