This spot, recorded in 2011, is most often referred to as “Eminem’s Chrysler Super Bowl Spot.” It has earned the status of being one of the best super Bowl commercials ever aired. It’s been viewed over 17 million times on YouTube alone. They used the opening riff from “Lose Yourself,” and multiple articles were written about Eminem, Chrysler, the stylistic features and the surprising success of the ad. Visitors to the Chrysler web site were up over 1000 percent. Outside of a local television news feature–which 6 years later has still only 1700 views–the voice talent was unknown.
Non-celebrity voice actors rarely, if ever, receive the recognition they should—even within their own industry. Advocating for yourself, your cause, your career and your interests must be a skill you learn and put into practice, because the only person who will push and promote you is YOU.
The voice actor who brings this spot to life is Kevin Yon. Without his talent, it would have been nothing but a promo for Eminem and a lifeless plug for Chrysler. Sadly, few will ever know Kevin’s name or his vocal ability, unless they spend a significant amount of time digging for that information. He is never mentioned in reference to this ad.
Kevin is the only one to blame. His name should be connected to the spot every time it’s shown. He had the opportunity to become a legend in the business but he let the moment pass. He should have listened to the song’s lyrics:
“Look
If you had
One shot
Or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you capture it
Or just let it slip?”
I rest my case.
