Halifax Again (Ice Ice Baby) ISA Advert
This is beginning to feel as though Halifax are deliberately making annoying adverts to piss everyone off. This time in their moronic radio show they are talking about ISAs and the women co-presenter tries to be cool and links the acronym ISA with the Hip-Hop song, ‘Ice, Ice, baby’ by Vanilla Ice. Incidentally, Vanilla Ice is intrinsically not cool being a white rapper. His work is seen as derivative and mainstream but it is exactly the sort of music that might be considered cool if you are a out of touch bank manager who still thinks that Stravinsky’s, Rite of Spring to be a dangerous work.
I hate it when banks to try act cool and ‘down with the kids’. They end up looking like William Hague wearing a baseball cap backwards or David Cameron chasing the popular vote in any television interview. This is how those idiots in the Halifax ad comes across. Not cool, not funny, just embarrassing.
Given the distrust of financial institutions in general, financial products and light hearted entertainment should be kept as far apart as possible. Would you trust your savings with a clown? ISAs are a good thing if you want to save but this advert is terrible.
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Each time this dross enters my peripheral vision, I feel my life-force being sapped along with a subconscious yearning to end my life, but in the most mundane and banal way possible…
So, credence to Halifax for inserting the subliminal suicide message as it’ll save a lot of NHS money with the otherwise babbling, broken-minded masses who inadvertently watch this slop.
Comment by splosher — March 30, 2010 @ 6:08 pm
It IS an incredibly annoying advert, but I have to say that I do find something incredibly sexually alluring about the girl. She’s not especially beautiful, but for me she’s got a really saucy, lustful look playing about her face which implies all sorts of sordid behaviour.
So now I watch it with the sound off, and it’s quite good.
Comment by Burtie — April 1, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
I like it. It’s one of the few adverts I do like.
Comment by Kathy — April 5, 2010 @ 10:33 pm
This is really up there with the most annoyingly moronic adverts of all time. The gormless looking man with the helmet haircut that looks like a wee boy who’s getting to play with giant earphones for the 1st time ever. The slightly older sister type who somehow beleives that by linking Ice Ice Baby with ISA’s will make them seem more credible and understandable to the masses. The stupid headshake dance. The “oh I get it now” look from the retard.
This advert makes me embaressed to work in a bank and if I worked for Halifax my resignation would be on the table tomorrow.
Howard was bad. The singing dancing tellers was awful but this really takes the biscuit.
Why did the government have to make Lloyds buy Halifax and then make us pay for the priviledge just so they could go on making drivel like this?
My one saviour is that ISA will be comming to an end soon so this particular advert will doubtless be consigned to the dustbin, my big fear is that somehow these two “characters” might be used again.
Amazingly someone was paid for this, why oh why??!!!
Comment by Greig — April 7, 2010 @ 12:08 am
What is the girls name in the advert she is lovely I think
Comment by Mark — April 7, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
I love the way she moves her head – it’s my favourite ad – she is so fascinating.
Comment by Teresa Ree — April 7, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
Makes me cringe so much. I am removing all my savings from Halifax and will never bank with Halifax ever again.. PERIOD.
Comment by Jase — April 7, 2010 @ 11:58 pm
And to add to the cringefest that this is, I honestly admit this is absolutely, without doubt the single most awful, irritating, full-of-shit advert I have ever seen. And I mean ever!!!!!
Comment by Jase — April 8, 2010 @ 12:02 am
And I’d like to add; This is absolutely the most awful, irritating, full-of-shit advert I have ever seen. I mean absolutely!
Comment by Jase — April 8, 2010 @ 12:04 am
I think the guy in it is cute! (so will tolerate it for that reason only…)
Comment by Rhian — April 8, 2010 @ 4:21 pm
I like it, always makes me laugh.
Comment by Paul — April 8, 2010 @ 6:41 pm
mark. teresa. paul. and especially burtie who hit the proverbial nail.
ok, the first two set precedent on how not to advertise. and i don’t think i need to go in to why.
but this is much better!
Comment by marshall davies — April 10, 2010 @ 8:38 pm
i would hump her…grow up you people, its a bloody advert
Comment by paul — April 14, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
The actress is called Fliss Walton and she has been in Holby City. Apparently.
Comment by david — April 15, 2010 @ 1:38 pm
i hate hate hate hate this bloomin advert it is the most annoying thing on tv i have to mute the tv and look away if it comes on as i wanna reach in and slap the bird across the mush agree with previous comments about them trying to be down with homies but are so out of touh they would probably get that sayin wrong and think they are being home with the downies!!! they had their heyday with their stupid musical ads god knows it took long enough to stop their staff singing and now they have actors running their fake radio station so lame halifax is the last bank on earth i would use due to their silly ads and no i am not a grumpy oldperson i am 22
Comment by louie b — April 19, 2010 @ 12:23 am
can anyone tell me who the guy is from the Halifax isa advert? he is sooooooo cute and got a gorgeous smile.
Comment by samantha — April 20, 2010 @ 8:12 am
come on someone must know the name of the guy in the advert, please please tell me cos i think he is gorgeous and got a beautiful smile.
Comment by samantha — April 20, 2010 @ 2:04 pm
Everytime I see this ad I feel like getting a baseball bat and smashing my tv up to smithereens!! Her face! and the way her eyes widen and her mouths hanging open then she acts like she’s got “grrove” moving her head back and forth in that indian style – I HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT!!!!
