# Commercial songs you hate. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780 "2003-11-23T02:39:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/61 "2003-11-25T07:15:49Z")
“Weeeee live where yoooou live! We’re a good friend who reeeeeally caaaares!!! Like a good neighbor, State Farm is theeeeere!!!” And that stupid Little Caesar’s boy band song. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/62 "2003-11-25T08:03:14Z")
If you know someone who really gnashes teeth when hearing “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better,” the original soundtrack recording from _Annie Get Your Gun_ (with Ethel Merman) would make a demonic stocking stuffer. 😃 When my sister and I were kids and on dishwashing and drying duty, we would sing that to drive our mother nuts. It worked. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/63 "2003-11-25T08:19:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyan9 \* > \*\*The song in the new eBay commercial… \*\* Not the “On Broadway” take off?? With the cute chubby black guy in the elevator? Granted, I have TiVo, so I don’t often watch commercials, but every once in a while I’ll catch one I think is cute. I also liked the underwear dancing guy (I can’t remember the brand name though, so I guess it wasn’t very effective huh?). I just remember the adorable black guy dancing. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/64 "2003-11-25T08:23:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anamorphic \* > \*\*This is EXACTLY the song I immediately thought of when I read the thread title. I have no idea what the commercial is even for, since it gets shut off as soon as this abomination of a song begins. > > ::shudder:: Damn, that’s an annoying song! \*\* It’s an ANCIENT song, made popular back in the 50s (I think, though I remember my mom having the record when I was just a wee tyke in the early 60s). IIRC, it was two rather famous singers and/or entertainers that originally did the song, and it was cute and funny, rather like a musical version of Hepburn and Tracy. Sort of a zingers aflying kind of thing. But then, Hepburn and Tracy may not be all that well liked among this crowed either, (sheepish grin). ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/65 "2003-11-25T15:00:58Z")
I have to echo the love for the Rainbow Six commercial with the little girl singing “My Country 'Tis of Thee.” Creepy and haunting and patriotic at the same time. Good stuff. I am, however, disappointed that it’s being used for “Rainbow Six,” and not the Red Dawn-themed anti-Russian game that just came out, of which the name escapes me. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/66 "2003-11-25T15:02:47Z")
[Way Back Machine] Anybody remember an old episode of _Barney Miller_, where a guy was arrested for causing a disturbance at an ad agency? He wrecked the place because he couldn’t stand the jingle they came up with for a brand of pickles. A rep from the ad agency came down to press charges and kept humming the jingle while the guy was in lockup just to torment him. Then the ad rep decided not to press charges when the guy sarcasticly suggested “Why not just sing that your pickles are ko-ko-kosher?” The ad rep thought it had nice retaining value. [/Way Back Machine] ---
**Author:** ![Akaadji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Akaadji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaadji)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/67 "2003-11-26T00:16:23Z")
…I revoke my dislike for that Rainbow Six commercial, after seeing a version last night where the girl just hums everything but ‘Let freedom ring…’. I will be transferring my annoyance to this version. At least the original was creepy, and therefore interesting… ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/68 "2003-11-26T01:08:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*I also liked the underwear dancing guy (I can’t remember the brand name though, so I guess it wasn’t very effective huh?). I just remember the adorable black guy dancing. \*\* I LOVED that guy! I hope they paid him well… ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/69 "2003-11-26T01:13:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*I also liked the underwear dancing guy (I can’t remember the brand name though, so I guess it wasn’t very effective huh?). I just remember the adorable black guy dancing. \*\* Hanes ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/70 "2003-11-26T02:59:38Z")
Swiffer! Swiffer good! ---
**Author:** ![Computer\_Guru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Computer\_Guru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Computer_Guru)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/71 "2003-11-26T03:10:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racer72 \* > \*\*Kohl’s, which doesn’t even have a store within 700 miles of me has been running a new commercial featuring the song Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tenille. > > I hate that song. > > I detest that song. > > Other than Anne Murray, Toni Tenille has the most grating voice of anyone, and I mean anyone that has ever had the opportunity to have a song played on any radio station. > > And whatever station my son in law is watching is playing the God damned commercial every frickin’ 10 minutes. I am now sequestered in my office, door shut, listen to the radio with the volume louder than I care for just so my ears will not suffer. > > And I thought I was over being pelted by an overworked pop standard. The last 5 months Steve Miller has become an enemy. Why did he sell Rockin’ Me to Wrangler so it can be played at every commercial break during every NASCAR race broadcasted. With the end of the NASCAR season I thought my commercial blues were over. Alas, it is not so. \*\* That dumb old McDonald’s rap song. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/72 "2003-11-26T07:42:01Z")
I don´t think I´ve stated this in the boards yet, but I have a proposal for the day the time machine is built that one of the first things to be done is go back in time, find the scummy excuse of human beign who invented the commercial jingle ,hang it from his scrotum and slap him with fish, tarring and feathering would be optional. