Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Comedians, Context, Culture, Emotion, Racism
When you have written a blog as long as I have, people often think they know me. And they do – to a degree. But as much as I have talked about things that really open up my emotions – from death to birth to suicide to errrrm, the size of my best friends appendage – who I am on this blog is only a part of who I am.
Whether that is a good part is open to discussion, but what I’m trying to say it’s different to what old friends and colleagues have experienced with me.
Not massively different, but different all the same.
More nuance. More history. More context. More highs and lows.
I say this because I recently read a brilliant article that reminded me of this fact.
In some ways, I feel I’ve known Sanjeev Bhaskar forever.
He has seemingly been on my television screen since the dawn of time.
Except it’s not true.
He appeared on BBC 2 in 1998 with the show, Goodness Gracious Me.
Oh what a show that was …
Brilliant for both its comedy and its gentle destruction of the prejudice Asian families have had to – and continue to – endure in the UK with white people.
And yet I wonder if everyone actually realises that?
Since then, Sanjeev has been on our screens forever. Both because of his talent as a comedian, director, writer and actor and also because British television has found it hard to give Asian talent a platform to showcase their talent so he became one of the ‘go to’s’ for British Television when an Asian presence was required on a show.
In other words, his success is down to talent and racism.
That must be a hell of an issue to deal with.
Oh people may say, “what’s it matter … he’s famous and rich” … but putting aside the fact no one knows how wealthy he is, money doesn’t mean you are immune from feelings.
And yet despite that burden, he comes across as such a kind, compassionate man.
To be honest, I kind of thought he was before I read the article … but it is in understanding where he has come from, what he has dealt with, what he believes that I realise that I knew such a sliver of how wonderful a human he really is.
And I appreciate this revelation still comes from reading an article rather than meeting the person … but if he comes across as open, generous and grounded as he does in an article, the real person cam only be even better.
The interview covers a huge amount of subjects …
His grandfather in India.
The bullying he went through at school.
That BBC executives only saw him because they tossed a coin whether to see his show or go to the pub.
His parents immense pride that their son has met the Queen and likes his show.
The utter stupidity of racism.
His belief in the younger generation to make everything better.
Love.
It’s truly a joy to read, but there’s one quote I really connected to.
Maybe because in some small way – despite our vastly different reasons and circumstances – I felt it and feel it too.
“If 14-year-old me could see where I am now, he’d tell me to piss off. [As in it was unbelievable rather than undesirable] But I want to tell him that we will make it out of that launderette and even become friends with some of those people on our bedroom wall. For all the shit we went through, with luck and without, it leads us here.”
It’s so well worth a read.
It also has made me hope I get to meet Sanjeev one day.
So I can learn more about the real person.
Who I have now started to see as a quiet revolutionary of hope and love rather than just a talented writer, comedian, director and actor.
Thank you Sanjeev.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, America, Apathy, Attitude & Aptitude, Devious Strategy, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Mischief, Point Of View
So recently, someone sent me this from the US …
It definitely raised my eyebrows reading it.
Mainly because – regarding Prince Andrew – it was absolutely true.
And while it was definitely done for ‘attention seeking’ purposes … and the company behind it has, as far as I can see, absolutely no connection to the Royal Family in any way … it is STILL better than most brands trying to hijack a cultural moment for their own benefit.
Maybe it’s because of the subject matter, one few would dare to play with.
Maybe it’s because they went all in with their headline, rather than blandom bullshit.
But when a mini-storage billboard – using terrible font and imagery – still produces something much better than the ads from brands trying to ‘hijack’ the Boris resignation, you realise 3 things.
1. The corporate desire to blend in more than stand out.
2. The lack of pointed headlines in communication.
3. The phone-it-in approach to comms planning.
Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t advocate using Prince Andrew as a figure in any of my clients ads either … but I’ll remember that billboard far more than whatever BK and countless others did during a mass ‘high profile’ moment.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand, Comment, Creativity, Differentiation, Effectiveness, Marketing, Marketing Fail
When I last went to Cannes, I was inundated with ads from data/tech companies saying how they could get better results.
