SVEDKA Vodka Pays Homage to Old-school Music Videos and Brings SVEDKA_Grl to Life in Two New TV Spots

NEW YORK, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SVEDKA Vodka, the fastest growing top-10 spirits brand in the United States, is set to launch its new marketing campaign this month with the first of two new TV spots featuring the brand icon, SVEDKA_Grl. For the first time in the company's history, viewers will see a fully animated SVEDKA_Grl walk, wink, strum on a keytar and even take a trip to the moon. Starting on April 16th viewers can see these brand new spots on Bravo, VH1, Comedy Central, FX, Oxygen, E!, among other major cable networks and select movie theaters*. SVEDKA_GRL's two new commercials are the product of a power team collaboration between expert animation houses, BUF and Laundry!, and famed music video director, Melina Matsoukas.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120412/NY86095-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120412/NY86095-b )

"The spirit of these new TV spots truly captures the essence of SVEDKA_Grl as her fun, flirtatious self," says Diana Pawlik, Vice President of Marketing for SVEDKA Vodka. "The result is colorful, provocative, outrageous, fun and cheeky – all the things the SVEDKA brand has come to embody since 2007."

The first ad titled "Freak-A-Zoid," features SVEDKA_Grl in a series of classic video vixen scenarios - from playing a keytar, to frolicking in an oversized martini glass, and striking a supermodel pose in front of a wall of lights. The spot is set to a funky remake of old-school Midnight Star hit, "Freak-A-Zoid," from original writers Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway and William Simmons, prompting SVEDKA_Grl to dance along to lyrics such as "wind me up" and "turn me on" as vivid colors flash across the screen. 

The second ad entitled "Cool Places," captures SVEDKA_Grl traveling through a vibrant pop-art collage comprised of disco balls, cherries, giant speakers, pyramids, and Eifel towers before she rockets into space. Once she lands, the spokesbot plants a SVEDKA flag as a pack of pink-clad paparazzi snap her picture. The soundtrack is remake of the 1980s classic, "Cool Places," originally made famous by The Sparks.

SVEDKA_Grl's animation comes courtesy of famed Parisian animation house, BUF, which used a proprietary process to bringing the spokesbot to life in both spots.  They joined forces with LA-based design and animation shop, Laundry!, to create the energetic backdrops in both ads.  SVEDKA completed the team with legendary music video director Melina Matsoukas, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry such as Rihanna, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry, among others.

As a preview to their official premiere on April 16th, the commercials were debuted to an intimate audience at SVEDKA Vodka's second annual Night of a Billion Reality Stars bash in Los Angeles on March 29th. The annual event, attended by all the biggest names in the unscripted world, celebrated all that is outrageous about today's reality-driven pop culture while also serving as an exclusive showcase for the two new spots.  Because naturally, SVEDKA_Grl's first steps into fame had to be in Hollywood: the birthplace of the starlet.

ABOUT SVEDKA
SVEDKA Vodka is the fastest growing top-10 spirits brand and second largest imported vodka brand in the United States (Impact, 2012). SVEDKA has won numerous category awards and accolades, including the Fast Track Award at Beverage Information Group's 2011 and 2010 Growth Brand Awards as well as Impact's "Hot Brand" award in 2012. Additionally, SVEDKA received a Gold Medal for Exceptional Taste and Best Buy (BTI, 2008), a Gold Medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2005, 2008, 2011) as well as a 93 rating from Wine Enthusiast (2004).  Intangible Business also named SVEDKA the #4 Most Powerful Vodka Brand on their 2011 Power 100 List. SVEDKA is 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof), distilled five times and made from Swedish winter wheat, resulting in a smooth, clean taste. The product is also available in SVEDKA Citron, SVEDKA Raspberry, SVEDKA Clementine, SVEDKA Vanilla, SVEDKA Grape and SVEDKA Cherry, each 35% alcohol by volume (75 proof). For further information, please visit www.SVEDKA.com, follow us at www.facebook.com/SVEDKA or www.twitter.com/#!/SVEDKA.

*SVEDKA Vodka's TV spot, entitled "Cool Places" will run in select theaters in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles prior to the start of all R-rated films, starting April 27, 2012 through May 31, 2012.

SOURCE SVEDKA Vodka