What's the logic behind Coca Cola's "America the Beautiful" commercial?

My very first reaction to this tide of hatred towards the ad was...  surprise.
I'm shocked to see how some Americans, whom I have considered to be open-minded to diversity, can actually be so racist. Maybe I have been too naive to discover this inconvenient truth since I live in a city where I hear non-English languages more often than English, which is the official language, but I should be now fully aware that not everyone in this "free" America, is ready to embrace multiculturalism as a part of their nationality.

Here is the controversial Coca Cola's America the Beautiful ad for Superbowl 2014.

What's Coca Cola's logic behind creating this ad? Whom are they trying to reach? It's obvious that they try to capture the immigrant population, which is huge in the United States. But maybe there's more than that as some people claim that Coca Cola, with full awareness that some of the reactions they get would be negative, put this ad nevertheless in order to get people to talk about the brand. I agree that one of the top reasons companies put their ad on Superbowl is to generate buzz, but I'm not sure if Coca Cola knew well in advance that the ad would cause such hateful reactions. I'm not saying Coca Cola is stupid enough not to know its audience but I can only imagine Coca Cola being full of anticipation of appreciation from their viewers for their efforts to embrace the diverse members that constitute the country. Maybe I'm wrong. After all, Coca cola is a big company whose primary objective is to make profit. Maybe the whole point of this is to create buzz. Nonetheless, I appreciate Coca Cola's conscious decision to acknowledge those people who deserve such respect for contributing to the nation. 

Rhymes in 2014 Hyundai Ads for Super Bowl

"Nice ride"

"Nice try"

"Nice acceleration"

"Nice detonation"

"Nice handling"

"Nice rambling"

"Nice playlist"
"Nice plot twist"

I simply love how they play with the rhymes! 

Nicely done, Hyundai :)

It's interesting how the two ads from the same company differ in the viewership. The first one featuring Johnny Galecki is much more popular than the second one. Is it due to the difference in their targets? Or simply just a reflection of the power of The Big Bang Theory? 

Lessons from Top 10 Marketing Failures

Lesson #1. Being viral doesn't necessarily mean you are cool and people like your brand. Think harder before you try to be funny. 

Lesson #2. Coming up with the right name for product/brand is harder than you think. Put more efforts. "Ayds"? Hahaha, I laughed so hard the first time I heard that name. What were they thinking? Researching if the name you consider means something in other languages is also a good tip.  

Lesson #3. Evolution is not always the answer. Don't get in the nerve of your old loyal followers who are emotionally tied to your brand.   

Lesson #4. You can never be wrong about going with animals... people can't help smiling when they see a picture of a cute little kitten or a puppy. 

Sorry, SodaStream and Scarlett for Your Loss of Coolness

Sorry, SodaStream and Scarlett for Your Loss of Coolness 

"Sorry, Coke and Pepsi"

Right-in-the-face ad from the new SodaStream's commercial for the Superbowl this year. The last line said by Scarlett Johansson is the coolest part of the ad! (maybe others were more tempted to click on the ad seeing the "(Uncensored)" in the title but anyways...)  

It is also good to see a celebrity who actually uses and cares about the product herself endorse the company. 

But I just came across with a news saying that the ad had been banned by Fox to be aired during the Superbowl... without explaining the reason. 

The line has been altered to "I just love helping people." Okay... helping people is good, I agree. I also LOVE helping people... but I'm just concerned how the ad will be received by the audience when it gets aired? 

Just having Scarlett Johansson in the ad might be appealing enough but seriously.. the ad is so much better with the original line. It is fun and playful. Well, at least we can still watch the original one on Youtube. 

Axe's New Ad For AXE Peace: Make Love Not War

Tensions, reunions, kisses, and surprises... there are "aww" moments in the Axe's new commercial that make the audience feel relieved and hopeful. 

For its new product line, AXE Peace, Axe partnered up with Peace One Day to produce this ad that supports the organization's cause to make a peaceful world. Whether Axe is genuinely caring about the cause or not, it is very smart of Axe to collaborate with Peace One Day. 

Axe can broaden its customer base. Unlike Axe's typical ads, there is no frantic women chasing after a sweet-smelling man in the new commercial. Instead, there are happy couples embracing and kissing to celebrate the moment. Plus, this takes place in regions where people suffer from dictators and wars. The tag-line "Make love Not War" has a strong appeal especially to young generation who is socially conscious and cares much about harmony and peace around the world. 

The AXE Peace commercial has already generated buzz online reaching over 1.3 million views on Youtube. It is not sure if it is part of Axe's rebranding initiatives, but at least, it is a good surprise to see such a brand is trying a caring and serious image.