Wednesday, March 10, 2010

john lennon back from the dead to promote olpc

January 5, 2009 by Jonathan Nguyen · Comments 

this ad uses john’s digitally manipulated voice and likeness to promote the “one laptop per child program“.

no doubt it’s a worthy cause but anyone else think that it’s a little weird to use dead celebrities?

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  • it would've been more tolerable using an existing, as recorded audio file of mr. lennon, but to manipulate it like they did is absurd. surprised, that there' wasn't any type of mouse-type disclaimer that this was not actually John Lennon. i'm okay w/using "dead" celebrities. their brands live on if they made an impression on our culture and mindset. think the latest nokia TVC from china w/Bruce Lee and nunchucks playing ping pong, that was a money spot.
  • I guess what you're saying is to use the image of the celeb but not to manipulate their speech. That I think has been used throughout time and wouldn't be as weird! But since they have manipulated his speech it's not cool?
  • correct. i would've of found it more compelling if there was a real recording of JL that resonated with the voice/direction of OLPC vs. forcing, doctoring up a scripted message.
  • More than just a little weird. I wonder if it means we have lost so much respect for celebrities that real ones are too scummy-seeming to be useful for endorsements?
  • I thought to myself who are the inspiring celebrities we would use today? Noone came to mind.

    If we were to use the "elder-statesman" type though I would suggest:
    Madeleine Albright
    Kofi Annan
    or Bill Clinton.

    Maybe Brangelina?
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