Willie Nelson and Chipotle teamed up to showcase the merits of sustainable farming and in doing so had the best performance of the 2012 Grammy Awards. And they did it in a 2 minute and 20 second commercial covering a Cold Play song from 2003. Click play then go full screen and switch to high-definition.
Willie Nelson has never been one to shy away from causes he believes in and has been a longtime supporter of family farms going back to his 1985 founding of Farm Aid. He is also a backer of several bio-diesel ventures, with one bearing his name. He’s also no stranger to the restaurant business having been a spokesperson for Texas Roadhouse.
This makes him a natural fit to feature in an ad for the merits of sustainable family farms. Not to mention his talents as a musician.
In an award ceremony filled with over-produced pop hits, sets done by the truly unimaginative (let’s have surf boards for the Beach Boys!) and more lip syncing and auto-tuning than at a boy band concert, Willie’s simplicity and honesty stand out. You don’t need to even buy into the idea that Chipotle makes good and wholesome food that comes from family farms, just listen to Willie and go to your neighborhood taquería instead.
Also, before anyone brings it up, McDonald’s hasn’t owned any part of Chipotle since 2006.
