...that somehow reduces me to tears every year??
This is beautiful.
Rachel
This one does it for me...
...floods of tears every time.
...all that talent, all that expense, all that money.
To sell stuff.
Yup, I understand why you feel like crying...
Miserable beggars on here - remind me of my dad!! 🙂
Tell your Dad, I like the cut of his jib, Rachel 8)
He would probably like this...
The John Lewis one is brilliant, just a couple of sticks and a carrot to show emotion. Some serious talent there
I'm with you, Rachel, I like it.
Good version, too 🙂
I like this non-advert video.
As Charlie says; 'We've become a species that weeps at adverts for shops.'
Get a grip, for everyones sake. It's not great art, it's to make you give money to people for shit that you probably don't want to buy and that they probably don't need.
First time I saw it tonight and googled the music seems to be just a cut down version of Power of Love and not a full song 🙁
Fun times in the Crikey household, this Christmas then...
First time I saw it tonight and googled the music seems to be just a cut down version of Power of Love and not a full song
Did the same [url=
year[/url]. Took [url=
classic song[/url], and butchered it.
[i]Fun times in the Crikey household, this Christmas then...[/i]
We won't be crying at sodding adverts, I can guarantee that much!
We won't be crying at sodding adverts, I can guarantee that much!
[img] 
[/img]
Nope, it's not art but it IS very well doneIt's not great art
it's to make you give money to people for shit that you probably don't want to buy and that they probably don't need.
I'd happily settle for gloves and a scarf every time, oh and socks. The trick is in not spending much money but finding the time to get something appropriate. Long term faves are a multitool I've had for 10 years now and a park triple allen key.
Runs off to watch it again to upset crikey
Bah Humbug Bollocks to the lot of you!
I like Christmas, I enjoy Christmas, I celebrate Christmas in a hearty and pagan way.
I don't fall for all that advertising/marketing bullshit.
Crying at the poor ickle snowman going to the big shop to buy his snowlady some lovely gloves? Really?
GTF.
Chill people. It's a bloody good advert, eh?
**** me just read it cost £6 million to make 😯
Snowmen don't act for free you know
Crock of shite. It's the Coca Cola ones for me, now thats the start of christmas. Ha ha
Last years was good, in a rose-tinted - looking back at childhood sort of way. Classic tune helped.
Does everybody somehow forget the John Lewis exists in the 11 months since the previous Christmas?
I can only assume we do seeing as they spend £6m reminding us they're there.
Christmas occurs exactly every 12 months, so it really shouldn't come as a surprise.
6 million quid, you gotta be shitting me!
I think that nicely sums up the hypocrisy of xmas and advertising in general
Xmas in Scotland.
First time I saw it tonight and googled the music seems to be just a cut down version of Power of Love and not a full song
She was on the Radio today, I was only half listening but sure it's being released.
And here you go.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-power-of-love-single/id575534367?affId=1930871
I was horrified to realise that Halfords are using "Into the valley" as their christmas music!!
No, it's not art, but it uses elements of art to elicit an emotional response. And actually, it does it very well. I didn't actually tear up, but I was moved (after being determined not to be) and *that* is what artists aim for, in the main.
If I had a budget of six mill, I would pay someone to punch people in the balls at 20p a punch. But no-one would come to my shop 😥
EDIT: Oh and Mr Nutt - they've been using that music all year and the ad was bloody brilliant.
Can't say that advertising and marketing have any impact on me whatsoever.
Can't say that advertising and marketing have any impact on me whatsoever.
Reminds me of someone...
Anyone...?
Reminds me of someone...
Is this guess who?
Are you a shouty Southerner with a Napolean complex?
Are you a shouty Southerner with a Napolean complex?
Yeah, probably
The question is: other than the life-changing experience watching the ad, did any of you get an inexplicable urge to shop at John Lewis?
If not, it's an utter waste of £6m.
If not, it's an utter waste of £6m.
I think Rachel popped in to get some tissues...
So only £5,999,998 wasted.
...probably less than that, as I imagine tissues are quite pricey in JL.
I liked it, that is all.
I think it's Waitrose for tissues...unless they have some in the haberdashery department.
They will price match. It's in their charter. So if you paid £2 for tissues, without getting them to check poundland's price, who's the mug now eh?
