# Best songs written for commercials **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2025, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833 "2025-01-11T03:14:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/1 "2025-01-11T03:14:33Z")
This must have been discussed before but I haven’t been able to find such a thread. What’s your favorite song that was written for a commercial? I’d like to limit this to songs that were newly written for a commercial, not just great songs that already existed and were appropriated for use in a commercial. I was thinking about this when remembering this 7-Up commercial from 1970, which was part of 7-Up’s “Uncola” advertising strategy at the time, positioning themselves as the cool, hip alternative to Coke and Pepsi. It was not only a cool song (or so I thought at the time; today it seems good but not great to me), it also inspired a fad for these Balafire light bulbs mounted in soda cans. I had one in my room until it broke. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vyy56zx3iho/hqdefault.jpg "1970 7-Up Commercial "Cola-hearted Woman"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyy56zx3iho) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/2 "2025-01-11T03:31:36Z")
I like “[Times of Your Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ0DlthTZLI)”, by Paul Anka, originally a Kodak ad. Sorry, can’t do the YouTube embed OP did, so put the link to the video in the song title. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/3 "2025-01-11T03:33:55Z")
“Be Like Mike,” written for a Gatorade commercial, about Michael Jordan. The ad was created, and the song lyrics written, by a friend of mine. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/b0AGiq9j_Ak/hqdefault.jpg "Be Like Mike Gatorade Commercial (ORIGINAL)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0AGiq9j_Ak) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/4 "2025-01-11T03:36:07Z")
> **[Coca Cola Commercial - I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-Qiyklq-Q%2F)** > > "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" is a pop song which originated as an advertising jingle, produced by Billy Davis and sung by the H... ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/5 "2025-01-11T03:40:54Z")
Do jingles count? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/6 "2025-01-11T03:44:40Z")
I liked the “Land of Sky Blue Waters” song in the old Hamm’s beer commercials. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/7 "2025-01-11T03:52:57Z")
See the USA in Your Chevrolet / Dinah Shore ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/8 "2025-01-11T03:56:06Z")
That Coca-Cola commercial song was the first thing I thought of. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/9 "2025-01-11T03:57:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That Coca-Cola commercial song was the first thing I thought of. - Same. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/10 "2025-01-11T04:08:02Z")
Roger Nichols and Paul Williams (“The Rainbow Connection”) co-wrote “We’ve Only Just Begun” for a bank commercial. Williams sings on the commercial’s version. The song would soon after be famously covered by The Carpenters. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/97X9huy7pHQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Classic Commercial - "The Crocker Bank" - 1970") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97X9huy7pHQ) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/11 "2025-01-11T05:58:12Z")
The Dr. Pepper song was pretty . . peppy. I remember we made up a dance to it at Girl Scout camp. [Wouldn’t you like to be a pepper too?](https://www.google.com/search?q=dr+pepper+commercial+1980&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS691US691&oq=dr+pepper+ommercial+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCEAAYDRiABDIGCAAQRRg5MgkIARAAGA0YgAQyCQgCEAAYDRiABDIJCAMQABgNGIAEMgkIBBAAGA0YgAQyCQgFEAAYDRiABDIJCAYQABgNGIAEMgkIBxAAGA0YgAQyCQgIEAAYDRiABDIJCAkQABgNGIAE0gEJODU0NWowajE1qAIIsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:232555b1,vid:gQPN3UKQM-U,st:0) Another one with a good beat that’s easy to dance to [The big fig newton](https://www.google.com/search?q=fig+newton+commercial+80s&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS691US691&oq=fig+newton+commercial&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgFEAAYgAQyDwgAEEUYORiRAhiABBiKBTIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDINCAcQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAgQABiGAxiABBiKBTIKCAkQABiABBiiBNIBCTgxODlqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5d68dc25,vid:QkmS9tLgjDA,st:0) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/12 "2025-01-11T13:10:00Z")
Here’s the tricky part. 😄 (Didn’t even have to access the clip.) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/13 "2025-01-11T13:35:55Z")
“Feelin’ 7-Up, I’m feelin’ 7-Up…” First 30 seconds of this clip: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d9k09WPpNeo/hqdefault.jpg "Repo Man (grocery store scene)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9k09WPpNeo) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/14 "2025-01-11T16:27:42Z")
Although it wasn’t used in an official commercial, I think The Who’s [Odorono](https://youtu.be/7p7Hl7wLkK4?feature=shared) is worth a mention. (yes, it is [a real product](https://www.amazon.com/Odorono-Deodorant-Original-2-5-OZ/dp/B008G0000Q/) 🕶) ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/15 "2025-01-11T16:28:52Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > The song would soon after be famously covered by The Carpenters.   As soon as I saw the thread title, I immediately thought of this one.  In its original form, as an advertising jingle, it was a remarkably good song, but then [Karen Carpenter sang her version of it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI), and…   Alas, a voice and a talent like Karen Carpenter comes along only a few times in a generation, at most. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/16 "2025-01-11T16:32:20Z")
So you mean actual songs and not jingles? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/17 "2025-01-11T16:50:49Z")
I’d say jingles are acceptable for this thread. A jingle is just a short song. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/18 "2025-01-11T16:55:45Z")
[Mr. Bubble and the Bubbairs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cee8ySXlE2o) has been stuck in my head for decades. [Nestle $100,000 bar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrRkqGzCC4s) from 1979. (I was going to post a link to the Enjoli Perfume “I’m A Woman” commercial, but discovered it’s a cover of a Leiber and Stoller song made popular by Peggy Lee.) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/19 "2025-01-11T17:20:21Z")
Quentin Tarantino used this radio ad for Heaven Sent perfume in the film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0Wy_XeNFLfk/maxresdefault.jpg "Suddenly / Heaven Sent Advertisement") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wy_XeNFLfk) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833/20 "2025-01-11T17:23:04Z")
This Texaco jingle sounds like an anthem: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KNMYcmk3qf0/maxresdefault.jpg ""Texaco Star Theme" aka "You Can Trust Your Car"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNMYcmk3qf0) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833.md?page=2)