My Most Immortal Ad: Tahaab Rais
Another five jurors have joined this year's Immortal Awards jury and, with the entry system now open, they're taking it in turns to select an ad that’s immortal to them, revealing the reasons why it’s stayed with them until this day.
First up this week is Tahaab Rais, regional head of strategy at FP7 McCann, explains to us (and his wife) how a man in a chicken costume captured his attention and drew him into the industry...
Burger King 'Subservient Chicken' (Crispin Porter + Bogusky, 2004)
The evening before I was asked by LBB to share my Most Immortal Ad, my wife asked me about what pulled me to advertising, communications and creativity. I replied without blinking twice because I knew the answer.
In 2004, Burger King did something that attracted me, then a 19-year-old business management student who wasn’t interested in advertising or marketing, to spend an hour on his PC telling a chicken, online, to do crazy, quirky and fun things for me.
“Viral Marketing”. “Interactive”. “Digital”. “Experiential”. “Branded Entertainment”. Before these words became commonplace, at a time when digital marketing was limited to websites and static banners and an after-thought, Burger King’s “Subservient Chicken” pushed marketing into a new realm; one that was more targeted, more focused, more measurable, more entertaining, more participative and more than just ads on TV.
It spoke to the right target audience (men aged 18-45 who spent a lot of time on the internet), importantly, it delivered on the brand’s promise and set the tone for other hits that followed, such as the Whopper Freakout. And it made me get into the field I love that helped me to do the work that got me onto the Immortal jury. So, yeah, that’s the one!
The Immortal Awards entry system is now open. Every member of Little Black Book is entitled to up to five entries, depending on their membership tier. This year, Bronze members receive two entries, whilst Silver and Gold members get five entries. The full list of rules, including eligibility dates, can be found here.
Thanks to our wonderful Immortal Awards partners
Adobe | Framestore | Major Players | Tag
23/32 Films | Chesterfield Group | Craft | Global Production Network | Gramercy Park Studios | Moving Picture Company | Peach
Adstream | Ambassadors | CHEAT | Chimney | Cinelab London | Pull The Trigger | Raygun | Saga Film | Screen Scene | The Kitchen | Wave Studios NY | Woodblock
