Microsoft Takes Daring Risks with New Ads

This sounds like one of those classic "drunk" ideas that should have stayed in the bar.

Marketer #1 (slamming a tequila shot): Superman, porn, vomit.
Marketer #2 (downing a shot of Wild Turkey): Yes! You rock, man! That is PURE genius! We will win awards for it, dude! High five!

And that was how an idea was born, and then how an idea led to a revolution. Well, maybe not. Microsoft is moving into daring new territory, but is this a good thing? You be the judge:

Update I

This head-scratching, stomach-churning commercial is memorable. Though I have to say that the Microsoft Songsmith commercial nearly made me toss my cookies - without the gratuitous puke, no less. I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

Update II

Microsoft pulled the vomit ad. What a shame. It was a pretty interesting ad for a gigantic company, a definite classic.

Update III

Not to sound obsessed with Microsoft advertising, but I have to say I love this new Office 2010 trailer. What great fun!

Update IV

The original headline of this was "Vomit. Superman. Porn. Microsoft. Duuude..." A very catchy title for a very catchy video, don't you think? I pulled that together out of some comments I'd read, and I thought it matched up well.

I found out today my blog does not exist in a vacuum (and thank goodness for that - it'd be very dusty). A former colleague and current friend of mine made the mistake of trusting me for a high-level presentation. I was introduced as the "safe friend," and then, guess what showed up on the screen...? Fortunately everyone laughed and loved it, but I have a feeling there will be payback.

So Microsoft pulled their video and I pulled my headline. Ironic, no? Where will this lead to next?