Superbowl: Pepsi vs Coca Cola

By Kayley Erlandson

Beat: The Battle Between Soft Drinks

The Steelers and the Packers weren’t the only ones duking it out this past weekend. Rival American soft drink companies Coca Cola and Pepsi both had more than a few coveted commercial spots during the Superbowl. But who’s advertising was better?

Here are the commercials:

Pepsi

Cooler Launcher

Love Hurts

First Date

Coca-Cola

Border

Dragon

I preferred Coke’s advertising over Pepsi’s. Pepsi’s ads just seemed more mean-spirited and two of the commercials end in a violent way, with the cause of a “problem” getting hit with a Pepsi Max can…hard. The other Pepsi Max commercial concerns a man on a first date who only wants to sleep with the woman sitting across from him. The only thing that can distract him from his one-track thought is a Pepsi Max. Apparently, this drink is that good.

The Pepsi commercials were the winners of an amateur video contest that Pepsi is now doing every year. While it’s understandable that these amateurs did not have as many resources to work with, it’s strange that they all went for more edge than any of the Coke commercials.

I don’t think the commercials will affect which soft drink people will choose. We all have a brand we prefer over the other.

Coca Cola’s commercials were more about tolerance. The two border guards share a Coke, despite being on opposing sides. A deadly dragon who is being used as a weapon of mass destruction is turned into a glorified sparkler, ending the fight and starting a celebration.

Implication? Coke is so good it can unite people with opposing views. Pepsi can solve your problems through violence and possibly end a horrible date with a man who only wants one thing.

Which do you prefer: Coke or Pepsi? Do you think advertising has anything to do with your preference? Have you noticed a pattern in the way these soft drinks are marketed?