A Rhetorical Analysis Of 'My Way' By Derek Jeter

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On September 18, 2014, as the accomplished career of one of the greatest and most respected baseball players of all time was coming to an end, Gatorade released an advertisement in commemoration of this and to celebrate their successful endorsement partnership. Derek Jeter, who spent the entirety of his 20 year long career leading the New York Yankees, is seen in this ad strolling through New York and greeting the locals on his way to a game as Frank Sinatra sings “My Way” in the background. The commercial primarily appeals to the pathos of the broad audience of New Yorkers of all ages, ethnicities, and genders, athletes, and baseball fans across the world. In addition to this emotional appeal, the creators of this commercial also attempt to …show more content…

Jeter was given the opportunity to pick a song that epitomized his career and he chose this classy New York song. Throughout the commercial, the tone of the song along with its lyrics change accordingly to the scene. At the beginning, the tone of the song is peaceful and nostalgic. Sinatra’s first words are “the end is near”, as the audience is introduced to a black and white frame representing Jeter’s imminent retirement. As the commercial progresses and as Jeter proceeds to greet New Yorkers, the song speeds up. Here, Sinatra’s lyrics demonstrate Jeter’s career, lively and filled with accomplishments. Jeter has “lived a life that’s full”, all while doing it in his own unique way. This reference to his baseball career appeals to the audience’s pathos because it makes them realize how important Jeter was to them and that he'll be missed. As he gets closer and closer to Yankee Stadium, the music builds to its peak. When he jogs out onto the field at the end, the music represents a celebratory finale of his career with an emotional conclusion. This conclusion, along with the lyrics, represent how Jeter had his own way of doing things and succeeding at them. In an attempt to evoke sadness and nostalgia in the audience, Jeter is seen viewing the jersey numbers of Yankee legends as the song reaches its climax, implying to the audience that Jeter will be with them one day after his upcoming retirement. This gradual progression of the tone of music and the lyrics strongly appeal to the audience’s pathos by impressively imposing sadness, pride, and nostalgia all in one day commercial. This appeal to pathos along with the strong ethical appeal with Derek Jeter, one of the most respected athletes ever, is what makes this commercial an effective

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