Straight outta Cape Cod and keepin’ it real
You go away for a few days, and you miss a bunch of New England gangstas rapping about Smirnoff, courtesy of Bartle Bogle Hegarty. It’s a blatant ripoff of Saturday Night Live’s “Lazy Sunday” video, but who cares? Ronald McDonald deserves a cameo here, considering his latest side project. There’s supposed to be a microsite, TeaPartay.com, connected to this viral, but it’s still not live. It just links to the main Smirnoff site. What’s taking so long? |
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August 14, 2006 | Permalink |
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» Prep-Unit Pimps Smirnoff Raw Iced Tea from ProHipHop - Hip Hop Marketing
I'm not really sure what to say about this viral video ad featuring Prep-Unit pimping Smirnoff Raw Tea, an alcoholic product, so I'll just provide some links to other folk's coverage beginning with where I found it. Third Way Blog:Smirnoff [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 17, 2006 1:09:34 AM
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I think we should care that it's a blatant rip-off, shouldn't we? Shouldn't someone care about blatant rip-offs? Huh? Anyone?
Posted by: okay. | Aug 14, 2006 1:14:13 PM
Blatant ripoff? Really? Is the 'whole goofy white guys rapping thing' new to you? It's been done way before SNL to the point that it's basically open source now. I think this spot's pretty funny for what it is.
Posted by: Don | Aug 14, 2006 1:46:23 PM
You sure BBH did this? I thought it was some internet operation.
Wayyyy too long and WTF? A blatant rip-off of "Lazy Sunday" - the guys who did the LA version "Lazy Monday" were much funnier. Ditto the two mooks who did the "Lazy Muncie" version.
But what's really, really, lame is that the site isn't up yet. You go to the "Smirnoff Ice" page. And given SI's rep as a "chick drink" it seems the video is doing more harm than good.
And just what is "raw tea" anyway? Sounds like something healthy, but obviously something alcoholic.
Posted by: TangerineTadpole | Aug 14, 2006 1:47:38 PM
I’ll admit that I always go here, but there’s something disturbingly racial about this piece — much more than the SNL bit. Maybe it’s because Parnell has played the rapper role before in SNL sketches, in addition to his music and lyrics having a certain twisted authenticity. The Smirnoff piece feels like clueless white creatives producing a parody depicting clueless white people. And the white people are playing stereotypical white roles (versus Parnell, who maintains an urban swagger). Not sure where I’m going here, but Parnell as a rapper is funny. This Smirnoff piece comes off as semi-racist parody — white people making fun of hip hop.
Or maybe it’s just me.
Posted by: HighJive | Aug 14, 2006 2:35:53 PM
Giving bland white guys some flav-uh is always funny. But, yeah, it's been done way before Lazy Sunday--case in point: the "White Guy Rap" of Jim Belushi and Alex Karras. If the Smirnoff bit is a rip-off of anything, it's that (I can't find video of it, sadly).
And Parnell keeps it rill because he's from the 901, y'all.
Somebody stop me.
Posted by: Lesley | Aug 14, 2006 3:18:44 PM
Oh, snap! White boys rappin? Neva been done before.
I give you, the exact spot.
Someone more interested than me should do a shot for shot comparison. Maybe Evan Bernard, the director of the video.
Or his production company. He's done spots on adcritic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ_z6fsZfpo
Posted by: Dean | Aug 14, 2006 4:14:59 PM
Yeah, I thought of the Dynamite Hack song right away....though I doubt too many people would.
Posted by: CorruptedJournalist | Aug 14, 2006 4:52:31 PM
Originality?
So Jim Belushi does it, Dynamite Hack rips Jim Belushi, Saturday Night Live rips Dynamite Hack, a bunch of youtubers rip Saturday Night Live, Smirnoff rips youtube and posts on youtube. If only Belushi can log on from the netherworld, thus completing the circle, we could all hate eachother equally.
End of the day...parody of rich white guys rapping is definitely not a first, but this was still very funny. Don't get a 'racial' thing at all. That's just goofy.
Posted by: LordHummus | Aug 14, 2006 7:53:12 PM
Jim Belushi's still alive, genius.
Posted by: yikes | Aug 14, 2006 8:25:05 PM
yikes,
one might argue that being stuck on an abc sitcom is like existing in the netherworld.
