15 year-old Nygel Jones looks at the hilarity of Old Spice’s new MomSong commercial and what it means to a teen guy.
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Old Spice launched a new commercial that is creeping out some people. In the commercial, mothers sing about how their boys are becoming men, thanks to the Old Spice deodorant and body spray. As a guy, I found the commercial quite funny! While it may not convince me to go out and buy their body spray, it sure gave me a good laugh. What’s so wrong about some teen guys going off with their girlfriends, with their over-protective mothers creeping up on them? Well…then again….
Old Spice managed to poke fun at a mom’s biggest fear: her son growing up. After watching the commercial with my mom, we both had a good laugh, especially since the commercial did nail it. My mom has her moments when she acts like my growing up is a big deal but thankfully she’s not lurking everywhere.
Or is she…just kidding.
I’ve got to hand it to Old Spice, they managed to execute this type of mother/son relationship in a funny way. Moms, don’t worry over this. This commercial won’t lead us to think that if we use the product, we’ll suddenly be so mature that we won’t need you. Also, we’re not thinking that using a body spray will all of a sudden make us more attractive to girls.
I’ve been reading comments about this commercial, and I can’t understand why people are complaining about it. The fact that some people got upset over it makes me think that they have no sense of humor. Honestly, I don’t have any friends with moms like that and if any guy has a mom who would go to those extremes…scary. I will be having nightmares about the mom in the janitor suit. Am I the only one?
Whoever came up with the idea for that commercial is a genius. Well played, Old Spice.
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While I agree that the ad is amusing, I feel that people who were offended by the ad maybe were offended by the underlying message which plays on stereotypes of masculinity in our culture. What Old Spice is doing, as a marketing technique, which is certainly effective, is saying by using Old Spice adolescence will be more “manly”. This means, smelling, acting, looking and playing the part. In mainstream culture that means heterosexuality, it shows young men with young women. No, I am not saying that Old Spice is anti-gay by any means and I also think it smells wonderful,… Read more »
Don’t you think they’re also making something of a meta joke about selling “masculinity” in the first place? That’s sort of what Old Spice has been doing in their ads the last few years.
Our son is now 27 and to me, he’s grown up in a lot of ways. My wife (his mother) on the other hand knows that he’s grown up but he’s her little boy as my daughter will always be my little girl. We fast forward commercials so I had to play this one on the computer, my wife belly laughed and said “yup.” Neither of us found it offensive, just funny. I still have a bottle of the original Old Spice that was my dads ….times have really changed.
Great piece, Nygel! I agree. Maybe because I’m a mom, I thought it was funny and it reminded me not to do anything too creepy to my sons and their dates when they get older.
Really funny commercial.
Indeed it was a funny commercial, and I appreciate the feedback!
Nygel, I am the mother of two sons, 21 and 26. I think the commercial is hilarious, and it does make me mist up a little, as well. I think they nailed what we mothers secretly FEEL, even though we are too cool to actually stalk our sons. (We wish we could, though, and chase away any girls that might approach.)
I’m twice your age and I think it’s hilarious. Weird yes, offensive no.
Haha, I agree. I still can’t comprehend why someone would find it offensive, but to each their own.
Nygel, Congrats on this. So happy to have a teen male voice joining the conversation on this website. I hope we hear from you again.
Thank you! I would be more than happy to join in more on this website.