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With Ads of the Weird, MSNBC.com takes a look at some of the oddest, most eye-catching, controversial and just plain interesting advertising out there today. Primary writer Allison Linn covers the retail and advertising industries for MSNBC.com. The Ads of the Weird team is always interested in hearing what ads have caught your attention, whether it's online, on television or in print.


Crooning about … Chicken McNuggets

Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009 4:00 PM by Allison Linn
Filed Under:

We’ve found plenty not to like about fast food commercials lately, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a new ad for McDonald’s that actually didn’t leave us feeling kind of queasy.

The commercial for Chicken McNuggets looks at first like a standard-issue video for your typical R&B song -- until you start listening closely to the lyrics.

Yes, the singer has that overly emotive, heartbroken look on his face, and yes, he’s making those goofy hand gestures as he sings about desperate, unrequited love. But is he craving a lover … or a piece of breaded, fried chicken?

McDonald's

The latter, it turns out.

The 60-second version of the commercial begins with a man awakening in the middle of the night to find that his significant other has snuck out of their majestic home on a rainy night to indulge in a mysterious mission.

What’s worse, when she finally returns, toting a McDonald’s bag, she’s not willing to share.

"Oh girl I know your secret," the singer croons. "You got that McNuggets loving/loving/It just ain’t fair/why can’t you share your love with me?"

(According to McDonald’s, the singer is played by Don Lee, but the song is sung by Lavish Mikell.)

The tongue-in-cheek tune ends with the earnest singer belting out "Girl you got a 10-piece/please don’t be stingy" while his female companion shoots him down.

Of course, some people might love (or hate) McDonald’s enough to take the song and its sentiment seriously. To us, however, it was a witty parody of more typical R&B fare, which manages to be entertaining even if you don’t like the style of music, or McDonald’s for that matter.

Click here to watch the long version, and click here to watch a shorter version of the ad.

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Comments

Clever and entertaining advertising. It's the kind of commercial that you can watch again and again and still smile. That's a high bar for a product, especially fast food. And it sure beats the Nuggnuts stuff that some of the numb nuts over there thought up.

Bob Paine, Goodyear AZ (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:24 PM)

IF you can find the least bit of racism in this comercial you are too sensitive or reaching to deep.  I've notice McDonald always uses a song-n-dance to appeal to black demographics and as a black person I'm not mad at them hell that's what we do and were good at it.  I applaude them for a funny commercial and the GIRL in it is so HOT!!! Beautiful Black People...OnE LoVe...Good Job Micky D's

The Watcher (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:28 PM)

This commercial is awful. It isn't funny, it is unrealistic, and the one bright spot is the attractive woman. Otherwise, I continuously gag everytime I see this commercial, along with any other McDonald's commercial. The worst of them all are the ones that promote who "cool" and "diverse" McDonalds is, as if middles aged latino bankers don't eat at McDonalds. Yeah, I get it, try to promote to as many people as you can to sell your product, but they seriously must get the cheapest actors in California. I suppose you have to save money somehow, right?

Chris, Atlanta, Georgia (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:31 PM)

GEEZ PEOPLE...LIGHTEN UP! IT'S A SILLY 30 SEC COMMERCIAL... WHY MUST EVERYTHING BE ANALYZED TO THE NTH DEGREE...IS THIS A SIDE EFFECT OF HDTV???!!!!

Twink B, Forwash, MD (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:37 PM)

bb las vegas nv, I am glad to hear you consider yourself militant.  Apparently you are not very perceptive as this commercial is not just a harmless parody.  It is directly aimed at a demographic that Mcdonald's has been targeting wtih particular enthusiasm of late.  I will hesitate from calling it racist as that is a catchall term, but it is certainly in poor taste.

Steph (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 7:13 PM)

I doubt he will see this, but this is for Jeffry Pilcher's comment about "No one loves their [McNuggets, mop, chapstick, etc.] that much. It isn't plausible or credible, which undermines both the message and the brand."

Actually, I know more then a few people that DO love items just like how you said that no one does- I do not know whether I should laugh or find it sad that you do not know of anyone like that, because I know more then a few and know even more people that know of a great many people that DO love [fill in the blank] just like that.

