So, Guns N’ Roses alumnus Slash (pictured) and Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) are doing Volkswagen commercials. Automatic ”ugh,” but even after repeat viewings, they’re actually not that bad. There’s a great riff in Slash’s, and Nigel wears a kilt and falls down in his. I still don’t understand the spots’ target audience — people who wouldn’t mind a new car but are really in it for the free First Act guitar? And that line at the end: ”Rock just like Slash. If you’re Slash.” Ha. But no one is Slash! Only Slash is Slash!
I’m growing tired of the celebrity-infused Volkswagen commercials at this point. The Peter Stormare ones were semi-funny the first time, but I liked VW commercials better when they featured random hipper-than-thou yuppies doing quirky things like moving a smelly armchair (Remember ”Da Da Da”?) and dancing like idiots in an apartment to the chagrin of their stuffy neighbor. They were such blatant attempts at reaching the cool kids that they imploded on themselves, but that’s why people responded to them. Years later, I realized I never made the connection that the weird guy in the ”Mr. Roboto” spot was Buster Bluth! Ah, the memories. Um. Am I really writing a paragraph about the golden days of Volkswagen commercials?
Apparently. And speaking of golden days, Slash’s spot does invoke his own. It’s not as obnoxious a celebrity plug as it could be. You know, Taylor Hicks for Ford, Regis and Kelly for some bank, and all the A-list actors mentioned in today’s New York Times piece on the new respectability of celebrity endorsements. Guess selling out is no longer selling out.
What do you think? Wanna slash Slash for grabbin’ a stash of cash? (Nah, you’d probably rather go watch this nine-minute video of ”November Rain.”)
Comments (1-15) of 15 Add your comment
Anything is better than “velvet revolver”
Kidding.
The demographic is the same. Sarcastic and urban 20 to 30 somethings with a great sense of irony and comedy. Besides, it’s not like GNR was some punkrock anti-corportate band. They practically made a name for themselves on MTV and were on the soundtrack for Terminator 2, brought to you by Pepsi.
In all fairness I think Taylor had to be in those Ford commercials as part of his AI contract.
The Volksagen commercial I loved was the one with Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” playing over a group of friends out cruising down a country road at night. Something about it always choked me up. It was also my introduction to Nick Drake, who is now one of my favorite artists.
Christopher Guest looks so old as Nigel in that spot…it’s unsettling.
ENOUGH WITH THE YOUTUBE PLEASE!
Hey, I thought the VW commercial with the dancing teens in the apartment was cute.
The Slash commercial is cool.
I love the Slash and Spinal Tap commercials! They’re awesome and not at all annoying.
Those old school Volkswagon commercials were so cool; I loved the one with the chair. Even better was when Spin City did a parody of it to promote moving to a new time slot. While the folks at Volkswagon are at least using cool celebs, I still prefer the old commercials.
Yes, GN’R made a name for themselves on MTV and did the T2 soundtrack. But, they have not sold their music to commercials or done them, unlike former member Slash. I did like Slash’s guitar playing in it, but I cringed when I saw him doing a commercial.
That is SO cool that Tony Hale was in that Mr. Roboto spot…LOVED that commercial when it used to air.
I saw the commericals and I think its a creative marketing tactic. I like the commercial with Slash and the one with John Mayer.
Jesse
Gentility without ability is worse than plain beggary…
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