adweek.com presents its list of the Top 20 Ad Campaigns of the Last 20 Years. Each entry in the list is linked to a page with more information and examples from their respective campaigns. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Coke and Pepsi made the list, but I was quite happy to see that Absolut did as well. I’ve been collecting Absolut ads since the early ‘90s and never tire of their variety and originality; I have well over 600 now and still keep up the collection.
There are several recent TV ad campaigns that may eventually make a list such as this one. I’m guessing that more of the people producing these ads are close to my age; the references, music, and sense of humor used in many of them definitely point in that direction. However, I predict a backlash to this sudden nostalgia. I have a strong connection to music, so when someone suddenly appropriates a song and plays it ad nauseum, it really bothers me that my impression of the song becomes tainted. I suppose that’s what remote controls are for, but it doesn’t change the fact that many songs I considered forgotten gems have become mainstream sell-outs.