Also, while I am sure the point of these ads is to generate attention, I would also love to point out it is nothing but an ad. Nothing more, nothing less and for sure nothing to get all bent out of shape about.

Tasha (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 8:06 PM)

i should point out that i am white and well to do. it's racist...

curious (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:02 PM)

I think it is the absolute WORST commerical I have ever seen.....

Dee, Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:33 AM)

I actually went to school with her, her name is Daphne Duplaix. She's a former Playboy Playmate and has also been on the Soap Opera PASSIONS.

Maria, Miami, Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 9:04 AM)

I did not get that it was a commercial the first couple of times I saw it.  I was switching through the channels and when I saw the beginning of the commercial I thought it was a music video so I kept changing the channel.  Then one day it came on during a program I was watching and for a brief second I wondered why they were playing a music video during the middle of CSI or whatever I was watching at the time.  That was the first time I saw the entire commercial.  I thought it was the best McDonald's commercial I had seen in a while.  

BURGER KING - I HOPE YOU ARE TAKING NOTES!!!

Cris (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:10 AM)

Really people are taking this commercial too seriously. And for people who dont like who the commercial is aiming at talking to Hating Commercials they are not looking for your money they know who they are aiming at. Saying you hate music doesnt say much for you anyways it should be dont like or not interested.

Nate, Columbia SC (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:07 AM)

How come no one's talking about the other nasty McD's commercial with the wedding cake made out of mcnuggets? gross.

jane (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:42 AM)

I like this commercial as it does parody my household.  My wife and daughter like McD's nuggets (loves the fries) so I find myself singing the "...don't be stingy" line.
And we are a successful African-American household.  Racist commercial, no.

BR, Hampton, VA (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:56 AM)

It's just McDonald's keeping in time with their consumers. I remember almost 20 years ago when I was a kid that all their commercials had Ronald McDonald to appeal to kids about their "Happy" meals.

As my age group has gotten older, McDonald's has adapted appropriately, if you could call it that. No more kiddie commercials with clowns and cheesy mascots (well, maybe on with Saturday morning cartoons, but I don't watch those). It's now nothing but attempts by them to convince us it's ok to eat there because McDonald's is "with it", "knows what's up", or just plain "cool". And we'd be "cool", too, if we ate there.

Most of today's marketing and advertising is really cheap and shallow if you truly look at it.

As for their slogan "I'm lovin' it." Seriously poor move on their part. In Japan, where they have no sounds for l or v, their commercials sound like "bah dah dah dah dah -- I'm rubbin' it."

Koala (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 12:00 PM)

The reason the commercials have to be so ridiculous is so shows like American Idol will look intelligent.

Jon Boy, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 12:40 PM)

I love this commercial. It's one the funniest and most creative commercial, I've ever seen.

Josh, Fort Wayn, IN (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 12:46 PM)

McDonald's IS RACIST!!! Why do chicken nuggets have to be white?  What happened to the dark meat!

Concerned Citizen (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 12:47 PM)

BRING BACK THE McRIB!

Rinkrat (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:09 PM)

Some people take things way to seriously when it comes to the race thing.  Plain and simple, this commercial is funny.  Like someone else said, I think it would be funny if they made a Part 2 or Part 3 and continued the saga ala "trapped in the closet".  This mcnuggets commercial is better than the other stupid one with the various "nugnuts" stuff.  Stop being "stingyyyyy" with your laughter folks, it makes the world a better place.  

Lynds, california (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:27 PM)

That commercial drives me crazy - in a bad way. Too much time comparing an affair with a greasy piece of chicken. Not entertaining - not witty - just dumb!

C. Bower (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:43 PM)

this is by far one of the worst commercials ever. I hate R&B, we live in a house with moody teenagers and hear more than I want too.

This commercial just reminds me of it more.

I still love Chicken Nuggets tho, not even this POS ad campaign can change that.

R&B Hater Denver-area CO (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:45 PM)

This is yet the second funny commercial from MCD's. The first one was with the little boy and the apple dippers.
Does it target the black community yeah, but its really not that serious people....

