TV adverts are a window into Norwegian culture. Even with the rise of streaming services, television adverts still manage to capture the moment. Here's some of our favourites.
There's so many adverts on Norwegian TV that make me smile or leave me scratching my head, I'm surprised I didn't write this post months ago!
![Norwegian TV remote control.](https://www.lifeinnorway.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/remote-control-tv-in-norway-768x432.jpg)
Watching TV adverts is not just a good way of finding out about brands and how they're marketed and/or viewed by Norwegians, it's also a good way to pick up some language.
From world-famous cheese brands to colourful characters selling mobile phone subscriptions, walk with me through this slice of Norwegian culture!
Only Jarlsberg is Jarlsberg
One of Norway's biggest exports, I love the nuttiness of Jarlsberg! I also love this advert. The premise is simple – Jarlsberg is better than all the other “yellow” cheeses.
The wife/girlfriend comes home with a different brand saying they're all the same, “cheese is cheese”. He's pissed off, so the next time she comes home he's replaced the dog. “A dog is a dog”
There's a few others in this series but I prefer this one 🙂
That being said, this follow-up advert makes me smile too so the rubber cheese is back on the list!
The young chap starts to panic when his date says all cheese is the same, and has visions of the future: a father is a father, a home is a home, and so on.
George Clooney – DNB Bank
Perhaps the only Norwegian advert to be well known outside the country… because George Clooney is in it! This tells the story of the greatest hangover ever.
The lady wakes up to find a ring on her finger, a wedding dress on the floor, and George Clooney looking at houses online.
It advertises a savings account – noones this lucky, so you'd best save up.
The George Clooney DNB Parody – Sparebank1
A brilliant parody from a rival bank 🙂
“We don't send money to Hollywood, but share it locally”
Widerøe (domestic airline)
This advert focuses on the relationship between a little boy and his grandfather, with the background message that Widerøe fly to most of Norway's tiny rural airports. It reminds me of the loving-teasing relationship I had with my late grandfather years ago (I guess that's the point!) and it just makes me smile. Even though the kid freaks me out a little.
This video has English subtitles, by the way 🙂
Stratos Chocolate Bar
The dancing blue cow! I love this for no other reason than the crazy cow-bell moment in the final few seconds.
Stratos is basically Aero, by the way.
Komplett.no – Trusted by Geeks
These two guys feature in several adverts for this electronics webshop, but this is the first one I saw. The advert references the company's beginnings in 1996, with the founders dreaming (a loose translation here!) “one day we'll be the best in all the north – and we'll have robots!”
It then cuts to the same two geeks, older, standing over their automated warehouse.
Nerdy as hell, but I love it.
Kvikk Lunsj – Takk for turen
Ah, Kvikk Lunsj, the legendary snack for hikers and skiers up and down the country. This advert was made to mark the 70th anniversary of the humble chocolate bar but barely references it, focusing instead on the brand's intrinsic link with the great Norwegian outdoors.
It features Norway's network of volunteers setting up the trails relied upon by hikers and skiers all year round.
The literal translation of “Takk for turen” is “thanks for the trip”, but “tur” in Norwegian means more of an expedition, the experience as a whole, whether hiking or skiing.
Imagine a car company using “thanks for the ride” to celebrate 70 years and you're half way there!
Canal Digital's Silver Hand
Ever get the feeling modern culture is passing you by? This advert reminds me of how I feel when I return to the UK and everyone's talking about some X-Factor or Big Brother contestant. I feel for this man, I really do!
Terrific advert though, and my favourite on this list. In case you can't work it out, the advert promotes a catch-up TV service from one of the main digital TV providers in Norway.
The final caption reads “Don't miss out on what you can't miss out on.”
The Finn.no Cat
Aww! Now hands up, I am definitely a dog person, but this is one cool cat. Finn.no is a Norwegian online marketplace where you can find anything from a new home to a new job and yes, even cats can find plumbers.
At least in theory.
Postnord Logistics
A series of adverts in which top American journalist Rob Fliskin investigates PostNord Logistics. Do they really work in close partnership with their clients? Do they really cover the Nordic Region? What are they hiding? Join Rob Fliskin in his hunt for the truth.
