21 June 2010 - 3:03pm | by Staff Writer | 6 comments

Video: Watch Specsavers' new hearing centres ad

Specsavers is promoting its hearing centres with a new TV campaign showing an unlikely drum 'n' bass fan raising havoc by blasting out obnoxiously loud music from their car.

The 'Big Noise' ad, running now on national TV, shows a neighbourhood shaking to the sound of a thumping beat and rumbling bassline from a passing car.

Workmen are distracted from their drilling, a market stall collapses under the drone and a bus shelter shatters as the music reaches its crescendo.

But instead of a boy racer at the wheel, the oblivious hellraiser turns out to be a sweet old lady with hearing trouble who has no idea of the racket she is causing.

In typical Specsavers style the ad finishes with the line: “Need a hearing test? Should’ve gone to Specsavers Hearing Centres.”

The ad, as is the way for the company, was made in-house by Specsavers' own creative team. Creative director Graham Daldry said: “Hearing products are traditionally advertised in hushed, sweep-it-under-the-carpet tones.

"So it was nice to be given the opportunity to do things differently and break the mould. In fact, that reflects Specsavers’ approach to the hearing market as a whole very well.”

The song was recorded by a group of teenagers who feature in the ad. Director Sara Dunlop, from Rattling Stick, had cast the youngsters from a local college and when she asked what music should play they put forward their own tune.

The music technology students from Carshalton College now plan to release the track, which is called Get Mad Now.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)
21 Jun 2010 - 15:26
Anonymous's picture

A golden opportunity wasted.

22 Jun 2010 - 08:31
will_atkinson's picture

Nah - predictable yes, but right in keeping with specsavers tone with a gentle smile. Specsavers have taken a generic proposition and made it their own through consistently producing well thought out work. It's built a clear, long term brand - that's gold dust these days.

22 Jun 2010 - 09:38
paul_foley's picture

I'm with you Mr Atkinson. I don't mind this ad at all and it totally does the job

Anonymous (not verified)
22 Jun 2010 - 11:15
Anonymous's picture

Quite an old chestnut of an idea this yin - falls into the 'punk doing some knitting' category. Also a bit confusing for Specsavers to be branching into treatments for your lugs.

Anonymous (not verified)
22 Jun 2010 - 12:14
Anonymous's picture

The work for this client just seems to be all or nothing. Half the stuff is great, the other half awful. Once you've built a memorable brand idea, you have to work that little bit harder to live up to the past. Nothing's more disappointing than a bad Kit Kat or Economist ad.

22 Jun 2010 - 18:41
tom_lines's picture

Even my nan could tell you that ay "drum 'n' bass".

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