Burger King® Flame™, introduced last month just in time for Christmas, is a new meat-scented body spray. It was only sold in NYC at that paragon of good taste, Ricky's. Gothamist interviewed a Ricky's employee who reports that Flame actually
smells "Nice and spicy... kind of like Axe body spray"*.
While it is easy to assume that Burger King has merely lost its freaking mind, the Flame ad campaign makes it rather obvious that they planned this as a bit of a gag all along. Their "Flame Meets Desire" interactive website is actually a really funny look at the most perfectly cheesy examples of romantic imagery. It also features some of the creepiest romantic imagery, with that expressionless new "king" trying to seduce you wearing nothing but a blanket in front of a roaring fire**.
Even though Flame is sort of a joke, it is one that will make BK a bit of money on sales, as a cheap joke gift can be a bit hard to resist - and some people do indeed want to smell like they work in fast food (initial stock sold out instantly). More importantly, such a campy campaign will help spread word of mouth without them having to spend much money on adverti.... CRAP! You did it! It worked, you bastards! Still, your jokes won't make me eat a meal at Burger King. Never again, I say!***
While you're waiting for Flame to be restocked, you can experience the same romantic feeling in your ears instead of your nostrils by allowing yourself to be seduced by romance master Fabio. Just listen to the advice offered from his quickie CD marketing ploy Fabio: After Dark. Enjoy!
Fabio, About Romance | Fabio On Inner Beauty | Fabio On Films | Fabio On Tropical Islands | Fabio On Humor | Fabio On Surprises**** | Fabio On Slow Dancing
* Which reminds me - at the end of a grueling transcontinental flight last week, the very talkative man in the seat in front of me thought it was appropriate to stand up in the aisle during landing and cover himself with Axe body spray. Granted, this wasn't a surprise because said passenger had also spent the entire flight trying to pick up his seat mate ("You're an actress? I have a cousin who was almost in that movie "My Cousin Vinny". Maybe I can help you out.") and was wearing more hair gel than I thought a head could actually hold. Still, who would think spraying your fellow passengers with body spray is an okay thing to do?
** Just wait until he pulls out the strawberries. It's a great moment because you can tell the poor model in that silly mask cannot see a darn thing he's doing.
*** This is a blatant lie. I am weak. Especially on road trips.
**** Listen carefully, becasue in Fabio's accent "surprise" becomes "suppress", which makes for a whole different kind of seduction.
man i love me some fabio
the pics of him in the studio putting these tracks down are the best!
www.falconfriday.com/images/2007/11/fabio-recording1.jpg
www.falconfriday.com/images/2007/11/fabio-recording2.jpg
Posted by: marty mcsorley | January 05, 2009 at 09:49 PM
And I thought BK executives had lost their natural minds with the potato chips...
Posted by: Jonathan Steinke | January 06, 2009 at 06:36 AM
If only we could pair Arianna Huffington w/ Fabio - imagine the sweettalk! At least, imagine her response to being supressed by a toothbrush ~
Posted by: queen ethel | January 07, 2009 at 10:17 PM
It took me several seductive, pleasurable listens to "Surprises" to figure out that he was saying "Maldive Islands" and "multiviolence."
Posted by: Joe | January 09, 2009 at 10:05 AM