The Story of the Year

By / December 18, 2008 /

From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield

So much has happened in 2008 that it’s difficult for this esteemed journalist to choose the 2008 Story of the Year. So let’s narrow it down to the 2008 Marketing SOTY. In 2008’s case, they might be the same thing: Barack Obama. Yes, even in a year with war, famine, natural disasters, the Whopper Freakout, terror attacks, what will be known as the beginning of a great worldwide depression, the election of an African American as President of the United States ranks not only as the biggest marketing story of the year but also as the biggest story of the year, period.

But, let’s face it, as much as you were moved by Obama’s savvy media strategy (from your perch as an in-the-know ad person) and his acceptance speech (as an American…I’m making assumptions about my audience here, I know), what really moves you? I’ll tell you what: Ephemeral YouTube videos. No matter who you are, I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this you really would rather watch pandas sneeze than read some quasi-insightful, poop-joke-sprinkled analysis on campaign marketing. And Jeremy Greenfield has never been one not to give the people what they want. So, eat it up, slobs:

Slap Your Troubles Away

There’s something about the plastic smirk on this guy’s face that makes me think he’s doing it all for the nookie. My worst fears (deepest desires?) are confirmed when he tells me to “slap my troubles away” (aye aye, sir) and that I will “love” his “nuts”. Indeed:

YouTube Prophylactic

If there ever was incentive for me not to have kids aside from lack of partner, money, responsibility, libido, two testicles, morals, direction, hand-washing/teeth-brushing protocol, viable sperm and a member of adequate length to consummate intercourse, it would be this video:

Quirky is the New Normal

Here I go again assuming that you live under under a rock or in Appalachia or some such, but have you seen this? Possible positive side-effects: The mustache really comes back—for everyone, not just ugly guys; and Brad Pitt does a movie with Wes Anderson. Possible negative side-effects: I’m drunk. Take a look:

You Suck at Ping Pong and Everything

I don’t care if you’ve seen this already because, guess what, bucko, I’ve seen it waaaaaaay more times than you, trust me. It’s absolutely sick-o advertising and I want one of these new phones. If I need to go to China to go get one, so be it. After all, Marco Polo and Nixon both went to China, and there was nothing so cool as this phone waiting for them when they got there:

Oh, and Then this Happened

The Most Important Story of the Year

You might be smarting from that righteous (and accurate) beat-down I gave you a few graphs up. Either that or you’ve forgotten completely about it because you are, indeed, the brainless plebians that I suspect you to be. No matter, because this next piece works for both possibilities. The biggest marketing story of the year was Obama. And even though, deep down, you really don’t care as much about politics as you do about interwebz memes, I gotta force feed you some anyway. Check out this previously unscreened, unofficial election video. If this doesn’t remind you of the year that was and warm you deep down, in the cockles of your very YouTube-loving soul, I don’t know what will:

Jeremy Greenfield is a contributor to AdFreak. Let him know how much you dig his shit below so we can keep him writing for our site, would you? Please.