Toyota is slayed by zero

Oh yes, it's definitely the most annoying ad campaign since the never-ending Freecreditreport.com plague. Why. oh why, did The Fixx lend their signature '80s hit Saved By Zero to Toyota to advertise finance rates?

The hatred of the ad campaign, which seems to appear nonstop during any sporting event on TV, is growing. The fervor on the Internet has reached top volume with blogs and Facebook.com groups all calling for its end.

Count The Fixx in with the naysayers.

Cy Curnin, the band's lead singer and co-founder, recently told the Las Vegas Sun that while he likes the royalty checks and the new attention on The Fixx, the quality of the recording itself disturbs him.

"It's a bit cheesy. I would prefer to have been the one singing it," Curnin told the Sun via phone from his farm in France. It's also ironic that the automaker chose this particular tune, Curnin says, because the song's message seems contrary to the ad's purpose.

"The song was written from the point of view of the release you get when you have nothing left to lose. It clears your head of all fears and panics and illusions and you get back to the basics, which is a Buddhist mantra, which I practiced back then, and which I still do," he said. "The idea of the song is how great it is to get back to zero."

Despite the grass roots move to get the commercial killed, Toyota says the ad campaign has been a success.

"I think the fact that it's being talked about is good, because the message is out there," Toyota marketing spokesman Joe Tetherow told the Associated Press. "The dealers like the program, and customers do too."

Click here to see the band's original video for Saved By Zero.

Comments

[Melissa]

I hate the commercial too, and the guy that sings it is no Cy. I'll have to admit though that I NEVER knew what the heck Saved By Zero meant...and now I do. Funny how many songs in the 80s I used to sing and had no clue as to their meaning.

[Chris A]

I HATE THAT MOTHER%#*&ING COMMERCIAL SO MUCH!!! I MUTE IT EVERY TIME IT COMES ON!!!

[chris]

the headline says this: "Toyota is slayed by zero"

the article says this: "Toyota says the ad campaign has been a success"

hm. someone tried to make a funny.

[millsapian87]

Kinda like when Levi Jeans used CCR's "Fortunate Son" a few years ago, without a scintilla of irony.

[Joe Bob]

Of course Toyota is going to tout the ad's success. Admitting it's a flop means they have to admit to their stockholders that they blew millions of dollars making the company look stupid. That ain't gonna happen.

Besides, the executive that came up with this garbage wants his bonus.

[Niles]

yea, a real success Toyota. I hate this commercial so much, my next car purchase WILL be a honda.

[Kyle]

Thank god some other people have wieghed in on this. This is far and away the worst ad I've ever heard in my life. I love me some Fixx and Toyota so bastardizes the song that it becomes unlistenable(is that a word?) The end of the commercial with the repetitive "Saved by Zero" over and over again is an affront to all aural experiences. The ad exec who thought this one up should be killed. And no, this won't become one of those "ads you to hate", this ad you will just flat out hate. And as far as what Toyota exec gave the green light on this, he/she should be forced to commit seppuku live on national tv. Ugh.

[timmy242]

I can't believe Cy didn't mention that the guy in the commercial sings the phrase WRONG to begin with! Still love the song, though the commercial facks it up terribly.

[HATE IT]

I hate that song. I hate the commercial so very, very much. My hate is a warm soothing blanket.

[Cory]

I thought I was the only one getting violently ill every time I heard it. Thank you for sharing your disdain. I have to admit, Slayed by Zero sounds like an excellent heavy metal jingle.

[Andy]

The John Cougar "This is my country" had a similar backlash.

[TOYOTA SUCKS]

I have nightmares where this commercial comes on in the middle of the night and I can't turn it off! HELP!!

I'd prefer to hear the old

" I love what you do for me, TOYYYOTA!"

[Lothar]

Its a commercial get over it.

[Chemechie]

I'm more interested by what the commercial reveals about Toyota - Everybody talks about them being the 'hot', big, and up and coming car company. But then you realize that to have to stoop to 0% ads means that they are having problems like all the other car companies. In the past only the American companies had to resort to employee pricing and 0% to sell cars; now everybody is cutting deals to make sales.

[Drew]

I am never buying a Toyota solely because of this commercial. Never.

[Craig]

Glad I stumbled on this, this is the most annoying commercial, not solely because it's a terrible repeating theme song. But because they run it once per break, sometimes twice.

[Scott]

Anybody remember the "It's So Easy to Own Tercel" commercials from the 80's? That one drove me nuts even then, and I was just a kid...

[Ricky Bobby]

I thought I was the only person who hated this commercial! Seriously, like clockwork, it comes on in the morning as I'm getting ready for work and I always mute the TV. ARRGGGHHHH!!!

[EricM]

It sounds like the commercial is a success.

[Ron]

Terrible commercial, but the Fixx whining about it is laughable. They sold their soul, so shut up while you're depositing your money.

[Josh]

Will never buy a toyota because of the overplay of this commercial. It haunts me.

[SonnyP]

There is no way that ten years down the road you will be not buying a toyota because of a commercial. You are going to buy the best deal; just like the airlines. You might hate a certain airline from a previous experience, but if they have the right price and the best departure and arrival times you are most likely going to buy the ticket.

[Janet R.]

I thought I was the only one that scrambled for the mute button when that spot came on...it is the scariest most annoying song. I never want to drive a Toyota.

