—With Father’s Day approaching, Craig Redmond was touched by a Danish ad that captures the special bond between a dad and his daughter—
“Doot, doot, doot, doot-doot-doo
Doot-doot-doot, doot-doot-doot”
I will never forget that little voice squeaking from the booster seat behind me as I looked in the rearview mirror and realized my baby girl was doot-doot-ing along to The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony,” which I had cranked on the car stereo.
It was the first time I realized that she was an actual, little human being. And like the coolest kid alive. And I was her cool dad!
From that moment on, the car radio became our thing. My daughter was raised on a steady diet of ’90s music. Dutifully duetting with her dad, word for word, to Cake’s “Short Skirt, Long Jacket”; constantly correcting my misinterpretation of Weezer lyrics; and having to explain to her Team Canada Ultimate teammates why her dad was randomly screaming “Get crazy with the Cheese Whiz!” from the sidelines. (It was a line from our favourite Beck song, “Loser.”)
Every dad will claim a special bond with his daughter. But every dad will also lament that moment when their special bond dissipates, like dandelion seeds whisked away in the wake of a brisk adolescent breeze.
I can’t quite recollect when that cool breeze blew through our lives. I just remember suddenly realizing that I wasn’t a cool dad anymore. And was reminded again when I watched this ad out of Denmark.
I have no idea what it has to do with a fruit-based freezie called Sun Lolly. And quite frankly, I could care less.
Because regardless, it’s a lovely ode to that special something a father and daughter can share, inevitably lose and then one day, hopefully, rediscover.
Like when we were taking our daughter out for a farewell lunch ahead of her return to Toronto, after staying with us in Vancouver for a six-month Covid retreat, and I realized while driving that she and I were unwittingly singing along in unison to an Arkells’ song on the radio.
Just like old times.
Here’s to all the not-so-cool dads. Happy Father’s Day.
Sun Lolly – Fool For You from Twenty Agency on Vimeo.
Craig Redmond is a creative leader with Palmer Stamnes and Co, an independent family of marketing communication companies.
