Colgate, 1980s (British ad)

[mystical-chickn.livejournal.com]

Being American, I never saw this as a kid; I was just browsing YouTube and came across it.

Watch on YouTube

(The song is a parody of Madness' Baggy Trousers. I ♥ Madness. :D)

Comments

[juanoclock.livejournal.com]

Didn't you get the toothpaste already? Well, then, pick it up, pick it up!

[geckoman.livejournal.com]

I don't know about you, but I certainly remember seeing this ad on American TV back in the day. 'Twas awesome, yes!

[mystical-chickn.livejournal.com]

Huh, maybe I was just too young then (born in '79, I dunno what year exactly the commercial is from, but I'm guessing early '80s).

[geckoman.livejournal.com]

That's quite possible. I seem to recall seeing it around '85.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

I was old enough in the 80s to have seen this, but I don't recall it if it aired in the US. Then again, I don't remember the "Baggy Trousers" vid either, but I certainly remember Madness, especially "Our House," which was part of MTV's continuous loop.

[dantc.livejournal.com]

That sounds about right. I remember it as well, but I think they dubbed the kids we see here with American accents.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

Ha! Like English people use toothpaste! [I'm sorry! I just couldn't resist. Okay, okay! I'll go back to the Death Camp of Tolerance. Sigh.]

[khh1138.livejournal.com]

I'm guilty of laughing as well. Based on some of the stories from my English friends** -- this stereotype might be for reals in some quarters. :( I think Colgate had an uphill battle to encourage some people to brush twice a day!

** for example, the story of one boy who didn't own a toothbrush until he went away to college. EEwww. His family just never brushed their teeth. EEEEEWWWWW.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

I was also thinking of an SNL skit from years ago that did a fake ad for British toothpaste that was made out of sugar. The tag like was something like "you don't have to brush your teeth once a week, but you might want to."

[tink-queen.livejournal.com]

Now I kinda wish other commercials were like this...or used Madness in them. I'd love to see someone using House of Fun on an ad.

[dancinginsecret.livejournal.com]

I LOVED that. But it did drive home to me just how accustomed I've gotten to seeing super-whitened teeth in advertisements now! Not that the kids had yellow choppers or anything, but they look natural.

[whoseline_wlsc]

That music was great! Madness is a good band.

[jena.livejournal.com]

This was on American TV in either 1983 or 1984 - my parents recorded lots of Christmas specials for me onto VHS over those two years and this is one of the ads that was captured along with the shows. :)

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

I'm English and I don't remember this ad at all! It would have been about the time that I watched the adverts more than the programmes, too. Thanks for sharing.

[hannahsarah.livejournal.com]

Aw hells yeah! That is all kinds of awesome. LOVE IT!

[danthered.livejournal.com]

That exact ad was not on US television, but a very similar American version was. The UK ad wouldn't've worked here; the product called "Blue Minty Gel" in the UK is called "Winterfresh Gel" in the States, and at the time Colgate were pushing their pressurised pump-type packaging in the US. Here's the American version (which was also my first exposure to Madness' music):

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[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

I WANT THOSE TOOTHBRUSHES! I just plain want the 80s back, period. Stupid nostalgia trip. Here, you can have the Internets back.

[midniterose.livejournal.com]

That's so cool!