43 Comments

Not at all - I thought it was excellent and, despite being a weary smelly bloke I was refreshed by it. Good work, T-Mobile.
John
2010-10-27 18:30:23

hmmm kinda reminds me of this ad we made:
http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2010/september/sncf-ddb-paris
Siavosh Zabeti
2010-10-27 18:58:06

ah yeah exactly the same, love the french one, the rock band greeting is awesome! http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2010/september/sncf-ddb-paris
Todd
2010-10-28 07:03:13

Tired idea now!

The cycling version (which this probably copies) with a tour de france style finish for a regular cyclist is much bettter!
Thomas
2010-10-28 08:40:12

Aint they lovely (heave,, heave )
Graphic Design Manchester
2010-10-28 08:56:08

At least it wasnt shot in an airport in the good ol' US of A, security would have had a field day with this lot.
Richie
2010-10-28 09:02:10

Damn I thought E4 had put an end to flash mobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btL-EeX96Kk
mark
2010-10-28 09:22:58

Very cool idea. Everybody looks so happy. I have never wanted to be at an airport so much before! Thanks for sharing CR.
Firebubble Logo Design
2010-10-28 09:24:58

I'd hate to be greeted like this after a long flight, all you want is to get home. Why not give people a free taxi ride home instead
k
2010-10-28 09:52:53

Yeah, been there done that .. very over done now. They should try something different.
I have to say it probably doesn't wear off for the people who experience it though. It's still surprising and amusing, I'm sure... =}
Mei
2010-10-28 10:28:28

Flash Mobs are really boring me now.
They were a nice idea once when there was not a big corporate giant behind them, using them as a form of free publicity.
stripeyhorse design
2010-10-28 11:31:05

They started off this series by copying people on the internet now they're copying other adverts. I bet the industry will love this but its a poor show.

Saatchi have the money and budget to push this out everywhere, claim it as a hit and then scope the awards for another faked hit. Its like the pop single charts...shame on our industry if we champion this.

Praise should go to the original creatives.
Caitlin
2010-10-28 11:46:32

Flashmobs were tiresome exactly 3 weeks after the concept became well known 4/5 years ago.

This is dated and boring.
FSCHECK
2010-10-28 13:34:56

Boring, outdated, annoying.

http://www.adblunder.co.uk/blunder-predictions
James
2010-10-28 16:55:28

Boring rehashed marketing bollocks!
It makes me so ANGRY!!
Paul Rudd
2010-10-29 09:21:31

It may be dated and boring but will it sell phones?
Chris
2010-10-29 09:36:43

OMG! I literally can't believe it! hang on, let me get my phone out and I'll video this and upload it to Facebook and people will think I'm ... a tw@t.
Doctor Black
2010-10-29 12:53:48

@ k
hahaha....very good comment!
bluepigcreative
2010-10-29 12:56:38

Corporate sponsored fun times. Like fun, but shit.
Pearse
2010-10-29 13:05:24

Hateful
Matthew Ingram
2010-10-29 13:07:44

Strictly speaking, hiring a bunch of actors and dancers to perform in front of unwitting members of the public is a 'candid camera' style stunt not a flash mob event.
Surely no actual real people would take a day off work and schlepp to Heathrow to perform like monkeys, in an ersatz shared moment, for their mobile signal provider's delight. Would they?
Plus the French ads, of which this is a tiresome copy, wipe the floor with it; hat's off Siavosh.
Al
2010-10-29 13:08:30

Its about fun, enjoyment and getting involved errr no its about selling your brand and selling mobile phones if I wanted fun, enjoyment and involvement i'd be on the beach with my kids please we aren't stupid cut the bull.
Jonathan
2010-10-29 13:22:23

I got caught up in this after a 7hr overnight flight with my wife and 2 young kids...
Inane 'experiential' nonsense that we were given no warning about after coming through Passport control. But, fair enough maybe I was just tired and grumpy.

However - Saatchi's and T-Mobile decided to use covertly filmed footage of me, my wife and my 6 yr old son in their teaser ad that has been posted all over the interweb (Guardian, Brand Republic, Campaign, Daily Mirror etc). Completely without our permission, and without anybody involved making any attempt at all to get us to sign a release form. (we're not in this version above). But there are still edits of this all over the internet, and Saatchi's are insisting this is a 'news piece' so we were fair game to included. (We have been in contact with Saatchi and T Mobile).
Fact is it's out there with pics of my kid in, expressly against our will and they don't seem to want to bother any more about putting it right (To be fair they have removed a few instances of it where we have told them where to look - but there are numerous others still live).

I'm afraid the arrogance and attitude of those involved seems to be endemic of these type of advertising stunts, and surely it can only foster ill-feeling and exactly the opposite of whatever twaddle their brand bloke is waffling on about.

