The synopsis of this commercial is people doing cool activities I’d assume 95% of people on earth have never tried. In the meantime, some slightly foreign-sounding guy talks about pushing boundaries to the limit while epic music plays in the background. To truly appreciate the commercial, you have to step back a bit.
Red Bull has basically made the energy drink market its bitch. It invaded Jolt cola’s market, dethroned the king, and now wears the crown. No matter what new gimmick drink Mountain Dew or Monster unveil, Red Bull is like Jordan in his prime. It has achieved the Super Bowl of a product; it has become a part of our verbal lexicon, amid the ranks of Xerox and Coke. No one is going to walk into a bar and order a Monster and Vodka (unless they are asking the bartender to check them into an actual rehab facility).
Of course Red Bull still has to advertise. After all, when you’re king, you want your subjects far and wide to know your name. But there’s no need to say things like “new” and “improved.” When you’re on top of the ladder, there’s no need to go any higher. And Red Bull does sponsor a lot of extreme sports and activities all around the globe. So why not just have an ad showing all that the cool shit they choose to sponsor (read: advertise on)? Brilliant!
“But Sweaty,” you may say, “their ads don’t even show their product or what’s in it, aside from the trademark dueling toros rojos.” That’s probably not a bad thing.
What’s in Red Bull is a lot of chemicals designed to stop your body from telling you that you’ve stayed up too late, no mas! And besides, look at commercials today. What the modern day Mad Men don’t want you to see is that, besides ads selling cars, cleaning products, and pharmaceuticals, very few ads actually talk about what the products they’re advertising actually do!
What does a talking gecko have to do with insurance? A race car driver with internet domain names? A Clydesdale with beer (other than one makes you have to pee like the other)? It’s all branding.
What’s in Red Bull is a lot of chemicals designed to stop your body from telling you that you’ve stayed up too late, no mas! And besides, look at commercials today. What the modern day Mad Men don’t want you to see is that, besides ads selling cars, cleaning products, and pharmaceuticals, very few ads actually talk about what the products they’re advertising actually do!
What does a talking gecko have to do with insurance? A race car driver with internet domain names? A Clydesdale with beer (other than one makes you have to pee like the other)? It’s all branding.
Which brings us back to Red Bull. They abandoned the cartoons and catchy slogan, and instead put on a breathtaking show of basically people doing cool activities I’d assume 95% of people on earth have never tried. Long live the king.
Rating - 4 TVs - Isn't it ironic that a company that discusses how its product "gives you wings" sponsored a guy falling from space? Shouldn't it be "Red Bull gives you a capsule and a parachute to hinder your fall?" 
