2023-06-08 05:06
OK here's a brief recap: The Dollar for import (one of many many different Dollar parities in Lebanon) went from 1500 to 15000 Liras at the end of 2022, then went up to 45,000 Liras in Febru… Read More
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Tarek Chemaly Blog
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Pop Culture, POPaganda, and media critique from the world over and Lebanon specifically.
2023-06-07 07:49
Yesterday, within the euphoria of rehousing my books (here), one book fell through the cracks - simply because it was published while we (that would be my digtial advisor Patrick Chemali - n… Read More
2023-06-06 11:02
In 2003, in Saudi Arabia out of all places, I self-published a poetry anthology by the name of "The Wit and Wisdom of Arty Stotle".... Then in 2009 came the first tome of Archewallogy which… Read More
2023-06-04 05:18
Am not saying they did and am not saying they did not. But... This seemed totally out of the same box Read More
2023-06-03 05:35
On the plus side, Almaza seems to be the only major player still advertising - which I guess is good for the economy. On the minus side, the results are really inconsistent (here). For their… Read More
2023-05-31 06:02
Portemilio resort ad from my archiveAt a time when the salary of most people working in the public sector is now at 100 USD, when most people are "making do" and barely making it till the en… Read More
2023-05-29 07:09
And then there was none! Remember when car ads used to be so rampant? All you needed was a bank willing to believe you were making 3 times your actual salary to give you a loan, a car (exclu… Read More
2023-05-28 05:36
I already told you I moved to solar panels - which could have been my smartest decision in the last 4 years (here). The other day some "driveway philosophers" (as called by the wonderful Gar… Read More
2023-05-27 05:56
So - any questions?Yes, Lebanese are all over themselves trying to obtain a second passport, one that does not require a visa to go to the bathroom as is the case with the Lebanese passport… Read More
2023-05-26 05:22
Lagoon.... A new brand of hair and body care products. Lagoon seems to suddenly be everywhere on the billboards with their ads - specifically their roll on deodorants. Well, I truly and… Read More
2023-05-25 04:59
So Beirut is Capital of Arab Media 2023. Ok, let me go back to what Minister Ziad Makary said in a communique (he is the caretaker minister of Information in the current government), Apparen… Read More
2023-05-20 13:38
I know you will not believe me but this pun has been played before. All right, first the Almaza pun "Almaza aw la aha - wala sabt". This, believe it or not is a double pun. The first is "Ant… Read More
2023-05-19 07:31
Artwork by Tarek Chemaly based on typography of movie posters where Adel Imam appearedEgyptian actor Adel Imam just celebrated his 83rd birthday. And now twitter is ablaze with comments.To b… Read More
2023-05-19 05:26
OK, forgive my ignorance - am not much a beer drinker. So Keo slipped from the radar - please check here and here. Interestingly, whereas the pages seem inactive, the brand just launched an… Read More
2023-05-18 07:29
Zeit Boulos can now be ordered online. The interesting part? They managed to do a pitch perfect continuation of their - eternally running campaign. By eternally running I mean - and whereas… Read More
2023-05-17 09:16
I suppose one needs a dose of reassurance from time to time. Certainly, Lebanon, navigating from crisis to crisis, or rather having a lot of crises at the same time combined, definitely need… Read More
2023-05-16 07:17
So how is that for a name change? Olx already an international name is now Dubizzle in Lebanon, mind you Dubizzle defines itself as the leading website for classified ads in the UAE. On… Read More
2023-05-15 05:02
Panda Boutique by Panda Plast has a cute new campaign, if a little too... confusing.Apart from the fact they used the teaser/revealer which implies the same people need to see the original a… Read More
2023-05-13 10:34
So let me toot my horn - I told you so. Here. So here are my words "Lux hits the mark here and major props to the copy which suavely integrates "tamiyiz" (differentiation/discrimination) wit… Read More
2023-05-13 06:42
