Beer giant Budweiser has opted out of airing commercials during this year’s Super Bowl for the first time in 37 years to focus on a spot that raises awareness for the COVID-19 vaccine and features a rendition of Bill Withers‘ “Lean on Me.”
The beer company recently released its 90-second online vaccination ad, titled “Bigger Picture.” The ad, which is narrated by actress Rashida Jones, features footage from the past year of the pandemic, with “Lean On Me” in the background.
The footage includes people singing out of their windows, a dog interrupting a man’s video conference, NBA players kneeling while wearing “Black Lives Matter” T-shirts, and a fence between neighbors being turned into a table so they enjoy a socially distanced beer.
“For the first time in 37 years, Budweiser will not air a Super Bowl ad,” reads a graphic at the end of the ad. “Instead, we are directing our advertising dollars to raise awareness of the COVID-19 vaccines, beginning by joining forces with the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative. See you at the game next year.”
“Lean on Me” is a song written and recorded by Withers, which dropped in April 1972 as the first single from his second album, Still Bill. It was a number one single on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked number 208 on Rolling Stone‘s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
Super Bowl LV will take place between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 7
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