Comments on: Comcast’s Dream Big Campaign

By: Tom P.

Tom P. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:00:18 +0000

Thanks Dick. I hated that song back in 1973, so I instantly hated the ad. It was kind of driving me nuts because I know that this is in no way an original song. I’m too old to have any idea who Kimya Dawson is and I’m kind of scared off if this ad is based on her singing. Being fair, the artistry is pretty good since the first few times I saw this ad, it was without sound. Any good artistry is negated though by the crappy singing.

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:27:35 +0000

I hate the commercials so much. They remind me how much I hate Comcast and that I really need to switch to another service provider. Comcast is a clueless and unethical company, and their disastrous attempt to produce a creative commercial feels like salt in a wound every time I hear it.

By: Dick

Dick — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:46:46 +0000

The base song for the Tysons Corner (VA) ad campaign was Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me) by Reunion – a great novelty song from about 1973. I wish I could get the Tysons ads – they had to keep changing it as the stores changed. The punch line was They’ve Got a Mall (They’ve Got Em All) at Tysons Corner.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:25:30 +0000

Misha,
It has been driving me CRAZY trying to figure out why this commercial sounds so familiar- it is the Tyson’s Corner commercial!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

By: Mullet Kitty

Mullet Kitty — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:01:59 +0000

Wow: I can’t believe someone is taking credit for their “artistry” in what is CLEARLY plagiarizing Kimya Dawson’s voice, affect, and sound. I hope she sues your ass for deliberately copying her sound: Dylan sued and so have others when advertisers co-opt so misleadingly. I see a very successful lawsuit against Andrew Bancroft, Kimya!

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:38:02 +0000

I can’t stand these Comcast commercials….I am glad others are voicing the same feelings I have. I love Kimya Dawson, and this blatant rip-off is lame and extremely uncreative. “stc” above makes a great point; bragging about going in to the studio and putting together this regurgitated sound is something I would not be proud of….I hope this Andrew character is not proud of himself. Every time I hear these Comcast commercials I change the channel and hate Comcast just a little more. I probably wouldn’t have said anything because commercials do play on what is popular, but then I come here and see this Andrew guy nonchalantly talking about his creative genius….lame….lame….lame. Andrew states, “we just went into the studio wanting an honest, indie feel to them”….wow! You missed the point, and you are either stupid or a downright liar…..Either way, whatever Comcast paid Andrew, I assure you they overpaid, especially if they were looking for anything honest. I have seen so many of those Comcast commercials and had no idea what they were about until I read these blog responses because I normally switch the channel and yell, “No, no, no,” at the TV when these commercials come on. The bottom line is, Andrew, do not quit your day job — and Comcast fire the marketing team responsible for Andrew if you want people to listen to your ads. Other than that, have a great day!

By: Comcast, Juno - Curmudgeonly Ad Guy

Comcast, Juno - Curmudgeonly Ad Guy — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:05:15 +0000

[...] Some, do like it. I can’t get past the stench of the retread. Did Diablo Cody get handed a duffel bag when I wasn’t looking? [...]

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:23:52 +0000

I watched it over and over thinking it sounded to familiar. Then it hit me Moldy Peaches. Sure it could just be coincidence since it is three cords but it’s to similar. Andrew said that he was looking for an indie sound yet it sounds like he listened to Kimya Dawson and was ‘inspired’. Of course commercials feed off of what is popular at the current time, but it’s far to similar. I’m even curious if Kimya was asked to do it first, or if Comcast figured that it would go semi unnoticed. Myself I’m a Kimya fan, the similarly in the commercial simply makes me change the channel. I’m sure some Kimya Dawson fans feel the same, while others think that she gave permission to it and adore the commercials.

By: stc

stc — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:40:04 +0000

Andrew- When I see those commercials, I wonder how the person that co-opted Kimya Dawson’s style sleeps. But then boasting about, and bragging about it n blogs….wtf? What hackery.

By: Denise

Denise — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:44:05 +0000

I hate the comcast dream big mono-toned commercials, so much so that I change the channel. It is irritating!

By: Comcast, Juno « MikeFrizzi.com/Blog-Mother is the Necessity of Invention

Comcast, Juno « MikeFrizzi.com/Blog-Mother is the Necessity of Invention — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:40:24 +0000

[...] Some, do like it. I can’t get past the stench of the retread. [...]

By: Otineb

Otineb — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:36:34 +0000

@Urbantwang

Hate it? Really?!

To say that Comcast is becoming the AOL of television is silly. They are on the edge of innovative commercials. To qualify your statement, let’s think of their competitors.

TimeWarner?
Charter?
Dish Network?
DirecTV?
Adelphia?
Cox?
HughesNet?
Bresnan Cable
BrightHouse?
Knology?
MediaCom?
Suddenlink?

Cmon… they all either don’t do anything interesting (ad-wise) or their ads are tired and rehashed.

Get over yourself.

I guess that’s the problem with creative innovation. Some people are just happier knowing that commercials are supposed to be boring and formulaic.

