Truth In Advertising? How about Joy In Advertising?

This is an ad…for a bank.  As an ad, it is clever and straightforward and…an ad. It was done by the Banco Sabadell in Catalonia, Spain on its 130th anniversary.

But, for once, this transcends what it is and gets to a moment of actual human, inspired joy. Just watch the faces in this plaza in Catalonia outside the bank while 100 people from the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, the Lieder, Amics de l’Òpera and Coral Belles Arts choirs play and sing the final movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony – the Ode to Joy. One of the greatest pieces of music that has ever been written. The connection of the crowd to the players and the music is a perfect expression of why we all should feel blessed that we are on this earth, that we owe it something and, that the human species is fundamentally good.

Watch it and you’ll understand why I am so utterly, unambiguously enchanted and happy to be alive.

 

Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” truly lives up to its name.

Comments

[Breale]

Thanks Paul - loved it.

[Yu-kai Chou]

Btw, I noticed you have a captcha system when commenting. You should try out the "Are you human" plugin. It's a captcha that makes people play a VERY simple game to prove they are human. I use it on my blog too (not commenting but contact me page) and find that more delighting than looking at the dark ugly scribbles.

Let me know what you think! (I'm not affiliated with them, just an avid fan of gamification and making things fun)

[Yu-kai Chou]

This is awesome! Thanks for the share Paul!

This is one of the earliest pieces I learned on the piano too ;-)

Love examples of marketing gamification.

Best,
Yu-kai Chou, Gamification Gosu

[MJ Crabbe-Barberis]

Beautiful, brought to tears!

[Diane Berry]

I have been sharing this ad with all of my friends & family. It is wonderful.

[KrassiG]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing Paul!

[chrislee]

That was awesome. I'd seen in a few times but not taken the time to watch it. Got chills multiple times throughout! Thanks for sharing, sir!

[Bsdalton]

BRILLIANT! Thanks for sharing Paul!