Crimson Porsche

Recently, in the 911DAYS 2018AUTUMN Vol.73, there was a column titled “Back then, Momoe Yamaguchi sang about a crimson Porsche speeding through the greenery.” It was based on the lyrics of Momoe Yamaguchi’s “Playback Part 2.” A blog reader had previously told me, “It’s interesting, you should read it.” So I read it right away, and…

“So these were the lyrics of ‘Playback Part 2’ (；ﾟДﾟ)!!”

It was shocking… I’m not from Momoe’s generation, so I only knew the phrases “Don’t make a fool of me, it’s your fault” and “Wait a minute. Playback, playback”. But when I read the first verse of the lyrics,

the female protagonist in the song was driving a Porsche and got yelled at by a man at an intersection saying, “You scratched my mirror!” So she raised her voice and retorted, “Don’t make a fool of me, it’s your fault.”

That was the story.

It’s a hit-and-run song… (；ﾟДﾟ)(Well, maybe not really)

Still, it’s impressive that she could say “Don’t make a fool of me, it’s your fault” when being yelled at for “scratching the mirror.” Even if the man’s accusation was baseless, saying “Don’t make a fool of me, it’s your fault” implies she was at least somewhat aware she had scratched it.

Amazing… as expected of a Showa-era superstar(even if the song isn’t literally about Momoe Yamaguchi).

After calming down and reading the column more carefully, it speculated “What kind of Porsche was the woman driving in the lyrics?” and “What might have been going through the man’s mind when he yelled?” based on the lyrics, which was quite interesting.

Car Commercials Targeting Women

I don’t have the courage to yell back “Don’t make a fool of me, it’s your fault!” at a man who shouts at me, but on the other hand, I think a woman like that is really cool. Riding a bright red sports car, wearing sunglasses, and driving swiftly as if to say, “People talk about cargo space and eco-friendliness, but that doesn’t matter to me.” It would be even more wonderful if it were a convertible.

But why are car commercials aimed at women mostly focused on emphasizing girly traits?

I always wonder about this.(Maybe I just don’t know enough.) When I think of car commercials for women, they often feature pastel colors like pink or yellow and slogans like “Perfectly stylish and compact for me.” They create a “sweet, girly” atmosphere.

It’s fine to have those commercials, but I wish there were also commercials targeting women with the concept of “cool women.”

I believe many women who buy cars themselves are earning their own income. These women have worked in male-dominated environments, been recognized there, and live with pride. Would such women really be attracted by slogans like “pastel colors” and “stylish and compact”?

Porsche: A Dream Car Even Women Admire

Moreover, as more women advance in society and work hard, the number of working women is definitely increasing. That’s why I think if there were commercials with the image of “a cool car driven by a woman who has achieved her dreams,” even more women might become interested in cars. But since the absolute number is probably small, maybe the demand is higher for “sweet, girly” commercials.

Speaking of which, I once saw an online article about “female celebrities who drive Porsches.”

It introduced that Aoi Miyazaki drives a Porsche Cayenne, Saeko drives a Porsche 911, and Nanako Matsushima drives a Porsche Boxster… (though they might not be driving them anymore). Seeing that article, I thought, “Successful female celebrities do buy Porsches.”

Women who have achieved their dreams and earned their positions are naturally attracted to luxury sports cars like Porsche. And I myself find such women cool and want to aspire to be like them.

Currently, many Japanese automakers seem to hold the view that “women aren’t really interested in cars.” But I think automakers bear a lot of responsibility for why that’s the case. So, to express my current feelings using words from “Playback Part 2” lyrics:

Don’t make a fool of me, it’s your fault(LOL)

911DAYS Vol.73 (911デイズ Vol.73)

created by Rinker

• Amazon
• 楽天市場