Former Mojo gang Jo, Doug Watson and Tony Dick create new ‘Power Station’ TV spot for 2GB
February 2 2011, 3:57 pm | | 27 Comments
A new dose of classic Mojo: Allan ‘Jo’ Johnston, Doug Watson and Tony Dick – who all played an integral part in the success of Mojo in the 80s – have produced a new TV spot for John Singleton-owned Sydney radio station 2GB.
It’s actually a 60 seconder, which is rare these days, even for a beer. And it’s hard to remember the last time we saw a brand spot for a radio station. Maybe in the 80’s, if ever.
Asked by CB if they were starting a new agency, Watson said, “We only work for mates, otherwise we go fishing”.
Writers: Alan Johnston, Doug Watson
Director: Tony Dick
Music Director: Peter Bailey at Flash music
Producer: John Ruggiero
Production House: RFX
27 Comments
I feel mean being mean to the old timers, but fuck I’m glad advertising has moved on from this.
I can think of plenty of TV ads for radio stations – Nova, 2DayFM, Vega etc. Talk about out of touch, on many levels.
Tony and Alan could start an agency and confuse everyone by calling it Dick Johnson…
Nothing to worry about 5:08 & 5:46. This is an ad in the style the listeners of 2GB will understand and like. Hey, it might bring back old memories for them too.
It would be easy to have a go at these guys (for this ad) but then again iI’ve seen a lot of comparable shit on this blog on an almost daily basis from so-called cutting-edge hotshots.
Let’s not forget that these guys are also considered elder statesmen of advertising (albeit of a certain period in Australian advertising) by people outside of our tight little world of cool dudes and sassy chicks.
Don’t stress boys.
Here’s a fun fact for the haters.
One day, if you’re talented enough or cunning enough, you will be an old timer.
Show some fucking respect.
7.10 I totally agree.
And I’m no old timer
Brand spot… Really? This is just a bunch of crap pictures with some bad lyrics performed by the guy that did c’mon aussie…
This is perfect for the 2GB target market. And guess what kiddies, it’s different.
People who think it’s old fashioned still can’t figure out why most Australians still prefer sliced white bread for their sangers, or continue to yell Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi. Its not these old guys who are out of touch, it’s all the cool young dudes too scared to do anything else but mimic each other. Young guns all copying each other in their quest to be different.
I think i just threw up in my mouth.
I love it! The money flushing down the loo is genius.
And they got an exploding lightbulb shot in there. Those shots are tough man.
Bring back the 80’s! Awesome!
So we’re meant to laud this just because it was done by some old dudes who made a motza back in the 80’s pumping out this type of stuff?
If you put work up here that’s as average as this it deserves to be panned. Respect where it’s due but not for creating this. The money down the toilet shot is genius though.
This ad reminds me of an episode of The Brady Bunch where*, in order to raise money, the kids formed a band – The Silver Platters – and pitched themselves to the local nightclub. The owner of the club hated their song, but knew it would work its arse off. He accepted he wasn’t in the target market, so he booked them.
*This is how I remember it anyhow.
The team behind it would have been asked to create something they were famous for back in the days when charlie was a hunjee a gram. Merely Following the brief I reckon.
Listen to GB long enough and you’ll swear you’re in a time warp anyway. I quite enjoy having a ciggy in the back of a cab listening to GB these days. For 5 minutes. Classic Sydney. Dead and buried Sydney, but classic Sydney none the less.
Heard their next brief is the campaign to bring back the North Sydney Bears.
I don’t know why I scroll down after reading the story. Always so predictable. But here’s the thing: who are the negative comments meant for? Anyone who know half his shit knows this ad is pants. And if it’s to have a dig at the guys who put this together, here’s a 2GB newsflash, Doug, Jo and Tony have better things to do than read this blog. Counting their money is one that comes to mind.
We didnt start the fire, it was always burning since the world was turning.
This was obviously ‘inspired’ by an old Billy Joel song and music video from, guess when, the 80s. Nice to see the boys recycling old ideas….
They can buy Cannnes….
I hope they paid Billy Joel some rolyalties for the music.
God save the queen and The 2GB Fascist Regime.
These kind of disrespectful tall poppy comments makes me sick – if it wasn’t for Admen like Jo, you wouldn’t even have an Australian advertising industry.
No need to thank him – just show him the same kind of respect he shows young creatives!
I hate tall poppy syndrome, and really respect Jo & Doug, especially when one of them took the time to rubbish my folio 7 years ago.
However looking at this… I’m glad he rubbished it and I didn’t listen to him. Ads aren’t like music where the shit peoples parent’s watched suddenly becomes cool 35 years later.
I think the world’s gone crazy. I remember a time when you could jump the fence at the scg, pat Dennis Lillee on the back and then head to the pub to have a schooner at listen to mi-sex.
That’s prob why this ad works for me though. And yes I’ll have a listen in to 2GB with all the other me’s.
PS. Jo, thanks for ‘How do ya feel’. Man I Love that shit!
Right for the 2GB audience
Wrong for the CB blog
Thanks Andy for making the point succinctly and without judgement.
I wear rolled up trousers, no socks and my bicycle has only one gear, but I love the 2GB ads.
As an aside, I did award school three years ago. After finishing I realised I needed to do new work for my book to take around, so I went about doing a new raft of ads.
I picked up my Washburn six string and next thing you know – seven jingles.
I took my book to Mr Johnston and he loved it.
Unfortunately, I have never got a job in advertising.
Go figure.
This is one of the great Ads in recent memory. It perfectly connects with its Target Audience.
Many in the advertising industry are critical of this Ad because there is a strong left wing bias within the industry and this Ad appeals to the right wing of society who don’t appreciate governments wasting money.
People in the industry are falling over each other to be involved with left wing projects such as “Earth Hour” so they can feel that they are making a huge difference. What the people in the Ad industry don’t understand is that the only way to make a huge difference is to have China, USA, EU, Brazil and India to do a Carbon reduction deal.
People in the industry should get back on the right wing agenda and concentrate on making the free market economy continually dominant. Keep moving the product off the shelf gentleman and stop focusing on turning out the lights.
I notice all the derogatory comments come from the “anons” – love to see you all step and and show something comparable and yes, right on the money with the target audience.
If Australia was built on a sheep’s back, then our ad industry was borne out of the blood, seat and beers of cats like Mo and Mr Watson, creating most of the memorable jingles of the 70’s and 80’s. In short, these guys ARE legends at the Legends lunch, and I challenge any of you fucking faux-hawked, iPhone-toting, too-fucking-cool new-gen creatives to EVER assert yourselves and leave something as lasting as these guys have. Their jingles are synonymous with Australia and Australians; your older siblings will be familiar with any number of their campaigns. Get your head out of FaceBook, these guys know how to craft good, memorable work, minus the bullshit social media leveraging.