and so the Starbucks logo history lesson #1 begins…
As and introduction to this bit of research let me present a short quote from the cult cartoon show Futurama (episode [2ACV12] “The Deep South“) in which one of the characters, Fry, tries to engage in “maritals” with a mutant mermaid:
“Umbriel: What the hell is that?
Fry: Yeah I’m a little confused too. How do I… y’now…with the tail and all.
Umbriel: I’m not your first am I? I mean, I lay my eggs and leave and you release your fertiliser.
[Scene: Outside Colonel’s House. Fry runs away from the house at top speed.]
Fry (gasping): Why couldn’t she be the other type of mermaid, with the fish part on top and the lady part on the bottom?”
i hear people saying “what does this have to do with Starbucks”? well some may recognize similarities between the below picture and the Starbucks logo (i didn’t at first), but read the article and find out the history behind the logo.
and if you’re interested in that - you may also be interesed in an article on the FedEx logo. although it’s not quite as exciting (unless you’re a design-head, then you should find it interesting) but there is something subliminal in the logo (that i’ve never noticed before, and probably never would have if i didn’t see this article)… interesting.
Thanks for the history lesson. I work for Starbuck’s & I asked one of our ‘coffee master’s’ what the things were on the side of the siren’s head in the logo. I had suspected them to be what you had described since every Anniversary Blend coffee bag has this version of the siren on it with 2 tails (You should check it out - every year it’s the same & she’s much sexier than any of the previous logos could hint at). When I suggested that the siren was holding onto her leg-fins, my boss looked at me in horror and put me in my place by sternly telling me that the siren was holding 2 large bags of coffee beans and only the tops of the bags were visible.
Nice to know I was correct!
M.
I don’t work near any Starbucks, but I will have a look at the bags next time I’m around one.
Heh heh… so the large bags of coffee is the official response from them, eh?
Well, it isn’t their ‘official response’ but the coffee master must have assumed that they were innocent bags of coffee. It sounded pretty convincing. Newly hired baristas are required to attend a intro class that explains the history and mission of the company. The one I had attended went over the siren and her significance, but we were never shown the old logos. It wasn’t until I saw the Anniversary Blend coffee bag that I made the connection. I like the art on the bag better than the art on the sticker for the blend, but it is similar. Anniversary Blend is only available during a certain time of the year. Why wait…I found you a image of the sticker at: www.starbucksstore.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=313039
Enjoy!
M.
I’m a teacher and I’m looking at “Speech to the Virginia Convention” whereas Patrick Henry mentions how men get drawn into the idea of hope instead of realizing what happens in reality. He makes an allusion to the sirens of Greek mythology. Hence how I got to this page. I thought it was an interesting side note (something I didn’t know) that Starbuck’s was named after Starbuck in “Moby Dick.” Most of you working for Starbucks I assumed knew that already. But it is interesting to me why Starbucks has surrounded itself with myths and water…
Hey Rob,
Thanks for that bit of info. It’s interesting, I haven’t read Moby Dick, never even knew about that shipmate named Starbuck.
the logo is a young woman doing a felation, the supposed tails are the men`s legs and the supposed body is the man`s organ, the crown means richness if young teens engage in sexual activity, this is creepy uh? and probably that is the secret why so many people pay premium bucks for this low quality beverage
you’re right, that’s creeping me out.
where’d you find that info???
i don’t know if i’ll ever buy at Starbucks again…
so is the siren at all related to the astarte? i know that sounds crazy but someone i know thinks that and i dont believe him..isnt it simply the mermaid from moby dick? im a little confused…if someone could sum up the logo in an e-mail to adaylefttowait@yahoo.com that would beawesome!
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- What I’m left wondering is; Why has it taken so long for so many people to realize that this roaster’s flavor is burnt from over roasting?
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I once asked one of their Managers why their beans, once run through the grinder, were the only beans which left a considerable amount of grounds stuck to the sides of the grinder’s plastic cup due to an electrical static charge on the sides of the plastic grinder cup.
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She told me it was likely due to the fact they over roast their beans to the point of having basically zero moisture so they will last longer in the package while in storage.
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So much for “Fresh Roast”…
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ad infinitum, ad nauseum: …On multiple occasions I have seen a bumper sticker which reads;
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“Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink S……..”
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…wink wink, nudge nudge.
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- Renny