Comment by Noush — May 2, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
I am sure people realise we the public , having bailed out the Halifax , are paying the advertising cretons who came up with this add campaign . When are Halifax going to learn and bin these half-wits . When the woman recites the ice – ice baby line and starts to move her head wouldn’t it be a refreshing change if the bloke said ” no Custard Pie sweetheart and smashed into her smug mush “
Comment by ndc — May 3, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
The comment from Paul sums this up perfectly (grow up you people, it’s a bloody advert) I think Jase should get a life.
Comment by joe — May 4, 2010 @ 10:13 am
I think that young women is lovely . So sexy
Comment by Hartley — May 5, 2010 @ 7:32 pm
I thought the Howard ads were bad. Now this. I have now withdrawn my money from the Halifax. I cannot be associated with a bank that does not take my money seriously.
Comment by Peter — May 10, 2010 @ 11:22 am
Chill out you guys.Jase you should stop watching tv adverts
concentrate on “Britains got——-”
That Lady is the sexiest actress on tv.
Comment by Johnny — May 10, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
I think – come back Howard all is forgiven. I don’t care what the actors look like – it’s rubbish, so corny and irritating. Even if it is just an ad it’s taking up TV time. Still, suppose I could use the time productively and make a cuppa while it’s on!!!!
Comment by Pat — May 11, 2010 @ 4:57 pm
Adverts work if you remember them (Cillit Bang etc). This one is memorable because it taps into a naff memory and makes its target audience smirk. In this case people of a certain age (with the money) who realise that music like that (or even the ‘cool’ version)was always total garbage and not to be taken too seriously – a bit like an advert really.
Comment by Simon — May 31, 2010 @ 7:03 am
Brilliant advert…I would open an ISA with them if I had the money.I rarely fall prey to adverts as I know some of the tricks used but in this instance I give in…as I did with the advert for Skoda Fabia cars made from cake and jelly…I bought one and have had nearly 3 years of excellent motoring so adverts are sometimes good and the halifax girl has IT in spades.
Comment by Martyn — June 12, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
What you are all forgetting is quite simly this, here you are talking about an advert which clearly people like and dislike… Advertising has done its job… its impregnated in your brains.
Comment by ukoilman — June 13, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
I love this ad, i wish they would put it back on.None of the obne since match up..The whole thing is perfect..but that last bit where he struggles to get the words out and then smiles at her..brilliant!!!
Comment by elaine james — June 15, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
You’re not supposed to like the adverts featured. This is the Bad Ads blog, not X-Factor. The clue is in the title. People are not interested in whether you like the advert.
Comment by Terry Vision — June 15, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
Actors
Fliss Walton, Yawar Zaahid, Finlay Robertson
Comment by Ian — June 19, 2010 @ 6:48 pm
What I hate is not just the advert. Its the arrogance of a Bank that has blown its financial load in an almost crimininal manner and then thinks this shite will encourage us to buy into them. What Twunts. By the way the girl in this banal crap looks like she’s on some mind altering chemical.
Comment by C James — June 22, 2010 @ 8:42 am
I think this is a brilliant advert. The chemistry between the two actors is fantastic. It brings a smile to my face every time I see it. Get rid of all the others, this is the one.
Comment by APearce — June 29, 2010 @ 8:46 pm
A free course of psychological treatment is winging its way to you as you read this.
Comment by Terry Vision — June 29, 2010 @ 10:46 pm
‘Hi, I’ve just done a steaming shit in my underpants’ – Agency Creative Director
‘Great, let’s get it on TV’ – Marketing man from Halifax
Comment by Lee — July 2, 2010 @ 9:33 am
I hate it when people say stuff like “Grow up… its just an advert!.” Its not just an advert… its a fucking invasion of my visual senses and privacy!!! Im sat in front of the tv enjoying a quality programme like “Look my dog has a new head”, eating my pot noodle then this fucking annoying advert comes on and the next thing i know my tv is covered in noodles and sauce!! When im sat at home i want to relax….i should have to waist my engery picking up my remote to change the channel every time this unfuny piece of shit comes on! I pay my TV licence therefore should have the right to tell everyone involved with the HAlifax advert to fuck off and get some intelligence cuz they clearly dont have any!!
Comment by Ovbot — July 7, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
and another thing… all you people that are saying that you “like” the advert… are you fucking joking?! Youre just winding us up! You have to be! Please tell me that you are… Behave yourselves you little tinkers!
Comment by Ovbot — July 7, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
I wont be abusive or offensive but I do object to my taxes financing this banal series of adverts. They have achieved their aim in making the advert memorable but the chances are I will have to throw something at the telly if they continue or just watch bbc. Judging by previous comments I am in the majority of viewers who cringe and have to leave the room when its on which seems all the time it must be costing them a fortune! I wouldn’t bank with them just because of the advert and their banking practices seem awful as well, I expect we are paying outrageous bonus to all management.
shad
Comment by shad — July 11, 2010 @ 6:09 am
It is so bad. I freaking can’t stand it.
It shows how diverse the human race is when some people say that they actually like this festering turd.
Comment by Davie — July 13, 2010 @ 6:27 pm
“What you are all forgetting is quite simly this, here you are talking about an advert which clearly people like and dislike… Advertising has done its job… its impregnated in your brains.
Comment by ukoilman — June 13, 2010 @ 3:58 pm”
Yeah it’s impregnated in a sort of “I won’t use that crap then” way.