Mo Gunz (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:53 PM)

Tip- toe- tip

DL, Austin (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:56 AM)

This commercial has nothing to do with racism, in my opinion..I am surprised by all these comments..obviously from ppl who don't understand anything about black culture and how we are secure in our own selves and we do not let things like a Mcdonald's commercial define us..It is what it is,,have a sense of humor..To me it caters to the youth more than anything..stop with the black and white already!!!

Beautiful Black Woman, Georgetown,De (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:06 AM)

To all the black people who thought this was a 'racist' commercial-get a grip and quit making everything a conspiracy! It is a commercial designed to quickly capture viewers attention- no more, no less. Yes, I'm black and no,I'm not an oreo! They are marketing Mickey D's using a spoof of contemporary r&B music (insert whatever male r&b singer-they all sing about the same things with lots of "oh, girls")

Denise Doe, Orlando,FL (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:49 AM)

That ad is almost as funny as those Rev Rob ads in Charlotte NC!

Rob Christensen, Charlotte, NC (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 5:34 PM)

I'm surprised that so many people are seeing this one as racist. That's just, well, paranoid. The first time I saw this commercial I couldn't stop laughing. Some of you folks really have too much time on your hands.

R, Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:10 PM)

wow im suprised at all of the 'racist' claims, its a freakin commercial, get over it. the same thing could be said about other commercials and being racist to other races, but theyre just commercials so i really dont take them to heart, & to those who do, why not do something more constructive instead of just complaining and crying about every little thing!

sick of the complaining (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 7:42 PM)

I love this commercial!  Some people just love to say everything's racist - if there were white actors and the voice sounded like Michael Bolton, would these same people say the commercial was "racist" because there were no black people in it?  

Whenever I read the "Eat This, Not That" stories on MSNBC.com, I'm amazed at how much healthier McDonald's food is than other fast food chains.  Not that McNuggets are necessarily healthy...

On the other hand, I have very mixed feelings about the "Nuggnuts" commercials.  The word sounds like an unpleasant sexual side effect.  The one with the rock star specifying McNuggets in his contract is a great parody of the Van Halen M&Ms story.  The wedding scene is just creepy.  If the cake is made out of McNuggets, what did they have for dinner?  I guess it was Atkins-Approved...

Mike, Atlanta (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 8:10 AM)

This commercial is really racist..... Plus it is for CHICKEN !!

Big C (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 11:39 AM)

    Hey, you guys, so far no one has considered the  possibility that she's craving the McNuggets for the same reason that other women are said to crave dill pickles in vanilla ice cream, or other weird food combos.  Why else would she leave her handsome man and warm bed to go out on a crappy, rainy night for any kind of fast food?  Maybe that's one track the Superbowl follow-up commercial could follow.  It could show the guy's surprise (and hopefully his delight) when he finds out what's really driving her craving.
    And you guys that are yelling about racism, or stupid advertising, or targeted groups: Lighten up, will ya?

Bill in Southern MN (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 12:33 PM)

The one w/ the kid break dancing a few mos. ago was hilarious- though it was unrealistic in that I would've "sit your butt down and eat" after awhile instead of watching him.  The Nuggnuts thing is really dumb and needs to stop.  Everybody should be offended by those ads.

Cedric, Charlotte (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 12:33 PM)

This was just funny. didn't get it at first but laugh everytime I see it...don't like McD's, don't eat it but ir is clever and if they pull the commercial, people will still talk about it and that's the point. I am hispanic and the only time you see hispanics featured is during the Latin Grammy Awrds or George Lopez...we all have choices people. StTOP thinking that evrything has an underlying cause....no matter what it is, someone will take it personal. TURN OFF THE TV AND READ A BOOK!!!

J Go, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 1:01 PM)

i'm sorry, but how is it racist to have a very attractive, well-dressed african american couple with a nice car and home...buying mcnugs??? are you saying it debases the black community to be associated with mcnuggets lu-uh-vin? or that rich black people wouldn't be caught dead buying mcnuggets?  i'm a white lawyer and i happen to purchase fast food somewhat often.  people with money have to eat on the go, too!!

m, virginia (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 1:39 PM)

i have my own version of the new mcdonald's jingle...

bada ba ba ba you're eating sh**...

laura anonymouse, portland, OR (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 3:21 PM)

If I have to watch commercials, I'd like to at least get a laugh out of it. No commerical ever seems to relate to the product they are selling or to reality.

