The Janitor is the guy singing in the locker photograph. His career faded but he works in the theatre as it's still a link to when he once mattered as a performer. He is 'invisible', coming in when the public have gone home, and he is working out of the way of the staff. Thinking he is ignored, he sings to keep his passion alive in himself as everything else is gone (no modern photos in the locker). The staff buy the tuxedo jacket and ask him to sing, letting him know that he is not just a Janitor to them but someone worthy of an audience, that he has their respect, that they 'see him'. They acknowledge not only his purpose, but his passion. As heartwarming as it can come across as, Amazon's Christmas message regarding 'what the world needs now' would mean a whole lot more if they actually practiced what they preach.
Hi Joe, yeah I think you've nailed what they were going for! The aspect I can't get beyond is how if his co-workers see he thinks he's ignored, why don't they talk to him? Rather than surveilling from a distance. We might assume those stories about his past life and story since his days as a singer, but we are reading between the lines. We don't know because there's no relationship. Completely agree about the rather jarring nature of this coming from Amazon!
@@thegentlerebel That's storytelling though, leaving the viewer to do the heavy lifting. I once worked in a small hotel, and at Christmas I went through the staff list and bought a small gift for everyone, even those I had never met as shiftwork kept us apart. They were shocked that a stranger knew about them and actually cared. The worker who orders the Tuxedo jacket isn't the only one who sees his passion, but is the only one who acts on it, showing that it only takes one person to 'break the ice' to incentivize others.
@@thegentlerebel I disagree actually. There are times when someone who had moments of "greatness" then fade, get lost, and not sure how to get their "ego" or "mojo" back. People that are passively in and around them, notice their greatness. They then think of a way to "surprise" that individual and want to help them feel that greatness is still actually present and they want to feel that with him or her. But do it as a spontaneous organic experience. Planning it, yes, still having an impact but not the explosion emotional reaction. My impression of the folks sitting in the audience was again about giving him the spotlight and he getting that admiration he once clearly had. But that's just my view on it that is rather different from yours. I have watched this over and over and over and over. I cried the first time I saw it as I live in the US and let's just say we have lost the ability to be kind to one another (hopefully temporarily). All that being said, I loved that you had a different interpretation and respect it greatly. Big hugs from across the pond my friend.
@@rsanders1569 Hey there! Thanks for this perspective. I actually totally agree with what you say here! There is definitely a beautiful gift when you know it would be meaningful to the person and a chance for them to do what they love doing (singing on stage). I guess my issue with the way it comes across in the advert is the way people stay at a distance from him. There isn't any connection through the rest of the ad, he seems lonely and just observed/listened to from afar. Which compounds the sense of "us and them" I feel between the position of janitor and the rest of the staff. This is just how it came across to me - an implicit judgement put onto his job role. So yeah you've made me think - it makes more sense if the people listening are not paying attention because they are hearing him for the first time. Rather, they are hearing his longing to sing and entertain again - hopefully because they've had a conversation with him and know that to be true! Still, I don't imagine Amazon would ever allow anything like this to happen in one of its warehouses! Also, I'd love to say a big thanks for your communication style. A breath of fresh air in an environment when people often disagree with a brittle hostility. Your care and respect is much appreciated!
I thought I was the only one blown away by this advert. I was brought to your video after searching out the creation of it on TH-cam. I suppose its kind of a commentary on how dreams get lost .... for me it reflects a the need for more caring... and love of course.❤❤❤❤
This gentleman blew my mind away when I saw this commercial with his glorious vocals and range to an old song classic song everybody knows. He gave it so much life! It was so refreshing to me Loved that he was a senor Gentleman too representing well!. Absolutely loved it! :))
Good to hear from you. Yes, Amazon have compiled all the components for an evocative ad that hits all the emotional buttons. Not sure if you're aware that the vocals are provided by Max Milner (a young guy) - they are lip synced in the advert itself.
Very triggering, hitting an old trauma. Not your video but the advert. He is invisible and not really a part of the crew, until his special talent, singing, is revealed. Then he was suddenly accepted and admired. On the surface a lovely, moving story, but even before listening your thoughts about it, it made me feel very uneasy and sad deep down. I hope he was content before and after this 'festive' happening 🙂 Anyways, I would love to work in that kind of environment, where it is possible and allowed to do these kinds of nigh time (voluntary) gatherings without surveillance.
Hei Tuula! This is such a powerful point. The story that you are only worth seeing if you have a "special talent" and earn acceptance. That's a tough watch. I love the idea of working somewhere with a culture of come-if-you-want after-work lock-in jam sessions where everyone can have a go. No surveillance, no judgement, just play!
To me the advert seemed sentimental but only in the most corporate way possible I can imagine the board meeting which led to its creation and it just makes me cringe a little on the inside , good video deserves a lot more views
No, Max Milner is a young guy. It's Richard Goodall doing the singing. He was a winner on America's Got Talent. He is an actual janitor with a beautiful voice!
@marymatulaitis5903 I’m going by Amazon’s press release about it. They’ve released a version of it with Max Milner too - www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-holiday-ad-2024
What the guy said at around 15:10 or 15:15 is very true and hits completely home… 👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾
The Janitor is the guy singing in the locker photograph. His career faded but he works in the theatre as it's still a link to when he once mattered as a performer. He is 'invisible', coming in when the public have gone home, and he is working out of the way of the staff. Thinking he is ignored, he sings to keep his passion alive in himself as everything else is gone (no modern photos in the locker). The staff buy the tuxedo jacket and ask him to sing, letting him know that he is not just a Janitor to them but someone worthy of an audience, that he has their respect, that they 'see him'. They acknowledge not only his purpose, but his passion.
