There was a Guinness ad that used the Jesus & Mary Chain’s “Just Like Honey”, which wouldn’t have been so inappropriate, except that the ad showed someone drinking a Guinness virtually superimposed over the lyrics “eating up the scum is the hardest thing for me to do” …
I know it’s a zombie, but I have a few new ones to add.
“Fortunate Son” by CCR used to sell blue jeans, complete with jingoistic imagery.
“Some folks are born made to wave the flag; ooh, they’re red, white, and blue.”
And that’s all you hear. Only a couple lines later is, “It ain’t me!”
The writer didn’t like it, either, but he’d already signed the rights away:
I was inspired to contribute to this thread by a recent commercial using “It Wasn’t Me” for a Discover Card ad. Of course, the objectionable lyrics aren’t used.
Vehicle
Song by The Ides of March was used for some car ad.
I’m a friendly stranger in the black Sedan
Won’t you hop inside my car?
I got pictures, got candy
I’m a lovable man
And I can take you to the nearest star