Inspired by Bob's recent post, I thought I'd share a commercial I can't stand that's all over the dial right now. The Dell "Lollipop" computer. I don't think Dell had in mind that people like me would find its new Inspiron laptops commercial like nails on a chalkboard. However, every time I hear that pop followed by the singing laborers crooning a version of the 1958 Chordettes hit "Lollipop," I'm compelled to grab the remote and change the channel.
If you don't already know this ubiquitous ad, take a look -- but be warned, it's annoying as hell:
Chances are that Dell is thrilled with my response, because it means I'm remembering the ad. However, if you think color is enough to make me buy a mini-PC, forget it. Still, there are many, many people who will nonetheless. I seem to recall Apple making a mint when they issued iPods in a variety of colors.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-04-2009 @ 10:32PM
JohnatDell said...
Hi Allison,
Sorry to see that this particular commercial doesn't hit the mark with you, but we do understand and respect that people have differing personal tastes and individual preferences. For a lot of people, e.g. feedback from many of our customers, the ability to personalize PCs inside and out is a good thing. Hopefully the next Dell commercial will connect with you ... and not create a scramble for that remote.
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8-05-2009 @ 6:05PM
wulfn1 said...
Personalizing one's computer/internet device is great. Kudos to Dell for creating color. But HONESTLY the commercial is played at least three to five times during each show and is EXTREMELY annoying after the first two times of watching it. WE GET IT, Dell is great, Dell has color, Dell employees LOVE their job . Find a remotely calm way of addressing the facts just mentioned, throw in ALL the color you want, but understand that your advertising crew totally went over the deep end of the waterfall with that ad. (I mean , doesn't every factory have elephant feet that stamp out their products while it's employees sing and dance to songs from "Sweatin To The Oldies"?)
_
8-05-2009 @ 6:11PM
mj said...
Wow. I love those commercials, love the song; reminds me of my youth, lol. I'm getting a red one for my son, who also likes the commercials. Of course, every time I see it, I get a craving for lollipops. mmmmmm. The commercial is catchy, and darn cute. I'd like to get a green one, myself.
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8-05-2009 @ 6:18PM
Man said...
That commercial is one of the few I actually leave on.
The song is great and I can't help but sing along. A+ to Dell for that one.
You want an annoying ad try the Optimum Triple Play Commercial [Reggaeton] I will not link because the suffering must end.
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8-05-2009 @ 6:20PM
wulfn1 said...
yeah that's an annoying one too... but the grandbaby dances to it, so unfortunately it gets left on.
8-05-2009 @ 6:53PM
john said...
I couldn't agree more. I too rush for the remote when I hear that all-too-familiar *pop* that signals the start of the most annoying song ever to have been recorded in the history of recording technology. I am incredibly thankful for that *pop* because it usually warns me with enough time to reach the remote and press "up" or "down" before the jingle has a chance to reach my ears and ruin my day. I hope whoever thought up the concept of that commercial gets fired, or dies in a fire, whichever. This abominable ad has been on every commercial break since June, and I managed to not let it get stuck in my head until I woke up this morning with "lollipop lollipop" ringing in my brain on repeat. Sadly, I didn't have a gun handy. I am calling for a lifetime boycott of Dell for this reckless ad with its high potential for inflicting mental anguish. Who's with me?
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8-05-2009 @ 11:16PM
Brian Pope said...
I could not agree more! As an Engineer, it insults me to thing of selecting a computer because of color or any other non-functional garbage. I immediately associated Dell with toy/junk when I first saw this commercial. While I'm sure some people love it, are these the customers that Dell is trying to appeal to?
8-05-2009 @ 7:00PM
nick said...
When I first heard the commerical I wasn't connecting it with Dell, but after I finally paid attention, I thought it was clever how they were promoting different colors. I only wish the Dells we ordered for work were wrapped like a giant lollipop or at least came with one. Side note here, there was one vendor whom we used to do business that always gave us a giant lollipop with every order. Had nothing to do with their business, but they always supplied one. I really miss that. We all used to take turns taking one home to our families.
Anyway, like the KFC ad brought up a week or so ago, whether or not you like the ad, it succeeded in getting people to remember it.