Comment by Steve Antony Williams — July 15, 2010 @ 2:05 pm
You know, if they stuck to banking and not trying to present shitty radio shows the country may be in a better state…its the most hideous / annoying / crap ad on TV. It makes me feel like screaming every time I see it….and I’m the most placid person on the planet!! Argh….get it off.
Comment by Kerrie — July 19, 2010 @ 4:59 pm
For the love of god – if you’re going to pastiche a fooken radio station plug the bloomin mixer in and point the mic in the right direction not at the bleedin roof!
Comment by Why Lord Why — July 20, 2010 @ 5:34 pm
I hate all the Halifax adverts except this one which brings a smile to my face and she comes accross quite sexy.
Comment by Dennis — July 27, 2010 @ 4:25 pm
I loathe this series of ads from the Halifax……just don’t get them at all…what advertising idiot came up with this campaign. Bring back Howard I say….less irritating by far. The worse one is the two girls and the broken mug spilling the coffee…..what’s that all about?????
Comment by Cherry — August 7, 2010 @ 1:35 am
Halifax’s adverts are the most lame yet annoying adverts on telly by far. The latest one with the two women DJ’s with the handle that breaks on the pretty blonde’s mug makes me wish I had an account with Halifax only so I could close it.
Comment by Gazza — August 7, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
Although the latest Halifax adverts plumb new depths of banality, I think it noble of the Halifax to make air-time available to their most gifted employees, bolstering the confidence of their customers that their money is in good hands. Any company employing low level Down’s syndrome people gets my vote – if not my account. Seriously though – bloodsucking scumbags does’nt seem adequate somehow; but it’ll do.
Comment by Cliff — August 9, 2010 @ 8:10 pm
Christ – all these wannabe advertising gurus saying ‘you remembered it, it’s done its job’ no it hasn’t you daft brushes, that is NOT the ‘point’ of advertising, go and read a textbook about it FFS. Great advertising doesn’t polarise, it unites. This ad is condescending, banal, irritating and totally inappropriate for a bank in this climate.
Comment by Macca — August 11, 2010 @ 10:49 pm
I want this turd off my television. I just hate it. I don’t even understand what it’s meant to be saying-what, people who work for Halifax are annoying twats, with no sense of good music and they spill mugs.
Ooooh, I really must invest my hard earned cash with these muppets….Im more likely to wipe my arse with five pound notes.
Comment by Matt — August 17, 2010 @ 10:12 pm
Hartley, Paul, Marshall. You are surely three of the most inane morons in the country. The advert is just embarrassing and so are you.
Comment by Jamie — August 19, 2010 @ 6:43 pm
Yep well said Macca. Sorry but I can’t stand people who say “you remembered it though so it’s a good advert!” Absolute crap. A good advert makes you want to BUY the product you divvies. All I have seen in regards to the product on this forum is people saying that they are closing their Halifax accounts! What makes this even more unpalatable is this bank would be a forgotten turd if it wasn’t for us. Heres an idea guys: less effort on shit adverts, more effort on getting your balance sheet sorted so we can sell our shares in you and wish you a bon voyage.
Comment by Dan — August 19, 2010 @ 9:44 pm
Am I the only who thinks so – the woman looks absolutely f*****g gormless
No wonder the poor guy looks bemused
Now, as for the blonde in the latest crap ‘Halifax radio’ ad – utterly gorgeous ; I’d open an account with her any day
Comment by Alasdair — August 20, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
This advert makes my ears bleed. It is awful beyond comprehension. Since Halifax started using that idiot Howard I have made a conscious effort not to have anything to do with the Halifax. However is behind the creative thinking for this garbage should be shot (preferably on a Halifax TV advert – I would watch then!)
Comment by Mark — August 22, 2010 @ 7:29 am
It’s nauseatuing. And please do not compare ‘The Rite Of Spring’ with Vanilla Ice or indeed any other moronic crapper.
One is a work of great complexity , the other like this advert and indeed all (c)rap moronic drivel.
Comment by Brian — October 8, 2010 @ 5:49 pm
It was not a comparison. The Rite of Spring was the cause riots when it was performed for the first time; it truly was a dangerous work, however, to the contemporary listener it is not the cause of outrage.
Comment by Terry Vision — October 8, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
This ad is proper irritating sh*t,i remember the one with the over enthusiastic fat slags and thought that most staff at halifax must look & behave like that(the one who opened my account certainly did). I was surprised to find that most of the staff in my branch are sexy as.
Comment by Gav — October 8, 2010 @ 10:57 pm
This set of ads is beyond lame! I can’t believe anyone was paid for this shit-fest!! Don’t blame the actors in the ad, blame the advertising execs and the out of touch bods at Halifax who agreed that this crap was worth spending money on. Can you imagine being in the room when they were thinking up these “hilarious” scripts – bunch of DICKS squared!!
Comment by Wavey — October 12, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
I wish the Halifax would get the message and just leave us all in peace. I just can’t bear these Halifax ads they are nauseating and so condescending. Banks are not popular, not liked and certainly not young, hip and connected to THE PEOPLE. Surely the advertising agency that were hired to develop it have been paid enough to advise when something has a negative impact on consumers….oh no silly me advertising agencies live in cloud la la land as much as banks do don’t they?
Comment by Sam — October 12, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
The ad itself is bad but I must admit that I’ve seen much worse. No real concept behind it, nothing except this brilliant chemistry between them two. I don’t find any of them super-sexy or anything but there is something in their smiles and the way she moves (dorky, I know…) that puts smile on my face every time I see it…Don’t give a sliced crap about halifax, never was and not likely to become their customer.
