Flashback: Nissan commercial featuring Van Halen
Here’s a blast from the past…
Do you remember this commercial? This 1996 Toy Story-esque ad for the Nissan 300ZX Turbo featured Van Halen’s stompin’ remake of the Kinks’ ”You Really Got Me” and used stop-motion animation to depict a G.I. Joe-esque character picking up a Barbie-esque character. The ad was so good that Mattel sued to take it off the air. It’s not only the best car commercial to ever air during the Super Bowl, it’s one of the best car commercials ever.
Van Halen’s commercial reward — The band members each received a limited-edition 1996 Nissan 300 ZX for Nissan’s use of their ”You Really Got Me” remake.
Here’s a NY Daily News article about the popular commercial.
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November 10th, 2009 at 7:10 am
She was hot, but it’s hard to believe she would give up a life in that mansion for a guy driving a Nissan. C’mon.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:21 am
I hope DLR got the 300Z, and not Spammy….
November 10th, 2009 at 7:27 am
One of the best commercials of all time and definitely the best one that features VH.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:37 am
What can I say…makes me wanna go buy one!
November 10th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Great commercial.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:13 am
NewsFlash! The name of this site is now the ” Van Halen Nostalgia Desk ” …….More details later…..
November 10th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Wow, I just wrote about this in a comment section on this site not so long ago. I loved that commercial although I recall the main guy was a Indiana Jones type not GI Joe. Kool stuff. Long live the mighty Van Halen.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I remember laughing my ass off at this commercial when it came out. Hard to believe that was 13 years ago.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:23 am
That commercial was awesome. Posting it to FB page.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:33 am
What the hell?? Now we’re digging up 13 year old commercials? Come on VH! Let’s do something!
November 10th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Thank You VHND for bringing this gem back! This is my favorite commercial ever!
November 10th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Too many uses of -esque.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:15 am
First, full disclosure so you can all blast me if you want …I’m one of those folks who’ve criticized people on here who complain about this site posting Chickenfoot news. I’ve always been quick to remind people that the subtitle of the site references Chickenfoot news as well as VH news so people should chill out about CF news and be patient for real VH news.
However, the Van Halen fan in me now thinks that rather than quit posting Chickenfoot news (as so many have suggested), this site should temporarily rename itself the Chickenfoot news desk. Only until there is actually some real news to post about Van Halen.
Look at the last few weeks of stories here. When it comes to CF, we’ve got awards they are receiving, performances, interviews about what the band is doing and plans to do, etc. The kind of stuff you want to see about a band on a “news desk”, right? Now look at the stories about Van Halen. We’ve got video games, an 28 year old video of VH lip synching “Unchained”, a piece rehasing memories about VH I (a stellar album I might add), instructional DVDs and left handed guitars for sale and now an old nissan commercial.
I love VH music regardless of whose singing. And I am as hopeful as anyone that VH will put out a new album with Roth soon. But man, to keep posting endless stories that do nothing but remind us fans how little there is to be excited about with VH right now is getting tiresome and depressing. (endless mentions from Ed about how he’s in the studio and has all this music in the can aren’t worth anything until he actually delivers because he’s been saying this forever).
Sorry for my rant. My frustration is not with this site. I think this site does a great job of posting relevant news about all the members - past and present - of VH when it exists. The coverage of Chickenfoot has been top notch for instance and I’m glad for it because I’m a fan of CF. But maybe with a different temporary name for the site, there wouldn’t be pressure to post just anything that can be found about VH - which is usually just filler and dreck since there’s no real news.
Blast away.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I can’t help but agree with pushtoshove, and kayser sozay. Where’s the new news on VH & will there ever be any new news??
November 10th, 2009 at 10:51 am
There is no VH news. Perhaps you’ve heard…3 songs in 11 years?
If there’s no news, the VHND digs up relics like this to remind you of when VH was a relevant band. Why not blame them for bad weather too, because certainly the weather would be easier to influence than VH productivity.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:52 am
P.S. My point was…why blame the VHND for a lack of news? They can only report, the rest is up to Eddie.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:55 am
News flash!! Steven Tyler has left…oh sh@&!- that’s another band. Oh well at least they gave thier fans consistent product.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:07 am
poor Ken.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I loved this commercial,it was around the time that ROTH was rumored to be back in VH,only to be screwed over. VH eventually had it pulled off the air.
I LOVE this band, BUT they waited TOO long!!!!!!!!!!!
November 10th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I Loved that commercial when it came out… I remember Ed saying in an interview that the members of VH each recieved one of the LAST 300ZX’s as a gift for allowing Nissan to use the song… Ed gave his to his mother, Eugenia… what a nice son!
November 10th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
So, are we gonna get some, “Hey, WTF, this ain’t the Nissan News Desk!!1!!!” comments or are you lads going to disappoint?