Khoury Home. Yes, been a while indeed. But Khoury Home is advertising its sale."Our prices are light as a feather" - the headline is kind of cute... But of course, it had to be reemphasized… Read More
2023-05-09 07:47
Now that the coronation came and went with all its glitz and glam and orb and specter, now that the UK and other territories have a new king, it's only fitting to see the best campaigns that… Read More
2023-05-06 06:43
Originally published in 2011, the art installation "No Truce in Beirut, only virgins" by Tarek Chemaly (yes, that would be me!) is republished below having lost none of its socio-politico-ec… Read More
2023-05-04 12:04
The now defunct Le Mall sin el fil is rising from its ashes as Sooq Avenue and rebranding itself as an initiative to provide employment for Lebanese youth - and according to their claim (her… Read More
2023-05-02 08:43
Johnnie Walker is out with a vengeance. With some very good copy in tow.So voila, the once ubiquitous whisky, whose bottle can set you back 20.38 USD (which is innocent enough money until yo… Read More
2023-04-30 06:42
I know, I know. Being a blogger is a little dépassé. Old hat.All the cool boys and girls are now on Tiktok - they were formerly on instagram before switching. A couple of… Read More
2023-04-27 13:18
For someone who has been interested in the graffiti movement for a long time - let me tell you a secret: Graffiti crews would "ornament" their teams with women because police would not haras… Read More
2023-04-25 06:10
So it seems the Lebanese Youth have a special commemorative day! Who knew?Check here.Rethinking Lebanon has dedicated a day to the intrepid youth still in Lebanon, and yes, it takes a l… Read More
2023-04-24 08:23
OK, someone needs to say it and I am volunteering to do it: Almaza has no strategy.In their latest instalment - which is very lame - Almaza beer went for a silly concept. But that's after po… Read More
2023-04-23 09:31
So was that a misfire? Seems so. Italian Ministry of Tourism has just put Botticelli's birth of Venus painting as some sort of mascot in its ads - from eating pizza in Lake Como to riding a… Read More
2023-04-20 06:03
I spoke about Najjar Raqwa long ago (here), and well, whereas the ad here is a bit old (because the ad on that OOH gets changes very very infrequently), it is still interesting that Raqwa we… Read More
2023-04-15 10:25
Sometimes you give extra grades for the effort. Even if you are not in love with the result.Case in point BeitMoune.Moune in case you do not know are homemade products you stock up for the w… Read More
2023-04-14 09:24
Well, this is the country that gets about 1 hour of state electricity a day, where many households rely on the communal generators people are part of, where an increasing number of household… Read More
2023-04-13 06:07
You might want to check the original post here.But here we are Cornel Lucas, Ormond Gigli, Jean-Paul Goude (for the iconic Chanel Egoiste with my personal theory it was a nod to Gigli's phot… Read More
2023-04-12 10:17
Photo provided by Mahmoud GhazayelWell, this just in. For their yearly donation campaign the Makassed philanthropic organization ended up shooting itself in the foot.OK first the intentions:… Read More
2023-04-12 08:40
OK first a disclaimer - this post is not one I should be writing as our neighbors' issues are none of my concern, we have enough issues in Lebanon thank you very much.But do you remember Mar… Read More
2023-04-12 06:21
Taj is establishing itself as the kitchen brand if you are to believe their triple onslaught of outdoor blitz. OK, first the soup which is supposed to be be "atyab soup bi souk" (soup and so… Read More
2023-04-11 06:07
First, please check their website here. So with Lebanon becoming a cash economy, with people have little to no faith in banks at this point and those who already have accounts have sought wa… Read More
2023-04-10 06:58
Oh I love that name. Sure sure it is a mix of Franco-English but who cares?Searene - or a mix between "sirene" (mermaid) and sea. Tadam! Oh and it promises the darkest tan in one day - which… Read More
2023-04-08 05:48
I can't believe I am saying this. The logo should be bigger.First, the facts: Right bang on Easter and Eid el Fitr which fall back to back, and since Maamoul is the official cookie of both… Read More
2023-04-06 04:58
Lurpak, one of the most famous butter brands in Lebanon, has gone Easter.Why? Because of Maamoul of course.In case you don't know Maamoul, it is the traditional Easter cookie in Lebanon.(see… Read More
