York on Ads: No 28: Guinness Draught

Peter York
Saturday 14 May 1994 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

PERIOD PASTICHE is a staple of modern adverts - especially recent-period pastiche. And the decade to do down - The Decade that Taste Forgot - is the Seventies. So what better way is there for canned draught Guinness to illustrate its smoothness, its up-marketness, its made-it-ness, than to contrast itself with the horrors of Seventies lifestyle.

So an Eighties-style success - cooled-out, slicked-back hair, at peace with himself (Betty Ford?) - sits in the indoor pool of an inventively restored classical folly, the Bath House. An opera track completes the picture. Fade to 'The Bathroom 1976', announced in a Sixties typeface.

And there we are in the world of . . . well it's actually Top of the Pops Annual 1971-2: superfly and loopy shirts, black rock-chicks, Afro wigs, always in the bathroom at parties, party-time low-grade funk tracks. And they're opening a party 'Super Seven' beer-can, so Early Own-Brand, so gruesome, that you know this is the mark of early laddish poverty; the rough experienced and survived. Amusing in retrospect, hellish at the time. And at the front of the opening ceremony is a Trogg-like creature with a long fringe . . .

Yes, it's our man, who, back in the future, is getting his individuated, sleek can of Guinness draught from his brushed-steel fridge. 'You need to experience the rough to appreciate the smooth' is the punch line: widely relevant to a range of second-rank pop stars who did better in the Eighties, and the host of builders, small traders and lads on the make everywhere who identify with them.

Videos supplied by Tellex Commercials

(Photograph omitted)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in