Nicknames: Donald Glover famously got his Childish Gambino rap name from a Wu-Tang version. You’ve definitely found out your porn name by combining your first pet’s name with the street you grew up on (Spike Eleanor!).
But this week, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Sopranos, HBO took to Twitter to arbitrarily hand out nicknames inspired by the show. Look, Brand Twitter rightfully gets a lot of flack. It tries too hard. It’s too gimmicky. It’s manufactured human interaction. But this? THIS. This was goooood. It certainly didn’t hurt that celebrities and other brands raced to get Soprano’d. Roger Federer? The Feds. Wendy’s? Square Patty. Jake Tapper? Newsboy. Tinder? Wesley Swipes. The state of New Jersey? The Motherland. The only thing missing is a mobbed up MoonPie and Steak-Umm. Onward!
HBO “The Soprano’s Nicknames”
In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Sopranos, I’m handing out Soprano nicknames today. Who wants one? FYI if you tell me your first name, this is way easier for me.
— HBO (@HBO) January 10, 2019
What: A brand Twitter thread actually worth reading.
Who: HBO, Engine
Why we care: One of the best ways brands can deliver on their quest to surprise and delight is by using a platform in an unexpected an fun way. Think Geico’s unskippable ad on YouTube. Or Tide’s 2018 Super Bowl commercial takeover. Here, HBO takes the increasingly tired format of Brand Twitter and turns it into a star-studded back-and-forth that quickly becomes a fun meta playtime in pop culture. Worth checking out for the WWE heat check.
Disneyland Paris “The Little Duck”
What: A new spot from Disneyland Paris that most definitely DID NOT make my eyes well up at work.
Who: Disneyland Paris, BETC Paris
Why we care: Uhh, I’m not dead inside? The spot follows the familiar journey of a child’s first love affair with the magic of comic books, and then sees their imagination come to life. Except here that child is a duckling. A criminally cute, anthropomorphized-to-play-with-my-emotions duckling.
Fiji Water “#fijiwatergirl”
This woman holding FIJI Water at the #GoldenGlobes truly came to SERVE. pic.twitter.com/Aln54zOhKY
— E! News (@enews) January 7, 2019
What: A Golden Globe-winning photobomb performance.
Who: Fiji Water, Getty Image Studio
Why we care: Like I said earlier, brands messing with familiar formats can be fun. Here, Fiji hired a Getty photographer to get shots of its product on the red carpet. That, coupled with the deadpan gaze of model Kelleth Cuthbert, helped Fiji become the awards show brand winner of the night. First, with the wave of social media attention on Cuthbert, then with the second wave of enthusiastic earned media coverage. Here’s the thing though: Don’t do it again. Not like this. The awards show red-carpet ecosystem is already crammed with enough vapid self-interest. We don’t need more brands rushing to duplicate Fiji’s success.
Walmart “Famous Cars”
https://youtu.be/4PDhMoFoUGY
What: Almost all of Hollywood’s iconic movie vehicles picked up groceries at Walmart during the Golden Globes.
Who: Walmart, Department W
Why we care: Big stage, pop-culture nostalgia, comfort food advertising at its best. Slimer ftw.
BMW “Special Delivery”
https://youtu.be/gqSwF0-EJTo
What: A new campaign for BMW Certified pre-owned cars that uses pre-owned ads.
Who: BMW, GS&P
Why we care: If you’re trying to sell a 2015 X1, why not use a 2015 X1 commercial? What initially sounds like a panicky ad agency cop-out–“Let’s use your old ads that already worked!”–is actually another fun example of a brand playing with a familiar format. The creativity is in the gimmick, and it’s a good one.
Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.
