The famed country music duo have teamed with a Clydesdale foal for a highly entertaining Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.
It has been said that one definition of a classic is a work so firmly embedded in our collective pop culture consciousness, you can’t remember a time when it didn’t exist. Maybe that’s true, but I can actually remember when I first heard “Let Your Love Flow,” the smash-hit debut single by The Bellamy Brothers.
The year was 1976, and I was driving from my hometown of New Orleans to my first full-time newspaper job in Jackson, Mississippi, and the song played almost constantly on every radio station I could pick up. (The only other song played almost as frequently: Maxine Nightingale’s “Right Back Where We Started From.”) By the time I reached the Jackson city limits, I was enthusiastically singing along with the Bellamy siblings — David and Howard Bellamy — while savoring their irresistible rendition of the tune written by Larry E. Williams.
I don’t recall whether I consciously thought at the time, “Damn! This is a classic!” But I do know I have referred to it as such during all the decades since my first exposure to the song.
Of course, one classic deserves another. “First Delivery” is the 47th Super Bowl spot featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales, who have stood as a symbol of Anheuser-Busch’s tradition and heritage since 1933.
So I believe it’s altogether appropriate that “Let Your Love Flow” was chosen by Budweiser to serve as the soundtrack for its 47th Super Bowl commercial featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales, who have stood as symbols of Anheuser-Busch’s tradition and heritage since 1933.
A Clydesdale foal is the true star of the commercial, which is titled “First Delivery,” and ends with the brand’s classic tagline: “This Bud’s For You.” Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and Emmy Award-winning commercial director Henry Alex Rubin and created by FCB New York, “First Delivery” focuses on the resolve and resilience of a foal who demonstrates his grit and determination after being informed that he’s too young to join the Clydesdale team on the road while they’re making deliveries. When a keg falls off the hitch just before the Clydesdale take off, the foal seizes the opportunity to prove he can deliver the beer all by himself — with a little encouragement from The Bellamy Brothers.
"We are so proud to have our hit song ‘Let Your Love Flow’ featured in the new Budweiser Super Bowl ad,” the duo proclaimed an a prepared statement. “Such a beautiful video. The Clydesdales are simply awesome.”
“Budweiser’s Super Bowl legacy is an important part of our brand history, Kristina Punwani, Head of Marketing at Budweiser USA, said in a press release, “and through the decades, we’ve secured a place in the hearts of millions of fans with our unforgettable characters, quotable one-liners and heartfelt commercials.
“With the help of our beloved Clydesdales and a determined foal, this year’s commercial captures our commitment to deliver for consumers since 1876 and toasts to those who put in the hard work it takes to achieve their own goals, despite any obstacles along the way.”
To celebrate what Anheuser-Bush has described as “this milestone event in sports and culture,” the Budweiser Clydesdales will be in New Orleans the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX, mingling with locals and visitors alike in the community. There’s no word yet as to whether they’ll be betting money — or beers — on the Chiefs or the Eagles. Knowing some of my degenerate gambler homies in The Big Easy, I think the steeds could easily find someone who would accept their wager.
Here is a preview of the "“First Delivery” Super Bowl ad.