I say Comcast has consistently maintained a fresh and creative approach to their service advertisement. It’s always very different, and always very fun. Way to go!

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:35:06 +0000

I hate the comcast commercials! I mute the television whenever they come on. I hope this juno rip-off commercials are gone soon!

By: Urbantwang

Urbantwang — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:24:45 +0000

Yeah…I HATE IT. My kids & I absolutely hate it.

The whole “JUNO” movie-music soundtrack era is over…and has been for 2 years now.

This campaign is so outdated, un-hip, un-cool and just stupid. Comcast is quickly becoming the AOL of cable tv. Soon it will be irrelevant & nobody will have it. Too many other better options for cable tv, satelitte & internet.

By: dan

dan — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:51:37 +0000

Anybody have video of the version with the young blonde woman. It’s been playing for the last week in the Baltimore market.

By: John

John — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:01:04 +0000

I’ve seen Commercial 1 (as numbered on the Comcasttown site) on TV and was curious as to whether it was recorded by Kimya Dawson or not. Both my wife and I really like it. Good job, Andrew.

I like the jingle in the first commercial quite a bit more than in the other commercials. I think the singer changes are very effective. The other commercials have a single singer, and the flatness of the sound becomes less pleasant.

By: the riskiest tranche

the riskiest tranche — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:13:27 +0000

Sorry to disagree, but I actually hate the campaign.

I think using Kimya Dawson’s flat affect in a campaign for Comcast voice/tv/internet makes it seem like we’re all going to be mindless zombies soon. It’s like how Hollywood is having a bumper year with the recession–everyone just wants 24/7 escapism, which can’t be good for the country or the culture.

Uh oh, I just heard a ding. I think my HotPockets Panini is ready.

By: derek regensbuger

derek regensbuger — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:36:42 +0000

This campagin is downright awful and highly annoying. It is I beleive a blatant ripoff of a recent Garmin or Free Credit Report campaign. That song is insdiously evil and wish it would just go away.

By: Andrew Bancroft

Andrew Bancroft — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:09:35 +0000

thanks guys- appreciate the feedback.

i can’t think of a specific femmes song that sounds like these, but i’m a huge fan and gano does fit a lot of words in a rapid-fire ramble. the song ‘numb’ by U2 doesn’t sound much like these, but it’s another example of getting a lot of lyrics in a small space with chill vocals.

By: exn

exn — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:03:32 +0000

awesome !

By: David

David — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:12:10 +0000

Hi and thanks for the background Andrew. Besides the Kimya Dawson influence, I know I’ve heard a Gordon Gano song that is similar, but I can’t recall the name of that song…do you in fact know of the Violent Femmes song with a similar sound to yours? BTW, I really like the song and the campaign.

By: misha

misha — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:48:49 +0000

“hey guys. andrew here. these tracks actually weren?t based on one specific song. we just went into the studio wanting an honest, indie feel to them. laid back, non-traditional singers and simple lo-fi instruments.

of course, they?ve only got 3 chords so you may be reminded of a lot of different tracks out there? thanks for checking em out!”

Thanks for the reply. I once heard a song on WXPN that was almost identical, and Tysons Corner in VA had a radio campaign that had a similar sounding song. Great campaign,BTW. I usually use mute during commercials, but I watch this one. I went to the link above, and downloaded the Future Hopping sheet music. I play the accordion, so I’m arranging it for that.

If you can point out one other song as a reference, I’d like to play it.

By: Andrew Bancroft

Andrew Bancroft — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:27:53 +0000

hey guys. andrew here (copywriter and lyricist on this campaign). these tracks actually weren’t based on one specific song. we just went into the studio wanting an honest, indie feel to them. laid back, non-traditional singers and simple lo-fi instruments.

of course, they’ve only got 3 chords so you may be reminded of a lot of different tracks out there… thanks for checking em out!

By: Fethi Uluak

Fethi Uluak — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:21:46 +0000

Its name is Future Hopping song. You can also take a look at the lyrics here: http://www.comcasttown.com/media/ads/Future_Hopping.pdf

By: Aden Hepburn

Aden Hepburn — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:14:51 +0000

Sorry Misha, I’ve not a clue what song is used in the Comcast Dream Big Campaign Ad, perhaps someone could kindly post an answer?! Cheers, Aden.

By: misha

misha — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:45:59 +0000

What song is the commercial based on? Tysons Corner in VA had a similar take on the same song.

I once heard the original on WXPN, but I forgot the name.

By: :::Philebrity…media, culture, music and more::: » Blog Archive » Theivery Corporation: Comcast Goes Anti-Folk In New Ad Campaign

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:29:26 +0000

[...] (after Free Credit Report Dot Com, of course) is Comcast, who’ve built their entire new “Dream Big” campaign around a grip of Dawson-soundalike tunes. Produced by a team called Smith & Foulkes [...]

By: Aden Hepburn

Aden Hepburn — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:43:47 +0000

Great art direction for a great campaign! Yet another killer campaign from Goodby Silverstein and partners!