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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To cry at the new John Lewis ad?

178 replies

Arkala · 27/04/2010 21:57

Probably I am. But I LOVE that song and found the ad very moving (and I love JL too so was very pleased it wasn't for tampax or something else). Sad but true!

OP posts:
EricPicklesFatNeck · 28/04/2010 11:39

basically substitute the word woman with consumer and you will have the right sentiment

elliemental · 28/04/2010 11:41

As soon as i saw this ad, I knew it was the one you were talking about in the thread title. I welled up. It is a lovely song, and a very clever ad. but once you have seen it two or three times, it is rather annoying...

I also feel quite depressed watching it, as my life has never evolved to the huge-garden-with table-large-enough-to-host-informal-luncheon-parties-with-loads-of-lovely-friends-eating-lovely-food -dahling-stage, or a kitchen big enough for a giant Smeg fridge...

expatinscotland · 28/04/2010 11:41

I hate that sexist advert! I've emailed to complain about it. Sexist song, too, written by a twonk.

Also, they have a modern woman, complete with laptop, who becomes old and has grandchildren.

In what, the 10 years since laptops came out?

FFS.

EricPicklesFatNeck · 28/04/2010 11:45

expat there are much worse adds out there

expatinscotland · 28/04/2010 11:46

Yes, there are, Eric. I've complained about those, too.

And this one as well, sexist lot of wank that it is.

Angeliz · 28/04/2010 11:47

Just watched it, have never sen it before.
I LOVE it, and the song too. Makes me want to do one similar for my kids. Have a few to different songs.

abr1de · 28/04/2010 11:47

What surprised me was that my husband and son really love that ad.

It makes me wonder if they really do appreciate me after all!

Angeliz · 28/04/2010 11:48

Why do you think it so sexist? Because of the song?

expatinscotland · 28/04/2010 11:50

The song is sexist. And the whole woman-as-wifey bollocks is sexist, too.

Let's have a 'He's always a man' one and stereotype him as barbequeing, doing DIY (but not any housework) and leaving his dirty socks and underwear on the floor, shall we? We'll age him 30 years in 10, too.

expatinscotland · 28/04/2010 11:52

Can't stand Billy Joel, either.

His songs all make me want to jump off a bridge.

expatinscotland · 28/04/2010 11:52

Remember 'Uptown Girl'?

BARF.

Shaz10 · 28/04/2010 11:53

It's the weasly dance in Uptown Girl that makes me barf!

Angeliz · 28/04/2010 11:53

Oh, funny how people see things defferetnly, i think it's sweet i really do.
Not discounting what you think though, just don't see that side of it.
They should do a man one next, infact they probably will if they read this thread !

Angeliz · 28/04/2010 11:54

PMSL, that explains our differences, 'Uptown Girl' was the first song i ever bought (Billy Joel version)

DaisymooSteiner · 28/04/2010 11:55

I agree that it is rather stereotyping and sexist, but it is still very, very clever. The fact that there have been several threads about it shows that.

Shaz10 · 28/04/2010 11:57

This is a great commentary on advertising to women and men.

bibbitybobbityhat · 28/04/2010 12:04

I don't like it either (as I said on the other thread). Its designed to tug on the heartstrings you silly old sausages.

I've only seen it twice. What I find odd about it is that all the images are so sickeningly perfect, the JL interiors and all the things, but when the Granny and Grandad take the dc out at the end, its not on a glorious country walk with a stupendous view of the rolling hills of England, but a rather scrubby old bit of recreation ground with a Tower block in the background. Looks like Hackney Marshes to me! Would have thought the South Downs or the Peak District would be more on-message, shurely?

Morloth · 28/04/2010 12:17

Very nice piece of marketing.

EricPicklesFatNeck · 28/04/2010 12:22

the woman in it could be my mil. there are people like this but the don't wear the same top their entire lifes.

i am not sure it is sexist, smug yes

CarrieJF · 28/04/2010 12:26

Eldest daughter had just announced that she and the son-out-law are engaged to be married next year, so the ad is a bit close to home at the moment. I like it

Mouseface · 28/04/2010 12:42

Well, job done.

You're all talking about it.

The wonders of marketing.

EricPicklesFatNeck · 28/04/2010 12:52

but i am not going to buy more john lewis stuff cos of the add. so does it really work or is marketing all smoke and mirrors.

abr1de · 28/04/2010 13:09

There's more to advertising that getting you to run out and buy something. It's about brand placement, getting an idea of a shop into your mind, being aware of it.

The 'things' in the ad are fairly in the background, the camera only fleetingly picks them out.

What they're trying to do is fix the idea in your mind that JL is a shop that will be with you for all your life as a woman, that they understand what makes you tick. And for many of us, that's home and family.

dittany · 28/04/2010 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EricPicklesFatNeck · 28/04/2010 13:37

thats quite touching dittany. i am now imaging all the women smuggling large porcelain giraffes out of john lewis humming the song to themselves.

who buys those weirdy porcelain animals?