AIBU to think the John Lewis Christmas ad is crap?

[EmeryisntthenewWenger]

I really usually enjoy the JL Christmas ad but this year it’s bloody awful!

The message is lovely, but for me it is spoiled by Elton who epitomizes everything that is wrong about Christmas, greed, consumerism, showiness etc. He is also a very unpleasant person by all accounts, so the ad is a massive fail imo.

OMG I love it.
So blooming emotional I cried.

As I said on another thread, one of my issues is that Elton John brings nothing to the as at all, in fact he detracts from it.
Message could have been so much better using a real person like a Dr or vet or Fireman or even a writer being bought a nice pen for Christmas as a kid.

Elton John is plugging Elton John, John Lewis may as well have sponsored his tour.

I absolutely love it. It’s a love story. It could have been about anything, but it particularly resonates with me because although I never went to any sort of heady heights as a musician, I did perform in Carnegie Hall when I was 17 and I’ll never forget the feeling of playing the violin to large audiences in beautiful halls/cathedrals etc.

Neither of my child are particularly musicians (they dabble with piano/guitar), but an art set for DD years ago set off a passion for art and swimming lessons did the same for DS.

I love the ad.

Yanbu, it is indeed crap!

I like the concept and it’s better than those awful animated things they’ve done before. But as others have said, it’s an ad for Elton john, and when you think what a vast amount of money must have changed hands to make it, you realise that all this stuff about it being ‘magical’ is complete nonsense.

I liked it a lot, thought it was a vast improvement on last years and refreshing in that it focused on the importance of family and non-material "gifts" and how support of loved ones encourages these.

I'll accept the intention is of course to sell real gifts but actually enjoyed the lack of festive element in it.

no he wasnt talking to his mother and hes not nice depsite giveing millions to charity

How did you get to Carnegie Hall @WickedGoodDoge ?

I thought it was an advert for Elton John life story! Had no idea until I read this that is was the JL ad! Obviously not paying attention. Now I know, it’s bad

I like it much more each time I see it.

Has anyone seen the Waitrose version where it gets fast forwarded?

I have to say I agree with you honey, I hated it at first but it’s slowly growing on me

That's weird cause I hate it even more each time I see it.
Luckily I don't see it to much or I'd explode into a seething ball of anti Elton rage and I might even swear... Bum face.. yeah..

@VanillaSugary I performed in a youth orchestra (well youth-ish as it was high school and college students) and the conductor had a good working relationship with John Rutter. Between the two of them, they organised a series of Carnegie Hall concerts which John still performs annually to this day with a spin off orchestra to my one. We performed all over the place- my teen years were a bit surreal.

I love John Rutter's work! My DD played in a similar youth orchestra and it kept her sane during her teenage years. Well jel!

I don’t like it at all.

I much prefer the Lidl one.

no he wasnt talking to his mother and hes not nice depsite giveing millions to charity

I read there was a reconciliation shortly before she died but when I watched the ad my immediate thoughts were - what a hypocrite

Sorry, it’s Aldi one I like. Kevin the Carrot

I have finally seen it. Not a huge Elton fan, but I have to go with this view from the first page of the thread:

It's better than all those ads with cutesy animals.

If it was his Mum and Gran that bought him his first piano which sparked an interest and ultimate career, it doesn't change that fact if he wasn't speaking to her in later life.

His Father bought him his first piano, whilst he was away he paid it up weekly and had it delivered as a surprise.

Elton made up with his Mother 2 years before her Death in December 2017.

I cant stand Elton John either.....like others have said his ego and unpleasant personality makes me want to throw something at the telly.

If you throw something at the telly you can go and buy yourself a nice new one from John Lewis.

My son is really good on the piano too. His first piano was a bright blue and yellow one from the Early Learning Centre. I guess a plastic piano at the end wouldn't have had quite the same effect?

@Tobebythesea

It’s rubbish. So disappointed.

It’s not an ad for John Lewis, it’s an ad for Elton John.

Exactly this!