The First World War song by Harry Cohen, Over There is part of the canon of its genre and soon will enjoy its centenary. I take you then to the production meeting of one of many agencies asked to pitch for the business of an internet insurance comparison web-site. In these meetings no idea is laughed out of the room. All are heard with respect.
'I know' says a school kid on placement, 'Let's get an Italian with a curly moustache flying over a restaurant singing Go Compare to the tune of Over There. Let's make sure he looks like a fat tenor and give him an obvious false moustache.'
Same kid didn't know the expression 'Thank your lucky stars' so the coda of the piece is same flying man crescendoing (sorry) 'You will thank your stars that you went to Go Compare.'
No, I don't know if that's how it happened, or how they got the business eventually. I used to work for a fine insurance company which gave its policy holders wonderful posters of eagles from around the world. How did it go so wrong? I blame Michael Winner.
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