To think the NSPCC have made a slightly bizarre choice of song for their new ad campaign?

[Snaf]

The one with the butterflies?

It's called 'Jenny Again' by Tunng, and it's about a bloke who literally gets away with murder. I know it's not exactly obvious in the ad, but a bit strange given the work of the NSPCC, non?

Full lyrics are:

Throw the knife into the stream
Run away across the fields
Leave me lying where I fell
Rivers running out of me
Meet my Jenny in the lane
Take a car and run away
Get as far as you can get
Before the new day

Your heart beats quick and strong
Your mind pores over it all
Don't worry because no one saw me fall

Sit inside a little chef
Look around but not at her
See my kisses on her lips
See my fingers in her hair
Think of this against your will
See the knife edge slipping in
See the questions in my eyes
As I ask them

I went so quick it makes you shudder that I'm gone
Are we so brittle has your soul turned into stone
And though you loved me I'm not Jenny in the night
Some decisions don't thread back to being right

Your head blurs quickly tonight
Your edges diffuse in the light
Don't tell me that your throat is getting tight

Change your name and find a job
Marry Jenny in the spring
Buy a dog and call him Pete
Push the children on the swings
Think about me now and then
Try to find a peaceful space
Count the days as they go by
Count the lines upon your face

Your heart beats quick and strong
Your mind pores over it all
Don't worry because no one saw me fall

I saw the ad last night, thought 'Oh I love this song', then 'Er, hang on...' Or am I just not getting the ever-so-subtle nuances here?

the nspcc ad campaigns are weird and crap generally

perhaps they are pointing out that without the work they do and the confidential helplines for kids, people could literally get away with murder....?
I love the song too.

what do the nspcc do? apart from the helplines?

they raise money

for waht

to pay their own wages. is a bit of a racket. they have 'raising awareness' as one of their charitable aims, so all this advertising etc is a direct charitable activity not fundraising or publicity.

hmm

I suspected as much

Hmmm. I don't know how relevant it is that I assumed it was an ad for a mobile phone co (pretty butterflies, folky music) when I first saw it... doubly pointless and strange.

I am finding it tough to understand the plot of that song tbh. who is narrating it and who is Jenny?

The person who was killed is singing the song 'to' the person who killed them. Jenny is the third person in the triangle - so I reckon the singer was killed by the bloke that Jenny was having an affair with & they (Jenny and killer) then run off together and make a life - and get away with the murder.

Tunng are ace but a bit odd - haven't seen this advert but agree that it sounds a bit inappropriate for an NSPCC ad!

Didn't nike or adidas or some other sportswear company use Johnny Cash's wonderful version of Hurt to try to sell their wares?

Someone obviously thought that as marathon running can be painful it would be a good choice.

It wasn't on for long.

I'm sure it's intentional - they had that Elton John song someone saved my life tonight a while back.

I hate all the NSPCC ads - their objective seems to be to spread fear and anxiety. If they explained how they would use my money to help vulnerable children, I'd gladly contribute.

agree upwind

ever since they sent me the baby names book thing through the post

I rang and complained - had just had dd3 and was feeling v vulnerable

told them to take name off mailing list

Wow - I thought that I was alone in my secret mistrust of the NSPCC!

Also delighted to see so many Tuung fans - you've made my day!

the butterflies are pairs of ears and the campaign is so they can listen to every childs voice? quite how, I don't know.

I thought that I was alone at being very about the adverts too. I can understand that Childline is a very useful service, but the advert with the little boy that has been beaten up and is in hospital (he's about 10-12 months I reckon) - what exactly do they do for him or his parents? It's never explained in the adverts.

Snap Enid.

Thankfully I got mine at a point where I was feeling ok.

I complained to the ASA about it. They said alot of people had complained, mostly mums but there wasnt anything they could do.

I don't understand how a company with a financial income as large as the NSPCC's manages to achieve so very little.

I mean, they've existed for about 100 years now and I can't think of a single achievement they've made. Thousands of children continue to suffer - what has the NSPCC done to eleviate their suffering?

Yes. I agree wholeheartedly, nametaken. I do not donate to the NSPCC.

There are lots of smaller children's charities who loathe the NSPCC as they see them as largely ineffectual yet take the most in charitable donations.

Childline is a great thing to have - but didn't the NSPCC take it over fairly recently?

The ad you mention, MrsTittlemouse, is especially upsetting. Surely that would be a matter for social services and the police rather than the NSPCC?

hurrah

I am not alone

Exactly Upwind - I can't think of a single thing that the NSPCC could do to help that wouldn't be interfering with the normal process of dealing with an abused child. And to be honest, I wouldn't want a charity to be sticking their beak into such a sensitive issue - social services are far from ideal, but at least they have strict procedures that they would have a legal obligation to follow.