Although Stan Freberg, who died recently, never knew that he was awakening the creativity of a kid on the other side of the world, I just loved his madcap but memorable approach to advertising. I hung onto every word of the numerous records he produced and knew most of them off by heart. In those pre internet days (well, almost pre anything) if I ever got a chance to hear or see one of his TV or radio commercials I just lapped it up.
His influence on me was huge… it’s probably why I went from an engineering career to having fun in marketing and I learnt that the rewards of doing things differently when everybody else was doing the same… he made commercials that canned the advertiser but worked like crazy. Make some time someday soon to go to YouTube and search for his commercials and his recordings… you’ll love them. Elderly Man River was all about PC way before the PC vigilantes even though of it!
In the meantime have a coffee, take the time and listen to this great track where he puts down the commercialisation of Christmas.
Vale Stan Freberg, I owe you a lot!
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