Sunday, April 26, 2009

Favorite Art









Primavera (c.1482) (l), and The Birth of Venus (c. 1486) (r) two of my favorite paintings, by one of my favorite artists, Botticelli. One of the best times of my life was the summer I spent traveling through Italy in 1983, studying art history and finishing up my bachelors degree. Seeing these two works of art at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence was breathtaking.

Catch Me If You Can — I'm on Twitter

As seen in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho and Westside sections 4/25/09

Do you realize if you still get your news from the nightly broadcasts on TV some would consider you a fuddy-duddy? Technology is expanding exponentially, and I am here to tell you I am riding its coattails. Yes, I have gone to the dark side. I joined Twitter.

Don't ask me to explain Twitter yet; give me a week. But what with all the technology out there like blogs, feeds, tweets, diggs, followers, friends and who's in your network, you can literally pick your poison to promote yourself or bone up on what's going on in the world.

How people get their news in today's world is so selective. You can go where you want, when you want to see whatever you are interested in. You can even have the news sent to your own cell phone when it happens.

There is a fascinating four-minute video Sony played at their executive conference this year called "Did You Know?" by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Jeff Brenman on the progression of technology.

If you feel like the world is passing you by now, wait until you see this fast-paced techno slide show spewing facts and figures on how the world is moving at the speed of sound and America is not at the controls anymore.

You can view this video on my blog. Yes, I recently took another step into the fast lane and created a blog (www.jenniferhuard.blogspot.com ) which is not to be confused with my regular Web site (www.rightshadeofwow.com ) or my Twitter page (www.twitter.com/jenniferhuard ). Sheesh, I can barely keep up.

Blogs are Web sites that are updated much more frequently with more conversational and casual content than a traditional Web site. There are mommy blogs for mommies, celebrity blogs for stalkers, and travel blogs for the wanderlust crowd.

I do not have a page on MySpace or Facebook, two of the many social networking Web sites, and according to Fisch, McLeod and Brenman, I am not in with the in crowd. There are currently 200 million registered users on MySpace. That means if MySpace were a country, it would be the fifth largest in the world; between Indonesia and Brazil.

Fasten your seat belts, my friends, because the information super highway is moving at Mach 1 speed on a clear blue day with the left lane wide open and all the cops are at a spaghetti dinner awards banquet in town.

According to the trio's research, it took radio 38 years to reach a market audience of 50 million people. For TV, it took 13 years. The Internet four years, the iPod three years, and Facebook it took only two years to reach an audience of 50 million.

Faster. Faster. Faster.

It is estimated that a week's worth of the New York Times today contains more information than a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th century. Feeling smart and well versed? Well, not so fast, Americano.

The video continues to humble the American viewer with statistics showing China and India are winning the race: China will soon be the No. 1 English-speaking country in the world.

The 25 percent of India's population with the highest IQs is greater than the total population of the United States. In other words, India has more honors kids than America has kids. In a matter of 4:55 seconds, 67 babies were born in the U.S., 274 in China, and 394 in India. Now, don't you feel like a fuddy-duddy?

I am trying to hitch my wagon to the technology star, but I am still going to watch the news with Brian Williams every night to see which purple tie he is wearing and read the Journal every morning with coffee cup in hand, just the way I prefer it.


Quote of the Week: "I'm in with the in crowd; I go where the in crowd goes. I'm in with the in crowd; and I know what the in crowd knows." — The In Crowd by Billy Page.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

"Did You Know?"

The incredible information technology video Sony played at their executive conference this year

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Readers Remind Us of Many More Jingles

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho and Westside sections 4/18/09

A couple weeks ago I wrote a column about the more memorable advertising jingles that have become stuck in our heads over the years, selling us products and driving us crazy at the same time. I then asked readers to add to my list of favorites and the response was enthusiastic, entertaining and lots of fun. Looks like Proctor & Gamble and I aren’t the only ones who watch TV.

A big thank you goes out to my readers who jumped on the bandwagon and sent in so many good jingles, slogans and songs I had missed. You are the greatest. I only wish I had the space to include them all. So, sit back, fill it to the rim…with Brim, and see how many of these advertising wonders you remember.