Comment by Pawel — October 12, 2010 @ 10:55 pm
I hate this advert so much it takes away my will to live! What is it with these Halifax morons? I bet they truly think they are tuning in to ‘the kids’….prats!
Comment by Renny Proudlove — October 13, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
I’m glad its not just me. I hate this ad with a passion. Ihave to change channel. It disappeared for a while but I cant seem to avoid it lately. Im thinking of changing bank but this series of ads has put me right off Halifax for poisoning my TV viewing.
Comment by Ashbury — October 15, 2010 @ 11:53 pm
I am loving all the comments left here that are clearly written in a desperate ‘detraction management’ attempt by whatever dreary creative agency created the horrific crap. Or maybe Fliss Walton’s mum.
Comment by fencemaster — October 24, 2010 @ 9:38 pm
I would like to punch that woman full force in the face.
Comment by Ben — October 27, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
I hate her.
Comment by Anthony — October 27, 2010 @ 10:19 pm
I don’t think this is bank managers trying to be cool, this is marketing guru’s knowing that people would end up saying “isa isa baby” to be annoying, just like everybody has an annoying friend that sings “go compare”
Comment by Lee R — October 29, 2010 @ 8:39 am
Following on from my previous post, I absolutely hate the advert, it makes me want to punch both of them, however it does make me think about ISA’s and when I want to look for an ISA I know I will automatically type Halifax ISA into google. That’s the power of marketing.
Is the advert good, well yes, if you’re halifax.
Comment by Lee R — October 29, 2010 @ 8:42 am
Firstly, anyone defending this advert should be excluded from our species. This advert is an absolute trainwreck. Saying you enjoy it means you are either sadistic or part of the appalling statistics which their market research is trying to milk.
It is not just an advert, it’s an insult to our intelligence and I for one am sick and tired of it. Also, she is NOT sexy; anyone that moronic surely has some sort of disability, and saying you have the hots for that idiot bouncing around to ISA ISA only places you one rung lower than the rest of our species.
Comment by Alex Penn — November 1, 2010 @ 12:32 pm
What is wrong with you guys. this girl has got what is generally called sex appeal. She’s not a raving beauty, but boy is she pretty.
Comment by John R — November 2, 2010 @ 11:29 pm
This advert is so widely hated because it’s just so patronising. Are we really meant to believe that Halifax staff and offices are fitted out like a radio station? And what’s so appealing about that anyway ?? What about telling us something about interest rates or something financial ? Answer, cos there’s nothing to choose between any of the banks when it comes to product, they’re all crap. We’re just supposed think it’s attractive to bank at Halifax cos staff are funny amateur djs. Christ Almighty, no wonder the world went to the financial abyss !!!!!!
Comment by Paul White — November 3, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
I always found the “Howard” adverts bloody irritating, and these seem totally irrelevant. That said, I think the blonde using the Uri Gellar skills to break the mug is very cute – oh yeah baby!… does anyone know who she is? (her phone number would be cool)… sad I know…
Comment by Steve — November 12, 2010 @ 10:30 am
I’ve tried to analyse this morbidly fascinating advert, in particular as to why that woman actor’s bog-eyed, repulsively leering, cringeworthy neck-dancing performance makes me want to commit unspeakable acts of violence against my tv set whenever this crock of shite appears on screen. After long deliberation and deep thought, I’ve come to the realisation that there are in fact two key subliminal factors working on the viewer in this ad – 1. the nauseous colour of the new Halifax uniform, and 2. the unshakable impression she gives that her breath smells real bad.
Comment by Dave M — December 6, 2010 @ 11:33 am
I have a mortgage with this lot, and it really pisses me off knowing my hard earned cash is being used to subsidise this total crap, what dickhead on the halifax board agreed to this shit . sack the prat .or give me the advertising job I
Comment by Tom — February 11, 2011 @ 10:40 pm
I had a cash isa with the halifax.It paid next to nothing evn with no tax to pay.I coulod strangle this pair of idiots
Comment by ric — March 1, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
Funny how the majority of the people who like this advert also felt some sort of sexual attraction the the actors in it.
I actually Googled “annoying Halifax adverts” because I hate these new adverts so much. I don’t know what kind of sense of humour (or lack thereof) you need in order to enjoy these adverts, but I always mute the TV when they come on now. I used to switch the station, but I’ve missed so many good promgrammes by switching over to escape the Ad and forgetting to switch back. Kill them all, I say. If I had money in their bank, I’d probably have changed banks by now. All of us who hate the Ads are not overreacting. Those of you who can’t see that have mental issues that should be seen to by a registered professional.
Comment by AllyBongo — March 17, 2011 @ 2:58 pm
Like many on here I’m finding adverts increasingly intellectually offensive. This advert is by far one of the most supremely patronising and irritating piles of drivel the Halifax has ever commisioned. What have you been smoking to think this is remotely endearing.
I have hated all halifax adverts with a growing passion and find modern advertising so painfully patronising (especially banks) that it seems like corporations really do think we are all dumbed down retards who don’t want to (or are incapable) deal with the nasty complex world of personal finance. They want us to take products and services that will make our lives ‘easy’ and ‘simple’ while stabbing us with a massive financial knife in the back.
Comment by Mark Mitchell — March 17, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
The United Nations Special Resolution passed yesterday “Extreme force allowed to stop those tossing Halifax adverts – they represent a danger to the sanity of the whole human race”. A case where “shock and awe” completely justified.
