Have you seen the commercial for AT&T that plays “Pure Imagination” while giant paper and crayon characters play in a city? I love that commercial.

You might think, as much as I love – and watch – TV, that I’d have DVR and skip right over commercials. But here’s what you don’t know: I like watching commercials.

There. I said it. I like commercials.

Blame it on my short career in advertising. Or the “see who can count the most billboards” game my mom made up for my brother and me during trips into the city. But whatever the reason, I’m a fan of advertising.

I even subscribe to a few advertising newsletters and blogs.

It’s not like I think all commercials and ads are good. No, they’re mostly garbage. But every once in a while, I see a great commercial and I can’t help but admire the art of advertising.

[I know. I’m weird.]

I had no idea, until I started doing my research for this post, that the song used in the AT&T commercial is from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Probably I didn’t know because I can’t stand that movie.

I think it’s creepy. And yes, I’m even talking about the original, not the Tim Burton version. (I think it goes without saying that anything involving Tim Burton is likely to be on the creepy scale.)

But, there it is. “Pure Imagination” is featured in Willy Wonka and sung – so beautifully – by Gene Wilder.

And speaking of my research . . . I actually found an article that described the exact reaction I have – pretty much exactly how I was going to describe it – to this commercial. Since telling you now would be plagiarism, I’ll just share with you what the article said (emphasis mine).

That’s what the AT&T “Rethink” commercial does for me. I can be doing a million other things, but when Gene Wilder’s voice starts singing “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I stop whatever I’m doing, look at the TV, and become mesmerized by those child-like drawings springing to life in a busy city. That’s exactly what AT&T wants me to do, and it’s working, so props to them. (TV Squad)

That says it so well. There’s just something so captivating about this tune, those words and the characters. My favorite part is the pause before he sings “imagination” and “explanation.” Here, watch it:

Click here if you can’t see the embedded video.

This post will be linked to Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries, Friday Favorites at The Other Mama and Show Us Your Life at Kelly’s Korner.

Do you like commercials? What do you think is the best commercial on TV right now?

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