Apple Tribute

Every so often you come across a genuinely sublime piece of marketing. It does everything it's set out to do, and it does it effectively, precisely, and in a way that the consumer see's more than just an advert.  Very rarely though do you come across a piece of work which is simply not an advert, not a marketing piece, not a brand engagement exercise, but through it's execution, and sheer brilliance it works so effectively, so subliminally, so intelligently.

Michael Jackson was a pioneer in his industry, an idol, a brand with immense value and a brand with love. Michael Jackson was music, he made generation after generation dance, move with him, take his journey from child to an adult, he was more than just a musician, he was revolutionary and a leader. So it's only right for him to be given tributes, personal tributes, private tributes, public tributes and sharing tributes. The latest of these tributes was at the MTV EMA's. A tribute I feel even MJ himself would have loved and enjoyed thoroughly. A tribute to everything he was, everything he gave, everything he believed in, everything he wanted.

Random individuals in the street, breaking out into their favorite MJ tracks, singing along and smiling, enjoying the music and sharing it with friends. Singing without care, singing proud, regardless of their ability or technique. Karaoke like, singing with the assistance of earphones so you can flow with the tune. A very appropriate tribute I feel. Real people, with real lives, loving the music and enjoying it freely.

Just one thing I'd like to bring your attention to, the earphones. Participant after participant, singing, smiling, dancing, all different, and all varied, apart from one thing. All accessorized with earphones, white earphones, leading to a discreet Apple Shuffle. Was it a coincidence? Was it merely random? Was it simply an accessory?

Undoubtedly a powerful and unique tribute to the King of Pop, but I just couldn't help but think that that piece could have as easily been an Apple advert. All it needed was a fade to black with the Apple logo. A highly effective Apple advert too. Although, having done that would have made it exactly that, an advert. However, now it is a tribute, a tribute to someone loving and revolutionary in music, someone valued and followed. And the earphones, well the earphones are merely just an accessory, an association, but maybe the best kind of association they could ask for.

An association with love, a revolutionary, people and music.

Kerry in final cut...?

Can anyone remember the talented, happy, vibrant, magazine adorned days of Kerry Katona..? Well nor can I. This once upon a time pop sensation has seen more ups-and-downs than Bill Clintons trousers, but even he's managed to re-emerge with a credible and almost respectable image of late. With new images of Kerry Katona surfacing all over the media showing her undignified and simply unacceptable approach to self medication, I wonder are her days as a 'usuable' public figure finally over?

We've seen Kerry in magazines, billboards and TV at every stage of her rather peculiar journey, from the highs of pop stardom, to the lows of depression, to the highs of her ability to overcome her issues, to the lows of addictions. Throughout that period Kerry's been able to utilise herself effectively, and in both good times and bad she's used that image to sell her brand, whether its for Iceland or MTV. However with the recent images emerging of Kerry snorting copious amounts of cocaine in her bathroom, surely she's put the final nail in her demise as an advertising and branding asset for good. With Icelenad looking to pull out of their contract with Katona, and her shows ratings dwindling by the week it's difficult to see how even another re-brand and freshened approach would help her bounce back once again. No doubt the PR spin will once again be out in force and a new 'makeover' forecast for the coming months, but now it's honestly felt the brand that is Kerry Katona and all it represents has finally hit rock bottom, maybe not so much with this one action alone, but the culmination of everything involved and her ability to repeatedly become the talk of the town, for all the wrong reasons.

Kerry Katona we do wish you well, but from Adland, I think we'd rather just watch from afar.