Beats by Dre headphones has released a Pinocchio-themed ad campaign titled “Got No Strings,” that is filled to the brim with musicians and celebrities, all highlighting the ease of wearing wireless headphones. Owned by Apple, the campaign syncs up with the company’s recent announcement that the iPhone 7 will not have a headphone jack, an unpopular change derided in part because it meant users would have to spend additional money buying wireless headphones.
Opening with an animation of Pinocchio singing his liberation theme song, “I’ve Got No Strings” the video transitions to shots of Nicki Minaj, DJ Khaled, Karlie Kloss, Travis Scott, Amber Rose, Rebel Wilson, Ben Simmons, Pharrell, Steve Buscemi, William Chen, Young M.A, Sayo, Juno Temple, Michael Phelps, Karen Civil, Liza Koshy, Al Rocco, Miyavi and PartyNextDoor, all going about everyday life sans wires.
Overall, it’s very much a fun and visually appealing spot though we could have lived without Young M.A. being shown as a cat caller. Yes, it’s open-minded of Apple to embrace her sexuality and show her admiring another woman, but there is no doubt this could have been expressed in a less aggressive way. On that note, Rebel Wilson as a woman slapping a man’s ass isn’t any cooler than a man doing the same.
The timing of the campaign could be viewed as not the greatest given the founder of the brand, Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, is currently under fire for his role as a girlfriend beater in the Michel’le biopic “Surviving Compton,” and in an extra dose of irony, one of Michel’le’s best known songs “No More Lies” includes a reference to Pinnochio.
Among some of the viewers unfamiliar with Dre Dre’s reputation, there was some social media talk about not buying Beats by Dre headphones, however, Dr. Dre sold the brand in 2014, and while a shareholder of Apple, is no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the company.
Check it out below.