[Jackson]

Can't stand this commercial either. If Toyota is looking to get people to notice its car, they should look no further than the Audi commercials, that have had a resounding success as of late. Catchy songs, not constant repetition. Even if you dont have the money to purchase it, everything about those commercials makes you drool.

Speaking of annoying commercials...did anybody else in this group think that that cable TV(?) commercial of Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley was just as irritating? So annoying I couldn't even remember what the ad was for even they showed it practically every 15 seconds it seemed like...

[Kyle]

No, ten years from now I will STILL not buy a Toyota. To foist this abomination upon the public (and play it seven times a half hour, and don't even get me started about sporting events) and then pat themselves on the back proves to me that Toyota is a heartless mindless corporation with absolutely no sense. I'm going to assume their cars have sunk to this level (hence 0%) so I won't be buying thank you.

[Still hating Mazda]

The WORST commercial song still belongs to Mazda. Remember the woman screeching "MAAAAZZDDAAAAA, excitement for the RO-OAD!!!"?
Have never considered buying a Mazda since.

Yeah. Christie Brinkley needs to go back to stealing peoples husbands and .issing on Billy Joel. I will never forgive her. That cheatin tramp

[Mike]

How on earth is this an issue, when we are letting commercials go with "first there is a mountain" songs in them?

[Tony Mc]

An 80's song that is being used in an ad for the NFL Network that has me totally baffled is 'Everyday is like Sunday' by Morrissey . Granted it is not Morrissey's version but it is still very odd. Either he is a huge fan of American football or needs more cash. I thought he was above that sort of thing.

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[sad toyota owner]

I want to break my tv every time this commercial comes on. Which is every 30 seconds on average.

[Betty]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to

say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Betty

http://www.my-foreclosures.info

[mike]

Whats the big deal? It's a 30 second commercial...If this is upsetting, you guys need to get out more.

[Sean Patrick Morrissey]

As far as 80's tunes in commercials, I like the NFL's use of "Every day is just like Sunday"

[Mars]

Remote Control.... snnoyihg commercial comes on, switch to another channel! But yes, I agree, that Toyota commercial is awful.

Now a commercial I do like is Nextel, what if Roadies ran the airlines? "Buckle up Dudes" and the fireworks as the plane gathers speed down the runway. *LOL*

[Jake]

Have you driven a Ford....lately???

[Al]

Chris A. can you hear me now...
"Saved by Zero"...can you hear me, Chris? Get over it. Like all tv ads, this one will also disappear into obscurity with a few more weeks.

[LockBull]

Ok, so not every car AD can be as cool as Nissan's use of the Clash's cover of "Pressure Drop"!

[Hawk]

Whether or not you like the commercial, the fact remains you're getting 0% financing on the best product out there!

[Lookup]

All this emotion over a silly commercial - what a waste.

And good job Toyota. You still make a great product.

[TriX]

I hate this commercial and that damned five dollar foot long subway commercial. So bad in fact that I refuse to eat there until the ad stops.

[Kevin]

Its no worse than bOB SeGeR SELLING HIS SOUL FOR THE SOON TO BE BANKRUPT CHEVY TRUCKS,,,THEIR STOCK IS FALLING "LIKe A ROCK",,,,I always liked the toyota commercial,,,you asked for it you got it toyota!

[Doug]

"Oh, what a feeling!"

That is, to hate that commercial. (I won't ever buy a Japanese car. Money going overseas is what put our economy in this mess in the first place. It's almost economic treason.)

What's almost as bad? "The W.C."

That's not "water closet," but instead, Wesley Chapel Toyota.

Please, rescue us from crappy commercials, here and abroad.

[Chris]

Yeah, it's cheesy and somewhat annoying. But I don't think it's as bad as those Toyota of Tampa Bay(?) commercials with that dude singing miserably off-key. That guy almost makes William Hung easy on the ears.

[Mike]

Talk about annoying '80s auto commercials? How about this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT0IIoYkJaM

We build excitement...Pontiac!

[don in tulsa]

the fact is it's a horrible version of the song and every time the commercial comes on i either mute the tv or change the channel. i am one of those people that will not buy a product if it the commercials annoy me. would i buy a toyota 5 years from now when this commercial is dead and forgotten? that depends on the car, price, etc.

as far as these other commercials re-enacting scenes from movies using 1 orignal person and body doubles (vacation for example), i detest these more than i can ever explain. what utter crap. it cheapens anything that was ever good about those movies.

then again, i don't care for most commercials so it's just my opinion.

[80s music lover]

It feels so good to know that I'm not alone...

[Perry]

My dog loves that commercial! He never pays attention to the TV, with the notable exception of that commercial.

[Mary]

When I 1st saw/heard that commercial, I immediately said to my bfriend, "Well, another good song bastardized". Cadillac is using Led Zep. - anyone noticing a trend here - using music that is nostalgic to us in the roughly 40-50 year old age group. The problem is, the car companys do such horrible jobs with the songs. I saw the Fixx a few years back at Janus Landing in St. Pete - one of the best concerts at one of the best venue's in this area. They still ROCK and are still very talented musically. I know it's only a commercial and I try to change the channel to avoid it, but I think the TV stations have it figured out to have all their commercials on at the same time so there is no escaping them. But that's another topic...

[Bob H]

"Oh yes, it's definitely the most annoying ad campaign since the never-ending Freecreditreport.com plague."

I guess I'm alone in that I actually *like* the freecreditreport.com commercials. I know, I know, get a life.