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john lennon back from the dead to promote olpc

By on January 5, 2009 in advertising

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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  • http://alannashaikh.blogspot.com Alanna

    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?

  • http://twitter.com/windo windo

    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.

  • http://www.jonathannguyen.net jnau

    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?

  • http://www.jonathannguyen.net jnau

    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?

  • http://twitter.com/windo windo

    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.

  • http://twitter.com/nguyenduong nguyen duong

    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.