And honestly - it amazes me that this type of work is still newsworthy...
Stuart
2010-10-29 13:27:20

As soon as Sky start using something in their idents, you know it has passed its prime
pickle design
2010-10-29 14:00:12

Boooring.

Once was enough, twice was too much; now it's just tired.
n
2010-10-29 14:10:31

These adverts make me cringe! NOT good!
David
2010-10-29 14:13:09

Their are times when good concepts are used excessively and damage a projects representation. This is one of them.
James Wallace
2010-10-29 14:14:48

Imagine you are coming back on a plane for a funeral.
Lemon
2010-10-29 15:40:37

"Life is for sharing's not just something we talk about, but act on as well". Sorry Spencer, but I'd rather you share some free network minutes, text or data allowance with me than us having an airport dance-fest together, if you wish me to be one of your customers cheers...
Dave
2010-10-29 16:15:35

BAD BAD BAD!!!!!
simon newman
2010-10-29 17:07:53

i couldn't give less of a shit
john
2010-10-29 17:55:21

WOW. So much negativity. Yet uplifting sound and performances count for nothing if it is an idea hijacked from a spontaneous movement. Interesting social commentary for our times.
SAM
2010-10-29 22:44:44

Okay, let's say that this concept is tired and old and uncreative. I don't really agree but I don't disagree either; I'll accept that most people will think this idea should have been put to rest after the first go and I see why but at the same time, I kind of like it. All that aside, what I don't understand is how people are complaining about it. "I was caught in it, it was annoying" "they want to go home not be stopped and serenaded". I think that they should stop being so miserable.
Yes, you may well be tired and stressed but take this as it is; something that was intended to be light hearted and warming, to bring a smile to everyone's faces (and advertise T Mobile, of course). You got off the plane and walked into this crowd that was supposed to seem like they were personally welcoming you home. It was nice, why didn't you let it make you smile and take you away from your worries and stresses of the day and just enjoy those few moments? It didn't hurt you, it didn't follow you for the rest of the day and annoy you and it most likely won't happen for you again so you're missing out on something that is, put simply, nice. It made me smile just to see it and even if I was having a thoroughly miserable day, this would have taken my mind off of it, even just for those minutes.
I think people are too high strung nowadays and to get so annoyed at this is just a shame. It was supposed to make you happy yet you're complaining. That's like getting annoyed at a flower your partner has given you just because you don't like the smell; it's the thought that counts. Lighten up.
Claire P
2010-10-30 02:12:11

“Corporate sponsored fun times. Like fun, but shit.”—Pearse. Hahahah, brilliant!

Interesting to compare the above badvert with this assemblage and their creative use of communication technologies:
http://www.youandifilms.com/2010/10/vodafone-dodge-6bn-tax-bill-vodafoneuk-ukuncut/
MLA
2010-10-30 09:40:25

Dear Saatchis, Please stop doing advertising.
Devilgate
2010-10-30 11:22:43

leaving t-mobile now, walofs...waste of money and a rip off, makes me hate t-mobile and crap advertising concepts and creatives generally, what a waste...
George Holt
2010-10-30 20:39:47

cool idea i'd love that to happen to me. Bring a great big smile to my face :D
adam wilkes
2010-10-30 23:32:31

I didn't like the Liverpool Street flashmob ad – I felt it was contrived and lazy to simply copy a current trend. But family members of different generations liked it, and they enjoyed watching it again and again. This really made me think and I concluded that Saatchis and TMobile probably reached the people they intended to, and some. But I found this latest installment much more engaging, and cleverer than the first. I think the song choices are witty and well performed, and altogether the short is heart warming. The one thing that does annoy me is the repetition of the same 30 second ad following the launch on Friday – 'The boys are back in town / I've never been this far away from home' has been on about 10 times over the weekend and I tired of it quickly.
Alex Parrott
2010-11-01 12:28:07

I watched it again and its so bad its funny to watch . Please make more. Please.
I'm sure the creatives will be thrilled to continue churning out similar ideas under this execution.
I would.
lol
simon newman
2010-11-01 17:42:36

I completely agree with the Clair P's comments. Take a deep breath and smile!
;-)
Af
2010-11-01 21:25:37

WOW! sometimes in your mundane moments something like this wakes you up puts a smile on your face and a warm glow in your heart. WELL DONE
Richard
2010-11-05 12:12:00

Claire P, clearly works for Saatchis. Ha ha.
adguy
2010-11-05 16:45:35

2008.
2 years ago.
http://improveverywhere.com/2008/11/17/welcome-back/
eduard xandri
2010-11-06 18:26:29

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