Comment by s kerry — March 19, 2011 @ 12:15 pm
The girl is a real tease. What’s the advert about? No normal guy is even looking at Halifax, Harrods, or Halfords, he’s looking at the girl, so don’t give me all this intellectual tosh about “patronising” & complex world of personal finance. Come you you guys – get a life !!
Comment by Alan — March 21, 2011 @ 11:20 pm
Having worked in many media agencies I fail to see what brief this banal
Piece of advertising fulfils. If it’s intention is to achieve brand recall at any cost then the
Negative associations far outweigh any gains made to build the brand in the brains of consumers.
The ad is at best patronising and at worst diabolical, but some rather unimaginative creative director will somewhere be justifying this bucket of leechate as a credible piece of work that has got them talked about. No you idiot, you have just stripped the final shred of dignity from an already naff brand
Comment by Raddy — March 21, 2011 @ 11:39 pm
Jesus wept – it’s back!
After months of undergoing emergency psychological therapy and a period of extended convalescence in order to overcome the deep mental scars wrought by viewing the initial onslaught of The Advert From Hell, I am currently sliding into a state of suicidal despair having seen the reappearance of this televisual and aural atrocity. Quietly sipping my nightcap last night and waiting for the ads to finish I was aghast to see Retard Man appear with his mic, and could only watch in horror in the full knowledge that That F@@kin Woman would pollute my tv screen again with her Bog-Eyed stare (why does she gawp at the top of his head?)before launching into the Neckdance.
Nightmare upon nightmare…..
Comment by Dave M — March 22, 2011 @ 6:48 pm
I think that actually it’s pretty clever.A great play on words and,be honest will you,she can move a bit cant she? Very cool fun.
Comment by alan — March 23, 2011 @ 7:13 pm
I hate the woman in this advert. I only have to look at her face to feel the rage boil inside me. Her stupid gormless face, the way she moves her head from side to side like she’s having some kind of a seizure, and in particular, the open-mouthed look of delight on her face as she revels in her 5 minutes of fame -a look commonly seen on the faces of complete and utter cunts. Anyone who thinks otherwise shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Comment by Stefanie — March 24, 2011 @ 10:48 am
@Dave M – The Neckdance. Brilliant.
Comment by Stefanie — March 24, 2011 @ 10:49 am
That wasn’t very ladylike,you clearly feel passionate about this.Perhaps people think your dancing isn’t cool like hers and thats the real reason your being so vitriolic.Ok,so she’s clearly not to everybodies liking,but neither is your language.
Comment by alan — March 24, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
could you please answer a question Are any of the actors related in any way please as they look as if they are Many Thanks W. Groves
Comment by bill groves — March 25, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
what a load of crap, I have a mortgage with this lot, so it is my money they are using to pay an talentless unattractive female and a geek actor to piss everyone off
Comment by jeff — March 26, 2011 @ 8:19 am
AGGGGHHHH! Reminds me of the fat little geezer and the ghastly bespectacled african guy – all horrible and something to vote on for the worst ads of all time – this one is right up there! God help us all!
Comment by Dave — March 26, 2011 @ 9:31 pm
No,none are related.Though not a prerequisite,an operational consideration according to e.u. initiatives,loose though,because self regulating.She’s clearly having fun doing this.she is paid well,in a stolen moment you’d kiss her,she’ fine.She’s great.
Comment by alan — March 26, 2011 @ 10:11 pm
The Halifax deserves to go out of business for inflicting this complete dross on the nation and the world. Which ad agency came up with this? Hands up? Does anyone know? Hate mail should be sent their way to force them out of business too.
Comment by artgarfheinkel — March 29, 2011 @ 5:49 pm
Is it me or does she look about 40. you can see the wrinkles on her face. and the eye bags. how she is supposed to personify coolness is beyond me? and do they have to play it for months on end. I think we got it the first time…ISA ISA baby…good gag….
on a different note, any one seen the jacamo ad?
Comment by freddy — March 30, 2011 @ 12:08 am
Jacamo? yeah,class!
Comment by alan — March 30, 2011 @ 3:46 pm
And here I was thinking it was just me with an irrational hatred of this woman! I don’t know why, but she just makes me want to through Tea in her face. She is on par with that ‘Go Compare’ cretin or the ‘Up your Viva’ horse impressionist.
Comment by Rebecca — April 2, 2011 @ 6:13 pm
I have looked for this web page. I am trying to recall the last time i specifically needed one, individiual web page so much.
Firstly, this ISA ad is not alone. The equally annoying ‘mug’ ad needs to be included in the firing range of bile.
Granted the blonde girl in the mug ad is quite attractive but the positives end there. Using the Lightening Seeds song is as forced, obvious and uninspired as Ice ice baby, it hinges on the one ‘oh, lucky you’ line as being in any way relevant.
Before we even get that far, what’s the concept ? The Halifax crew (fake) have been given the morning off to ‘go down the studio’ and knock up some radio ads (in uniform). For a start it’s a fricking tv ad, i haven’t had the pleasure of hearing the radio ad but i’ll assume there isn’t one.
