Museum of Badvertising: Volkswagen’s weird coda
Have you seen the latest Volkswagen TV ad, focused on safety?
Little boy buying a bike: Is it fast?
Older boy selling bike: It’s got 10 speeds, my friend.
Same boy, slightly older, buying a small motorcycle: Is it fast?
Seller: It’s got a lightning bolt on it, doesn’t it?
Same boy as young man, buying a flashy red car: Is it fast?
Seller: I’m not even sure if it’s street legal.
Same guy, a bit older, buying a Volkswagen and revealing a baby as he asks: Is it safe?
Volkswagen salesman: Of, course, it’s a Volkswagen.
Announcer voice over, about Volkswagen safety.
Great ad so far. Instrumental rock music has been playing in the background, and in the last seconds we realize it is Ted Nugent’s song Stranglehold and we hear these lyrics:
“I’ve got you in a stranglehold baby.”
An ad about safety, where the customer is shown holding an infant, that ends with the words “I’ve got you in a stranglehold baby.” What were they thinking?
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I just saw that ad during the AFC Championship game, and I thought “wtf?!?” I then googled “Volkswagen safety commercial stranglehold” and yours is the only site that I could find that even mentions that very weird juxtaposition!
Gary – maybe I have an odd perspective!
My kids a big kick out of this commercial…thought we were the only ones to notice…our pardody of it is the man looking at the Volkswagen and asking if it’s safe. Oh, yes, it’s safe but REALLY sloooow!!!! Great, great, the man replies….this is all your fault you little @%@$%!! Then cut to Terrible Ted.
Yeah…I got that too! Crazy….Marketing these days is so twisted and amusing at the same time. Unfortunately, not amusing in a good way, really. You think, oh look, isn’t that great, his priorities have changed and he wants a safe vehicle for his little one…..cue Ted Nuggent’s strangle hold….OR yeah, you know your life as you knew it is over….now buck up and satisfy the wife and kid, you poor bastard!
What am I missing? Customer demonstrates he’s susceptible to three unethical salesmen, so are we to believe the VW salesman is any better or customer is any smarter (just because he’s asking about safety rather than speed)?