Hasta La Creative!

Who is your favorite Beyonce? Is it “Bootylicious” Beyonce? Sasha Fierce? “Crazy in Love” Beyonce? There’s always the more traditional millionaire mogul/super-duper female role model Bey, the one who signed the Pepsi endorsement deal that brought us to this point. In “Mirrors,” which comes to us from 180 LA and features Mrs. Carter’s track, “Grown Woman,” you don’t have to choose a favorite Beyonce, because they are all there for you to admire. The 60-second spot is part of Pepsi’s “Live for Now” campaign.

I’m not sure what Beyonce or Pepsi has to do with the idea of living for now. And Coke tastes much better, had to throw that in there. But Pepsi has been making strides in the music industry, helping to brand popular and upcoming artists to enormous audiences. This spot evokes the Gatorade “Who Got Next” commercial from a few years ago with Michael Jordan playing one-on-one against earlier versions of himself. That was clever and made sense with the brand; this doesn’t, but it’s Beyonce, so everyone will gawk at her on YouTube or their television screens. Maybe they should. #BeyHereNow.

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Gather round, dear AgencySpy readers. It’s time to hear the tale of Easter and Passion Week.

After a triumphant entrance into Jerusalem during what the church refers to as “Palm Sunday,” Jesus and his disciples sought a place to celebrate the Passover in the Holy City.

On Thursday night, Jesus and his posse took part in what would be referred to as “The Last Supper.” Jesus, having a good deal of insight into the human condition and also being an omniscient deity, predicted that one of his disciples, Walter White, would betray him. You see, Mr. White was all about getting money, and it didn’t matter to him who he would have to wrong to get more of it. It’s speculated that Walter had a form of lung cancer or something.

After Jesus gave Mr. White a chance to come clean, he took a few of his disciples to a garden, where he prayed to God so hard that it’s said that he sweat blood. Here, Mr. White gave up Jesus to the Roman soldiers, who, after a few hours of trial at the hands of Jewish and Roman leaders, was sentenced to be crucified on the charge that he was undermining Caesar’s regime.

While dying of what is speculated to be eventual suffocation, Jesus was reminded by a Roman soldier stationed at Golgatha by the name of Don Draper that “the world is indifferent.” Don, fancying himself a clever wordsmith, is actually said to be responsible for coining the tongue-in-cheek expression “Good Friday” for this occasion. While there was nothing all that “good” about it, Draper delighted in the irony of the phrase and also thought it would be a great way to sell t-shirts.

Three days after his death, Jesus rose from the dead. While presenting his risen form to friend Mary Magdalene, he was approached by two swarthy men with crossbows. The above clip from former BBDO CD Scott Kaplan depicts what happened next. Credits after the jump.

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No, it’s not the ass-whooping you’re thinking of that he received from back in the day. We can’t really expound this time, though, except to say the timing is perfect with this latest EA Sports spot from San Francisco-based Heat for the former’s Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 installment. Woods, if you didn’t know, won his eighth Arnold Palmer Invitational title yesterday in his home turf of Orlando and reclaimed his throne as the top-ranked golfer in the world in the process. Not sure if he’s doing his own stunts or that his sports star acting skills are on par with his good pal, Roger Federer, but we’re sure those are Arnie’s knuckles cracking. Credits after the jump.

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Well, ad guys and gals, after seven long years we finally have a new album from the 21st century equivalent of late ’90s-era Justin Timberlake, Justin Timberlake.

On Tuesday, JT dropped his third full-length solo album, The 20/20 Experience. While it won’t live up the expectations of those who wanted another FutureSex/LoveSounds, 20/20 is still a very enjoyable listen front to back. For those of you who just want to put on some entertaining jams to dance around to with your friends and/or significant other(s), 20/20 will not fail you. You will smile, you will have fun, and if you’re lucky, you might even feel alive again.

To celebrate the triumphant return of His Timberlake-ness, creative team Amy Matheu and Nick Larson of CP+B Miami have created JT All Night Long, a first-of-its-kind digital experience that allows you to listen to JT’s voice on loop while staring into his soulful eyes via a compilation of music video clips. Do you like your JT vindictive and in the midst of revenge sex? Then watching him record himself while getting his lip bit off from the “Cry Me a River” video may be your thing. What about swaggy zoot suit JT? Well, look no further than his buttoned-up self in “Suit and Tie.” Are you kind of a creep who’s into teenagers? Well then, enjoy some clips from old ‘N Sync videos and stay away from me, you fucking weirdo.

In any case, if you want Justin Timberlake all night long, this is the closest you’ll probably come barring an incredibly elaborate and well-planned kidnapping. For your own sake, I’d suggest this.

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Michael Bolton also told me to tell you that, hey, you’re not the only one enraptured with the pop crooner due to his handsome face and sweet, sultry voice. Michael Bolton’s not going to just drop everything and dedicate his entire day to a phone conversation with you. Why would he? He’s rich, single, and famous. Michael Bolton has more important things to do than talk to one of his many fans about their boring lives. Just, don’t call him, okay? Seriously, back off. Consider this a fair warning.