Billy B. sent in his favorites, some even dating back to the 1940s:

"You'll wonder where the Yellow went...when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent". "Halo everybody-Halooo...Halo is the shampoo...that glorifies your hair… So Halo everybody Haloooo.”

"Whiz....the best Candy Bar there Izzzzz."

"S.O.S. for S.I.C." (This was a commercial from Southwestern Investment Company. There was a telegraph "tapping" in the background. Probably from the late 40's.)

"From the first you light...till your last at night." (Old Gold cigarettes)

“L.S.-M.F.T.......Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco"

"I'd walk a Mile for a Camel." "Ivory Soap 99 & 44/100% Pure.”

"Duz....Does Everything.” (laundry soap)

Hope G. had a lot of slogans and taglines locked in her brain as well:

“I’m Sir Celery, I’m Miss Parsley, we are the Onion Twins! Tuna Twist makes tuna taste fresh as a garden.” (I use that jingle as a recipe for tuna salad.)

“It’s not fried, it’s Shake ‘n Bake, and I helped.”

“Yes, Royal Crown Cola is different, and the difference comes through . . . to you.”

“A silly millimeter longer.” (to the tune of La Bamba, Benson & Hedges 101 cigarettes)

“Baby, for baby fine hair, Dippity-Do green, it’s keen.”

“Because there’s something about an Aqua Velva man.” (Wasn’t this with Joe Namath?)

“You’ve come a long way, baby, to get where you got to today; you’ve got your own cigarette now, baby—you’ve come a long, long way.” (Virginia Slims)

“Cigar, cigarette, Tiparillo?”

“Our L’eggs fit your legs, they hug you, they hold you—they never let you go!”

“Only your hairdresser knows for sure.” (Clairol hair color)

“I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never, never, never let you forget you’re the man; cause I’m a woman, Enjoli.” (perfume)

“Never borrow money needlessly, but when you must, borrow from the only company with folks you trust. Borrow confidently with H F C.” (Household Finance Company)

“I’m Chiquita Banana and I’m here to say, why not buy a banana today?”

“Mr. Bubble gets you so clean, your mother won’t know you.”

Wayne T. reminds us how songs have influenced advertising over the years:

“I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing” by the Hillside Singers and The New Seekers. (Coca-Cola)

“No Matter What Shape Your Stomach is in.” (Alka Seltzer)

“The Marlboro Theme” ubiquitous Hugo Montenegro instrumental heard all through the '60's and '70's.

"Brusha... Brusha... Brusha. Get the New Ipana - it's dandy for your teeth!"

“Meow, meow, meow, meow” (Meow Mix)

“Snap, Crackle and Pop Rice Crispies”

“I Heard It through the Grapevine” (California Raisins).

Mary H. in Michigan emailed in with this beauty: “My favorite at the moment in the great state of Michigan is on huge billboards around the state- www.poopycredit.com.”

Bill P. wrote in: “My current fav is the JG Wentworth opera: "If you have long term payments and you NEED CASH NOW."

Carry on fellow consumers, betcha can’t eat just one.

Quote of the Week: “If I've only one life, let me live it as a blonde!” -Clairol hair color

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Columnist Gets Her Wish




Hey, a girl can dream can't she?
(see 4/11 post below "Third Time's a Charm with The Boss")

"If you can dream it, you can acheive it"... right?

Monday, April 13, 2009

Working on the Column

Due to such an enthusiastic response from the "Jingles" column on 4/5/09 (see post below), this Saturday's column is going to be a follow-up with readers contributions. Many great jingles were emailed in and it was so entertaining to be reminded of these old slogans, jingles and products from the past.

Be sure to come back on Saturday, 4/18 to read Jingles: Part 2.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Third Time's a Charm with The Boss


As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho and Westside sections 04/11/09

Last weekend I dropped off my dogs at Zoey's TLC Bed and Breakfast, packed up the Jeep with plenty of water bottles and Hubba Bubba bubble gum and hit the road.

