This morning on the radio I heard a commercial that I thought would be for Kulula airlines. It started off the same way the Kulula spots do, with a typically South African voice explaining in rhyme why they are such a special person. These spots are usually beautifully written and always good for a laugh - even if they don't particularly make me want to pick up the phone and book a seat - and I never complain if someone wants to pay a small fortune to entertain me for 30 seconds.
So, imagine my surprise when it turns out the spot's not for the jokey airline at all, but for a software company...an accounting software company! The ad attempts to sell VIP Payroll Software.
Maybe it's because accountants aren't generally regarded as the most creative kids in the office that the agency decided to rip off someone else's idea instead coming up with something original.
The thing is, when Kulula do it, it's funny. When VIP Payroll do it, it's embarrassing.
No doubt some bright spark in the agency thought that it's time to change the image of the accountant from dull, grey, bean counter to scintillating, bon vivant comedian. Instead, they've entrenched the perception of accountants as unoriginal and boring.