After over a year of watching this advert, today I picked up a parcel delivered by PostNord right here in Trondheim, so I can confirm they do indeed cover the Nordics!
Stabburet Mackerel
A hungry child wants more mackerel (yes, really), so the mother has to switch to English to explain that fish is healthy, because the kids won't want to eat healthy food if they know that's what it is.
A nice touch switching to a third language at the very end, too!
This advert also serves the purpose of showing how young Norwegian children are when they understand English!
Djuice Collection
Last but definitely not least, the Djuice mobile phone network created these super cute characters that have taken on a life of their own. I couldn't choose just one, so here are my three favourites! First up, one for all of us Apple fanboys out there 😉
Secondly, grab a tissue, the dog is dead, son. Or is it?
And finally, we've all done this:
Over to you – what are your favourite TV adverts in Norway?
I like the Norsk Tipping ones and also the Vossafår set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoak51EyZBo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ovygOT6JSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa8T-HpkVc4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB8V6SNBsTI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2WV5nFhmxw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vib9AgedNc0
This is for Kims potato chips. Some mix-up at the store 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWcI8q1cPoM
Another cheese commercial, this time Norvegia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCSkIDDNvW0
At last, a serious one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFvj34fUMcE
Let the dogs do their job!
I love how many adverts in Norway use ‘visual’ stuff more than just spoken to get their advert accross (also appealing to the non-norsk speakers’.
I liked the mobile phone directory one, where the guy gets in the back of the taxi after a night out at a conference with his name tag on.. Taxi driver asks ‘where to?’ Guy says ‘Home’ before passing out. So the taxi driver looks at his name tag, does a search on his mobile, finds his address, takes him home.
Another I REALLY like is a young boy shooting a football at an empty goal. Repeatedly over days. Then he sets up a romantic meal for his parents, candles, soft music, the works… Then cuts to a while later, baby’s crib set up, and he pops a little pair of football boots on top of the baby. I THINK it was to advertise chocolate, but really can’t remember…
🙂
Goota love YouTube!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAOWGkND4zA
(Taxi driver one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bggFBWn7YoI
(young boy / goal shooting)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4O4gDdwxWM
Also Made me giggle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pTxycr9N90
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcz0wvU65z4
(not seen this one for years!!)
and browsing through for advets I may have missed…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ym6w7Gikg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDnJ6IBkLGk
There’s also a Lotto one with Peter Schmeichel (he turns out for a REALLY crap football team, after one of the players wins the Lotto) which really struggling to find
Eeeee… having a fun day looking these all up!! 🙂
oh scrub that- Chris managed to find the Peter Schmeichel one!! 😀
The blue he-cow freaks me out. And even more, knowing there is a she-he-cow.
Sick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTZECMGAH-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0aIVc27iA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmOZ2X6yaQc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnysb3uW_iU
and OOOOOHHH How could I forget Mr Milk????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSZYY77-7Ao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZytVCs4fzI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pyEcRy0jvA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5601ljY-r0c
I was just in Norway and there was a commercial with a cat being annoyed by a dripping facet, looks up plumbers online, selects a plumber with a fish on his shirt and the ad ends with milk coming out of the faucet. Anyone know where I can find this one?
Hi David, that’s a dead cert for the next version of this post! In the meantime, here you go 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6LTsYkR0KM
Hello,
I was just in Norway (Oct ’17) and saw an ad that made me burst out laughing. But I don’t know what it was for and can’t seem to find it online. perhaps you have seen it? It shows a couple at home, the guy is in the kitchen (as usual in Scandinavian ads!) and the girl is on the couch, stressed out. She starts to sigh, and keeps going and going until her whole body deflates on the sofa. This is funny probably only to me, who sighs like that when I’m stressed! Do you know what it was an ad for??
Thanks
Hei, good page/posts. I lived in Norway 2001-2005 and there was an ad of some Vikings sailing off, getting lost and finding land. When they went ashore to the nearest village they realised they’d come home (empty handed) and were swiftly clubbed on the head by their wives! Would love to see that one again.