Posted by: HighJive | Aug 14, 2006 9:01:56 PM
My two cents:
Sure it's the umpteenth thousandth "goofy white boys parodying white boys hiphop/urban culture." i'd wedge it somewhere between Emimen's "White America" joint and just about everything Jamie Kennedy's ever done.
The only problem is that it leverages a very annoyingundercurrent that I think HJ touched on, which is this:
For every stereotype there's an underbelly or flipside. The flipside of the whole "white people can't dance/jump/INSERT-MANIFESTATION-OF-COOLNESS-HERE" is that white people (however you define "white") always have the upperhand of being so accepted by societal standards that they don't have to be able to do any of this stuff to be taken seriously as contributing members of society.
I mean, how many average white people have ever really "lost out" or been marginalized by not being able to dance or create some marketable culture to be co-opted by the masses? You're still seen as an individual whether you have "soul" or not.
Conversely there's still the sense that if you're ethnic, especially black, that creating culture for everyone else to glom onto is necessary to being "american".
Just look at our own industry, which i've been part of for 15 years both at GM and "targeted" shops. We're running at 5, maybe 7% black/ethnic folks? Is that because they're no good? Or is it some combo of lack of respect/abundance of bias/belief that mainly whites are competant enough to work in this industry until they prove otherwise.
And of said miniscule minority representation, How many of these folks have to be black on someone's terms to be accepted?
Why this long entry? Because it consitutes potential insights, the same sort of insights we use to develop marketing campaigns—we drive for the essence of why a creative approach may/may not work in order to repeat it.
My guess is the "white folks have no flava" approach will work as long as there's an imbalance that says, "maybe i can't play--but i'll always get to run the team. So, 'ha-ha-ha'."
Whether we say it outlod or not, audiences have always known who the real butt of these jokes are.
And for those who think this is a full of crap rant, ask yourselves one quick question: Why do you have that luxury of never giving this a second thought, save for the occasional blogging?
Posted by: hadji Williams | Aug 14, 2006 11:46:05 PM
I lost out once because I'm white: I tried to nail an asian chick, but she'd already gone black.
Posted by: doruk | Aug 15, 2006 1:20:19 PM
doruk, whether in gest or not, it's sentiments like that which promote usch a high level of diversity within our industry.
Posted by: hadji Williams | Aug 15, 2006 2:09:03 PM
doruk, whether in gest or not, it's sentiments like that which promote usch a high level of diversity within our industry.
Posted by: hadji Williams | Aug 15, 2006 2:10:24 PM
Wow, there sure are some bored, underworked, overthinking people in this world.
Laugh a little.
As for the 'ethnicity' comment (which is completely unrelated to this web film), don't blame the industry. Every CD I know would hire anyone with a great book and personality. And every Account Director I know would hire a great personality/salesperson regardless of race, etc. Honestly.
Back in ad school, only about two (5th-6th Generation American people of probable African descent) applied out of about 30 people. One got in, meaning 50%. That's a great acceptance ratio out of who applied.
This is a pretty hard industry to find out about already, and guidance counselors aren't going to hand out pamphlets, so if you want to do something about it, start there.
Oh, and what is black/ethnic?
Posted by: Steglios | Aug 15, 2006 7:42:36 PM
my apologies to all. my comments were unjustifed and unrelated to the story at hand. if i offended anyone by suggesting any elements of bias, please forgive me.
i'll go back to my little cubbyhole and focus on writing some really cool ads while celebrating the meritocracy of our industry.
as for the 50% acceptance rate,and the "every CD would hire anyone with a good book period" sentiments, that now clears up everything.
i'll be sure to pass that on to all the ethnic folks i know.
sooner or later they'll realize that the problem (if "problem" is even the appropriate phrase) is really all in their heads.
and the spot itself, funny is funny. and shoot, i'll just keep quiet and keep on smiling.
Posted by: hadji Williams | Aug 16, 2006 12:48:14 AM
Hardji, you're boring. no matter how insightful you think you are, your blog is like lead. stop pontificating and write something that's funny, creative, etc. Hey, I got it! Why not just create!
Posted by: mccabe | Aug 16, 2006 10:39:18 AM
Well, this thread got a little unnecessarily ugly. And since I semi-started the digression, here’s a final two cents.
Sorry, but I’ll stand by my initial reaction, even though I’m in the minority. Here’s why:
Parnell, Belushi, Karras and Dynamite Hack are/were entertaining specific audiences. Their work could be categorized as theatre and performances. So like Dave Chappelle or any other artist, they can exercise a certain amount of creative license.
