King of Pop

Concept sent in by Dieline reader and Los Angeles based artist. It is not meant to profit from or to exploit, but to honor an icon. He hopes that through The Dieline, his idea can be shared with Pepsi:

"I am excited to share this idea with the folks at Pepsi as either an
art piece to compliment their vast collection within the Pepsico
headquarters or as a limited edition run of cans leading up to Michael
Jackson's funeral. Not as a money making idea but as a way of
expressing the power of icons and the art of a big idea."

Comments

[renato dop]

Good idea, but the Pepsi logo still "smiles". I think it could be frown without losing the identity.

[Jeff]

Shouldn't the can be on fire?

[Peanut Butter Monkey]

I want this on my desk!! Where can I get it? Is it out there? Its awesome and I think the King of Pop deserves something iconic like this. May we remember him...

[Paul]

The proceeds could go to his kids to cover the unfathomably massive debt they've inherited. And for therapy.

[Becca]

Buying one. Where do you get them -- vending machines or in-store type of thing.

[James Hamm]

This is one of those things that will be worth money if you keep it - like certain baseball cards used to be.

[Leah]

Make it. Please. Pepsi Co. I beg you. But make sure I can get it in Australia.

[Roger Pe]

Great work. Good one. Hope the idea bears fruit.

[Reffan Liefde]

Am I the only one who think this is in really bad taste. I like the can design but I just can't help seeing it as a promo item. Pepsi calling themselves the king of pop, over the dead body of the king of pop.

Nice can, just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Anonymous]

i totally agree with Reffan

It looks like a sick joke and that pepsi is just riding off the back of MJs Death.

i dont like this one bit.

hope it never gets made. there is better ways to show respect than this. even if it is by pepsi, rice bubbles or pringlesbut dont associate a brand to a king like that. MJ is better than pepsi.

[trobs]

obviously no one is reading the byline.

[Psshaw]

Well keep in mind not everyone who buys the can reads The Dieline. Good product design also rides on not having to research the design to "get" it.

[Jarl]

That's art people. A clever expression acknowledging the relationship Pepsi had with MJ. King of Soda Pop to the King of Pop. Pop Art.

[David Ogilvy]

This is a morbid attempt to capitalize on a relationship the self proclaimed “King of Pop” had with Pepsi. Fortunately, Pepsi are too good at marketing to fall for it.

Let’s not forget MJ was a musical genius who went insane and became self-deformed pedophile who died of a self-induced drug overdose

[Tom]

How about the fact the much of the US / World does not recognize soda as "pop" and might not ever get it. Just a thought.

[Kim]

"not as a money making idea" -- hmm...

I have mixed feelings. I didn't see it as a tribute to MJ, I just saw it as a money making idea, trying to boost up Pepsi's failing sales. BUT, if anything, Pepsi has the right to do this because Pepsi has always been an MJ sponsor.

[Jon]

"...a way of expressing the power of icons and the art of a big idea."

What absolute twaddle. There's no 'big idea' here, just a lame pun that fails to 'honour' either party. MJ lost his honour years ago anyway.

[Matt]

I think this is very well done. The can looks great and would honor Michael Jackson appropriately and on a large scale, all while cleverly calling Pepsi the King of "Pop." Great idea and execution!

[Dave]

F@!* this. When I first saw it I thought it was real, and I was so disgusted by it that it made me want to stop being a package designer. I could just imagine pepsi actually making this and benefitting from Michael's death. F@!* this design.

[BJMRamage]

wow,. i thought of only MJ, not pepsi as "pop"I think if it was a limited edition collectors would buy it up only to sell it for ridiculous amounts later.

Mail one out to everyone and then we all have one and can trash it if you want.

I forgot how close Pepsi and MJ were.

[ds]

F**k all you negative commentators its a cool design. Just because people are capitalizing on the death of Michael Jackson doesn't mean they don't respect or admire him. That's like having a loved one die and then collecting Insurance. Does collecting insurance mean you don't love the person?

[Jenn]

Maybe it wasn't intended, but this "design" proposal inspires the following thoughts... tacky, disrespectful, opportunistic and poor taste.Not sure a musical legend should be compared to a white trash beverage.

[YK]

I agree - disgusting (it's mixing up two different kinds of pop)

It's a bit like naming a dental product after Rembrandt (http://images.smarter.com/blogs/guests/rembrandt%20whitening%20strips.jpg)

[Jack]

The Mod is beyond lame for deleting my post. I posted "Does this can molest the drinker?" as commentary on his pedophile issues. But I guess associating Pepsi with MJ is okay, flaming hair and all, unless you forgot about that little event. It was his defining moment, he went wacko short after and changed his skin along with reconstructing his face.

FYI No brand will touch MJ due to the enormous amounts of baggage that comes with him - don't kid yourself.

[Pru]

I don't know how I feel about this - I think the thought behind it isn't a negative one, but it could be seen as so. I think if they do make they'll have to think of some way not to profit off it so as not to appear like they are making money off MJ's death. And honestly, I think Paul's idea of giving it to his poor children isn't a half bad one.