AWESOME or AWFUL: Is VW's Recreation Of A-ha's "Take On Me" Hilarious?

In another life I grew up in the 1980s. I am the guy that once I first get a new car I make sure my SiriusXM presets have "80s on 8" and "New Wave" programed right away. What can I say?

I am a sucker for synthesizers.

It appears I am not the only one either. In one of Volkswagen's latest advertisements emphasizing the greatness of its free maintenance program for two years or 24,000 miles — whichever comes first — it takes creative license from A-ha's famous "Take On Me" video.

Though I won't give away much more I just wanted to take YOUR temperature on this: are you digging this and laughing, or are you less-than-impressed?


"Is that me? Was I singing?"

Not paying for scheduled maintenance feels pretty good. No-charge scheduled maintenance, now on every new Volkswagen.* http://vwoa.us/195BTBw

*For 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first. 2014 models. Some restrictions apply. See dealer or program for details.

thetruth01 - 9/21/2013 11:06:52 AM

+2 Boost

good idea. muddled conceptualization of it. it's an ad about maintenance? wasted opportunity for something great. i do love the bad 80s dancing tho.

vwowner1 - 9/21/2013 11:26:27 AM

+2 Boost

I like the level of creativity VW uses to market their products. Sometimes its dopey, but most of the time it works to elicit a good feeling or memory while viewing their product, even if you are not a VW fan. Anything that triggers a happy emotion is great considering the troubled world we live in. I thank them for that. It also shows they know who their customers and potential customers are.

vwowner1 - 9/21/2013 11:28:34 AM

+2 Boost

Oh, and despite my username, I would not say that I am a big fan of VW's current lineup. And I don't own a VW anymore. Bringing the Scirroco to the US could change that though.

WelcomeLexusIS - 9/21/2013 11:30:01 AM

+3 Boost

Nice ad VW :)

t_bone - 9/21/2013 3:43:08 PM

+2 Boost

I think about that Aha video from time to time. I think it was one of the first videos ever done, and in an odd twist ended up IMHO being one of the best. Within months all videos started to just be a bunch of concert footage and awkward location shots.

Dexter1 - 9/22/2013 8:36:38 AM

+1 Boost

Ha ha. Aha. Hilarious. But can't get that dumb song out of my head. [I guess that's the point.]

joecamel - 9/23/2013 11:46:36 PM

+1 Boost

I'll probably never own a VW myself, but I love their commercials - this one is great, and remember the "un-pimp your auto" guy, the white guy with the Jamaican accent, and darth vader kid? Hilarious.