When everyone in the office starts calling themselves a “rock star,” what happens when actual rock legends show up to set the record straight? Workday’s Super Bowl ad brings out the big guns—Paul Stanley, Ozzy Osbourne, and more—to hilariously remind corporate America that finance and HR teams might be great, but they’re not headlining a stadium tour anytime soon.
The Formula (That Works at Any Budget)
Cultural Juxtaposition = Instant Engagement – Legendary rock icons confronting office workers about their “rock star” claims? It’s an immediate attention grabber.
→ Lesson: Play with contrasts. The bigger the gap between expectation and reality, the funnier and more memorable the ad.
Lean Into the Premise Fully – Workday doesn’t just throw in a rock star cameo and call it a day. The entire ad is built around the concept, with the musicians delivering their lines with full commitment.
→ Lesson: If you’re going for a theme, don’t half-step it. Fully embrace the concept for maximum impact.
Humor That’s Self-Aware – The joke lands because it taps into a real workplace cliché—everyone calls themselves a “rock star” for doing… spreadsheets.
→ Lesson: Relatable humor works best. Find a universal truth your audience recognizes, then exaggerate it just enough.
The Brand Connection Is Subtle but Strong – Workday doesn’t just exist in the background; it’s positioned as the real “rock star” of finance and HR software—without forcing the message.
→ Lesson: Make your brand the conclusion, not the interruption. The best ads let the story lead naturally to the product.
Final Verdict
Big names, big humor, and a sharp cultural observation make this one of Workday’s most entertaining ads to date. It proves that B2B marketing can have just as much star power as any big consumer brand—if you commit to the bit.
Brave-o-meter score:
B-8 | R-9 | A-9 | V-9 | E-9
BRAVE – 8.8/10
Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: https://www.workday.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workday
