RSSThe Worst Slogan Translations Ever
By Robert Birming in Advertising on Aug 15, 2007 at 5:39 pm
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Paulo
Unfortunately the post falls for the old Chevy No Va urban legend, and I’m pretty sure they haven’t checked sources thoroughly for the other stuff either.
Jsahko
This is sad. It’s really old. They just added logos to an old internet viral thingy – that probably came from a magazine or gag book. What would be nice is if someone re-compiled these with the “actual” ads they are discussing.
David
Actually, the term “the real McCoy” was coined for engineering works of Elijah McCoy. He built parts for steam engines and there were many copycats to his work, often leaving engine owners wondering if the parts they were paying for were “the Real McCoy”.
Mr Pudifoot
David, i think you meant to post that in the “7 Underhanded Sports Tactics” comment section.
kerozene
ok… I lol’ed. Not sure how true many of those were, but still silly. 
Edward
http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp
For a scholarly piece on the No Va urban legend.
Villinte
Electrolux used that slogan in Sweden as well. It’s called humor.
Sid Morrison
How about funny REAL slogans that maybe are a bit dated now?
My all-time favorite is for Schaefer Beer, a once-popular U.S. swill beer. The tagline in the jingle went:
“Schaefer is the one beer to have when you’re having more than one!”
What could be more hilarious than that?!!? “Our beer really sucks, but it’s cheap, so it’s a fine choice when you really want to get plastered and quantity is better than quality”
Many years later (this slogan was around for years), after public consciousness about “responsible drinking” became raised, they changed the slogan to “Schaefer is the one beer to have when you’re out to have some fun” Very very lame.
matt
ahhh, simpsons…
Mr. Sparkle: [in Japanese; subtitled]
I’m disrespectful to dirt. Can you see that I am serious?
Out of my way, all of you. This is no place for loafers!
Join me or die! Can you do any less?
Women:
What a brave corporate logo! I accept the challenge of Mr. Sparkle.
Woman #1:
Awesome power!
JTPednaud
As others have pointed out, the article is festered with urban legends. The Nova myth, the ‘wax tadpole’ but the most infamous is the Gerber label myth.
Michael
Toilet paper from sulfur island.
One Chinese translation of letters from Iwo Jima.
DCer
Man, who still falls for these bogus stories? My Spanish teacher corrected us on the Nova story in 1985.
Vladimir Skliar
In Russia, we had posters of a huge electric supply retailers around Moscow advertising the vacuum cleaners with the poster of a hot girl holding a vacuum cleaner with the slogan “Suck for pennies”…
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Moronland.net has a post about the top 13 worst slogan translations ever. At number 12 is one from Sweden:
