Best Super Bowl Commercials of the Past: Kia Sorento (Super Bowl 44)
By Maxine Nelson, 1st Feb 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutReviewsFilm & TVSport
Looking back on my favorite Super Bowl ad featuring a clever commercial accompanied by a rocking song. Super Bowl 44 was also a good year for the most viewers of any program in television history. It had a number of memorable ads, both good and controversial.
- Super Bowl XLIV (44) - 2010
- The Super Bowl Ad - Kia Sorento
- The Song - "How You Like Me Now?"
- The Group - The Heavy
- SOURCES:
Super Bowl XLIV (44) - 2010
Feb. 7, 2010, was the date of the Super Bowl that featured the controversial Tim Tebow public service announcement with its subtle anti-abortion message. Betty White’s appearance in a Snickers Candy bar ad led to a Facebook campaign to get her to host “Saturday Night Live” later that year. Best of all, this was the Super Bowl to have the most viewers in television history with a total of 106.5 million. There was one television commercial played during this historic game that has become my all-time favorite.
The Super Bowl Ad - Kia Sorento
It would not be a Super Bowl without its bevy of car commercials. This one was no exception, except the music played throughout got my immediate attention. Aside from the music, the Kia Sorento ad tells the adorable story of a motley crew of toys featuring Yo Gabba Gabba, Teddy bear, Curious George Monkey, Robot and “Cousin It (?).” Somehow they get a hold of a Kia Sorento midsize SUV while traveling across the country. They seem to have a blast with bowling, listening to music, jet skiing, making angels in the snow and settling into a hot tub with a pretty lady (all very innocent, of course).
The Curious George stuffed toy is the adventurous one by riding a mechanical bull in some honky-tonk bar. Later on he gets a tattoo sewn on his upper arm. Their next stop is Vegas where they get a photo taken by the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” retro neon sign. Yo Gabba Gabba is taking in the glittery lights and sounds of The Strip while looking out of the sun roof. When they get to their destination at the Monte Carlo Hotel, walking in like they own the place, the Robot is naturally doing the robot dance. He is joined by someone else doing the “Robot.” That scene is one of my favorites.
When it ends, the Vegas nightclub scene fades out. Now the toys are in the backseat of a Kia Sorento. A child gets into the back of the vehicle with his toys while putting on a seat belt. The driver, most likely the mother, hits the key button and off they go. It was all a dream for the toys.
The Song - "How You Like Me Now?"
After its debut in the Kia Super Bowl ad, the song “How You Like Me Now” has been featured in the film score for “The Fighter”, numerous movie trailers, sports programs and TV episodes. When I first heard this song in the commercial, it was obvious the band’s sound has a dominant old school R&B influence mixed with contemporary rock. I’m familiar with most of the oldies from the 1970s, especially the R&B/funk genre. This was not an old song, but a new one. I was instantly attracted to its combination of old and new sounds. After some research the song is from the band’s sophomore album, “The House That Dirt Built” which was released in 2009. The horns and other R&B parts are sampled from the 1960s song “Let A Woman Be A Woman” by Dyke and The Blazers. In 1967 they had a hit with “Funky Broadway.”
The Group - The Heavy
They hail from a hamlet called Noid, which is outside of Bath, England. The group came together because of their love for R&B music. The Heavy features Kelvin Swaby on vocals, lead guitarist Dan Taylor, bassist Spencer Page and Chris Ellul on drums. Their signature sound is a mix of neo soul and rock with guitar and horns. Swaby’s vocals are Curtis Mayfield meets Prince. Their first album is what brought them to the U.S. On Jan. 17, 2010, the Kia Sorento commercial was released. The following day The Heavy made their first appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” that would become historic. When performing their highly charged “How You Like Me Now” Letterman asked for an encore. He has never asked any performer for an encore during the show’s history.
SOURCES:
Super Bowl XLIV, NFL.com
Maxine Nelson, "Kia Sorento Super Bowl TV Commercial: A Song by the Heavy," Voices.Yahoo.com
GoPeakKia, “The FULL Yo Gabba Gabba Sorento Commercial,” YouTube.com
Ninja000, “The Heavy - How You Like Me Now?,” YouTube.com
"How You Like Me Now?" by The Heavy, Songfacts.com
The Heavy, TheHeavy.co.uk
LateShowUK, “The Heavy on the Late Show with David Letterman-18-01-2010,” YouTube.com
Comments
5th Feb 2012 (#)
I find it hilarious how we go out of our way to avoid commercials all year long, until the super bowl comes around. Gotta love the commercials, for the most part. Nice read. Thank you for sharing.:)
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