This story actually began, or should I say the flame was rekindled when it was announced last January that Bruce Springsteen was going to be the half-time show at the Super Bowl. My radar went up as I searched to see how close his world tour would bring him to Albuquerque. When it comes to rock-n-roll headliners, New Mexico seems to be the step-child of the southwest as big name acts tend to book Austin, Denver and Phoenix, sideswiping the land of enchantment altogether. Why? When all the Santa Ana Star Center has to do is piggy back with those neighboring venues and advertise the events, but I’ll get to that later.

I didn’t get my hopes too high and sure enough New Mexico was not on Springsteen’s tour schedule. But Phoenix? Did someone say road trip?

My daughters and I set off for Glendale, AZ to catch Bruce and the E Street Band last Friday. It would be the third time for me, the first time for my daughters, who were just as excited about the adventure as I was. But we had to get there first.

The winds were quite forceful as we sang our way to Flagstaff, but right around Winslow when sustaining winds clocked in at 40mph gusting to 60mph, visibility went down to five feet and safety beckoned us to the shoulder of I-40 west. Traffic lanes came to an immediate standstill as truckers safely stopped traffic for over an hour until God stopped shaking the dirty brown snow globe we were in.

The hotel was a stone’s throw from the arena and Glendale Commons. This attractive setting conveniently hosts restaurants, shops and walkways with dancing water fountains choreographed to music creating an entertaining ambience Rio Rancho should strive for. Maybe a Jimmy Buffett ultra-themed Margaritaville restaurant is a little beyond our scope at our small population, but maybe not.

While we sat in our seats for over an hour waiting for the Boss to take the stage, I couldn’t help but take note of the crowd. Where was the rowdy behavior and hand rolled “cigarettes” from the 1978 Darkness tour concert in Michigan? Where were the flask guzzling 20-sometings from the 1987 Tunnel of Love tour concert I saw in Washington, D.C.? No where to be found. They had been replaced with beer sipping gray haired, pony-tailed men and their wives who still wish they were the ones being pulled up onstage during Dancing in the Dark. Yes, Bruce’s fans were aging right along side him, but still keeping their inner 18-year-old groupies close at heart

After kicking myself for giving away my ’78 tour t-shirt to Goodwill years ago, I stood in line to buy a 2009 Working on a Dream Tour shirt, actually three since I had two new fans with me this time. I now realize not all clothing falls into the category of “if not worn in two years-give it away.” Tour shirts and special gifts should be kept forever.

Unfortunately Bruce didn’t ask me to join his band, or design his next album cover, or even write a column about him. But just in case he reads this one, Bruce here is an open invitation from New Mexico. We’ve got some great green chili stew and a lot of fans waiting for you right here and we’ll leave the light on for you.

Quote of the Week: ““Hey what else can we do now, except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair. Well the night's busting open these two lanes will take us anywhere.” – Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Margaritaville, AZ


Out front of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant and the dancing water fountain. The excitement level is growing by the hour for tonight's concert.

This would be our last picture of the trip as the charger cord was left at home on the kitchen counter. No worries, cameras aren't allowed at the concert anyway, but that didn't stop everyone from recording Bruce on their cell phones. Not me. The phone charger cord was left at home also and I didn't buy a car charger until the next day at Best Buy.

The concert was incredible, as expected. Column to follow on 4/11/09.

A little lunch to start...


Too much fun. We walk over to Westgate City Center where jobing.com arena is and check out the sites before tonight's concert.

We're Here...


Glendale Renaissance Hotel, Glendale, AZ.

There's a buzz in the air and the weather is in the high 70s, much warmer than Albuquerque's mid-50s.

Green sign at left states "No cameras, audio or video for tonight's show." Tonight's show? We can't wait!

Into the Blue...


I-17 southbound after clearing the sand storm and taking a left at Flagstaff.

Winslow Sandstorm - 10am


This shot was taken from the front seat at 10am Friday morning on the shoulder of I-40 westbound, on our way into Glendale, AZ for the Bruce Springsteen concert.

We had just pulled over because visibility was down to... well, you can see. As soon as we pulled over, the traffic in the lanes came to a halt. Truckers slowed everyone down and stopped traffic before the idiot drivers who didn't know any better started a chain reaction pile up. No accidents to report, everyone kept their cool and no one got hurt.

