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!

I had high hopes this year, thought they couldn't go wrong with some Elton John music as the theme song. Then realised it was actually all about him, in typical Elton John style, all very self absorbed. Even the ending doesn't justify the telling of the story - do JL even sell pianos?? By the time the ending came around instead of thinking what a lovely sentiment, I just thought "aww, what a cute child actor, and such a relief from Elton's interminable self promotion. I suspect that the reported £5m fee was a bit of a steal for JL, arrived at due to the reciprocal benefits to each party. No coincidence the Rocket Man film is out next year and he's going on a fairwell tour. Don't expect tickets will be cheap, mind.

Throwing money down drain on this ad. Service has gone downhill in J.L too. I often think in M&S + John Lewis, why don't they just ring little old me and ask, can you rate our stock out of ten, I'd rate 2 out of 10, declare it as diabolically boring ,remodel their designers ,advertising team and profits would soar . The advert is like the Apprentice cringe feckwits ads. GCSE film studies students could have written a better storyboard.

JL do sell pianos.

As for storyboard, it's based on Elton John's life isn't it?

Not many people care for Elton John under 60

Is it an Elton John advert or a John Lewis one

Everyone is talking about it, that's the main thing.

Loved it actually, didn’t expect to.

I like it, it reminds me of the "always a woman" JL advert, which is my favourite one

2bright
And poor, poor people who cannot afford an upright or music tuition and who will get into debt this Christmas because they want their kids to be successful like EJ - just as we face a global recession and no deal Brexit disaster. Tone deaf marketing imo.

Keep up the good work - where would we be without the constant outpouring of doom and gloom from remainers.

To be fair I see several old pianos a month going for free on Facebook selling pages.

Can’t believe how far some miss the point - “JL don’t sell pianos” 🙄

The thought that one gift can change the entire direction of someone’s life is a lovely one.

I still can’t think of the one with the boy waiting for Christmas without getting a bit teary.

The advert is like the Apprentice cringe feckwits ads.

You are kidding, right?

I really disagree that under 60s won’t or don’t like Elton. Like his style of music or note, most of his songs are classics, known by all ages and even if it’s not ‘cool’ to like his music, it’s catchy and frankly very little modern music will ever come close.

I’m 33, saw him 6 years ago, front row seats in Vegas. He was fantastic!

It feels a little like an advert for Elton John and his upcoming stuff.

It is crap.

Sainsbury's is much better.

i thought it was okay. not amazing, not terrible. my favourite was the little boy excited for christmas and in the end it’s to give the present to his mum 😊

I liked it. My two teens DD's liked it too. They liked the sentiment behind giving a meaningful gift, a piano can be a lifelong companion. Much better than phones, or computers, or games and players which all break or need to be replaced every couple of years.

I actually didn't know he had a film coming out, or a tour, so that didn't cross my radar, and I like the song, it's about a gift, and as for not appealing to the under 60's, EJ is well known by the young for Lion King and Gnomeo and Juliet.

Just read that his fee is going to his foundation which supports music and sport for children, so that works too.

I have just watched the Sainsburys advert and it's not that different to the John Lewis Bohemian Rhapsody one from a couple of months ago.

Yabu I proper ugly cried and had snot all over me when a delivery man came to the door.

Was it your John Lewis piano being delivered ken?

Can’t believe how far some miss the point - “JL don’t sell pianos” 🙄

The thought that one gift can change the entire direction of someone’s life is a lovely one.

I understand the point well enough thanks, so don't roll your eyes at me. I just think the 'point' is somewhat lost in all the shameless self promotion. And it is shameless self promotion, even if I like his music (which I do, despite being under 60). I don't agree that you have to buy in to all the fame, fortune and celebrity status to understand the sentiment. A stethoscope given to a small child who ends up saving a life might be a more worthy ethos.

Haha no tesco. JL have electric pianos and Elton John t shirts adverts on their front page now.

People always seem to think that you 'don't get it' if you have a different opinion to them.

It's a perfect John Lewis ad - middle class white woman buys their son an aspirational, educational present of a piano . It's John Lewis in a nutshell!