2023-04-03 08:18
Bill Bernbach told potential client (an Chivas Regal owner) Sam Bronfman: “I think I ought to tell you that I’ll never know as much about your business as you do. How can I? You… Read More
2023-04-02 10:55
Remember when Donald Trump revealed that the slogan for his (current) campaign would be "make American great again, again" and got lambasted over the internet (here). Well, do you also remem… Read More
2023-04-01 09:25
Well, no one said that the 2 above courtesy of Anghami and Toters are April Fool's - although I do suspect they are and I wish they were.The first is Anghami - our beloved music specialist … Read More
2023-03-30 07:03
So what do Habibi Ya 3eyni by Maya Yazbek, Chik Chak Chok by Hassan Abou El Seoud, and Ya Wad Ya T2il by Souad Housni have in common? They are mega mega hits in their respective times and lo… Read More
2023-03-29 06:17
Well, here we are - again - Pepsi has a new logo (you realize we never say that about Coca-Cola).But still, this one actually works. The 2008 redesign was - how can one say it without offend… Read More
2023-03-29 05:36
All right, marketing never takes a break. Not even Kit Kat chocolate marketing.So here's the idea, the chocolate just launched a 30 bar item for each day of the Ramadan month calling it ifta… Read More
2023-03-25 15:51
Artwork by Tarek ChemalyWell, as if Lebanon had no problems, no issues, no exploding economy, no political conundrums, no inflation by the double digit, no acute poverty which is reaching a… Read More
2023-03-25 07:45
So there is it, everybody is doing it, so why can't I?Everyone is - and rightly so - speaking about the Heinz x Absolut vodka pasta sauce. In case you can log to this link here, you'll get a… Read More
2023-03-23 06:59
So here's another exploit to add to Lebanon's long list (from being "the Switzerland of the Middle East" to having had a "Golden age" both fallacies and myths). We beat Afghanistan.The USSR… Read More
2023-03-22 06:49
Mother's Day came and went and as is the tradition ever since the markets crashed in Lebanon, it created nothing but a whimper. Which is why anyone who did not "just-paste-a-flower-and-say-l… Read More
2023-03-21 08:13
So the month of Ramadan is upon us (starting March 23rd apparently). Spinneys supermarket, remembered the occasion - remember, a supermarket like Spinneys should be making a killing during s… Read More
2023-03-19 07:20
Artwork by Tarek ChemalyIn 2021, I wrote about the fact in Lebanon, problems shared are not problems halved (here).But 2021 seems like a different life altogether even if problems were still… Read More
2023-03-15 07:17
Remember Ben Stiller's "night at the museum"? Well, make it "day at the museum" for Coca-Cola.Here. It animates works of art - anyone from Warhol (who included the bottle in his iconic serie… Read More
2023-03-14 06:27
Artwork by Tarek ChemalySo superstar footballer Ronaldo (and his family, including companion Georgina) are in Saudi Arabia after his deal with Al Nasr club to the tune of 214.5 million Dolla… Read More
2023-03-12 07:39
Source: Mahmoud GhazayelAll right, we all did it. Anyone who says they did not is a liar.The "it" in question? Doing ads on the cheap. Oh come on, the client always has little or no budget… Read More
2023-03-10 13:11
From the series Free Fall by Naji ZaharDo you know Kinstugi?Here. It is part of the Japanese repairing ideals - like Boro when it comes to clothing (here) - or how to mend broken objects wit… Read More
2023-03-09 07:54
Lux goes to the therapist with the help of Yara Bou Monsef. Bou Monsef is telling her therapist about how she thinks of it "him" (eventually "it") all day long, how he makes her feel s… Read More
2023-03-08 05:50
Well, after years of shops not calling the Christian fast by its name - with fast food outlets advertising fish meals for no "specific" reason, suddenly shops started doing so (here), which… Read More
2023-03-05 10:49
With regards to those empty billboards. Whereas it is January that is considered the dead month in advertising, considering companies spent their marketing budgets on Christmas and New Year'… Read More
2023-03-04 07:45
As I said, there were so few new campaigns hitting the streets last February, that anything actually stood out.... In this case, meet the DGCS campaign to name adjustments in case one wished… Read More