As heartwarming as it can come across as, Amazon's Christmas message regarding 'what the world needs now' would mean a whole lot more if they actually practiced what they preach.
Hi Joe, yeah I think you've nailed what they were going for! The aspect I can't get beyond is how if his co-workers see he thinks he's ignored, why don't they talk to him? Rather than surveilling from a distance. We might assume those stories about his past life and story since his days as a singer, but we are reading between the lines. We don't know because there's no relationship.
Completely agree about the rather jarring nature of this coming from Amazon!
@@thegentlerebel That's storytelling though, leaving the viewer to do the heavy lifting. I once worked in a small hotel, and at Christmas I went through the staff list and bought a small gift for everyone, even those I had never met as shiftwork kept us apart. They were shocked that a stranger knew about them and actually cared.
The worker who orders the Tuxedo jacket isn't the only one who sees his passion, but is the only one who acts on it, showing that it only takes one person to 'break the ice' to incentivize others.
@@thegentlerebel I disagree actually. There are times when someone who had moments of "greatness" then fade, get lost, and not sure how to get their "ego" or "mojo" back. People that are passively in and around them, notice their greatness. They then think of a way to "surprise" that individual and want to help them feel that greatness is still actually present and they want to feel that with him or her. But do it as a spontaneous organic experience. Planning it, yes, still having an impact but not the explosion emotional reaction. My impression of the folks sitting in the audience was again about giving him the spotlight and he getting that admiration he once clearly had. But that's just my view on it that is rather different from yours. I have watched this over and over and over and over. I cried the first time I saw it as I live in the US and let's just say we have lost the ability to be kind to one another (hopefully temporarily). All that being said, I loved that you had a different interpretation and respect it greatly. Big hugs from across the pond my friend.
@@rsanders1569 Hey there! Thanks for this perspective. I actually totally agree with what you say here! There is definitely a beautiful gift when you know it would be meaningful to the person and a chance for them to do what they love doing (singing on stage).
I guess my issue with the way it comes across in the advert is the way people stay at a distance from him. There isn't any connection through the rest of the ad, he seems lonely and just observed/listened to from afar. Which compounds the sense of "us and them" I feel between the position of janitor and the rest of the staff. This is just how it came across to me - an implicit judgement put onto his job role.
So yeah you've made me think - it makes more sense if the people listening are not paying attention because they are hearing him for the first time. Rather, they are hearing his longing to sing and entertain again - hopefully because they've had a conversation with him and know that to be true!
Still, I don't imagine Amazon would ever allow anything like this to happen in one of its warehouses!
Also, I'd love to say a big thanks for your communication style. A breath of fresh air in an environment when people often disagree with a brittle hostility. Your care and respect is much appreciated!
I thought I was the only one blown away by this advert. I was brought to your video after searching out the creation of it on TH-cam. I suppose its kind of a commentary on how dreams get lost .... for me it reflects a the need for more caring... and love of course.❤❤❤❤
This gentleman blew my mind away when I saw this commercial with his glorious vocals and range to an old song classic song everybody knows. He gave it so much life! It was so refreshing to me Loved that he was a senor Gentleman too representing well!. Absolutely loved it! :))
Good to hear from you. Yes, Amazon have compiled all the components for an evocative ad that hits all the emotional buttons. Not sure if you're aware that the vocals are provided by Max Milner (a young guy) - they are lip synced in the advert itself.
Excellent work. Thank you.
@@SocialMediaHasRuinedOurLives thank you!
For a company like Amazon to depict coworkers having a break, doesn't match it's own practices or policies.
Yeah, that's one the things that jars about this one. Double standards!
So true!
Yes but whoever makes there commercials is a genius.This one and last year's is brilliant.
Very triggering, hitting an old trauma. Not your video but the advert. He is invisible and not really a part of the crew, until his special talent, singing, is revealed. Then he was suddenly accepted and admired. On the surface a lovely, moving story, but even before listening your thoughts about it, it made me feel very uneasy and sad deep down. I hope he was content before and after this 'festive' happening 🙂 Anyways, I would love to work in that kind of environment, where it is possible and allowed to do these kinds of nigh time (voluntary) gatherings without surveillance.
Hei Tuula! This is such a powerful point. The story that you are only worth seeing if you have a "special talent" and earn acceptance. That's a tough watch. I love the idea of working somewhere with a culture of come-if-you-want after-work lock-in jam sessions where everyone can have a go. No surveillance, no judgement, just play!
To me the advert seemed sentimental but only in the most corporate way possible
I can imagine the board meeting which led to its creation and it just makes me cringe a little on the inside , good video deserves a lot more views
Thanks Olivvia! Yes, disconnected sentimentality - an idea conceived by those inside a corporate ivory tower.
Is Dimitar Marinov actually singing the song, or is someone else doing the voice?
@sunshinehomeactivist3642 from what I’ve been able to fathom, it’s Max Milner singing
No, Max Milner is a young guy. It's Richard Goodall doing the singing. He was a winner on America's Got Talent. He is an actual janitor with a beautiful voice!
@marymatulaitis5903 I’m going by Amazon’s press release about it. They’ve released a version of it with Max Milner too - www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-holiday-ad-2024
@@marymatulaitis5903 You're joking, right? The credits say it is Max Milner's voice.
@sunshinehomeactivist3642 Yeah it's Max. The song is on Amazon Music.