People on Twitter want to know why Italian pasta maker Barilla is using the indisputably and distinctively Greek song “Zorba The Greek,” made famous in the film by the same name, in their latest advertisement for pasta.
Have a look at the 30-second spot featuring Tennis giant Roger Federer.
Then see (below) what they’re saying on Twitter.
Lex Georgiou thinks they should have known better…
You would have thought an Italian pasta company, @barillagroup, would know that Zorba the Greek is a GREEK song not Italian ? Nice touch using @rogerfederer @BarillaUS @Barilla
— Lex Georgiou (@lexiegeorge) January 21, 2018
Adri the Australian is a bit more colorful in her questioning…
Why the fuck is the Zorba music playing in a Barilla ad? Greeks are not Italians
— Adri the Aussie (@adri_canna) January 21, 2018
Some are calling it an #AdvertisingFail
Major #advertisingfail @Barilla using the ‘Zorba the Greek’ music soundtrack on their latest ad to promote Italian branded pasta!! Launched during a large TV audience too! ? #marketing #Advertising #ausopen
— Potta Findikidis (@Potts40) January 21, 2018
People are commenting and protesting online in Italian, Turkish, Spanish, Polish…
Bir italyan klasiği olan Barilla reklamında niye bir Yunan klasiği olan Zorba’nın müziği kullanılmış? Hımmm
— Deniz Koker (@denizkoker) January 20, 2018
Ma la bellissima musica della danza di Zorba che c'entra con un tennista svizzero che vive a Londra e un cuoco di Milano?
Qualcuno mi spiega la pubblicità della @Barilla?
Ma 'na musichina Made in Italy no?#lemusicachegiraintorno #18gennaio— Mattia Meattelli (@ildottormea) January 18, 2018
Właśnie zobaczyłam reklamę makaronu z podkładem z Zorba (Sirtaki).
Brawo #barilla— Katarzyna (@J_Kaska) January 8, 2018
This user liked it… and got the spirit of the advertisement as intended by Barilla (Barilla’s explains below)
So we have a Swiss tennis champ cooking Barilla (Italian) pasta with Zorba the Greek playing in the background. Truly international @rogerfederer @barillagroup
— Maria Pteris ? ? (@MariaPteris) January 21, 2018
And my favorite Tweet…
-Teach me to cook!
-Cook? Did you say cook? Come on my boy
Παραφράζοντας τον Άντονι Κουίν.
Μία ωραία διαφήμιση.
Δείτε το βίντεο!#greek_zorba @rogerfedererhttps://t.co/eCLxRdRaFF— Milini (@milinimaria) January 14, 2018
Barilla knew what they were doing and want people to know that by responding to posts questioning their choice of the song by Greece’s most famous composer.
“We chose Zorba’s Dance by Mikis Theodorakis because it represents perfectly, the warm and joyful soul of the Mediterranean.”
Ciao, abbiamo scelto Zorba's Dance di Mikis Theodorakis perché rappresenta perfettamente l'anima calda e gioiosa del Mediterraneo.
— Barilla (@Barilla) January 16, 2018
Good come back Barilla. Game, set, match. Barilla for the win. Great comeback. Yes, indeed, this quintessentially Greek song does indeed capture the warm and joyful soul of the Mediterranean. We’re thrilled that you agree.
PS… if you liked the short spot, there’s an extended 2 minute version too:
*****
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2 comments
Barilla bought Miskos
“We chose Zorba’s Dance by Mikis Theodorakis because it represents perfectly, the warm and joyful soul of the Mediterranean.”
No, not a good comeback! This is just a poor excuse.
There is plenty of Italian music that gives “the warm and joyful soul of the Mediterranean” just as well as Zorba’s Dance, and would make more sense since the pasta is Italian, not Greek. It would’ve been a good opportunity to be authentic, but Barilla chose otherwise and makes them look silly to put it nicely.
The ad can easily cause confusion and make people think (who don’t know) that the music is Italian instead of Greek.
Me, being part Greek; the ad irks me to be honest. Honestly, Barilla should change the music to something that represents Italy instead of roping in another country that has nothing to do with what they’re selling, it looks like a marketing mess and again, a missed opportunity to be authentic.