A BROOKS RUNS THROUGH IT

There are at least a couple reasons why I think the viral ad you can view by clicking* on the still below is one of the best commercials I've ever seen. I won't enumerate them, because it really should be viewed on its own terms. Unfortunately, it's a little bit too long and maybe a little bit too challenging (seriously) for network television:


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*The link will direct you away from this site.

Update — Partly because I'm so taken with this advert and partly because writing about it more will surely help me with Google — it's called "Run World, Run" I'd better note — I went ahead and transcribed the lyrics of the song, which I couldn't find anywhere on the web, and are printed reproduced below.

It turns out the song is by Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the United States of America, was commissioned by a Portland ad agency that is not Wieden + Kennedy, and — to my surprise — is nearly a year old already. At the Flash animation blog Cold, Hard Flash I found a short interview with Matt Clark, the animator (mostly about using Flash to create the spot), who also created some funny but less-meaningful print work for the running shoe company.

Anyway, those lyrics:

The good life is there to grab if you get it
But it will surely fly by if you let it
Spending all of my time
Doing circles in the sun
No protection from the glare
The days go on and on
But where's the flood
Where's the fun
This is my situation
I'm the one that's on the run
This is my only decision
Everybody's losin'
Everybody's winnin'
The party's just beginnin'
But now my mind is blown
And that's okay
I kind of like these heavy times
Heavy times
They just got lighter
This yellow sun
Yellow sun
Seems so much brighter
Tick tock, watch the clock
Pumpin' like a heart
This perfect success is the sweetest part
Let's plant a lovin' tree
Just you and I
Don't wanna stop and watch my whole life slowly roll by
My world will never be the same
My world will never change... no
Come on, come on into my world
Come on, come on into my world
Come on, come on into my world
It will never change

You're welcome, Googlers! (You too, users of less-ubiquitous search engines!)

P.S. — Did I mention that I hate running?

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posted by WWB at 8:57 AM |