Toyota RAV4 Happy Together Not

Toyota New Zealand has promoted the RAV4 with ‘Happy Together’, a crazy television commercial in the vein of the movie, “War of the Roses”. A couple wake up in bed together holding hands in what appears a mood of happiness. But as they get ready for the exciting day ahead things start to go wrong. There’s a hair dryer in the shower. A cord cut in the sash window. A bowling ball stowed in the cupboard. A flame thrower in the walk in wardrobe. A trip wire over the stairs. What becomes clear is that this couple are fighting over the new RAV4 waiting down on the street. The ad finishes with a climactic explosion and a ‘getaway’ scene. There’s no voiceover. Just the super: “RAV4 A Car to Make Your Own”.

Rav4 Couple

New Zealanders are able to explore the ad in more depth at the RAV4 microsite where they can view behind the scenes flash videos. Clips show Andrew Lesnie, cinematographer from Lord of the Rings and King Kong, at work, hair and makeup, falling down the stairs, the electrocution stunt, the landing on the car roof, the staging of the bowling ball scene, blowing up the house, and a ‘roof with a view’. Online viewers are invited to vote on their favourite scene.

Credits

The campaign was created at Saatchi & Saatchi NZ by creative director Toby Talbot, creatives Jay Benjamin, Andy DiLallo, and agency producer Fiona Champtaloup.

The Plaza Films team included director Paul Middleditch and director of photography Andrew Lesnie, known for their work on the Carlton Draught Big Ad.

Editor was Jonathan Venz. Post production was done at The LaB, Sydney.

Screen shots from Rav4 TV ad

Happy Together Music

The music for the ad is ‘Happy Together’, written by G. Bonner and A. Gordon, recorded by The Turtles in 1967. The Turtles are Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, also known as Flo and Eddie.

Happy Together Lyrics

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night,
it’s only right
To think about the girl you love
and hold her tight
So happy together

If I should call you up,
invest a dime
And you say you belong to me
and ease my mind
Imagine how the world
could be, so very fine
So happy together

I can’t see me lovin’
nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me,
baby the skies’ll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they
toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you,
and you for me
So happy together

I can’t see me lovin’
nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me,
baby the skies’ll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they
toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you,
and you for me
So happy together

Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-
ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-
ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We’re happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba)

Update – Banned

The ad has been withdrawn from NZ televisions after a finding by the NZ Advertising Standards Complaints Board, after concerns were expressed about the unsafe practices shown in the spot.

5 Replies to “Toyota RAV4 Happy Together Not”

  1. Toyota’s latest RAV4 commercial features the car being used in a bank robbery — great…that’s real appealing

  2. This ad is too long to start with and for crying out loud! the whole point of the ad with its “unsafe practices” is to show veiwers how desperate the people are to drive the car… its the ad campaign! this ad is not only a lot more entertaining than some other banned ads but it has a clearer messeage

  3. apart from these there are many more trims with different features.

    Some of the trims which are available for this car are
    Base 4dr Front-wheel Drive
    Base 4dr 4×4
    Sport 4dr Front-wheel Drive
    Sport V6 4dr 4×4

    the price is tagged at $21000 and is reasonable for this car which gives a mileage of approx. 22 to 28.

  4. Hi everybody !
    Where to get the song, the cover version of ‘The Turtles’ “Happy Together” and who is the performer of the new version and does its song title still be the same ?
    Please don’t wait to let me know on ‘druffianer@web.de’ !
    Thx so much !
    From germany.
    Michael.

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