One of the best motivational videos during the Super Bowl told a brief story of a father's son who wanted to grow up to be like Dad, to the folk song "Cats In the Cradle" by Harry Chapin.
This spot opens with the birth of a baby boy, including the pain and joy of childbirth at the hospital. As the lyrics say, "He learned to walk while I was away", we see the toddler making his way across the room, and the Dad at a race event. As the boy grows, he is on the floor playing with cars like what Dad drives, and Mom is talking with Dad by phone between racing events. In one race, the Dad's car spins out of control, and Mom and son are home watching on television. His car is struck by an oncoming car, and spins further. We see scenes of the boy falling into the pool, then holding his breath under water with face down while emergency vehicles respond to the Dad's disable vehicle, and the Mom wipes her face of tears. We then see the Dad emerge from the accident with victorious hands held high; the boy watching on television immediately responds by raising his arms over his head!
As the boy turns a teenager, the Dad gives him a helmet as he heads out once again by taxi to a race. The boy and his friends have their own races in grocery carts, and the Dad gets ever increasing speed vehicles and notoriety in the races, missing more time with his son. The lyrics, "When you comin' home, Dad, I don't know when, but we'll get together then, You know we'll have a good time then."
We see a picture of the Dad and son taped to the dashboard of the race car. As a teenager, the om is talking with him in the car, but he is obviously missing his Dad. We see the Dad come in the last lap and win with the checkered flag, while at home the now older teenage boy and his Mom are watching. The boy is proud, as we hear the lyrics "You know I'm gonna be like him". Then the Dad looks directly at the camera, while the Son and Mom watch television at home, and the wife catches his glimpse, and so does the son.
And here's the twist, where the story departs from the song...just a bit. As the son is leaving high school late one evening, his Dad surprises him by picking him up at school to give him a ride home. With a welcoming hug from the Dad to the son, they both smile and drive off in a new Nissan, the son proud to be with his Dad, "I'm gonna be just like you, Dad."
This mini-motion-picture is a wonderful way to tell a story with licensed music and a real life scenario. If you would like my creative team to come up with a story similar (or different) to this, which brings together a familiar folk song with a strong story, and ties it to your product or service, contact me directly.