Smirnoff is presenting an advertising message. Like it or not, it will reach a mass audience. The problem is, it’s a highly exclusive/exclusionary message that may polarize. The spot has little relevance or entertainment appeal to non-White audiences. This is not to say that many non-Whites may find it entertaining. But I’ll bet against that possibility.
This video is different than the typical White boys rapping. The White-people-rule-society theme is literally prominent in the Smirnoff message. This element is not present in the work of Parnell and others. It may not resonate strongly with White audiences. But it may generate negative responses from non-White audiences. It’s one thing to create a message to appeal to a specific audience (i.e., Virgin mobile couldn’t care less if Grandma doesn’t understand their ads). It’s another thing when the message may actively offend non-targeted audiences.
I could be dead wrong. But I wonder if, say, the marketing director for Smirnoff would feel comfortable presenting the film to a predominately Black audience. I’ll bet the answer is no.
After all, the video drew a negative response from Hadji — and an asinine response from doruk.
But hey, that’s just my opinion. Maybe Snoop would think Smirnoff’s video is dope.
Posted by: HighJive | Aug 16, 2006 7:20:14 PM
Put on your overthinking caps everybody, it's gonna be a wild ride!
Posted by: Sardi | Aug 17, 2006 11:04:14 AM
Anyone want to guess how long before the PC Police start coming after internet ads/viral videos and the like?
Cause to HighJive's point, there's no way they'd ever get away with running a spot like this on television. Even cable.
Posted by: Alex Cross | Aug 17, 2006 6:16:43 PM
Interestingly, in light of all the race/racism discussion, this video was directed by a black man: Julien Christian Lutz, also known as "Little X," is a prominent director of hip-hop videos for several famous artists.
Posted by: Partaygoer | Aug 18, 2006 9:39:38 PM
This is really funny. How is it racist? Have a sense of humor already. Sheesh!
Posted by: Las | Aug 27, 2006 6:41:22 PM
I'm with Las...it's funny... Pretty soon anything "edgey" that is written, produced or performed by white folks will need a pre-production stamp of "general approval" from Jesse, Rev. Al and the NAACP for fear of law suits by offending someone of color...
Posted by: jazzygee | Sep 1, 2006 9:03:24 PM
lyrics
p-unit foreva
*wisper*(p-unit)
p-unit whats up fellas?
yo yo (p-unit)
where are all my walasks at?
M-V martha's vinyard HOLLA BACK
tell buffy to churn me
yeah yeah sip sip
YO straight out of cape cod were keepin it real were gonna have a party that makes the ladies squeal
were gonna turn it out with our parents richs we'll serve smear raw tea and finger sandwitchs
we keeps it real by real we meen rich
from new hampshire to vermont to the main line to grenitch
cuz no ones hotter then a new england gangsta
we drink raw tea on the south wing veranda
lets have a tea paaaarrrrttttaayyy
fine tea in the impala makes the ladies holla
lets have a tea paaaarrrrttttaayyy
smear raw tea lemone peach and rasberry
we sail yotchs and ride on horses every meal we have comes in multiple courses wen its time to party we have a tea partay
and we keeps it real the old money way
haters love to clown our IB league education but there just jelouse beacause our parents run the nation
yo where the love at the tea partay?
but if your gonna show up send a RSPV always
leeettss have a tea paarrtay(gheeto holla back)
fine tea in the impala make the ladies holla
leeett have a tea paarrtay smear raw tea lemone peach and rasberry
rap
we play crocatch and we go roller bladin here to homies on lock insidfe of traidin
its a tea partay for matin and agaist it we may be vanilla but are labs are chocolate
were chillin from are head and white tennis visors right down to our toe in a pair of top-siders
so now its time to brake but please will you promote spend a _______ on parys and well send a thank you note...in cursive
tea party
tea party
tea party
lets have a tea party
*please drink responsivly and visist tea-patay.com play on*
Posted by: caroline | Jan 4, 2007 6:59:19 PM
This video is hilarious.
To Caroline,
Girl, you butchered these lyrics.
**It's WASPS , not wallasks
**Tea in the parlor makes the ladies holler,
(not impala, what IVY league girl would get freaky in an Impala...ha ha sorry.:)
**It's IVY league education...not IB what is that?
**croquet..not crocatch
**Smirnoff....not smear
Anyway, I'm not picking on you , just want people to know the correct lyrics. I do realize you were trying to write them as they were sung, but these few things were wrong.
