I remember an ad from my childhood, the milky way car race ad,
with the catchy song that i would drive my parents to madness singing constantly.
This is the 80's ad:
A few months back i heard a familiar song coming out of my tv speakers, and it seems they had recycled and Milky Way has brought back its iconic Red Car v Blue Car ad after almost a 20 year absence from our screens. The ad features an animated race between a Red Car and a Blue Car and the memorable jingle is remembered fondly by the late eighties / early nineties generation but with a few changes:
i noticed however, that certain phrases changed in the years it was off-air. For example, 'it won't ruin his appetite' has been
altered to 'it tastes just right'. The cheery little blue car no longer leaves us with the words 'the snack you can eat between meals',
now it just tells us to 'lighten up'.
Advertising trading standards change? Or have society just become that worried about eating disorders and the rising panic of
obesity that these original lyrics cannot be allowed morally on screen?
Although it is interesting that they have recycled an old well loved favourite rather than try to build a new love-able character.
The question does arise whether fears of discrimination or offending people, or 'bad messaging' is changing advertising and at what cost?
Is this a sensible careful approach to teach good eating habits though a long standing brand?
Or an over-cautious copy change?
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