Hai Karate! - Back in the 1960s and 1970s, a lot
of companies were using sex to sell their
products. One of the more memorable came from
the Hai Karate after shave people. Like the TAG
ads of 2005, the Hai Karate spots warned their
customers to be on the look out for wild women
who were adversely affected by the product's
seductive lemon-lime scent. Purchasers of Hai
Karate received a self defense booklet with tips
on how to avoid over-sexed chicks. The fun part
of the commercial was seeing dorky guys with
dark rimmed glasses karate chopping their way
past a throng of lust-filled woman.
Here is a script
from one of their ads.
Announcer:
[Whispering]
You're at the top secret Hai Karate
training school. These trainees are
learning how to defend themselves in case
they get a Hai Karate! gift set for
Christmas.
[Cardboard
cutouts of women suddenly pop up as
trainees in karate outfits wander through
an open field. The men defend themselves
with Karate chops.]
Announcer:
[Forceful
voice] Hai Karate! There's a cram course
on self defense in every package.
[Trainees
apply more Hai Karate as three real woman
approach from behind. The men turn and
defend themselves]
Announcer:
Hai Karate!
It's like super mistletoe in a bottle.
[Dorky guy
fights off a pack of women. Hai YA!]
Brylcreem
- This is the progenitor to the current TAG
Bodyspray commercial campaign. Before Hai
Karate!, there was Byrycreem, a hair
conditioning solution used by males to keep
their hair clean and in place. These ads were
the proponents of "moderation in all things"
which reflected in their catchphrase slogan "A
little dab will do ya." But the product "warned"
of the consequences for .those who dared use
more. Below, read a cautionary warning from one
of their 1960s ad spots.
"ANOTHER
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BRYLCREEM."
Announcer:
Men beware!
Use one dab of Brylcreem. Just a
little dab makes your hair look excitingly
clean, disturbingly healthy. [shows male
pursued by a group of females]. This man
dared to use two dabs, now he's in
trouble. We refuse to be responsible.
[Product jingle kicks in]
Brylcreem, Brylcreem, Brylcreem,
Brylcreem a little dab will do ya
Brycreem you'll look so debonair
Brylcreem, the gals will all pursue ya
They love to get their fingers in your
hair
Brylcreem, a little dab will do ya.
Or watch out the gals will all pursue ya.
Announcer:
Get Brylcreem
today.
Some Honorable Mentions
Krisiti Yamaguchi
in "Got Milk' Ad
Sexy Gal from
Certs Mint Ad
Cindy Crawford
Diet Pepsi Model
Spuds MacKenzie with
beach babes
Lucky Vanous, the
Diet Coke Hunk
Coors Twins
"sexy beer bimbos"
The Fantanas Mascots
for Fanta Beverage
The above ad picks are representative of
thousands of other commercials that have used
the "sex sells" formula over the years. Despite
objections from groups who deem the theme of
"sex" as an objectionable way to sell a product,
ad agencies know that it ("sex") is a powerful
merchandising tool. It is not something they are
about to stop using, nor should they. After all,
sex is natural. Sex is fun. At least, that's
what I'm told.
And based on the current trend in TV ads, looks
like sex is here to stay. So, instead of coming
down on these ads with claims of censorship,
lets enjoy their primal message and, as they say
in the music world, "get down, get down, get
down tonight."
And remember, if you can't get down with Paris
Hilton, you can, at least, get down to your
local Carl's Jr./Hardees franchise and have a
spicy BBQ burger. Like Paris Hilton,
they're..."Hot!"
Bonus: A Diet Pepsi commercial with a Cindy
Crawford cameo. The ad spot has a guy drinking a
can of Pepsi as the walks down a city street to
the music of the Bee Gees (a la "Saturday Night
Fever"). As he walks, females, one by one, begin
to follow him. At one point, even a guy looks at
the man with astonishment. Are all these people
fascinated with the Pepsi or the hunk holding
the can? You decide.
Click for "Pepsi Cindy Crawford Cameo"
NOTE: This article may be linked or copied for
distribution to other Internet publications.
Please credit the article to the author, Jerome
A. Holst and mention its URL
Hai Karate! - Back in the 1960s and 1970s, a lot
of companies were using sex to sell their
products. One of the more memorable came from
the Hai Karate after shave people. Like the TAG
ads of 2005, the Hai Karate spots warned their
customers to be on the look out for wild women
who were adversely affected by the product's
seductive lemon-lime scent. Purchasers of Hai
Karate received a self defense booklet with tips
on how to avoid over-sexed chicks. The fun part
of the commercial was seeing dorky guys with
dark rimmed glasses karate chopping their way
past a throng of lust-filled woman. 
Brylcreem
- This is the progenitor to the current TAG
Bodyspray commercial campaign. Before Hai
Karate!, there was Byrycreem, a hair
conditioning solution used by males to keep
their hair clean and in place. These ads were
the proponents of "moderation in all things"
which reflected in their catchphrase slogan "A
little dab will do ya." But the product "warned"
of the consequences for .those who dared use
more. Below, read a cautionary warning from one
of their 1960s ad spots.