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8-05-2009 @ 7:30PM
Anita said...
I love the song and I love the idea of customized colors. However, the catchy tune and eye-catching colors re-tooled through marketing aren't enough to convince me to purchase Dell when I contemplate their poor customer service and products -
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8-05-2009 @ 9:48PM
RobynM said...
I'm really enjoying this spot, but then, the song's never annoyed me even though it does get stuck in my head.
The T-Mobile spot with the teenager trying to hit on Catherine Zeta-Jones is starting to wear on me, though.
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8-06-2009 @ 3:08AM
Nathaniel said...
I have to agree, Robyn! I love this spot. But one of my least favorite commercial series on TV are the "guy is totally distracted by hot chick" T-Mobile commercials. The kid one AND the husband one. Man, those are annoying.
8-06-2009 @ 1:11AM
mb said...
I love the song and the commercial. It is one of the few I actually remember.
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8-06-2009 @ 8:22AM
wulfn1 said...
As if you could actually forget it.((shudder))
Actually there are two versions of the commercial out there now. one where they actually sing a verse of the song instead of just the chorus (not nearly as annoying as the other but still highly agitating) and one where they sing only the chorus and hum the rest, jumping back into the chorus when its time for the chorus again.
Either way, annoying. But the commercial isn't just annoying because of the song. The unrealistic dancing overall wearing employees singing is hokey,and the various "ways" in which they suggest the device is colored is something I'd expect to see on one of my 3yo grandbaby's tv shows (which leads me to believe Dell is trying to market to the pre-school set).
The whole concept of the "lollipop" colors is not offensive in any way, in fact when the device is wrapped in cellophane in the end they solidify their catchy label in one's mind. (it's wrapped like candy).
8-06-2009 @ 8:33AM
Galley said...
Apparently Dell laptops are made of colored goo.
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8-06-2009 @ 9:16AM
Sioux said...
I hated this commerical from the first view. My family knows enough to hit "mute" the moment it comes on. We rush to be the first to chant "Oh, hell! It's Dell!"
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8-07-2009 @ 5:36PM
CatStone said...
Well good grief! Has no one else noticed how much the blobs of color look like the fake poo you can buy from the magic/joke shop? Even if I cared NOTHING for functionality and only wanted the bling, I surely would NEVER buy a laptop that started as poo!
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8-11-2009 @ 10:39PM
I Hate Dell said...
I despise this commercial! I, too, reach for the remote in a HURRY when I hear this thing come on. I tried just changing the channel, all together(forgoing the show I was watching, in vain protest), but since it's on pretty much every channel.... You're marketing dept. was successful in getting me to remember the spot, all right. But, it's also caused me to not, EVER, consider purchasing a Dell. The above poster was correct, it's like finger nails on a chalk board. Please never advertise again!
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8-13-2009 @ 11:59AM
Ryan also hates Dell. said...
I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm glad I'm not the only one who loathes this piece of garbage.
8-13-2009 @ 3:43AM
Koi said...
There's a reason "Dell" rhymes with "Hell".
I absolutely hate this commercial. It's on at LEAST once per commercial break on every channel. I always have to mute it or something.
Yes Dell, I remember this commercial, but it's pissed me off to the point of deciding NEVER to buy a Dell product!
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8-21-2009 @ 4:51AM
djshawn said...
I'm sure my rant means nothing to the morons who created this GAY commercial!.. But personly, when ANY comercial is aired 5-10 times an hour on just about every channel It makes my skin crawl!.. I used to be a Dell fan (expecially for their laptops) but now since this (OVERRUN) commercial I will NEVER buy a Dell LT ever!.. I seriously considering NEVER watching 'LIVE TV' ever again since comercials these days are going to EXTREAMS!! Makes me wanna throw a brick threw my nice LCD HDTV's!!! I've broken many Logitec all in one remotes over this and other comercials like it, and just just plain sick of all these overrun mind warping TV add's!
Why can't DELL and ALL advertisers tone things down a bit these days instead of pissing people off by overrunning the same CRAP 5-10 times an hour on every channel just becuase they can!.. It's really sad companies have to resort to mental brain washing to sell products!..
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