2023-03-03 08:15
Now this is a new one. Not breast cancer (which takes away all the spotlight, and here I remember the remarkable "I wish I had breast cancer" campaign - here) but rather uterine campaign. Th… Read More
2023-02-28 17:01
Ad cleaned and rearranged by Tarek ChemalyAnd how about this time capsule of an ad.The Murr Tower, which still stands empty and incomplete after all this time, was supposed to be - as per it… Read More
2023-02-28 07:13
Remember Sharks Bay? (here)Well here it is over and done with and might play in a cinema near you as it was presented to be in the running for the Lebanese Independent Film Festival LIFF -He… Read More
2023-02-26 08:47
So it was only a matter of time before Grendizer became a game. And it is apparently coming soon to a console near you.Here are some features of the game in question (source):For the very fi… Read More
2023-02-25 09:42
Please meet Neswen El Furn (here and here).... What's so special about it?Well, just for you to know "neswen el fun" was an insult. Heck, I even heard a Lebanese minister of culture say… Read More
2023-02-21 15:37
So how about that for an iconic ad.And yet, I do understand that the main purpose of any ad is to eventually sell the brand. This much is granted. The problem is when there is a major discon… Read More
2023-02-19 06:30
Cover by Mink for the Lebanon issue of ArabAd (February 2023)A recap of 2022 in the advertising scene for ArabAd, please see it here. A very long and exhaustive article about where advertisi… Read More
2023-02-18 08:13
Here, here and here.Jesus Christ! No no, that was supposed to be an exclamation not invoking the client. "He gets us"...I know it shot to superstardom during the Super Bowl with their ad - b… Read More
2023-02-14 17:23
You might remember Blanchor from before (here). And so here they are again, smashing Valentine's Day for their clients. Here's the interesting part - there's even more from where this came f… Read More
2023-02-14 06:24
Ah yes, what's with everything happening in Lebanon Valentine's Day is really not on the foreground. Still, here we are, the day that everyone used to throw their two cents in as advertisers… Read More
2023-02-13 07:31
Yokohama Tire has teamed up with Roads For Life in a new interesting mission.First the facts. When anyone has a deadly car crash on those mountainous Lebanese roads, it is a tradition for th… Read More
2023-02-09 10:32
AI is everywhere. ChatGPT is all the rage.You know the central question - will AI replace us as creatives?The Step conference copy which has been done by ChatGPT answers the question.My job… Read More
2023-02-09 08:20
Self-ad published in Al Waseet newspaper in 2005The good news is that the Pikasso d'Or - our local competition for the Out Of Home awards - is back.The bad news is that it is back with such… Read More
2023-02-08 14:08
Try these for size: Nick Jonas for Dexcom, Sting/Billy Idol/Ozzy Ozborne/Joan Jett/Paul Stanley/Gary Clark Jr for Workday, Kevin Heart for Draftking, Sean "Diddy" Combs for Uber One, Will Fe… Read More
2023-02-07 07:36
The 16th of March 1956 earthquake - artwork by Tarek ChemalyAnyone who knows me, knows that I am not an "optimist" by any long shot.I take the data, rationalize it, take my decision, and hop… Read More
2023-02-06 09:10
The other day I had to go from Sassine square to Monot - a trip normally that takes 20 mins on foot. It took around 105 minutes for me to get there. Why? Because Achrafieh was - post ABC mal… Read More
2023-02-05 10:59
February 5h, artwork by Tarek ChemalyAnd it is Sunday.Today I don't feel like writing about advertising - most of it bad or silly or superfluous anyhow.I don't feel like writing about Lebano… Read More
2023-02-04 10:11
So there's a new chocolate in town! Aïla - yes with a ï rather than an i.The campaign on OOH is humongous and covers almost all the coast. Which is interesting because it mean… Read More
2023-02-01 11:55
I have spoken about the new Tiffany & Co before (here).The good news? Post LVMH acquisition Tiffany & Co saw its valuation climb by a billion, the bad news? The Tiffany and Nike coll… Read More
2023-01-31 17:44
Well, if you can't beat them, join them!Today a video was heavily circulated of a major - major flooded road. The video starts right in front of the "Fakhry" broasted & grill chicken sho… Read More
