I.N.G. – Rip Slyme x Sony Vaio.
It’s not a new music video from them, but I just came across it again on YouTube and was reminded of this video. This, I suppose, was the first time RIP SLYME had a thinly-veiled corporate sponsored music video, setting the stage for their more recent Good Day “Adidas Originals remix” video.
I have no problem with music videos like this. Though, I have to wonder, is it just a cultural difference that the Japanese public tolerate such blatant corporate advertising in music videos whereas something like this would be scoffed off of American television? Even Japan’s social networking giant, Mixi, is littered with advertisements in every corner of the screen. Would North American members of Facebook be as forgiving? And, of course, there are the actual outdoor advertising-laden streets of Shibuya and Shinjuku, where one’s eyes are easily bombarded with advertising messages at all directions at any given time.
Art x Advertising. We all know it happens, of course, but to combine the two in a way that organizations no longer have to be subliminal (or ashamed) at pushing products via art or non-traditional forms of media? Some might argue it’s too much, that we would lose grip of what’s genuine and real versus what is fake. On the other hand, others may actually appreciate the creativity which organizations put into their advertising. Both sides of the spectrum are valid, but is it already too late for a compromise of the two? Seems to me that the wheels of change have already begun turning and we’re in for a whole lot of advertising.
Think annoying website pop-up ads, except in real life.