Comments on: GM’s Self-Refuting Ad http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/ Made to Stick Blog by Dan and Chip Heath Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:22:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: shmessy http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13668 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:01:05 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13668 From Brandi Carlile's Myspace page: Hey all, I’m writing you from a plane bound for Portugal. While we are gone you may have already heard our song “The Story” in an Olympic advertisement for GM. Depending on how you feel about music and advertising in general, you may be wondering why a band like us would do something like this. Well I have a few good reasons, so allow me to shine a little light on the subject. When GM first approached our band to use ”The Story” in their 2008 Olympic ad visions of SUVs and full-size pick-up trucks driving through a rugged mountain range were dancing through my head. I promptly and politely declined. (Although I don’t want to be a hypocrite, our band did tour in a GM gas-guzzling van for many years) But, when they came back to us and offered to involve us in an ad campaign promoting hybrids, bio fuel, bio hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars and yes, even the infamous electric car the Chevy Volt, I felt the need to think twice about having the opportunity to be a part of a huge American car company creating an ad campaign for environmentally responsible cars. We feel they allowed more than a fair amount of input from us and made an honest effort to create an environmentally conscious ad. We are proud of it. I also believe in American jobs. Keeping people employed in the US and building fuel-efficient/alternative cars could help reduce and one day help eliminate our dependency on foreign oil. To really make a positive impact regarding the climate crisis we all need to work together to make the change, even GM. Regardless of what my feelings are about the agenda behind the sudden wave of corporate environmental awareness, its still awareness just the same. Thanks for hearing us out. The twins and I are proud to say that every last penny from the GM ad is being donated and split between several environmental organizations exploring alternative energy and effecting change on a grass roots level…sweet! Names and links to these organizations are soon to follow just as soon as the paperwork is done! J And yes dad, we are still loud mouth tree huggers…sorry. xobc From Brandi Carlile’s Myspace page:

Hey all,

I’m writing you from a plane bound for Portugal. While we are gone you may have already heard our song “The Story” in an Olympic advertisement for GM. Depending on how you feel about music and advertising in general, you may be wondering why a band like us would do something like this. Well I have a few good reasons, so allow me to shine a little light on the subject.

When GM first approached our band to use ”The Story” in their 2008 Olympic ad visions of SUVs and full-size pick-up trucks driving through a rugged mountain range were dancing through my head. I promptly and politely declined. (Although I don’t want to be a hypocrite, our band did tour in a GM gas-guzzling van for many years) But, when they came back to us and offered to involve us in an ad campaign promoting hybrids, bio fuel, bio hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars and yes, even the infamous electric car the Chevy Volt, I felt the need to think twice about having the opportunity to be a part of a huge American car company creating an ad campaign for environmentally responsible cars. We feel they allowed more than a fair amount of input from us and made an honest effort to create an environmentally conscious ad. We are proud of it.

I also believe in American jobs. Keeping people employed in the US and building fuel-efficient/alternative cars could help reduce and one day help eliminate our dependency on foreign oil. To really make a positive impact regarding the climate crisis we all need to work together to make the change, even GM.

Regardless of what my feelings are about the agenda behind the sudden wave of corporate environmental awareness, its still awareness just the same.

Thanks for hearing us out.
The twins and I are proud to say that every last penny from the GM ad is being donated and split between several environmental organizations exploring alternative energy and effecting change on a grass roots level…sweet!

Names and links to these organizations are soon to follow just as soon as the paperwork is done! J

And yes dad, we are still loud mouth tree huggers…sorry.

xobc

]]> by: ECC http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13656 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:12:58 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13656 The one good thing that GM commercial has in it is the music. I went out and bought the song last night. It's called "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. ;) The one good thing that GM commercial has in it is the music. I went out and bought the song last night. It’s called “The Story” by Brandi Carlile. ;)

]]> by: Eric http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13639 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:48:00 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13639 i was with you, dan. just trying to add to it. :) i was with you, dan. just trying to add to it. :)

]]> by: Anthony Juliano http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13636 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:47:44 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13636 [I'm not the only one who sees some contradictions in GM's heavy rotation Olympic ad. Here's what they're saying on the Made to Stick blog...] [I’m not the only one who sees some contradictions in GM’s heavy rotation Olympic ad. Here’s what they’re saying on the Made to Stick blog…]

]]> by: Lisa Braithwaite http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13634 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:49:01 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13634 Dan, I would cry if Hooters ever tried an ad like that. I hope they don't read your suggestion and think it's brilliant! Dan, I would cry if Hooters ever tried an ad like that. I hope they don’t read your suggestion and think it’s brilliant!

]]> by: sohbet http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13631 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:58:55 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13631 thanks a lot thanks a lot

]]> by: George Silverman http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13629 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:58:41 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13629 I thought you were going to point out the ULTIMATE self-refuting element: There is a VERY small -- almost unreadable -- disclaimer to the effect that most vehicles pictured are not yet available. Maybe that's why they are losing so much money: they are selling cars they don't have yet. I thought you were going to point out the ULTIMATE self-refuting element: There is a VERY small — almost unreadable — disclaimer to the effect that most vehicles pictured are not yet available. Maybe that’s why they are losing so much money: they are selling cars they don’t have yet.

]]> by: Dan Heath http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13627 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:36:11 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13627 Not quite what I was going for, Eric -- my point was more that GM is to Environmentalism as Hooters is to Feminism. I.e., laughably incredible. Not quite what I was going for, Eric — my point was more that GM is to Environmentalism as Hooters is to Feminism. I.e., laughably incredible.

]]> by: Eric http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13626 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:29:50 +0000 http://www.madetostick.com/blog/2008/08/12/gms-self-refuting-ad/#comment-13626 That's actually a really interesting idea, Dan. Get feminists on the side of hooters. Pitch it as, we don't dress like this because we have to. "Hooters. Because we can." That’s actually a really interesting idea, Dan. Get feminists on the side of hooters. Pitch it as, we don’t dress like this because we have to.

“Hooters. Because we can.”

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