From Mother NY comes a new campaign for Optimum, the phone, Internet and cable provider that changed their logo last year but reminded you that they weren’t in the logo business because they think you’re stupid. This time around, they’re asking you to call them. Not Michael Bolton. Get it? Because dialing the phone is hard. They think you’ve gotten stupider since your last encounter.

Another new spot from Optimum (above) reminds you that for an optimal TV viewing experience, you should move on your chair or other reclining device in front of the TV. Oh, and I would recommend calling Michael Bolton’s number even though Optimum told you not to. There’s a surprise on the other line. Credits for both spots after the jump.

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So it would seem that the weird Lana Del Rey music video produced by Jaguar was merely a tease foreshadowing bigger things to comes. In fact, Del Ray’s four-minute warble-fest “Burning Desire” is actually the soundtrack to a new short-film that heavily integrates the Jaguar F-Type, Desire.

Starring Golden Globe-winning actor Damian Lewis (Homeland) and Shannyn Sossamon (who’s been kind of quiet since starring in such films as 40 Days and 40 Nights and Wristcutters: A Love Story), Desire is the result of a collaboration with Jaguar, Ridley Scott Associates and agency Brooklyn Brothers (the guys behind the Alec Baldwin/John Krasinski New Era spots). The short film has no official release date beyond “spring,” and a press release describes it as “a story of betrayal, retribution, passion and greed.”

In a statement, Lewis says of his involvement, “Working with the director Adam Smith from Ridley Scott Associates, it promises to be an adventure. Jaguar cars have played some iconic roles in film for many years and I’m looking forward to being the first to drive the F-TYPE in film.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a car company give its marketing a turn for the cinematic. In fact, it’s been over a decade since BMW Films’s Clive Owen-starring series The Hire gained critical acclaim for its groundbreaking approach to car advertising. In 2013, will the same sort of execution move F-Types? I suppose we’ll find out soon.

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The folks at Arnold, which of course underwent a bit of creative restructuring last week, have returned with a new campaign for Jack Daniel’s, veering from the folksier, Americana-themed efforts of past years to highlight the Tennesee Whiskey brand’s longstanding relationship with rock ‘n roll.

Never mind the association with artists like Kid Rock or those insatiable rockers in Motley Crue (the latter of whom, if you remember, even featured a likeness of a JD bottle on the cover of their must-read autobiography, The Dirt). Rock’s alliance with Jack Daniel’s goes way deeper according to this Arnold’s new TV/web effort for the brand called “Legend.”

Photographer Danny Clinch plays a key role in “Legend,” and along with his work (see a behind-the-scenes clip here) and shots in and out of legendary venues, the campaign features everyone from Frank Sinatra to Bad Brains. The tagged :30 clip above lets you scroll though frame-by-frame and you can peep the web component here.

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Nightlife Photography: Is there anything that brings back the memories of sneaking into a clubs underage and looking like a complete idiot more than this? In fact, if you should scrape the archives of sites like Last Night’s Party and The Cobra Snake, you’ll find photos of me looking bewildered and terrified at parties hosted by much cooler people than I. Ah, childhood.

Now, designer underwear brand Bjorn Borg is attempting to catch consumers’ young, wild days with Unforgettable Night, a new online exhibition of nightlife photography happening around the world. Leading the celeb talent is Vogue event photog Pablo Frisk (above), whose last name doubles on as a state of mind. On the site, his photos are formatted as a hyper-linked magazine layout, with the pull quote “Female sexiness—it gives me such a rush” giving readers a glimpse inside of Frisk’s profound perspective on life.

Also featured is Berlin-based photographer Sven Marquardt, who looks absolutely fucking terrifying, doesn’t he? Marquardt and Frisk are the first two of six photographers who will be featured on the site. Interested designer underwear-donning consumers can get their own photos on the site using the hashtag #unforgettablenight on Instagram.

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In her continuing quest to find and consume every last can of Diet Pepsi, Sophia Vergara, again, passes over a suitor, this time eschewing the advances of a handsome fellow diner in favor of, yes, another can of Pepsi.

Created by TBWA, the work continues its association with the Modern Family star.

So that stupid Super Bowl teaser Mercedes did last week featuring Kate Upton? The one in which she takes on the role of “object of desire” to a bunch of guys washing a car while their tongues wag? The one the Parents Television Council stupidly thought was actually too sexy? Yea, that one. Well it had nothing to to with Mercedes’ actual Super Bowl commercial which features a scant six seconds of Upton.

n the actual ad, a man sits in a New Orleans bar looking out at a billboard of the Mercedes CLA. Suddenly, a devilish Willem Dafoe appears and says, “Nice car. Make a deal with me, kid, and you can have the car and everything that goes with it.”

Our boy then imagines life in the fancy, flashy fast lane (complete with Upton and Usher) before returning to reality, noting the affordability of the CLA and turning down Defoe’s deal.

Thoughts? Effective or typical Super Bowl silliness?