The problem was the ads were so bad, that you were left thinking ‘they may know data, but they sure as shit don’t know anything about people’.
But there’s another sort of ‘data-based’ ad that is just as bad.
Because while this group do know how to talk to humans, they sure as shit don’t know data.
Have a look at this …
Or this …
Oh the cliche …
The wonderful, joyful cliche.
That thing people say is a cliche “because it’s true”.
And while perception may appear reality, it’s not is it? Not always.
Not all men are crap at fixing things.
Not all people lie to their partner about the price they paid for things.
Not all people are just shit.
And while I am sure the people behind it think it’s just a bit of fun.
And while I accept there may be an element of truth to some of what they say.
It’s just the modern day equivalent of those ads we look at now with shock and contempt.
I get we live in competitive times.
I understand the importance of standing out.
But data that doesn’t relate to humans and cliches that just undermines them don’t do anyone any good. They just – as these ads demonstrate – create the illusion of value.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Comment, Culture, Daily Fail, Daily Mail, Embarrassing Moments
I hate the Daily Mail.
I hate what they stand for.
I hate how they conduct their ‘journalism’.
I hate the way they fan the flames of hate under the guise of revealing truth.
And yet I read it every day.
Every bloody day.
Not for the ‘news’, but because I enjoy the hate they ignite in me.
Of course, by me reading it, they are benefiting from me – and that drives me nuts – but there is something in understanding the depths they will go to appear relevant that is addictive.
They go on about news they have broken.
They go on about justice they have driven.
But the reality is the entire rag is dedicated to letting white middle Englanders, feel superior, which is why I love how they think they’re cutting edge without realising they continually revea how out of touch they – and their readers – actually are.
Recently, they printed an article that was pure gold.
This was the headline.
I can just imagine the horror on the faces of James and Margaret in Tunbridge Wells – spitting out their Earl Grey tea over breakfast – as they worried their darling grandchildren may be being assaulted by sex pest foreign perverts via endless aubergine and peach emojis.
What makes it even better is the article has been written as if the Daily Mail had just conducted some Pulitzer winning, investigative journalism.
No doubt there will be an article coming up in the next few weeks stating the Daily Mail is committed to eradicating emoji filth from our young children’s phones … conveniently ignoring the hate they continually perpetuate towards the young, the poor or the people who question the actions or behaviour of the British Government or Royal family.
Like this blog, the Daily Mail are about 10 years too late to cultural topicality which is why I leave them with this, safe in the knowledge they won’t work out what I’ve said till 2030.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Brand Suicide, Comment, Corporate Evil, Technology
Gifts are always nice to receive.
You feel a sense of specialness and love and it’s delightful.
Even when you get a gift voucher – which is the equivalent of a bunch of flowers from a petrol station – you kinda are happy, such is the power of the present.
But what if you have to get something for someone who has everything?
Well, I once bought Richard Branson a vanilla latte on his birthday and I can tell you, while he was gracious … he obviously thought, “what the fuck has he got this for me, for?”
Which – ironically – is exactly what Jill said to me when I told her what I’d done.
Well, recently I saw something that may be a solution for you – should you ever find yourself in this predicament. It’s this …
Yes … it’s a computer mouse, with a leather jacket.
And according to Liam, once you’ve used it, you will never go back to a regular, ‘naked’ mouse.
Now this may sound like I’m about to be hypocritical but if someone bought me this – even if I was the richest person in the entire world – I would want to smash them in the face.
Not because it’s bollocks.
Not because if I’m that rich, I’d have someone doing the ‘mousing’ for me.
But because they cost TWO HUNDRED QUID and they refer to themselves as ‘pointer instruments’.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
I love how they are trying to elevate the appeal and craftsmanship of what they’re doing by referring to it as an ‘instrument’ … but whatever way you look at it, they’re charging you 200 quid for a shitty mouse wearing a teeny-tiny leather jacket.
But they’re going all in on it.
Read their website and the descriptions of the various products they make.
It’s hilariously depressing, but not as much as the fact they’re selling a ton of them.