Have a great day, and maybe we could have a Tea Partay!
Posted by: GulfCoastGirl | Jan 18, 2007 10:00:23 PM
Also, it's not "For matin' and against it", it's "From Maine to (as best as I can tell) Amagensett"
Posted by: | Jan 22, 2007 10:53:01 PM
Actually, it's "From Maine to Narragansett" :)
Ya'll are clearly not preppy enough for this song
Posted by: Dartmouth Prepsta (that's an IVY league, bitches!) | Mar 12, 2007 5:50:49 AM
walasks??
Dude, it's WASP
White
Anglo
Saxon
Protestant
Don't publish the "lyrics" if you don't get the joke.
Posted by: WASP | Mar 25, 2007 10:34:40 PM
Here are the lyrics...spelled correctly
p-unit foreva
*whisper*(p-unit)
p-unit whats up fellas?
yo yo (p-unit)
where are all my WASPS at?
M-V martha's vineyard HOLLA BACK
tell buffy to churn me
yeah yeah sip sip
YO straight out of cape cod were keepin it real were gonna have a party that makes the ladies squeal
were gonna turn it out with our parents riches we'll serve smirnoff raw tea and finger sandwiches
we keeps it real by real we mean rich
from new hampshire to vermont to the main line to greenwich
cuz no ones hotter then a new england gangsta
we drink raw tea on the south wing veranda
lets have a tea paaaarrrrttttaayyy
fine tea in the parlor makes the ladies holla
lets have a tea paaaarrrrttttaayyy
smirnoff raw tea lemon peach and raspberry
we sail on yatchs and ride on horses every meal we eat comes in multiple courses when its time to party we have a tea partay
and we keeps it real the old money way
haters love to clown our ivy league education but there just jealous beacause our parents run the nation
yo where the love at the tea partay?
but if your gonna show up send a RSVP our way
leeettss have a tea paarrtay(gheeto holla back)
fine tea in the parlor make the ladies holla
leeett have a tea paarrtay smirnoff raw tea lemon peach and raspberry
we play croquet and we go roller bladin here to homies on lock on insider trading
its a tea partay from maine to amagensett it we may be vanilla but are labs are chocolate
were chillin from our heads and white tennis visors right down to our toes in a pair of top-siders
so now its time to break but please will you promote smirnoff raw tea and we'll send a thank you note...in cursive
tea party
tea party
tea party
lets have a tea party
*please drink responsibly and visit tea-patay.com, playa*
Posted by: capecodgirly | Mar 31, 2007 1:08:44 PM
actually it's megansett (in falmouth, ma)
Posted by: | May 5, 2007 11:14:46 AM
It's tell buffy to CHURP me... not Churn me. It's haters LIKE to clown an Ivy league education... not love to clown an Ivy League Education..
Posted by: real | Jun 2, 2007 11:59:28 PM
its HIGH TEA in the parla not fine tea...you know like, high noon tea?
Posted by: | Jul 14, 2007 11:20:00 PM
lol, its not buffy, buffy would be the vampire slayer you want to tell MUFFY to chirp you (im amazed no one caught on to that)
Posted by: prepsta | Jul 18, 2007 8:02:15 PM
I'm a WASP. we keeps it real
Posted by: | Jul 26, 2007 5:18:57 PM
yea just about to say its tell buffy to chirp me
Posted by: p-unit | Aug 10, 2007 9:23:24 AM
no, it's actually buffy. if you watch the west side video for smirnoff green tea, they clearly say buffy in it. I thought it'd be muffy too, since that's like the #1 preppy nickname in the preppy handbook (hahah.) and was my nickname for a while.
Posted by: WASP | Aug 25, 2007 12:42:02 AM
I guess maybe us wasps are sick of having to apologize for generation after generation of success....no more! Our families do run the nation, so? Am I supposed to feel bad about that? Funny video.
Posted by: Straight wasp | Dec 4, 2007 11:41:18 PM
You know Martha's Vineyard isn't looking very WASPy recently. Most of the time the ferry as half full of middle-class "African-Americans." Neither is prep school. I think the WASP stereotype in this video is about a half a century out-of-date. A more accurate one would be a bunch of kids in dreadlocks and punk hair trying NOT to look like they go to prep school and most of them would be Jewish, Asian or an international student whose parents can afford prep school for their kids.
Posted by: MV summer resident | Mar 25, 2008 7:47:18 PM