You're so right, Jon.
[img] 
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Does everybody somehow forget the John Lewis exists in the 11 months since the previous Christmas?
Nah, they did their 'never knowingly undersold' ad a couple of months ago, with the parallel lives, that was good.
I can't believe how strongly people (well Crikey) feel about this sort of thing, crazy!
Yeah always make me laugh it's hardly something new advertising and even more so at Xmas.
😆 at the angry misanthropes..
I used to be like that, you grow out of it eventually.. 😀
It's quite well done.
I don't think advertising/consumerism and producing nice work need be mutally exclusive. 2 minutes in John Lewis normally has me on the verge of going postal and the Christmas consumer rush normally just saddens/annoys me but if something's well done, it's well done.
I love the original of the song. Advert didn't do much for me though, although it's nicely done.
I can't really empathise with snowpeople. I'm probably verging on autistic.
Ad would be nothing without the music (pretty obvious really). Much prefer the Frankie Goes original to the cover.
First time I saw it tonight and googled the music seems to be just a cut down version of Power of Love and not a full song
The singer is Gabrielle Aplin, from Sutton Benger, near Chippenham, where I live. She's an ex-pupil of my old school, just turned 20, and studied at City of Bath College in music technology. She's been doing stripped-down acoustic covers of classic songs and putting them on YouTube for the last three years, and getting guitar tuition from a mate of mine who's garage services the car I bought from them. She signed to Parlophone in the summer, was about to release her own song when John Lewis picked up on this one. So now you know who she is.
The snowman doesn't appear to have money, so must have stolen those goods.
I know shoplifting is all the rage at Christmas, but I'm sure it's not the message baby Jesus wanted us to take from it.
As much as many people hate to recognise or admit it... Advertising is a cornerstone of our world 'system'. Even if we return to using those lovely little corner shops, the local butchers and the baker delivering bread after the ringtons tea man has been around with his wicker basket full of biscuits and tea bags (childhood memory) advertising will still be present because we rely on growth and selling things in large quantities to people.
Just enjoy the world for what it is you miserable sods.
It's quite well done.
I don't think advertising/consumerism and producing nice work need be mutally exclusive. 2 minutes in John Lewis normally has me on the verge of going postal and the Christmas consumer rush normally just saddens/annoys me but if something's well done, it's well done.
No you're right it doesn't need to be mutually exclusive but the fact is that for many creative and talented people, it's a career not a gamble. This world is full of people who want everything for free, and if you're making beautiful videos on your own people will enjoy them but no one will give you a penny unless samuel l jackson stumbles upon your video on his ipad and you're roped in to make his next film. It's the lesser of two evils and let's just enjoy the fact we live in a world where we can have great adverts that can serve the purpose of furthering economies (often abused, I know - but lets ignore that for now) and be enjoyable too?
I won't even bother using my account.
As much as many people hate to recognise or admit it... Advertising is a cornerstone of our world 'system'. Even if we return to using those lovely little corner shops, the local butchers and the baker delivering bread after the ringtons tea man has been around with his wicker basket full of biscuits and tea bags (childhood memory) advertising will still be present because we rely on growth and selling things in large quantities to people.Just enjoy the world for what it is you miserable sods.
Welcome [back] to the forum.
It's an advert.
For a shop.
It cost 6 million quid.
Weep at its beauty if you want, but it was made with the express purpose of making you buy stuff.
It's not art, there is no soul there, there is no deeper meaning. The world is not made a better place by the existence of this.
It's made to make you buy stuff.
If that makes me an angry misanthrope 'I'm loving it'. 😉
It cost 6 million quid.
Just think what you could get for that...
Now that's art.
...and look at inflation; in those days it cost 6 million quid to rebuild a man, now you get an advert...
Welcome [back] to the forum.
Yep. I wonder who it is......
...and look at inflation; in those days it cost 6 million quid to rebuild a man, now you get an advert...
Yeah, but would you get grown women crying at a bionic man?
Actually, that's probably for the best. Electronics and salt water don't mix.
The adjusted figure, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics is actually 31 million dollars.
That's 5 John Lewis ads...
$31m. That's a spicy meatball...
It's not art, there is no soul there, there is no deeper meaning. The world is not made a better place by the existence of this.
