Haribo, Halloween, Ghengis Khan and Ringo Starr (or: The Fab Four ride again…?)

These days, ‘cultural relevance’ has as much to do with product placement as anything else.

‘Product placement’, that is, as in ‘The ability to place – or recognize – a product.’

Call it one of the joys of consumerist capitalism.

I was reminded of that when I read another column by the ever delightful Caitlin Moran, of the Times, in which she mentioned a sweet, called Haribo.

Originally from Germany – but a disgrace to the taste buds wherever it travels – it seems particularly (and inexplicably) popular in England. (I could have understood it if this loathsome sweet had been a hit in Scotland. I mean, they deep fry Mars bars there…)

Anyway, I was thinking of mentioning and linking to her column when I started to ponder over this whole brand recognition issue. Most of the people who visit this blog come from the USA and I had no idea if they (or the few stubbornly returning people whose address seems to be ‘Ile-de-france, Paris, France’, come to think of it) would ever have heard of this stupid sweet.

So, I Googled ‘Haribo USA’ and found a rather curious site that mentions all kinds of German products you can order in the US, amongst which dubious delights is Haribo – in bulk packages or retail packs…

… which means that I could mention Caitlin Moran’s column, without being accused of being culturally irrelevant…

… at least not because of a reference to Haribo. I do plead irrelevance to almost any other charge.

Anyway, here’s a quote from that column. It’s about Halloween – which is another cultural (if mostly commercial) artefact that has travelled quite well:

“[G]enerally, though, I like the idea of Hallow’een. I’m a former Goth who likes Haribo, and is thrilled by the idea of accessorising with flashing horns. The over-all concept sings to me on a fairly profound level.”

Talking of brands that do travel well, the Beatles have gone further and conquered more than even the love child of Genghis Khan and the Mexican swine flue could have dreamt of…

… which is not quite an excuse for silly stories like the following…

… but I will sign off on it, nevertheless:

“The face of the Beatles’ drummer, Ringo Starr, has been seen in a droplet of water bouncing on a lotus leaf.”

(Okay, some things ARE crappier than Haribo…)