Now is the time for you to recognize brilliance
In this edition of CommercialClack, you have to get past the fact there’s a fat guy in a video walking around in Speedos. Do that and you’ll appreciate the brilliance of this commercial. You can do it … I know you can.
There’s a time for everything.
Many people learned this initially in Kevin Bacon‘s Footloose back in the day. Remember the Bible verse he read during the town council meeting from Ecclesiastes 3? “… (there is) a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance …”
Well, it goes without saying (whether you agree with me or not) there’s even a time for a commercial such as this one, regardless of which side of the fence you might stand on concerning Speedos.
The commercial itself is “old” as far as advertisements go; it hails from July of last year. But as far as I’m concerned it stands out as one of the best and most unique ads still blazing out a cathode ray tube and into a living room near you.
Now … as a guy, I can fully appreciate why the ladies out there might vilify this little ditty. Speedos — no matter who might be wearing them — “shouldn’t be worn in public.” Not even by the svelte who have the physique (and the cojones) to slip’em on and parade’em about, Olympian Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz notwithstanding. That statement has been voiced time and again. Common complaints? Too much exposure … too little material … too “out there” for the general public. “Keep’em in The Mediterranean!” some might say. And that goes double for a lot of the dudes among us as well.
I may (or may not) be of a rare camp: If you’ve got the chops to pull’em off, go for it … more power to you. I’m not talking anything crude, lewd or rude — it’s just if you’ve got it, flaunt it.
That being said, I have to tell you: The swagger and confidence of the turtle shell-bespecaled, porn-stache sporting “Curly Locks” displays in this ad is genuinely awe-inspiring. There’s no way in a hundred years he’s the perfect specimen to parade around in those burgundy beauts. But he’s got it going on 9 ways to Sunday, right down to the dip he tosses the girl who’s checking him out. When you’ve got it goin’ on, you’ve got it goin’ on.
Curly Locks? He’s got it goin’ on.
Look: I’m a comfortable guy. I like to think I’ve got it goin’ on. But I haven’t got so much going on I would be comfortable strolling about in a swatch of “barely there” material for reclining beach goers minding their own business to snicker at. I’m goofy … but I’m not that goofy.
But that’s not the point. The point is the brilliant Wieden + Kennedy New York advertising agency had the savvy and wherewithal to put together this little gem of a piece for everyone to enjoy, complete with the classic Odetta-penned “Hit Or Miss” from the swingin’ 1970s. Add to that Curly Locks as the icing on the cake (so to speak) and << BOOM >> … classic.
The Bible says there’s a time for everything. And right now, as you gloss over these final words, it’s time for you to appreciate this ad for what it is:
Simply brilliant.
You know how clowns have a certain effect on you? Yeah. thanks. Thanks a lot. I hate you.
Y’know … I didn’t think of it that way … but …
Payback.
Agreed that the commercial is brilliant, but it does seem to hit a little too close to home for someone who is now wearing boxer briefs…
Well, now … that’s pretty wise, Michael …
… because you’d just look silly on the beach in your boxer briefs …
Because I’m such a good friend, I’m going to leave you with this little tidbit:
I was a competitive swimmer in high school.
Take from that what you will.
Per my daily quest to learn something new everyday in effort to assist in staving off Alzheimer’s, I will take this bit of information as one of those “new things.” Thank you for that, Mr. West.
Now … if you would be so kind as to pass the brain bleach …
Actually, considering we belong to a society that encourages women to wear less clothing wherever possible, I heartily endorse the speedo for men everywhere
So long as we don’t encourage straps, I’m good.
Of course! If a dude wants to run on a beach strapless or sans any jock strap in any athletic activity, he’s more than welcome to it!