Pepsi Wins CUNY.

I was surprised this summer to learn that the City University System of New York had been waging a war against Coca-Cola.  They wanted the soft drink banned from its campuses.  At first I thought this was yet another skirmish in the Great Obesity War, but it turns out I was wrong.  It was actually political.

2013 Pepsi NFL Can

Students were upset about Coca-Cola's alleged tactics against union leaders in Columbia.  They also dredged up complaints of Coca-Cola discriminating, that most sacred of politically correct words, against fellows in New York City.  Of course, they accepted Pepsi with open arms provided they paid handsomely, of course.  How does 21 million dollars over ten years sound?  Interestingly, Coca-Cola was only paying $60,000 a year.  Guess it's not surprising Pepsi won.  Funny how no one ever complains about discrimination against the company that can't pay as much.

Brown Sprite

Everybody remembers the charm of Crystal Clear Pespi back in 1992.  The nation was going through a clear frenzy, and Pepsi wanted to get on the bandwagon.  The product sold well initially, but then consumers backed away once the novelty wore off.  I mean, if it tastes the same, what's the difference beyond aesthetics?  And if you are can collector like me, you don't even see the drink anyway unless you pour it in a cup.

2014 Wal-Mart Pineapple Soda

A clever humor troupe recently capitalized on this forgotten marketing ploy by releasing a video of a daffy Pepsi executive attempting to market "Brown Sprite." (He's humorously oblivious to the fact Pepsi doesn't even own Sprite.)  He presents a commercial for the product, played cleverly on a VCR, that markets Brown Sprite as a product for the dark and polluted times we live in.

As I watched the commercial, I couldn't help but realize the commercial used the same soundtrack as the original Crystal Clear Pepsi commercial that aired in 1992. It even played off some of the same motifs: a guy soaring through the sky and the message "right now" is the correct time in history for the drink.  I admittedly laughed aloud.  Firstly, because the video was funny, but secondly, because since I am an amateur cultural historian of soda brick-a-brac, I actually picked up that the commercial the executive shows actually parodies the original.  I don't think many people would have caught that.  Then again, not many people blogged about that actual commercial as I did, and not many people collect soda cans.

But I do.

Yes, I do.  And it is the "right time" for you to start as well.

Pepsi Wins Wild Wing's Turf

The two big soda ogres, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, are always slugging it out and trying steal the other fellow's alliances.  Well, Pepsi just won big two months ago by winning over Buffalo Wild Wings.

More Cans for Trade February 2014

Pepsi will now be the official drink of Buffalo Wild Wings, a wise, tactical move because it brings in Mountain Dew, that neon green drink with all its electronic and youthful imagery.  It also brings in Doritos, which happens to be Pepsi owned, to prominence on the Wild Wings menu.  (Think about it...you can have Dorito Nachos now!)  I must admit, Pepsi does seem to fit better since Wild Wings markets itself as THE PLACE to watch football, which is a sport dominated by Pepsi.  (And Beyonce's Pepsi painted lips.)  It does, however, leave basketball out in the cold, as the NBA is marketed by Sprite, which is Coca-Cola owned, and will now be banned from the shelves. Surely people watch basketball at Wild Wings too.  Must their thirst (which they must obey, as the commercial has instructed since 1994) be forgotten?

Here's the thing.  While studly American males fight over balls in various shapes on fields and courts, paunchy, million dollar corporate executives are fighting over turf for their sodas. Folks don't often think about that contest.  Well I do, and so does this little can collecting blog.

More Sugar for the Buds by Secret Chemicals

Soda is waging a difficult battle right now.  The rich disdain it, Michelle Obama wants to kick folks out of the country that drink it, and sales are down.  One solution has been to micro-machine size the cans.  But Pepsi is taking it one step further.

The Cans in the Basement, January 2014

Apparently Pepsi is going all sci-fi and experimenting with a chemical (craftily called S617) that tricks your brain into thinking you are tasting more sugar than you are.  It's not soccer-mom-diet-soda-sweetener, but it's an actual chemical that heightens the taste of real sugar, which means less is more.  Boo-ya!  It sounds like a good idea to me.  I don't like those tiny Polly Pocket cans anyway. I want the standard sizes to stick around.  They are the largest part of my collection.  This ongoing science project by Pepsi might help ensure that.