So one bald monkey is given the mixer desk and the other (sexy one) does the talking. They’re clearly good two shoe kinds of girls and did their homework before arriving. They picked a song to read the mindless prose out to, it’s relevant because ‘the customers/units are lucky, because we told them they are, so when Broudie sings ‘oh lucky you’ we’ll turn it up’ ‘So it gets the message across in a fun catchy way’ The theory isn’t entirely flawed but f*** me what about the people with brains ? As with so many ads, what sort of thoughtless, drooling imbeciles do they think most of us are ? It’s insulting, it’s why i’m here. If these people insist on suggesting i’m a feckless automaton then at some point i’m going to have to tell them that, actually, I am paying attention and see them for the monkeys they are.
ANyway so they get mugs of tea cos they’re soo normal and just as it’s all going to plan guess what ? That thing that never, ever happens happens, the handle comes off the mug and makes a big mess. AAAA HA AH HAHA AHHAHAH
A.. girls (wipes tear).. just wanna have fun..
If I was a girl i’d be even more insulted. Bring back Howard.
As for ISA ISA, well what needs to be said really. The bloke looks like a adult scarecrow still styling his hair like a teenage scarecrow. A face for radio surely. So he’s supposed to be the straight-laced one, focussing on the message this time and she’s the wacky ‘cool’ one let loose on the music. At least he’s not trying to make out he/the bank are there to do anything other than flog ISAs. She on the other hand is clearly the character of the office, she drinks pints cos she’s one of the lads
but cooler. For a start it’s not an ISA ISA it’s an ISA. The head wiggle and so on speaks for itself and the final bit where he finally loses his professional composure tops an already appalling display of acting.
So fake and such a bad attempt at normal.
I hear she was an actress, what happened.
Thank you for this opportunity to openly dislike these ads.
Comment by Rob — April 3, 2011 @ 12:28 pm
This ISA ISA is the current advert that has me reaching for the channel changer every time. Al Qaeda, please you have my blessing to blow up this supremely annoying dross of an advert!
Previous hates of mine are the Dettol scare tactics “FACT” adverts and the earliest InjuryLawyers4U with that ghastly shrill woman demanding this and that, coming over like someone on the make and on the take who’d sue someone (a soft target probably) for looking at her. Just made me shout: “LOSE IN COURT!” every time that ad came on. The present InjuryLawyers4U ads are miles better than that abomination at least.
Comment by Ralph — April 4, 2011 @ 7:54 pm
Come to think of it I’ve thought of a series of ads still running I hate more: those celebrities like Parky, Cilla and June Whitfield pushing those over-50s plans to gullible and vulnerable older folk.
Are these celebs that desperate for exposure that they need to sign up for these vultures?
Guess what, you’re “guaranteed to be accepted.” Make you feel good, doesn’t that? Of course you’re guaranteed to be accepted because the product’s a TOTAL RIP OFF!
Comment by Ralph — April 4, 2011 @ 8:45 pm
very very shit, i had to google this to find this forum for ranting!
i cant really add anymore to the brilliant comments they sum up how i feel,
one thing i will say is,
does anyone remember the Halifax adverts in the early-mid 1990s where they made a whole house out of people to the song ‘Our House’ by Crosby, Stills and Nash, and a bridge made of people with the song ‘Moon River’,
they were truly different adverts and very creative for the time in comparison to others.
Halifax should really go back to something clever and not just pure annoying.
The very first Howard adverts were a novelty i thought and amusing at the time but soon became too desperate and doing too many songs they just became annoying and you wondered which song they would destroy in their next adverts.
The DJ/radio show idea though has been very annoying from the very start.
I dont even watch much tv, when i do i always see these adverts. I swear they know when im watching tv and plan it just to annoy me.
For God’s sake Halifax – go back to your routes and think of something creative again or will want people to join you, surely that latter point is the basics of all advertisement????
Comment by Paul — April 7, 2011 @ 11:27 am
Bunny boiler if ever I’ve seen one. That long gaze is creepy.
Comment by Happyeater — April 7, 2011 @ 6:36 pm
lets talk jacamo people?
Comment by alan — April 8, 2011 @ 9:51 pm
Paul – Spot on. That’s exactly the Halifax ads story in a nutshell.
Comment by Ralph — April 9, 2011 @ 9:37 am
A brief message to those who say ‘Calm down, it’s only an advert’ (or something like that):
Sadly, these companies invest millions to produce these things for the sole purpose of attracting YOUR MONEY. They want you to buy their stuff, and they have an obligation to request you do so in an effective and (arguably) artistic manner. Since their requests enter without permission into our homes through our television screens it makes little sense to me to cause aggravation and annoyance. If their reasoning is that thick people will buy their stuff because they make their company and its offerings so thoroughly annoying and easy to remember; blasting some of the most attrocious, horrible and vulgar nonsense over and over and over again into our living rooms, then that reasoning is worth questionning.
I resent the Halifax inflicting this appalling drivel upon me almost as much as I despise 118118 for destroying my ability to watch movies on ITV2, 3 and 4. Considering the programming on those channels however, particularly that ‘Essex’ crap and other fly-on-the-wall garbage featuring individuals with all the charm of sick-covered roadkill, because they target thick people with IQs probably so low that one would need to dig for them then it’s not all that surprising that they exist. What it doesn’t do is make it any easier for people who don’t require books to be explained with pictures, or those capable of making their own packed lunch, to tolerate them without boiling with rage, all the while fighting the urge to break stuff.
Life is hard enough without these pieces of shit in the advertising agencies producing these affronts to basic civilisation and culture, creativity and common decency. Thus, they are fair game. If they wish to enter my home, call me thick and bug the living piss out of me, then I’m quite happy to vent my spleen herein. I will regularly pledge to never, ever, ever buy their stuff, and I’ll encourage others not to buy their stuff too.