We sat there for over an hour as 40mph winds whipped the dirt up, gusting to 60pmph. Soon the traffic slowly started moving, so we joined the caravan and rolled on down the highway into the clear blue a couple miles up the road.

I have been in blinding rain storms of the midwest before, but a blinding sand storm, this was a first.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Road Trip to AZ

Last weekend my daughters and I took the dogs to Zoey's TLC Pet Bed and Breakfast, packed up the Jeep with plenty of Hubba Bubba and drove from Albuquerque to Phoenix to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Third time for me, first time for my daughters, who were just as excited about the adventure as I was.

My ten-year-old snapped this pic from the back seat just as we were crossing the border into Arizona (but before the paralyzing sand storm) with our road tunes CD appropriately positioned on the dash.

Stay tuned and read my column this weekend as I will be recapping the high points of the trip, including the tour t-shirts, aging fans and swimming pools along the way.

1979 at the Saginaw Civic Center (MI). 1986 at the Capital Center (Wash., DC). 2009 at the Jobing.com Arena (Glendale, AZ) and it just keeps getting better...

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Jingles

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho and Westside sections, 04/04/09

There is nothing like walking out the door, brief case in hand, geared up for an important meeting in a business suit, heels and pearls and what is stuck in my head? “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS!”

For those of you who read last week’s column on the status of our service industry, you may remember the quote from the old Texaco commercial: “Trust your car to the man who wears the star.” Well, that jingle has been stuck in my head all week. Which brings me to today’s musings; the world of advertising and specifically the catchy jingles we find ourselves singing well after the TV is turned off.

Jingles are created with the intention of getting stuck in your head. Corporations pay big bucks to advertising agencies to come up with a memorable tune that is fun to sing and eventually will seep into your subconscious mind and compel you to pick up an Almond Joy chocolate bar the next time you are on the candy aisle. “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.” Remember that one? Of course you do.

Call Roto-Rooter, that's the name. Fly the friendly skies. Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee. Plop-plop-fizz-fizz. There is a handful of classic jingles and slogans that have stood the test of time, promoting its products to the top of the consumer heap. Take peanut butter and the old Annette Funicello commercial. Even though the advertising campaign came out over twenty-five years ago, well before I was a mother, to this day when I am reaching for a jar of peanut butter, what goes through my head? “Choosy mothers choose Jif.”

Currently there are some very good jingles on the airwaves. One in particular is in its sixth installment of telling us how important our credit scores are. A hands down lackluster subject made memorable by a creative genius with a flair for captivating choruses. We were first introduced to the character as he wondered why he was “dressed up like a pirate in this restaurant.” Another installment finds our friend driving off the lot in a “used subcompact. F-R-E-E that spells free, Credit report dot com baby.” I could tell you all six commercials but I think you get the idea: It sticks because it has a good beat and is easy to dance to.

Advertising Age, the industry’s rag for all things cool and groovy, compiled a list of the Top Ten Jingles of the Century. They date way back and I bet you can name each product, which is why it made the top ten list in the first place.

1. You deserve a break today (McDonalds)
2. Be all that you can be (U.S. Army)
3. Pepsi Cola Hits the Spot (Pepsi Cola)
4. M'm, M'm good (Campbell's)
5. See the USA in your Chevrolet (GM)
6. I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener (Oscar Meyer)
7. Double your pleasure, double your fun (Wrigley's Doublemint Gum)
8. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should (Winston)
9. It's the Real Thing (Coca Cola)
10. A little dab'll do ya (Brylcreem)

When not using jingles, advertisers use the next best thing to capture their audience’s attention - popular rock ‘n roll songs from yesteryear. The classic rock hits have been turning up in commercials for years dating back to 1991 with Bob Seger’s Like a Rock ballad for Chevy trucks, until it was replaced with John Mellencamp’s Our Country in 2006. Today, everyone’s favorite is Swiffer Wet Jet’s dejected mop peeking out from behind the tree. “You have a delivery from a Mr. Mop? Baby come back…you can blame it all on me.”

Any I missed? Do you have a favorite? Email me and if I get enough responses, I will publish the results of our informal survey in an upcoming column.

Quote of the Week: “From the Land of Sky Blue Water" - Hamm's Beer, 1965.