[Didjeridu] Wendy's Didge Commercial Spot

[Tim Whittemore]

I'm sure that some Indigenous Australians (even guys not from Arnhemland) will be upset by this commercial. It does clearly use didj in an ad designed to sell Wendy's burgers. It doesn't make sense having a guy playing didj in a freezer on a Wendy's commercial. But most commercials these days are highly removed from a simple straightforward message - modern marketing can be freaky and scary really... but...

...for me, I found it humorous. It is very Python-esque. hints of the cheese-shop skit. 

I always perk up whenever I hear didj in any media. I have for decades. Rarely, though, is the didj ever so clear and present as it is in this Wendy's commercial. That always gets me wide-eyed, wide-eared and grinning with delight. For example, Outback Steakhouse uses didj in almost all its commercials, but it sounds like a plastic didj sample that is looped and buried real soft in the mix. Add the fact that you never actually see the didj in these commercials, and its no surprise that I still come across thousands of people while busking who don't even recognize that they HAVE actually heard didj before. 

Though they opted for a more colorful didj rather than the more traditional ones they had available, this Wendy's commercial does 2 rare things. First, it CLEARLY brings forth the sound of a didj in a national commercial. Secondly, and VERY rare, it SHOWS a didj. 

It doesn't make any clear connections to Aboriginal Australia, but, then again, as odd as the commercial may be, it is designed to sell cheap fast food - or at least intended to produce that result.

I gather that for most people seeing this commercial, they will just react with a "what the hell?". There will also most likely be at least a handful of people who see the commercial, then just have to find out what that wild instrument is, and start down the path of didj-exploration. For some that will include learning what they can of the culture from which the didj came.

Then again, for some, the commercial will absolutely offend.

For me, I'm still excited and giddy over a national commercial using didj so clearly, and as bizarre as the commercial is, I rather enjoyed the fusion of totally unrelated elements in the commercial. Honestly, if I ever worked at a Wendy's, I could be certain that many of my dreams would have a very similar look to this commercial.

As for offering free frosties to the Aboriginal community...man! I wouldn't wish such torture on anyone. 



Tim Whittemore Didjiridu and Tuba Liquid Didj http://www.bigblowandthebushwackers.com to hear some clips: http://www.cdbaby.com/bigblow ________________________________> From: mistergloom at hotmail.com> To: didjeridu at music.mills.edu> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:54:42 -0400> Subject: Re: [Didjeridu] Wendy's Didge Commercial Spot>> Per,> I agree with you regarding the motivation and message in using a Didgeridoo for the Wendy's commercial, it doesn't make any sense.> "I gotta say, that Wendy's commercial is one of the dumbest I have seen in a long time....makes no sense whatsoever, to me at least......I must be outta the "commercial" loop;-)."> I saw this ad nearly a month ago and was concerned that this fast-food Corporation would exploit this iconic Aboriginal instrument as a marketing ploy. Not only does it make absolutely no sense but I feel that the Didgeridoo is once again being misused for dishonerable gain. Are the Indigenous Australians getting any free Frosties out of this deal? Has anyone heard reactions from the Aboriginal Community on this abuse? (I'm not tryin' to be a bring-down, I am just feelin extra-sensitive regarding Indigenous issues these days.)> Jason (from the East Coast)> ________________________________> Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! Try it!