Petty Pepsi Revenge?

Soda, as much as Coca-Cola and Pepsi strive to teach us otherwise, is for the poor unwashed masses.  At least, that's what the rich and elite think anyway.  (Mayor Michael Bloomberg must protect us from it, after all!) Which is why it is interesting there was rumor about Pepsi being used as petty revenge by the wealthy.

2008 Diet Pepsi Vanilla

The River House co-op in Manhattan is for the finest upper crust of New York society.  Surely, nary a sugary soft drink in their exclusive enclave.  The rumor was Joan Crawford's application was rejected to live there.  As revenge, she supposedly orchestrated the placement of a large, neon Pepsi billboard to be placed across the river to spoil the view of the rich and famous.  The New York times corrected this as being untrue, but it still makes a great urban legend.

Godless Pledge Can Part 2

I had a second thought about the Godless pledge of allegiance Pepsi can controversy.  How could people believe it was true? For example, why would Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and other Lords of Sugar be kow-towing to political correctness by omitting the word God anyway?  Pepsi clears things up here, but do you really need a soda company to be doing your critical thinking?

Pepsi Max $5.00 Off Buffalo Bills Tickets 2012

Look, folks who are offended about God being in the pledge are not the people buying soda.  They are those hybrid car folks who dislike soda, guns, trans fats, greasy barbecues, successful businessmen, northwest logging companies, and anything else connected to the unwashed masses. And the people who do like soda, you know, that sugar stuff "da poor" drink, are rather fond of God in the pledge or are at least ambivalent about it.  In other words, the meme doesn't make sense from a marketing point.

Look at it this way.  It would be like Pepsi putting "Football Sucks" on a Pepsi can. Not gonna happen.  See, you gotta think critically about these things.  Even when it is just about crappy hypothetical soda cans.

Godless Pledge Can

Here's an interesting meme floating around the internet.  Pepsi supposedly is releasing patriotic cans that have images of New York City on them with the Pledge of Alligeance but omits the words "Under God".  Well guess what?  It's not true.

Wild Cherry Pepsi 2013

But it wouldn't bother me if it was true.  Mainly because Pepsi hasn't release a patriotic can in a while.  (Unless you count Beyonce as patriotic as part of the Super Bowl, which I don't.) Secondly, if they did release one, and it did omit the words, and a real bruhaha erupted, they would reprint the can, making the first one a valuable collectors item.  See, I don't care about religion or the country; I just want to collect cool cans in my basement.

Pepsi Flavored Cheetos

For those of you who don't think soda merits enough attention to bleed into the mundane areas of your life, consider what is happening in Japan.  Last month Cheetos and Pepsi teamed up to make, you guessed it, Pepsi flavored Cheetos! Apparently, the Cheetos are covered in a Pepsi powder, that, reminding us of Crystal Clear Pepsi days, is not brown. No word yet if these are coming to the U.S. yet.

Pepsi Flavored Cheetos!

Pepsi Jazz

Do you know one of the reasons why I enjoy collecting soda cans?  It's because they are so quick and limited.  The often exist for only a brief moment in time before they are discontinued or designed differently. Also, since I rarely had soda as a child, I find as an adult I really appreciate it when I have it to drink. Consider the cans below, which sadly, I don't have in my collection.

These are discontinued Pepsi sodas.  They definitely seem exotic now.  I remember buying them and drinking them with my friend in his apartment playing Texas Hold 'em.  Not a grand memory, but a nice one. And I associate the memory with these cans.

These nifty cans only lasted from 2006 - 2009.  Then they went kaput. So sad.  They came in Black Cherry French Vanilla, Caramel Cream, and Strawberries and Cream. One reviewer thought the Caramel one was best. I was prone to agree.

Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of the latest cans I've found for my collection.  I also took the time a Saturday or two ago to construct a better shelf for my soda cans in the basement.  All that will be posted in the coming days.  First up, I was happy to find this can at my in-laws where we went for a cook out now that the weather is not all Jack Frosty.  I had the Valentine's Day heart shaped one but not the regular one.  Now I have both.  It's funny; now that I have this can I can't wait for the logo to change again just so it stands out on my shelves more.

Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi 2013

Pepsi Next

My wife was getting ready to leave for a baby shower the other morning and she asked if we have any Diet Pepsi in the basement.  I thought we did.  I bounded downstairs and looked at the soda collection.  We didn't.  She asked what we did have.  "Wild Cherry Pepsi," I said.  "And Pepsi Next."  "Oh," said my wife.  I'll try that.  So I brought some cans up, gave one to her, and put the rest in the fridge.  She drank it and now I can add it to my collection.  Pepsi Next is advertised as having 60 percent less sugar.  That gives it a tidy 60 calories per can, a happy middle ground.

Pepsi Next 2013

Pepsi's Roots

It's a little known fact that Pepsi was originally called Brad's Drink after Caleb Bradham.  Bradham was a pharmacist in New Bern, North Carolina.  If you are interested, you can actually visit the actual store where Bradham created and sold his product in 1898.  It's a museum.  Go figure.  The location also has a historical marker. I think at some point Pepsi should come out with a can honoring Caleb Bradham and use the original name of Brad's Drink.  Perhaps someday.

A historical soda marker in New Bern, North Carolina

Beyonce and Pepsi

I just stumbled upon an article where Mark Bittman, a food critic for the New York times, lambasted soda companies and their sponsor celebrities.  Bittman eyes Pepsi in particular with their lavish endorsement deals they provide the likes of Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Cindy Crawford.  Since soda is unhealthy, the argument goes, celebrities should be ashamed of themselves for marketing the product, just how we would look down on celebrities winking on a billboard near a school endorsing a cigarette.  Bittman was not alone in his criticism.

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Kiss of Pepsi, Super Bowl 2013

I don't find the idea so offensive.  Personally, seeing Beyonce's face painted with the Pepsi symbol during the Super Bowl promotions turned me off to their product.  Ditto for Britney Spears hacking the soda as well.  I don't care for them as singers or celebrities so why would I want to drink what they drink?

Now, Coca-Cola...they have a marketing campaign I am a sucker for.  Holidays, polar bears, good summer times, buying the whole world Coke, that kind of stuff I love.  Beyonce and the glib celebrities like her actually make me hate the world.  As pathetic as it sounds, Coca-Cola actually makes me love the world a little more.

However, regardless of how I feel about Beyonce, I wish I had her Pespi can just because.  It was before my can collecting days but it's an advertising siren of the times.

Beyonce 2013 Super Bowl Pepsi Can

Pepsi Throwback

Added a new Pepsi can to my collection.  This is the Pepsi Throwback can.  Pepsi Throwback is Pepsi's way of "going natural" by simply adding vast quantities of real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.  I find it delicious, but my wife thinks it tastes too different from the traditional Pespi.  Of course, being a sophist, I argued that Pepsi Throwback was the real traditional Pepsi.  But she didn't want to hear about it.  No matter.  Anyway, the can appears below.

Pepsi Throwback 2013 

X-Factor Dragon-Fruit Pepsi

I gained a limited edition can for my collection.  The X-Factor Dragon-fruit Pepsi.  It's a horrific product, really.  It tastes like Pepsi with fruity cough syrup someone impishly spiked it with while you weren't looking. Not fun.  My wife agrees it tastes horrible and was surprised when I trucked home from the store with a 12 pack of it.  "Dude," she said, "We tried that and it tasted horrible."  And it did.  But that was before I started collecting soda cans.  I mean, the X-Factor Pespi clearly says "Limited Edition" so, duh, obviously I need it for my collection.

Oh Simon, you liar...

Now, what provides the can with an additional hoot is that I recall sitting on the couch with my bride watching the X-Factor where they premiered the flavor, you know, sowed the advertising seeds to make folks buy, buy, buy.  And I remember Simon Cowell and Britney Spears cracking open the soda cans and taking sips.  Then Simon says, "It's good.  It's really good."  Oh Simon, Simon, Simon, you make a living being the guy who tells THE TRUTH on your music shows and you expect to fool us with your simple compliment?  Simon says buy and we do.  Just a big game to him.  Of course, Simon is a money man, and knows how to sponsor a product.  The man darn well knew that soda was like carbonating a cough drop.  But you have to admire him for it.  He got millions to take that sip and drop a positive adjective.  But me, I get zilch from Pepsi so I tell it like it is.  The soda tastes like a cola stain on a pharmacy shelf.  But, the can is all right.  So I'll keep it.

