The Free Tibet bumper sticker

and

The KS95 smiling sun bumper sticker from the early 80's

I cannot find an image of the latter anywhere on the Internet (information superhighway my ass). But folks living in the Twin Cities during that era will attest to the remarkable similarity of the two.

This morning I rolled up on a gray Honda on I94 and from the image alone I reflexively assumed it was the legendary KS95 sticker. Then, upon reaching full tailgating intimacy, I was slapped with the cold hand of their social conscience. Free Tibet. What a let down. From the rest of their bumper commentary I suppose I should have known KS95 wasn't on their dial. Visualizing World Peace is the last thing you'll find on the confrontational Moon and Staci program.

The KS95 smiling sun sticker was a promotion for light pop rockin' KSTP-FM (94.5 on the dial), back in the early to mid-80's. No doubt their slogan "Always 95 and Sunny" was a shameless attempt to capitalize on the Morning in America feeling of the times. (Their late-70's morning zoo campaign "Malaise in the Morning" didn't fare nearly as well).

Back then, the sticker was ubiquitous on rear bumpers all around town. Everybody had one, for the simple reason, you could win free stuff. A poweful motivator for Minnesotans. As I recall, there was a roving KS95 party van circulating on the highways around town. If the unpaid marketing interns and illegal alien wage slaves inside the van spotted your KS95 bumper sticker, they rode your ass until you pulled over. Then they leapt out, rushed your car, and showered you with shallow flattery and shiny beads. It was an absolute sensation, the people loved it, and the whole town was talking about someone they knew who got spotted, stopped and showered. It was low overhead, high impact, radio marketing genius.

It was so successful, it makes me wonder if the executives at AM1280, the Patriot might consider such a promotion. Maybe give out Michael Savage stickers, then deputize each Northern Alliance member as a member of the Savage Patrol. Every time we spot the sticker we'll pull up along side and make obscene gestures and shout vulgarities, until the driver pulls over. At which point we'll present them with a Hugh Hewitt "Minne-so-cold" T-shirt. Then you'll hear some real swearing.

Labels: Separated At Birth

Posted by Saint Paul--Link