2023-01-29 15:19
I am not saying they did, I am not saying they didn't, but people please - this is the iconic (and I am measuring my words) Guy Bourdin photo for Charles Jourdan shoes. The original referenc… Read More
2023-01-27 06:59
Way back in 2017 I wished Beirut Beer would... just grow out of the shadow of Almaza (here). In 2022 it almost did (here). Could 2023 bring us the shift the Beirut Beer actually deserves? Ap… Read More
2023-01-26 06:17
Almaza goes Fairouz.Well, after celebrating summer in all possible ways, Almaza is now going winter time where beer drinking is much less ubiquitous. Interestingly, I'd love to see exactly h… Read More
2023-01-25 07:02
Nancy Ajram. Yes, her. I already spoke about her as a "brand" (here). So let's go back to the very beginning, in the mid-aughts when Miss Ajram as she was back then was fronting Coca-Cola. F… Read More
2023-01-23 06:58
Aire Scott - Artwork by Tarek Chemaly"Nike" -well, when the brand really started getting momentum in the market in Lebanon in the 80s people would always eyeroll. In case you don't know it… Read More
2023-01-21 14:07
Cover of "The Story of Middle East Advertising" by Ramzi RaadDuring the Lebanese war, and I mean the long 1975-90 war (as there has been others), Lebanese ad agencies found themselves caught… Read More
2023-01-13 09:15
Ah I picked up this ad for Arak Touma from the front page of Annahar newspaper dated December 29, 1974. "Scotland is famous for whisky, and France is known for wine, and we are proud of the… Read More
2023-01-13 07:00
Ah another flashback.Not sure why. But this is the kind of ad that got stuck in my mind even if I am not your Bacardi drinker.Apparently this is a "stereogram" (this means "a diagram or comp… Read More
2023-01-11 10:27
I miss those days. Heck I miss 2012 - back when, you are not going to believe it - but D&G came up with their last collection before shuttering their brand (and incorporating it in the m… Read More
2023-01-09 11:00
Archangel Gabriel revealing the Coran to the prophetHave you heard what happened at the university of Hamline in Minnesota? An instructor displayed the photo of the prophet during an Is… Read More
2023-01-06 09:26
Halabi Nuts.... All right, I am trying to unsee what I saw.And what did I see? "I-tawt-I-taw-a-puddy-tat" to quote tweetie bird.I thought I saw a pussy(cat)... And now trying to unsee it wit… Read More
2023-01-05 10:02
Jacket for Prince Harry's "Spare" memoir - credit: Penguin Random HouseThe scene happens inside one of Beirut's wealthiest families.The eldest brother is furious that his sister in law (the… Read More
2023-01-04 15:53
OK, so I was kind of mad at Beirut Beer for their blatant Almaza redo (here) but they earn extra points by doing a great "don't drink and drive" ad for the end of year celebrations (sorry th… Read More
2023-01-02 06:25
Balkis... A national brand of juice has always relied on word play. Pity I do not have their first ad - which is not present in my archive - which simply said "3a fekra" which translat… Read More
2023-01-01 06:49
So here we are, no rest for the just. Or no rest for the blogger who posts about ads. Right bang in the middle of the night, McDonald's perfectly integrates its logo in its 2023 wishes. And… Read More
2022-12-31 15:59
See what I did here?Other than that? No words! Full ace! Probably the best ad of the year, Mink saved the best for last.... Glorious indeed! Read More
2022-12-31 08:30
Wow!!! 2019, 2020, 2021... Barely any whisper at all... New Year came and went and with just the smallest traces. Sure, there were a few parties here and there. And no, it was not just the p… Read More
2022-12-30 10:13
"We wish you positive energy for this season" - well, at least Total Energies remained within the theme this holiday season and they stuck with what they sell. It also helps they are t… Read More
2022-12-30 08:03
I know my photo is not clear, but then again so is the ad. I saw it about a dozen times today, and every time I thought "Oh this Robert Parker Jr guy seems to have a new alcohol on the marke… Read More
2022-12-28 06:50
Ah - so Faraya, the snowy, sleepy village with the ski station...."For 45 Liras, the price includes transport from and to Beirut, dinner, dancing party with europen (sic) orchestre and hotel… Read More
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