reviewed by Street Dude
What is America; what is America to you? To Barbosol, America is the the open road, a road that’s a treacherous journey, a road that, on a daily basis, generally sucks. Sometimes you will not shower, you will feel lonely, you will long for your loved ones, and spirits must remain high, or else this little silly thing we call life will crush you. This spot is a metaphor of the American life: You gotta keep on truckin’, and if you keep on keepin’ on, in the end, you will be rewarded for your perseverance and bravery.
The male lead in the commercial is a decent actor. 18 seconds in, notice his reaction to the note his wife left on the table next to the Barbosol. This tender moment is telling about the relationship this man shares with his devoted wife: She will wait for him, she will stand by him, she understands that he has to pay the bills, one way or another — she knows him inside-out — she loves him so much, and she knows what a trucker man wants when he returns home — he wants a damn good shave, and shaving with Barbosol is a guaranteed damn good shave.
The jingle in this spot is modest and effective; to be effective, a jingle must be catchy, so catchy that it is burned into your brain, blacking your subconscious, your sense of identity, and your outlook on life. Seemingly this commercial repackages its effective predecessor, the true trailblazing jingle that is the Folger’s jingle (c’mon, everybody, you know it and you love it). This is apparent at the end of the spot, 0:26 in, when the stoic, off-screen singer croons the “close shave Bar-bos-sol” line — he hits the same notes as Folger’s “The best part of waking up is Folger’s in your cup.” Ending on this sentimental note leaves the viewer with a positive impression of the product. Then, during the next grocery store visit, you’re in the hygiene aisle, you see that Barbosol, and you have to buy it, because it is the virtuous choice, and it will make you feel better about your purchase, better about your life, and, more importantly, you feel you got a great deal, it is money well spent, and American’s love a good deal — that’s why Mother’s buy in bulk at big-box stores like Costco and Sam’s club.
Side note: Who the f**k eats pancakes at night? The wife must know that her dude eats a steady diet of Denny’s when he is on the road. Actually, that’s probably an accurate stereotype.
Rating: 30 Seconds of flannel, the open road, capitalism, and exponential American progress.
All right dudes, it’s time to shave that beard.
Special thanks to Jamie McGaw for discovering this American gem.
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2 Comments
I didn’t realize until the 4th viewing that he drives a Barbasol truck.
Even though he delivers the product everyday he is still thrilled
to come home to a fresh can. Brand loyalty.
Surprised that the Beard Buster is pushing commercials at under $2 a can.