It's not art, but as difficult as it may be to see, there is a deeper meaning. Whether this makes the world a better place is entirely subjective - Unless I missed the memo you dont speak on the behalf of the entire world.
It will make the world a better place for a few in a small way. Then again, there is an element of art or 'craft' because you couldn't make this advert. It was made by highly skilled videographers, designers, make up artists, special effects artists, musicians who are all artists in their own right. It's just the same as looking at a beautiful old chair, you would probably say it isn't art, but I would say it can be. Because we have to appreciate the fact it was made by someone with a stunning skill set and a creative outlook, and that that dedication and that craft makes it art if you want it to be.
Weep at its beauty if you want, but it was made with the express purpose of making you buy stuff.
You are Sherlock Holmes and I claim my 5 shillings.
[i]It will make the world a better place for a few in a small way. Then again, there is an element of art or 'craft' because you couldn't make this advert. It was made by highly skilled videographers, designers, make up artists, special effects artists, musicians who are all artists in their own right. It's just the same as looking at a beautiful old chair, you would probably say it isn't art, but I would say it can be. Because we have to appreciate the fact it was made by someone with a stunning skill set and a creative outlook, and that that dedication and that craft makes it art if you want it to be.[/i]
It's a shop advert, 'new' boy.
Jamie - Your first reply made me spit out the sip of beer i was having!
Jus' saying old timer.It's a shop advert, 'new' boy.
ah, Crikey.. I get what you think you're trying to say 😆
Yunki, I'm trying my best to live up to the angry misanthropic thing. I'd like to be one, but probably don't have the stamina.
In the mean time, who is nukeproofriding? Pretty obviously not new, is he from Poplar, perchance?
The important thing is how far will they go...
Oh dear.
I feel a wave of misanthropy washing over me.
What next, David Bowie in a cardigan?
How about David Bowie standing near a man in a cardigan?
I really liked it.
I'm not going to analyse it any further than that.
It's made to make you buy stuff.
I've never been into John Lewis.
And I don't have any plans to do so in the near future.
Am I allowed to enjoy the advert ?
I think its brilliant, really moving and their best yet.
The talent that goes into their adverts is just amazing.
Do I have to be somebody to voice an opinion? I'm not allowed to write my thoughts on an advert because i'm not an "accepted" stw insider?In the mean time, who is nukeproofriding? Pretty obviously not new, is he from Poplar, perchance?
[i]Do I have to be somebody to voice an opinion? I'm not allowed to write my thoughts on an advert because i'm not an "accepted" stw insider?[/i]
You've even got the stw thing.
You aren't new, you're someone else posing as someone new, so give over.
It was alright, prefer the Aldi ones though.
& It certainly didn't make me want to spend my hard earned at John Lewis's in particular.
Don't think adverts really work on me TBH.
Maybe the 6 million blown on that explains why waitrose had to do the charity ad.
I think its great.
Anyone saying that its a bad advert or advertising doesn't directly work on them, there is a thread on here with John Lewis in the name and your reading and discussing it...
[i]with John Lewis in the name and your reading and discussing it[/i]
...and, Professor, [i]not shopping there[/i]....
The thread isn't about the efficacy of marketing, so you don't have to defend it.
Do pay attention at the back.
[i]Anyone saying that its a bad advert or advertising doesn't directly work on them, there is a thread on here with John Lewis in the name and your reading and discussing it...[/i]
Just reading & discussing won't do much for sales though will it.
As someone in early 40's I thought last years and this years versions of classic songs were great on the ads, and made you at least remember them.
Am I the only person who hasn't seen it? I don't watch or listen to adverts.
Don't think I saw last years either!
The Sandwich family think it's a great story. The changing facial expressions are what makes it.
CG the Guardian media page has a link to it or Google john Lewis Christmas ad.
My my crikey aren't we a condescending chap.
If you would care to notice that i said 'directly' work on them; So yes, you probably wont go out and do all of your Christmas shopping at John Lewis tomorrow (and neither will I).
I just find it ironic that because of this advert which many are saying doesn't work, John Lewis is being discussed at length (and Debenhams/Selfridges etc aren't) so its very easy to argue that its a successful piece of Marketing - therefore a successful advert whether you like it or not.
CG the Guardian media page has a link to it or Google john Lewis Christmas ad.
But I have no intention of watching it!