Is advertising sweet?

See other posts in the "Is this sweet?" series.

As has been mentioned on this blog before, I'm in marketing. I generally enjoy advertising, especially when it is particularly clever or informative. As a favorite professor once said, "good advertising doesn't offend me."

I don't intend to turn this space into one which dissects advertising, but has this ad gone too far? Should we be offended?

I get all amped about Psychocandy, stand-up drum kits and wayfarers, and then am directed to associate those positive feelings with high-end German perfume for women. No thank you. You can't even smell perfume through a monitor (yet?).

This could simply partake in the larger indie-song-as-jingle craze (though the pure jingle is making a comeback and I don't feel similarly betrayed by any number of bands I enjoy featured in Apple spots and the like). Maybe J&MC just hits a little too close to home. Or perhaps my discomfort is not so simply located in that favored cry of adolescents nationwide, "man, those guys totally sold out."

I think I'm most bothered as a marketer. Looks like the folks on the Boss account at Procter & Gamble are getting lazy and don't intend to carry core choices about the brand across their campaign. Did you see the expensive pant-suit this woman is wearing? Are we really associating this immaculately primped woman in a city high-rise apartment with two of the filthiest looking brothers ever to revolutionize rock? Did P&G do anything other than listen to the intro and read the first few lyrics from 'Just Like Honey?' Who sees this and thinks "$60 fragrance"? This woman clearly cares far too much about the state of her hair.

Is this what I have to endure for J&MC to get enough money for the new album and some added tour dates? Does this mean that the Reids have become Dylanesque (soon to be Weezian?) in more than their prophetic musical ability?

I'm not sure, but you won't catch me wearing Femme any time soon.