Jane Doe, Atlanta, GA (Sent Friday, January 16, 2009 3:53 PM)

I know very many people who seem to love their favorite foods more than sex!! I think I read a poll not to long ago about a large percentage of women who said they would prefer a great meal to great sex. The ad rings true! Tongue in cheek of course. You see hungry people bite into a great piece of food they like and they do have sort of an orgasmic reaction to it!!

David Houston, TX (Sent Sunday, January 18, 2009 1:24 PM)

Digusting and repulsive.  McDonald's just lost a customer...I will never go back.  It is totally offensive.

Phoebe, NYC, NY (Sent Monday, January 19, 2009 10:37 AM)

So, really.. racist?  You're kidding right?  Can anything not be racist?  If it has black people in it not singing then they are uncle tomming it up.  If it doesn't have black people in it OMG THEY HATE THE AA COMMUNITY.  

The era is over.   You might not have noticed but we are installing our first black president today.  The race card is a little tattered I believe.  

News flash: McDonalds wants blacks to spend money on their food!  

Addendum: And whites, Mexicans, Chinesse, Arabs etc etc.  It's about the money, not the skin color.

Mattastic Man, Louisville KY (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 8:45 AM)

bps - Thanks for making me literally laugh out loud. Nice to read a light-hearted comment on a blog about a light-hearted commercial. I'm on board with the "get over it" group. It makes me giggle, and that makes me happy. It reminds me of the Dru Hill video for "Somebody's Sleeping in my Bed".

Christie, Austin (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 2:44 PM)

As Will West points out above - this is an obvious play on that 'excellent' cinematic project - "Trapped in the Closet" with R. Kelly. It is an absolute train wreck of a movie - can't believe it ever got funded. But if your curious about some of the weird things in the world, check it out.

Jay, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:17 PM)

Curious--are you serious?  I seem to recognize the paradoy of an R & B video that was just as sappy and controversal.  I think the point was met--we are talking about it.

KT, San Antonio TX (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:32 PM)

What's with the phallic-looking object on the table by the window?  I've been told nothing in a commercial is an accident, so I'd love to know what the ad agency was thinking when they put that in the background.

Mike J, Appleton WI (Sent Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:38 PM)

I miss the menu song (big mac, filet o'fish, quarter pounder, french fries.  Icy coke, thick shake, sundaes, and apple pies). I have taught it to my daughter who was born to late to see it firsthand.  Although, maybe it's on youtube.  Gotta check.  
Who really cares about the commercial?  Do you really think of it when you pass Micky D's?

natalie, pgh, pa (Sent Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:14 AM)

McDonalds has always had weak, superficial advertising. It stems from a corporate culture that's afraid of the new and anything innovative. They're forced to advertise on TV because of their competitition. It's the same with Coke and Exxon. This spot is thin and derrivative. The agency should be fired. I love to see inept,high paid people exposed and fired.  

Jeff W (Sent Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:05 AM)

DAT BOY IS SOOOOO FINE HE NEED TO COME AND EAT MY 10 PC MCNUGGET SIKE JUS COME AND SING TO ME

B4! RAILGH NC (Sent Friday, January 23, 2009 11:44 AM)

funny - no
racist - close, probably closer to: not very p.c.
stupid - extremely

liz, Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:13 PM)

This is a comment on Jeffry Pilcher's post.....Dude, you are way to serious......I would totally bang my chicken nuggets!!!!

Evan, Ca (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:53 PM)

1: this is just an  ad.  get over it.  2: this is just an ad.  i don't care for mc'donalds cause the food sucks.  stop being so whiny.

scorgeofchrist,michigan (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 7:33 PM)

Really?! Are you really arguing over a commercial?! It's a funny commercial!  Let it go.  Laugh a little :) Oh, girl I caught you creepin'...  HA HA HA HA HA

Kate somewhere in America (Sent Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:09 PM)



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