And so, please, vent your spleen. Feel free to focus your rage on sites like this and to tell these advertising fuckbuckets and their clients to treat us with a bit of sodding respect.
That said, perhaps we’re in the minority here. Maybe the majority of the viewing public are quite happy to be herded into the Jeremy Kyle holding pen of the dumbed-down and stupid. Perhaps the vulgarity and the repetition works. After all, thick people watch television too. I truly am very saddened by that.
Comment by No stranger to the P45 — April 9, 2011 @ 11:50 am
I am just so, so angry.
Comment by Pete — April 9, 2011 @ 6:46 pm
I turn the sound off as soon as my senses tell me the incredibly irritating advert is on. What a pitty that these type of adverts made their way into our screens, and what a shame that they work…. (otherwise they would have stopped them a long time ago.) I too, will boycott Halifax as much as I can.
Comment by alex — April 10, 2011 @ 12:30 am
Er,Jacamo?
Comment by alan — April 10, 2011 @ 4:33 pm
Ok Alan, Jacamo. I dont actually mind these ads because they know they’re going to be rubbish and they are broaching the rarely tackled issue of selling clothes to men, particularly fat(ish) men of which I could claim to be one.
It’s a cheap ad for a website, i’ve seen better ads courtesy of teams on The Apprentice but it’s unpretentious so i dont mind.
For the same reason I didn’t mind the webuyanycar ads at first until they introduced
1) the ‘fur deal’ bit
2) the ‘hee hee’ bit
both of which I have to listen out for just so I can incrementally hate it.
Current annoyances;
Songs – The ad which seemingly rips a whole chunk of ‘the time of your life’ by Green Day but isn’t actually them, apparently it could also be ripping off a Japanese composer but i’m proudly uncultured.
There’s the ad with Alex Winston’s ‘Choice notes’ which sounds so shrill and awful i had to look it up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokvHRjpRK4 but this version is actually really good. I hate it when they hack tracks to bits to cram them into ads, having said that alot of great music is brought to the fore by ads, i’m thinking Bibio – Lovers’ Carvings
I agree with ads intruding in our lives, cultural pollution is a term not used enough however I am bizarrely addicted to listening to the 118118 japanese ad which may or may not be called sushi squabble and may or may not be found here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgfU_Tkb4mQ
I think this site is great and is clearly helping a few people become happier, I wish there was a forum list to let people introduce new ads for extensive public criticism.
Reading the bit from PAul above reminded me of the Virgin ads with the manc bloke reading ‘Our house’ by Madness, how maddeningly shit. Who thinks poetry is the answer to ad makers problems ? specifically read by northeners, Lurpak being another
Comment by Rob — April 11, 2011 @ 11:29 am
@Rob – the idea of an advert forum is an excellent complement to the blog. I will see what I can do.
Comment by Terry Vision — April 11, 2011 @ 11:45 am
This advert has the ability to wind me up, close all your Halifax accounts now,,they truely stink!
Comment by Martin — April 11, 2011 @ 11:26 pm
Nice one Terry, can i nominate the Sanex ‘four rights of skin’ ad for a start.
I’d also like to mention Muller’s hijacking of ‘i got life’ which now makes me cringe whilst throwing up.
Cheers
Comment by Rob — April 14, 2011 @ 8:49 am
This advert is a betrayal of the human spirit. It is a toxic, cringing piece of propaganda. Trying humanise the ANTI-HUMAN forces of finance that have brought civilisation to its knees. The idea that these characters are ZANY as opposed to amoral psychopaths is a CON. Everything about it is revolting and negative-those involved need long term public,psycho-sexual humiliation to help a nation deal with the post traumatic stress of financial rape.
Comment by CSKOLIK — April 15, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
“And so, please, vent your spleen. Feel free to focus your rage on sites like this and to tell these advertising fuckbuckets and their clients to treat us with a bit of sodding respect.”
What, in return for the overdraft you so graciously gave them?
Comment by Stan Pomeray — April 15, 2011 @ 8:57 pm
Awful adverts. It would be more realistic if all the banks showed sharks swimming around, eating money.
Comment by KL — May 9, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
Horrible advert. There is nothing worse than a bank trying to treat you like a friend. Nice to see where my pound a day overdraft fee is going. Cheers mate.
Comment by nbake — May 30, 2011 @ 7:20 pm
The best thing about these adverts is that they cause folk to post comments like those above so many of which have me laughing out loud. With many strong feelings so opposite to each other I can see how wars will always be with us. By the way I am very very old but the nodding head girl strangely appeals to me ! What’s an ISA by the way ?
Comment by Geoff — June 11, 2011 @ 6:23 pm
I can’t believe some of you men here are calling the woman in this advert ‘attractive’ and ‘fine’. I mean, seriously? I’m not big-headed, but if this woman is considered of above average attractiveness, then I am a fucking supermodel.
Perhaps I’m being harsh – maybe if I saw her walking down the street and had never seen her in this abomination of an advert (and therefore had no prior knowledge of ‘the neckdance’) I wouldn’t rate her so badly. But surely once you see what she is CAPABLE OF, any sexual attraction you may have initially felt towards her would dissolve instantly.
In other news, the new InjuryLawyers4U advert is hysterical. “We’re lawyers. We wear suits AND ties because we’re such massive bloody lawyers. Walking down the street looking serious and lawyer-ish is what we do best. Let us help you sue the shit out everyone!” Amazing. It’s so bad, that it’s almost good. Almost.