Dragon-fruit X-Factor Pepsi 2013

No Crystal Clear Can? Blame the Commercial

Since I blogged about the Crystal Clear Pepsi cans I don't have yesterday, I thought it would be spiffy to locate a Crystal Clear Pepsi commercial to post.  On youtube, that wonderful collective attic of film, I located one.  For those of you who don't have thirty seconds to waste on advertising for a product that no longer exists, here is a quick play by play of its awesomeness.

We see the bold statement that "RIGHT NOW SOMEONE IS TRYING CRYSTAL CLEAR PEPSI" along with a face of Caucasian a person (clear, right?) taking a sip of a clear liquid....this person's pupil dilates (presumably) because of it's incredible taste...(get it? the eye goes crazy because this product is something you can really "see")...we see flashes of lightening showing how the flavor "strikes"...cut to a clear liquid being poured to form into a Crystal Clear Pepsi Bottle...a row of dominoes fall upwards in a line (I always associate soft drinks with dominoes so this was a good move by Pepsi)...words float through the sky...now a man in a red Speedo is flying/diving through the sky and fluffy white clouds...more words...we see a lady dressed in white sitting on a white chair enjoying Crystal Clear Pepsi...the lucky wench...and then we see bottles of Crystal Clear Pepsi relaxing at the bottom of a tub of water...AU-MAZ-ING...it's like, dude, there is nothing in the bottle at all!  And yet the commercial just told me there really is!  Whoa.  How could not enough people be interested?  I mean, like I said, dominoes make me want soft drinks, but flying guys in Speedos seals the deal.  But, as always, I guess I'm an outlier.  So sad.

Crystal Clear Pepsi

I recall playing Legos, trains, and board games on the bedroom floor of my best friend's house when I first heard about Crystal Clear Pepsi.  My friend just came back from a trip where he also heard the news, and he was now sharing it with me.  Needless to say, I was intrigued, even though this was decades before my can collecting days.  I waited, I watched for it, I was patient, I was devote.  And then it came.  December 14th, 1992. We bought it in two liters as a family for my birthday the next month, and I got a great kick out of it.  Then, one day, I realized it was gone.  I asked my mother to buy it and it could no longer be found in the stores.  A tragedy!  I always wondered why they retired it or why they didn't bring it back.  Well, I looked it up and apparently, it was a trend in the early nineties for all things to be "clear." (Think dish soaps and even beer!)  It was a health image thing, really.  So beyond the fact I guess since it didn't sell well long term, there is no real reason to bring it back since Americans aren't too gaga over clear things anymore anyways.

Crystal Clear Pepsi in a Can
How many of these are left in the world?

As a seasoned soda can collector of two weeks now, I looked back and wonder if the product was offered in a can.  I imagined it would be, but it does seem silly in a way since most people don't look at the soda they are drinking from a can anyway.  No matter.  They did made it in cans.  And oh, how I wish I had a Crystal Clear Pepsi can for my collection now.

Note:  While Crystal Clear Pepsi was released in December of 1992, Diet Crystal Clear Pepsi was not released until the April of the following year.

Pepsi Backbone

Pepsi 2013 

I went for a walk this evening.  I am currently training for a large run this spring.  Unfortunately, yesterday I slipped on some ice and have felt a little sore.  Instead of tackling my evening run, I went for a walk to get in at least some movement.  I was lucky enough to find this can.

It's a regular old Pepsi can, but I was very thrilled to find it.  It was resting perfectly in a snow bank, probably only recently tossed out of a passing car. I'm not a Pepsi drinker, but I knew I would have to obtain one of these cans somehow.  I am conjecturing that any soda can collector worth his sodium has a backbone of Pepsi and Coca-Cola cans in his collection.  Now I have mine, at least the regular Pepsi found in winter of 2013.