Are you sitting? If not, please do so. We are not kidding when we say that these three videos are a little weird. Actually, the first at the top of this article is not so strange, except for a shaky Norwegian who looks strikingly similar to Tormund Giantsbane from Game of Thrones. As for the other two, how do you feel about fish? Specifically, salmon? Raw salmon? Yes, please sit down.
So first a little background story. Super Bowl LV is on February 7, and although it has been a bit tempered this year, COVID is still a problem, but some car manufacturers are still producing some funny ads. General Motors has released its EV-focused ad in an amusing piece with Will Ferrell basically declaring warfare against Norway, which sells more electric vehicles per capita than any other country in the world. Its mission is to crush them with ultium-powered EVs from GM, and in a typical Will Ferrell style, irrationally fierce antics follow.
The ad fell on February 3rd. On February 5, we heard of a response from Norway, or rather a response from Audi on behalf of Norway. Norwegians seem to be a little put off by GM’s sudden desire to crush Norway’s current rule as a leader in EV sales. Admittedly, Will Ferrell could literally hit Norway from a fragile globe to be a bit threatening, but that’s not the point. The point is that the Audi e-Tron is the best selling EV in Norway. You see where it’s going? No you really do not see where it is going.
The first video was straightforward and entertaining, and even included a shattered globe, similar to GM’s ad. And yes, this is Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju who is indeed a proud Norwegian. We try to save the world he proclaims at the end of the video, but then we go to video number two (above) which explains how Norwegians fight. Ferrell may have an angry streak, but how will he fare against a screaming salmon attack?
But wait, there’s more.
The final video also contains salmon. Salmon is apparently big in Norway, even on pizza. In fact, you are not just dropping it as a topping. You wrap the whole pizza around a raw fish and tear into it with reckless abandonment. Through it all, Audi constantly reminds us that the e-Tron is the best-selling EV in Norway, and advised GM not to hate, but to imitate. See, we told you it’s weird.
We do not know if it was all planned ahead of time, but with the videos coming specifically from Audi Norway, we suspect it was a last minute reaction. If this is indeed the case, it is important to produce three creative videos within a very short time frame. Also, don’t expect to see these tracks during the big game. It is good; if you have Tormund Giantsbane rage-eating raw fish while trying to save the world, it’s not hard to get advertising.