Comment by Stefanie — June 15, 2011 @ 3:06 pm
Stefanie, I think I’m falling in love with you.
Comment by Flook — June 28, 2011 @ 5:19 pm
I cant believe this shit has been on TV over a year O_o
Comment by sheree — July 1, 2011 @ 7:18 pm
Someone’s pulled..
Keep up the bile people, revolution must surely follow.
Ad updates from me;
Anyone else noticed that cat food adverts and make up adverts are starting to sound very similar?
While I would accept a marriage proposal from Rachel Weiss (on the basis she kept her mid-atlantic voice to a low hush) I am disappointed to here her list her guide to staying young, keeping ‘my mind, my body, my curiosity..’ active. Your curiosity ? You keep young by checking things out ? Am I alone in picturing a cat looking in a previously unseen box ? The truth of course is that Rachel Weiss stays young by earning money through making other women feel old and therefore unworthy.
Conversely there is the ad with the model-superwoman who returns from the shops to her darling little white dog. She seems to rely on it a little too much for conversation and interaction and ultimately I feel sorry for them both.
Further to someone else’s post regarding the humanising of banks i’d like to say that I couldn’t agree more. Banks and insurers are on a necessary charm offensive so that the world doesn’t put 2 and 2 together and realise that they really run the country and are watching it being stripped down while they continue with their profits, bonuses and dividends. Not technically anything to do with ads but important in my eyes.
Comment by Rob — July 5, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
i can not listen to it anymore, i mute the telly because it annoys me so much!! i didnt read all the comments so sorry if anyone else said this but…who came up with the advert!?? why would you just film the making of a radio advert?!
Comment by sam — September 20, 2011 @ 6:17 pm
Actually had to find a forum to offload!! Have to mute the telly and close my eyes every time a Halifax advert comes on. Now it’s Beatles songs. Make it stop
Comment by Fiona — September 27, 2011 @ 9:46 pm
These adverst by Halifax have got so damn annoying im closing my bank account with them. Its total waste of money from a bank thats been bailed out at the expense of the taxpayer. Ive had enough of them as bank period. so im switching to First direct or Co-op. Halifax take the hint your just annoying the S**T out of people now
Comment by Mike — October 25, 2011 @ 9:02 pm
God,how I hate the Halifax bank,I,d love to close my account but I can’t pay my overdraft off.They have closed all the local branches and now I have to drive mile’s to pay in my wage check and how can we forget the cruel ‘poor person tax’of £1 per day overdraft fee,not content with all that they keep tormenting with these awful ads.That one with them all singing ‘I’ll be there’,like hell they will! Take it from me all the Halifax will do for you is give you a good hard kick when you’re down
Comment by Derek E Smith — January 11, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
watch the bbc, there are no adverts there for you. Stop dissing the Halifax. All banks will have something you don’t like so stop whinging about it. I stumbled over this forum as i’m in the latest halifax advert and i’m proud of it. If you work and had the opportunity to be in an advertising campaign you would not moan about it being a waste of money, you would have a laugh. Bank staff have to take too much rubbish these days with redundancy and changes as it is without the general public giving us grief all the time. about. And just because people don’t like banks they think all common decency can be dropped when speaking to a bank worker, as bank workers dont have feelings, and it is their job to put up with abuse.
Comment by Keira Knightly — February 20, 2012 @ 10:35 am
I no longer watch television at all because of mindless adverts like the Halifax ad and it is great. As for ‘whinging’, given that this is a forum for ranting about annoying adverts, I would say it is the perfect place for people to air their feelings about the Halifax. I can’t say that I have seen the latest advert, but if it is anything like the previous one with the moronic radio presenters, I would think twice before adding it to your CV.
On a more serious point, I don’t think that it is just that people don’t like bankers per se. There are a great many branch staff who are perfectly nice, just doing a job and don’t get fantastically well paid. However, it has been said that a banker is someone that will lend you an umbrella when it is sunny but will demand it back when it begins to rain and this sums up precisely how bankers are perceived, particularly investment bankers. They as corporations are seen as greedy, out of touch and unrepentant for largely (but not entirely) causing an economic crisis that we are all (except the banks) are paying for. There is a lot of anger towards the banking industry. That is why bankers are being abused and it doesn’t help by making stupid adverts that treat their customers like idiots who cannot understand the concept of an ISA without relating it to a Vanila Ice jingle.
Comment by Terry Vision — February 21, 2012 @ 1:50 am
I guess I’d been lulled into a false sense of security,I’d not seen a Halifax advert for weeks.There I was watching the news and the ads came on,a young couple looking for a house,the trials and tribulations they go through and… this dreadful singing in the background.A horrible sense of Deja-vu swept over me,before I could switch channels I had to witness those drones in that x formation singing their hymn of praise to bankers,I’m begging you Halifax,please stop,I can’t take any more.
Comment by Derek E Smith — September 2, 2012 @ 7:42 pm
Back just to check out a valuable site providing much needed relief for so many.
I note Keira Knightly’s complaint with our complaints. Firstly, it’s not personal. In the same way banks aren’t being personal when they rip us off for any number of miss-sold products or when they make families homeless. If you dont like being tainted by the banking industry then dont contribute to it. When I have an issue with a bank I know better than to take it out on a member of their staff, if I have an issue with an ad then I come here.
This site needs to be brought to Twitter people..
Comment by Rob — September 4, 2012 @ 8:27 pm