Levi's commercials were used in cinema and television to advertise Levi's products, especially jeans.
History[]
In addition to printed ads, Levi's started TV and cinema commercials in 1966. In the 1970s, these commercials often were in a somehow psychedelic style, similar as the printed Levi's ads of that period.[1]
In 1984, when Levi Strauss & Co. was the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic team, they started the Blues commercial series for 501 jeans. The spots, set to unforgettable blues tunes, featured a variety of people dancing, playing music, washing a car or hanging out with friends—in short, living in their 501 jeans. The advertisements made the now-famous lot number a household name. The commercials features various celebrities which later became famous actors or musicians.[2]
A change of style to story-based commercials occurred in 1985 with the "Laundrette"[3], starring Nick Kamen.[4] This commercial was based on a retro look of the United States fifties which was very popular in that time in the UK and Europe and helped Levi's to achieve an iconic status again.
Beginning in the 1990s, sampler disks were released with the songs from the commercials.
Commercials up to 1985[]
(limited selection)
Blues commercials since 1984[]
featuring, among others,
- Jason Alexander (1984)
- Bruce Willis (1984)
- Stanley Tucci (1985)
- Mark Kostabi (1987)
- Jared Leto (1993)
Commercials since 1985[]
Year | Title | Model | Music | Video |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Laundrette | Nick Kamen | "I heard it through the grapevine" by Marvin Gaye (1968) | |
1986 | Bathtub | James Mardle | "Wonderful World" by Tony Jackson | |
1987 | Parting | "When a man loves am woman" by Percy Sledge (1966) | ||
1987 | My Girl | Julian McMahon | "My Girl" by The Temptations | |
1988 | Entrance | "Stand by me" by Ben E. King (1961) | ||
1988 | Cochran | "C´mon everybody" by Eddie Cochran (1958) | ||
1988 | Refrigerator | "Mannish Boy" by Muddy Waters (1955) | ||
1988 | Jamie Walters | |||
1989 | Pawnbroker | "Ain´t nobody home" by B.B. King | ||
1989 | Pick-Up | Dan Gauthier | "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes (1963) | |
1990 | Beach | "Can´t get enough of your love" by Bad Company (Original 1974 by Barry White) | ||
1990 | Camera | Brad Pitt | "20th Century Boy" by Marc Boland & T. Rex (1973) | |
1990 | Great Deal | "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band (1973) | ||
1991 | Pool Hall | Mario Sorrenti | "Shoud I Stay or Shoud I Go" by The Clash (1982) | |
1992 | Swimmer | "Mad About the Boy" by Dinah Washington (1961) | ||
1993 | Campfire | "Ring Of Fire" by Johnny Cash | ||
1993 | Procession | "Heartattack and vine" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins | ||
1994 | Oilrig | "Fictional Self" by Peter Lawlor | ||
1994 | Creek | "Inside" by Peter Lawlor (1994)[5]
Although the version which was released went under the name Stiltskin, the Levis music was Peter Lawlor alone. | ||
1995 | Planet | "Spaceman" by Babylon Zoo | ||
1995 | Drugstore Boy | "Novelty Waves" by Biosphere (1994) | ||
1995 | Drugstore Girl | "Novelty Waves" by Biosphere (1994) | ||
1995 | Taxi | "Tune in, Turn on, Cop out" by Freak Power (1993) | ||
1995 | Clayman | "Boombastic" by Shaggy | ||
1996 | The Chase | composed by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1996 | Riveted | "The Art of Self-Destruction, Part One" by Nine Inch Nails | ||
1997 | Mermaids | Paul Sculfor | "Underwater Love" by Smoke City | |
1997 | Kung Fu | "Stepping Stones" (Remix) by Johnny Harris | ||
1997 | Washroom | "Falling Elevators" by MC 900 Ft. Jesus | ||
1997 | Impala Man | composed by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1997 | Car Chase | composed by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1997 | Ice Cream Man | composed by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1997 | Bag Boy Fantasy | composed by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1997 | Test Drive Date | Music by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1997 | Car Wash | composed by Alex Lasarenko | ||
1998 | Pool Boy Europe only |
|||
1999 | Flat Eric | |||
2002 | Odyssey | |||
2007 | Merman | Patrick Ribbsaeter | ||
Runaway Car | "Crazy Beat" by Blur (2003) |
Other videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Levi’s Ads in the Age of Psychedelia, at thisisnotadvertising.wordpress.com, August 5, 2013
- ↑ The Levi’s® Launchpad: Stars Who Starred for LS&Co. at levistrauss.levis.com, January 9, 2019
- ↑ Samuel Trotman: Levi’s 501 – The story behind Launderette at www.wgsn.com, November 22, 2012
- ↑ Samuel Trotman: Levi’s Laundrette Advert (1985), Denim Daily Dose at www.wgsn.com, December 19, 2014
- ↑ The song was especially written for the commercial, see Inside (Stiltskin song) at Wikipedia
External links[]
- Classic Levi’s TV Ads Collection. 1985-1997 at chiefdisruptionofficer.com
- The Levi´s TV-commercials throughout the years at www.fen-net.de
- Levi Strauss Music History at fashionsoundtrack.com
- Creek: the best Levi's ad? at www.creativereview.co.uk, June 14, 2011
- Advertisement - Levi's 501 at yourmusbest.info