There was a press conference Dylan did about 40 years ago. It may be on “Don’t Look Back” - I’m not sure; I’ll have to watch again and find out - where he was asked if he’d ever “sell out” to commercial interests. His reply: “Maybe women’s undergarmets.”
So the whole thing could just be a big wink.
I think the song sounds sexy, and the model is most definitely sexy, but I could probably live without the shot of Dylan. It doesn’t really bother me though. I don’t think he’s particularly gross, just kinda old.
Fortunately I read this thread before actually noticing the commercial. I was spooked by the thought that Dylan looked a lot like George Harrison.
All in all, it was very creepy.
Like George Harrison? Maybe George Harrison today.
I was at the gym on treadmill when I saw it and nearly fell off. There is no one who won’t sell out now – its all over. Commercialism wins.
Huh. I must be the only person who doesn’t think that commercial is creepy.
What I got from it is the classic poet/muse scenario. Dylan is age and the model is youth. Nothing “creepy” about that, per se.
Look at it this way. On the rare occasions when a man appears in a commercial for VS, or perfume, or any product that’s sold on the premise “buy this and you’ll be as gorgeous as this model and have men fawn over you”, he’s either a Mr. Wonderful type, with an exaggerated jawline, or he’s almost as femme as the female model.
But in this case, you have a man whose face has character (of course, the focus is soft enough so that you don’t have to see every pore on his face), and whose grizzled beard, narrow blue eyes, and drawn forehead are in stark contrast to the model’s youthful beauty, her lacy lingerie, and the diaphanous curtains blowing every which way.
I mean, it did get you people to take a second look, did it not?
That’s not Bob Dylan. It looks and sounds like Vincent Price.
Yes. But I take second looks at car crashes, too. Horrible sights do that.
Count me in the shocked and awed group, as well. That happened to come on while I was watching something or other with my 11 yo son, he turned to me with this horrified look on his face asking “Mom, is that the Devil?!”
Since the VS girls are wearing angel wings with their lingerie and Dylan is so creepy, it sorta made sense.
Sounds like the effect is akin to if the opening titles in For Your Eyes Only had used Margaret Thatcher instead of Sheena Easton.
Plus the fact that he looks severely depressed, or in a lot of pain…it’s just creepy. The stalker thing sprang to mind until I got a good look and realized who it was. Just an all around bad commercial.
I just want to know – what’s with the pencil moustache?
You know, I read this thread before ever seeing the commercial. When I finally saw it it took me a minute to realize it was the one being discussed here. I’ve seen it a couple more times and. . . well . . . I kind of like it. I’m not a Dylan fan by any stretch of the imagination but I like the commercial. It’s got some really good Devil/Angel imagery and almost tells a story, which appeals to me. Yeah, he’s not sexy, but he’s supposed to be the devil, longing for this perfect angel (in VS undies and bra, natch) but cannot attain her. At least that’s what I got out of it.
In the article I read explaining the ad, there was a really funny sentence about how it wasn’t a “hard sell” to get Dylan to appear.
I bet it wasn’t! 
*If I only had a pencil thin mustache
Then I could do some cruisin’ too
*
I had only seen the print version until this thread linked to VS’s site.
The picture they have up on the web is Creepy.
The ad is just okay.
For reference:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/06/dylan.lingerie.ap/index.html
Mein Gott! It’s Ming the Merciless!
HAHA!!
If it were Keith honestly that would be better. I still haven’t seen it - saw the CNN story about it. I think it’s true, Bob lost his marbles back in the motorcycle wreck and has never been the same. If I saw him in my bedroom I’d call 911.
Since the model has angel wings, I assumed he was supposed to be the Devil. Nothing else can explain those eyebrows!