Thursday, August 07, 2008
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McCain Channels Aerosmith? (Before Paris & Britney there was Liv & Alicia)...
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
9:05 AM
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The "celebrity" ad continues to be debated and discussed. One thing is for sure, though, the ad clearly did garner lots of attention. And even if it meant that people were talking about Barack Obama -- the debate over his celebrity status was framed by John McCain.
Aside from the celebrity angle, which was derided as "frivolous," the ad did make other substantive points about energy. Still, it was clearly the inclusion of images of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears that generated the attention McCain's team was hoping for. Simply put, without those images, we wouldn't be talking about the ad.
My conclusion is that McCain may not be able to compete with Obama when it comes to attracting the attention of the establishment media -- but Paris and Britney sure can. So McCain's team wisely used their images to accomplish his goals.
As today's Washington Times notes,
"Paris Hilton may think John McCain is just a “wrinkly white-haired guy,” but the Republican presidential candidate apparently has figured out the younger generation just fine. Over the past two weeks, his “celebrity” attacks have stomped Democratic presidential opponent Sen. Barack Obama in YouTube hits." Hmmm. It strikes me that this model is not entirely original. In the 1990s, aging rock group Aerosmith faced a similar conundrum. Sure, they were still putting out great rock-and-roll music, but they were far removed from their their prime of the 1970s and 80s (when they broke into the music scene with a string of hits, including "Walk this way," and "Dream on.") In the late 80s, they had a comeback with a relatively decent rock album called "Pump," and also appeared on the SNL skit "Wayne's World" -- but that was before the rise of grunge music (and the death of heavy metal).
Heading into the early 90s, they had to be wondering how they could possibly compete in the MTV video age with up-and-coming stars like Eddie Vedder and Kirk Kurt Cobain -- guys who were half their age. Their answer was to cast two beautiful young actresses, Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler to star in the videos. Meanwhile, Steve Tyler, Joe Perry -- and the other Aerosmith guys -- were, more or less, in the background of these videos.
It worked; the videos for Cryin', Amazing, and Crazy were huge hits on MTV -- and Aerosmith successfully launched a second (or was it their third) career comeback.
By teaming their music with younger images, Aerosmith successfully marketed their music to a new generation who otherwise might have viewed them as old fogies.
Did the McCain team intentionally follow this model, or was it more of a coincidence? My guess is that great minds think alike. Still, it's fair to say that right now it looks like McCain owes about as much to Paris and Britney as Aerosmith owes to Alicia and Liv.
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It's funny that no one dares mention Paris Hilton's response to McCain's ad. If you missed it, it's here: http://tinyurl.com/5z45us
I especially liked the very beginning, where it compared McCain to other very, very old people and things. And, of course, her energy policy.
McCain will be known as "wrinkly white-haired guy" and "old white dude" from now until Nov. 5th, when he'll vanish back into obscurity. |
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....but if he starts wearing one glove and grabbing his crotch, I'm going Third Party.....! |
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METAL WILL NEVER DIE!!! lol.
Grunge is though. |
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but I find myself in agreement.
McCain 2008 using the Aerosmith 1995 blueprint.
Nice work! |
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Dean Barnett speaks:
Above is the McCain campaign’s new ad. Not that anyone asked my opinion, but I like it. Facing an unpleasant reality, there’s no way a normal Republican would have had a chance in the 2008 general election. The Republican brand at this moment is badly damaged and in disrepute. It’s something of a miracle that John McCain became the party’s nominee. It’s a happy miracle, since he’s the only nominee who would have had a chance.
The Mavericky heresies that McCain has indulged in over the past seven years are precisely what make him electable. And though the Maverick thing sounds a bit trite, the fact that he has so many admirers on the other side of the aisle effectively refutes the potentially lethal “McSame” attack line that depicts him as George W. Bush’s political twin.
McCain and his campaign have made some nice progress over the past week. Now they can really shake things up and get ANWR drilling right. Death to the Caribou!
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/08/maveri cky_goodness.asp
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Why is it that nobody is fainting or swooning at McShame events? (other than possibly McShame).
I'd say that fact alone proves McShames point.
In the end, however, most of us don't think this is a good play or a big issue. Most of us assume that the liberal entertainment industry is going to be for the Dem, regardless of his politics. They really can't think for themselves.
In addition, most of us don't think there is such a thing as a celeb. Most of us won't blink, blush or swoon at the sight of any of those losers (of life).
/shrug
Just not a big deal to me. |
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Hey Matt. Love the blog but the guy's name is Kurt (not Kirk) Cobain. A little respect for a dead guy please. |
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Pelosi:
Welcome you voters, sit yourself down
And meet the best Speaker in town
As for the rest, all of 'em crooks:
Rooking their voters and crooking the books
Seldom do you see
Honest women like me
A lady of good intent
Who's content to be
Speaker of the House, doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake and an open palm
Tells a made up tale, makes a little stir
Voters appreciate a bon-viveur
Glad to do a friend a favor
Doesn't cost me to be nice
But nothing gets you nothing
Everything has got a little price!
Harry Reid:
I used to dream that I would meet a prince
But God Almighty, have you seen what's happened since?
Speaker of the house? Isn't worth me spit!
`Comforter, philosopher' and lifelong s***!
Cunning little b****, regular Voltaire
Thinks she quite the player but there's not much there
What a cruel trick of nature landed me with such a louse
God knows how I've lasted living with this bast*** in the House!
Pelosi and Democrats in House:
Speaker of the House!
Harry Reid:
Speaker and a half!
Pelosi and Dem House members:
Comforter, philosopher
Harry Reid:
Ah, don't make me laugh!
Pelosi and Dem House Members:
Servant to the poor, butler to the great
Harry Reid:
Hypocrite and toady and inebriate!
Nancy and Dem House Members:
Everybody bless the Speaker!
Everybody bless Reid too!
Pelosi:
Raise up the price of gas!
Reid:
At $10 we will get it in the ***!
All
Everybody blame the gas rise on the Speaker of the House!
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