Crystal Pepsi If you don't remember the stuff, you're not the only one. In 1992, PepsiCo. launched a new campaign for their "re-designed" cola. The clear drink, aptly named Crystal Pepsi, was designed to fool the public into thinking that it was healthier than other sodas because it was caffeine-free and more "pure" due to the lack of dyes.
The slogan for Crystal Pepsi was "You've never seen a taste like this," because unlike other clear soft-drinks, it didn't taste like lemon-lime. It didn't exactly taste like regular Pepsi either, though that was the company's claim.
The campaign launch began during SuperBowl XXVII in 1993 and featured the Van Halen hit "Right Now." The song choice was appropriate, because that very moment was the first and practically last mention of Crystal Pepsi. The product flopped tremendously.
References in pop-culture:
*Saturday Night Live: spoofed Crystal Pepsi during a fake product ad for "Crystal Gravy"*The Simpsons: Homer tries to steal a bottle of "Crystal Buzz," the show's Pepsi equivalent, from a vending machine. After drinking the soda, he says "Mmm, invisible cola!"
*Family Guy: Peter is drinks a can of Crystal Pepsi, then states "It has all the great taste of regular Pepsi, without that troublesome opacity!"
*http://crystalpepsi.captainmike.org/: An entire page dedicated to Crystal Pepsi.
Go ahead and put Crystal Pepsi in the vault. While you're at it, throw in PepsiOne, PepsiBlue, New Coke (aka Coca-Cola II), and Tab Clear (the Coca-Cola equivalent to Crystal Pepsi). These failures point out only one thing: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
2 comments:
wow...is that for real? you gotta love gimmicks that companies used to, and still, try to get away with. i like to think that society has matured enough that companies dont even attempt such lame marketing tactics. we're lucky enough to live in an era of organic and natural products being hip, but who knows when we will start turning away from that trend too. any bets as to when we'll see organic pepsi?
Seriously! I wouldn't be surprised if they start off with "Pepsi, Sugar in the Raw" or something first!
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