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/73 "2003-11-26T14:45:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drewbert \* > \*\*“Oh, oh, oh, Ice cold milk > and an Oreo Cookie > they forever go togeth–” > _:kicks radio across the room:_ > > They always play this right in the middle of the Sunday night two-hour block of ambient electronica music, completely ruining the mood. \*\* This is not a new problem. Back around 1981 I often used to practice my guitar to the radio, tuning either to KROQ or a standard rock station. I’d have the radio cranked up, the guitar cranked up, be congratulating myself that I had just played along with _Tattooed Love Boys_ quite credibly for only having played guitar a couple of years, when this commercial jingle would come blasting through the speakers: Today you want more MPG, MPG, MPG!! More MEAT, PRODUCE, GROCERIES… It was sung in a dippy, upbeat style that would have been appropriate in 1952. God, it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/74 "2003-11-26T15:28:31Z")
There’s one for the Co-Op on at the minute that sets my teeth on edge. It’s set to the theme tune of “Jim’ll Fix it”: “Milk chocolate was only the start of it, Now there’s a whole range of Fair Trade Choc-o-late. There’s Fruit and Nut, Crispy White and Dark too-ooo-ooo” Not only is it deeply irritating, but it gets stuck in my head and goes round and round and round…DAMN IT!!! Now it’s doing it again! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/75 "2003-11-26T17:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Hanes \*\* Incorrect! KMart/Joe Boxer. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/76 "2003-11-26T17:36:05Z")
:smack: Ah, same thing. Hanes, Kmart, Joe Boxer, it’s all underwear. ---
**Author:** ![GraphicsGal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@GraphicsGal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraphicsGal)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/77 "2003-11-26T17:56:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Ooh! I have one: “Love is in the air” … again, can’t picture the actual product… \*\* Father buying daughter two bunnies…no wait…6 bunnies…no wait… VISA check card I like the clerk using the bunny as a telephone handset though. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/78 "2003-11-26T18:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GraphicsGal \* > \*\*Father buying daughter two bunnies…no wait…6 bunnies…no wait… > > VISA check card > > I like the clerk using the bunny as a telephone handset though. \*\* Daughter??? I thought that was a boy? (poor little girl, if it is). ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/79 "2003-11-26T18:53:41Z")
**Knowed Out** - > [@](#): > > Anybody remember an old episode of Barney Miller, where a guy was arrested for causing a disturbance at an ad agency? He wrecked the place because he couldn’t stand the jingle they came up with for a brand of pickles. Ever heard the Law of Reruns? “If you only ever see one episode of a television series, and then months or years later you come across the show again, it will be the same episode you’ve already seen.” You just described the only episode of Barney Miller I ever watched 😉 Though I remembered it as the fellow having been arrested for tearing down an advertising poster on a city bus because he didn’t like the “Crun-crun-crunchiest!” bit. Anyway, jingles… I don’t watch TV much, so I’m not familiar with the jingles there. But I listen to a lot of radio. So my pet peeves: 1 - “1950s-style” jingles. In particular, a local drive-in burger joint’s commercial. They’ve been running the same commercial for several years now - something that’s supposed to sound like the Beach Boys, I guess. They do this simply because the place first opened in 1949. “Burgers and fries, malts and sodas/I’ll eat my share, and you eat your quota.” Indeed. What makes this particular jingle really bad, though, is the fact that _the jingle is the entire commercial!_. And this is a 60-second commercial. So when I’m listening to, say, a baseball game, it’s as if my radio suddenly switches itself to the “oldies” station 5 or 6 times during the game. There was also a local optician who used a '50s-style jingle, complete with the same I-vi-IV-V chord progression that was the basis of 83% of 1950s pop music. The background music behind the singing sounded as if it was being provided by a cheesy toy Casio keyboard (with built-in drum machine!). And to make matters worse, the optician himself decided that he wanted to sing along with the jingle. It was horrible. Somebody must of said something to him, though, because after a few weeks his voice suddenly disappeared from the commercials. 2 - My other peeve, and this isn’t really about the jingles themselves, is when they hire models to pretend to play musical instruments in the TV commercial. Is it too much to ask that they bring somebody in to at least coach these models in how to hold the instrument properly? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780/80 "2003-11-27T05:51:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ale \* > \*\*I don´t think I´ve stated this in the boards yet, but I have a proposal for the day the time machine is built that one of the first things to be done is go back in time, find the scummy excuse of human beign who invented the commercial jingle ,hang it from his scrotum and slap him with fish, tarring and feathering would be optional. \*\* That would be [Billy Jones and Ernie Hare](http://www.turtleserviceslimited.org/happiness.htm), radio comedians who shilled for Interwoven Socks. _How d’ya do, everybody, how d’ya do? Gee, it’s great to say hello to all of you! I’m Billy Jones I’m Ernie Hare! We’re the Interwoven Pair How d’ya do-da-loo-da-loo-da-loo-da-loo!_ First singing commercial, AFAIK. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-songs-you-hate/214780.md?page=5)