Why Waste That Perfectly Good Bloody Pearl Necklace, I Put My Savings Into That!

Alan Price - Changes - Volkswagen TV Commercial



Classed as one of the best and iconic UK adverts of the 1980's. Typically known as a Princess Diana look-a-like, sick and tired of her marriage, leaving for good, ditching everything money can buy, the yuppie clothes -the fur coat, the pearl necklace and the wedding ring - of the very rich and established 80's woman. However, not the Volkswagen car keys! Oh no! The advert ends as the woman smiles, non-verbally praising the automobile, presumably for it's reliance.

The adverts is directed by the famous British photographer David Bailey, and the song, a brilliant soundtrack and lyrics to the advert, is, as seen above, by Alan Price, entitled "Changes". The Princess Di look-a-like is former model Paula Hamilton.

David Bailey of course, helped capture the "Swinging Sixties" Britain with vivid imagery. Taking photos of such celebrities of the 1960's such as model Twiggy, Terence Stamp, The Beatles, and the Kray Twins. He took up directing adverts in the mid-60's.

Bailey discovered the woman of the ad, Paula Hamilton. She was still a model at the time, at the age of 27. She became the face of Queen's couturier Sir Hardy Amies, a fashion designer for some time. Paula came up against the demons in the industry, the plight of drink and drugs, look at Kate Moss. Hamilton is still in the modelling industry, hoping to take advantage of the ability of older models like Twiggy, coming back to the fore, in the mid-2000's. She's been a judge for 2 series for "Britain's Next Top Model" in 2006 and 2007, but the huge fanfare of THAT advert, has seen her discussing the ad in "Best Adverts Ever" compilations on TV.

This is a very important advert in British history. Before this, and throughout the 80's, car ads were geared towards men, there was none of the soppy, artsy-fancy tone you see in today's ads. Paula's ad (can I say that?) was the first time, a car advert had favoured women and that the car has given them the essence of power. We have this in oodles of advertising now, with he woman coming out top's, but not many can better this piece!