Sainsbury’s unveils its sweet Christmas campaign featuring a school play set to a classic Nineties tune – but some point out it’s VERY similar to a recent ad from John Lewis
- Sainsbury’s is the latest store to unveil its Christmas advert which airs tonight
- Features a school production with eight-year-old Tia Isaac performing a rendition of nineties New Radicals’ hit You Get What You Give
- Viewers have compared the advert to John Lewis’ September campaign
- The supermarket says that its ‘not worried’ about the similarities
Sainsbury’s has become the latest store to unveil its new Christmas advert which will premiere on Monday during Coronation Street on ITV.
Directed by Michael Gracey, who was behind The Greatest Showman, The Big Night depicts a school Christmas show featuring a nervous young girl dressed as a star performing a stellar rendition of the New Radicals’ hit, You Get What You Give.
The star is supported by a cast of children playing a host of weird and wonderful Christmas characters, from a nativity camel to baubles and presents and even a set of fairy lights – including the plug itself.
The notion that ‘we give all we’ve got for the ones we love’ is at the heart of Sainsbury’s new marketing campaign, as the retailer calls on the nation to do just that this Christmas.
Sainsbury’s is the latest store to launch its Christmas advert featuring eight-year-old Tia Isaac (pictured) who performs rendition of the New Radicals’ hit, You Get What You Give in a school production
And while the touching advert, which launched online on Sunday, is unique to the festive campaigns we have seen so far some viewers have pointed out its similarities to a previous John Lewis campaign.
The 2018 Christmas ad has been compared to the John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners commercial which aired earlier this year.
-
A ho-ho-hot holiday trend! Beauty fans go wild for lavish…
It wasn’t Sir Elton¿ it was Chris Moyles! DJ reveals HE was… -
Have the best Christmas EVER with these brilliant ideas
Ad Feature
Share this article
John Lewis, who is yet to unveil its 2018 Christmas advert, released the commercial in September which followed a similar format to Sainsbury’s, seeing a group of school children in a production of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Pointing out the likeness on Twitter one viewer wrote: ‘The advertising world equivalent of turning up to work xmas party in the same dress as a colleague.’
The advert is based a round a school production called ‘The Big Night’ and sees over 60 talented children take part
At one point a youngster dressed as the Queen mimics Her Majesty’s famous Christmas Day speech
The heartwarming advert has been compared to one seen earlier this year by John Lewis and Partners due to its similar format
Another wrote: ‘Awkwardly similar to the John Lewis & Partners ad, but totally adorable. #Sainsbury’s marketing depts. must have been gutted when the #JohnLewis ad came out! #XmasAd.’
A spokesperson from the supermarket told Metro.co.uk: ‘We started work on this in January and the thing we were really inspired about is every single school up and down the country is doing a nativity play.
‘That’s really what this is about. I don’t think you question it’s from Sainsbury’s. We’ve got black and white at the beginning, there’s orange all the way through, so I’m not worried about it.’
MailOnline has contacted Sainsbury’s for a comment.
John Lewis’ September campaign saw a group of school children in a production of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody
Many viewers took to Twitter to point out the similarities between the Sainsbury’s campaign and the department store’s earlier one
The supermarket’s advert features almost 60 talented children from across the country, some as young as six years old.
The film also captures genuine emotional reactions from the audience, as some of the cast’s parents are featured seeing their child perform the show for the first time.
The Star of the show is eight-year-old rising talent Tia Isaac from London – this is Tia’s first TV singing performance.
For children who want to take their very own star turn, Sainsbury’s is stocking a children’s star costume (£8 in store and online).
Tia’s version of the song will also be live on Spotify from Monday.
Laura Boothby, Head of Broadcast Marketing at Sainsbury’s, comments: ‘This year, we have set out to create an advert that captures the passion, emotion and excitement of the festive season, in a setting that’s familiar to us all – no matter how old we are.
Sainsbury’s say that they began work on the production in January and ‘is not worried’ about the comparison
Sainsbury’s claims it set out ‘to create an advert that captures the passion, emotion and excitement of the festive season’
Tia’s performance of the classic nineties hit is also launching on Spotify today
The film also captures genuine emotional reactions from the audience, as some of the cast’s parents are featured seeing their child perform the show for the first time
‘Customers tell us that what matters most to them at Christmas is spending time together with family and friends and making it truly special for them – and that’s what giving all you’ve got is about.
‘The school show is a flagship Christmas moment for many: the evenings spent frantically learning lines, the inventive costumes – the whole family truly plays a part. This made it the perfect setting to bring our Christmas message to life – watching little ones give all they’ve got, for their loved ones watching on.’
Michael Gracey, Director of Sainsbury’s 2018 Christmas advert, comments: ‘I was honoured to be part of bringing Sainsbury’s new Christmas campaign to life.
‘Fuelled by the passion and talent of an incredible cast and crew, we set out to craft an ad that embodies the joy and imagination of the festive season. We hope it’s a message that resonates with people from all walks of life this Christmas.’
Laura Boothby continues: ‘We’re honoured to have worked with Michael Gracey and his team this year’s advert.
‘Michael’s credentials from The Greatest Showman and his track record for putting on a real spectacle meant that he was the perfect fit to help us bring the idea to life and encourage the cast to give all they’ve got on stage.’
Source: Read Full Article