November 10th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Hey !!!!!!!!! Lets get Steven Tyler to join VH !!!!!!!(lol)
November 10th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Wow, it only took 13 posts before someone started ragging on Eddie. Nice.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
walteR: Hey !!!!!!!!! Lets get Steven Tyler to join VH !!!!!!!(lol)
No laughing matter…Tyler would want a lot of input in the material. But to be honest, if anyone could front VH as a replacement…why not?
November 10th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
This whole ad campaign was brilliant. This one was definitely my favorite. But there were also others that were great.
The “Danger Zone” commercial where the birds were all dressed like pilots and trying to dive bomb the Maxima was great.
So was the “Dogs Love Trucks” commercial with the dog driving his sleepwalking owners’s truck to “Low Rider”.
Good memories!!
November 10th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Cool commercial. The audio on this clip blowed tho’.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thank God- that Chickensh*t article isn’t the top story anymore; I bet CF songs won’t get picked for TV ads like this any time soon…
November 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I could not have said it any better Kayser Sozay.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Lol at the random guy.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I think Ed stated that he gave his car to his mom but she didn’t drive or something.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Where is Dave?? Ed is planning birthday parties and Dave is MIA……………..
November 10th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Kayser nailed it.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Kayser,
You need to come to the site more often.
VHND just had stories of:
Ed on the cover of Guitar World
Ed updating fan’s of his hand surgery
Ed and Wolfgang coming out of Bristos talking about a 2010 tour.
Ed getting married and talking new music
What stories are you looking for? E-mail VHND your ideas and maybe they can make it happen.
Van Halen just completed a tour in 07-08 and are taking a well deserve break in 09. Most bands do!
Chickenfoot had a new album and tour in 09, they don’t have any other albums so this was a busy year for them. Chad’s going to be gone most of 2010 recording and touring with the Chili Peppers. Probably a down year for Chickenfoot in 2010 to take a well deserve break.
I’m just wondering if you’ll be as critical towards lack of Chickenfoot activity in 2010 as you have been in 09 towards Van Halen?
November 10th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I wonder if the GI Joe-esque figure tapped the Barbie-esque figure or if their anatomical incorrectness prevented the need for full detailing of the model car after…. esque
MA=VH
November 10th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
1996, eh?
Wonder if it was post-Father’s Day Let’s Fire Sammy Day 1996.
300ZX…..I’d trade in that piece of riceburner shit & get an LT1 Corvette.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Remember when …..blah, blah, blah.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
IN REFERENCE TO THIS LAME QUOTE:
chris.omeara says:
November 10th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thank God- that Chickensh*t article isn’t the top story anymore; I bet CF songs won’t get picked for TV ads like this any time soon…
RESPONSE:
CHRIS - get used to hearing about Chickenfoot…they’re MAKING news, not living off recycled news items from a decade ago.
Also, this commercial came out in 1996, so it only took 18 years. Furthermore, it’s a cover of a Kinks’ classic. If you measure the quality of a band by when they have songs covered in “commercials”, then Chickenfoot has 18 years from whenever they decide to record a cover.
This is a pretty lame attempt by you to rain on the Chickenfoot parade, but I realize that the Foot’s relevance, productivity, and growing prominence must be a downer when you consider the state of VH these days. Imagine how lousy it will be when Chickenfoot releases a CD before VH does though? I look forward to your next lame posting…
November 10th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
SKUTCH…your posts used to be interesting…when did you become such a whiner? Give us something Skutchworthy…
November 10th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Amen, Big Al. They pretty much filter out any VH news that doesn’t say new album or new music.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
My posts are less interesting because I don’t bother reading the CF articles. Trying not to be “hater”. Thought you’d appreciate that. LOL
November 10th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Big Al… I hear what you’re saying completely. I don’t really have a problem hearing about Ed getting married, having surgery, etc. My point is that none of the news updates are telling us what’s really going on with the band musically other than these vague allusions to new music coming. Yet where’s Dave? What’s the status? Etc. Hearing that Ed, Wolf and Al are jamming in the studio doesn’t tell me anything unless they confirm it’s music for a soon to be released album.
I agree the Roth reunion tour was a great time for all VH fans - not only because it was great to have Roth back in the fold (wish Mike was there too) but mostly because of the promise of new VH music on the horizon. Because with the exception of a couple new tunes, there hasn’t been new music from VH for 11 years. I’d say that’s a pretty damn long well deserved break. Yet we kept getting told it’s coming without any details.
And to answer your question, I promise you that if Chickenfoot spends years telling us there’s a bunch of great new music on its way but never delivers, I will be just as critical of them as I am of VH. But CF has been pretty up front about their situation with Chad having to go do his thing with RHCP so I know not to get my hopes up for a while. The difference is CF is keeping us informed, which is all a fan really wants. It’s a matter of respect for your fans.
I’m not a hater. Just the opposite. I love VH in all machinations. But I am a frustrated fan who is weary of being told “hold on, it’s coming” without being told when, with who, etc. yet in the meantime I can spend all my hard earned cash on various VH merchandise, etc.
Either do it or don’t. I don’t care either way. Just be honest. If VH said “we’re not really sure what the status of any new music is at the moment” I’d be cool with that.
Cheers.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
KAYSER…stop making so much sense…it’s wildly out of place here!
Agreed - do it or stop talking about it. Albums of tunes finished my ass. Like you said, if Sammy or the Foot pulled that shit I’d be all over them.
Sammy’s been out of VH for 13 years, except for ‘04, when he actually got VH to do their only recorded work in 11 years. The guy should be working with the United Nations if he can get Eddie to actually record something…his negotiation skills are clearly super-human. What else have you done Ed in 11 years? Sneakers and Video Games don’t count…
Sammy has done a CD every other year, DVDs, and actually took some chances and started 2 new bands. (Planet US and Chickenfoot).
Like him or not, he’s a musician…he does it rather than talking empty words about it. You can like the end result or not, but he is the real deal.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
kayser,extremely well said.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Kayser: Well spoken. I don’t think they ever do it…but I think it would be funny if VHND created a Chickenfoot “stamp” carefully placed over the VHND logo/header as if the VHND was hijacked by CF. Yes, I know it would be blasphemous. But I’d be OK with it if it was just temporary, even just a few days or so.
I love Ed and all things Van Halen – been a fan and collector for nearly 3 decades. But I’d actually be OK with pissing off the fine folks that are hibernating at 5150. Maybe a hijacking of the VHND might do that. A genuine reaction of some sort would be nice. A sign of life.
Big Al: C’mon man. Critical of CF in 2010? They’ve had a blast and have given music fans what they want, and I’ll bet they’ll be back within a few years. What more could a music fan ask for? These random blurbs, product releases, and sightings of Ed are cool and appreciated (thank you VHND) considering the long years of absolute silence, but they aren’t the news we are all waiting for. The VH/Dave tour was great but we’re all still waiting for a full length album. Silence from Dave with the exception of his quote of NOT speaking with Ed and waiting for a phone call…not too promising, actually very disappointing. Despite what Ed says about new music on the way (yet again), that doesn’t sound like the chemistry that created the phenomenal Van Halen albums we all love. I grew up through the original Van Halen days and nothing as of late reminds me of the old vibe we all loved. I think we’re all so desperate we’ve forgotten about that – or maybe some are just too young to have experienced it (no offense – I wish you were there, and you are welcome here). It’s so unbelievably disheartening to think Ed’s got Dave on a short leash, unable to speak his mind anymore. Is that the Dave we all want to hear on an album, see on tour and in videos? If the powers that be told the fans they were done…done making music and nothing was on the way…then we would be wrong to complain about having no new music. But for years we’ve been hearing of new music on the horizon. Any Van Halen fan is justified at being frustrated.
Hope springs eternal. That’s the real reason most of us come here. The nostalgia is fun and reminds me of damn good times. And the trash talking between fans is really entertaining. I love it. But how hard would it be for VH to throw the fans a fucking bone?
November 10th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Kayser: Oops. Didn’t see your latest post before adding my 2 cents. Once again, you are on it. Key word in your post: respect. Well done.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:36 am
No worries, VH Dude. Great minds think alike.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:18 am
When Dave speaks people listen!Can someone please turn on dlr’s mic!
November 11th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Guys, what I’m sure Ed and Dave realize is they will makes WAY more money off a tour than any new music. Guitar music of this sort is not mainstream in the least. CF sold half a million records, which is more than they expected from just a bunch of guys having fun. If they’re lucky, they might have paid off the label for all the advertising and promotion. You have to sell way more records these days to start make any real money. I’m not knocking CF, just presenting facts that usually exist in the biz.
The VH camp understands this and would probably just rather tour and make 90 mil, a figure they would NEVER make off a new album. All these guys (except Wolfie) are pretty old. Contributing new music is just not a huge priority for them. It might happen. Might. It could be great (1984), or it could be terrible (VH3). Coming on here and whining isn’t going to change a thing.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:35 am
This has always been one of my favorite commercials! I remember when it came out I thought “Wow! My favorite band’s music is in a commercial!” At the time I also thought “Whatever brings Van Halen to the mainstream, all the better!”
November 11th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Skutch put it in a nut shell.The one thing I would add is as long as there healthy and are in to doing something new. Thats all that matters age has nothing to do with it. Hey 50`s the new 40`s and so on and so forth lololol . I`m sure something new will be coming sooner then later. Just my gut feeling.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Got it bad got it bad got it bad, I’m hot for new music!!!! I often wonder what new crazy shit we’ll get when we get it? What will the album cover look like? What will it be called? Perhaps Van Halen IV?but all their flavors are garunteed to satisfy!!!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
rick pride, the new album should be called “I’LL WAIT..ANOTHER 11 YEARS!”……