How Millennials Accidentally Discovered the 1970s
Millennials may not have purchased these songs on vinyl, but they heard them while watching cars race, babies dance, and office workers deliver printer paper. Television commercials gave these 1970s favorites an unexpected second life. Sometimes the song became more memorable than whatever the advertisement was trying to sell.
#1: “Pink Moon” by Nick Drake
Nick Drake’s quiet 1972 song was virtually unknown to mainstream American audiences until Volkswagen placed it in its dreamy 1999 Cabrio commercial. Young friends drove beneath the stars, decided a crowded party looked miserable, and kept going. Album sales soared afterward, transforming Drake from a cult figure into a millennial-era folk icon.
#2: “20th Century Boy” by T. Rex
T. Rex released this glam-rock stomper in 1973, but many younger viewers discovered it through a 1991 Levi’s commercial starring a then-rising Brad Pitt. The sight of Pitt leaving jail in his underwear was difficult to ignore, while Marc Bolan’s guitar riff made the advertisement feel effortlessly cool.
Heinrich Klaffs, Wikimedia Commons
#3: “Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop’s pounding 1977 song found an unlikely second home in Royal Caribbean’s “Get Out There” campaign beginning in 2001. Suddenly, a track associated with punk rebellion was accompanying rock climbing, wave runners, and elaborate cruise buffets. Millennials heard that unmistakable drumbeat so frequently that it practically became the sound of vacation planning.
Richard McCaffrey, Getty Images
#4: “The Rubberband Man” by the Spinners
OfficeMax turned the Spinners’ 1976 hit into the soundtrack for its wonderfully strange “Rubberband Man” campaign. Actor Eddie Steeples danced through offices while delivering supplies from a customized cart. The commercials ran repeatedly during the early 2000s, introducing the song to viewers who had never seen a working typewriter outside a museum.
#5: “Search and Destroy” by the Stooges
Nike introduced a generation of television viewers to the Stooges when it used “Search and Destroy” during its advertising surrounding the 1996 Summer Olympics. Released in 1973, the song’s frantic guitars and Iggy Pop’s snarling vocals made ordinary athletic footage feel dangerous, rebellious, and considerably more exciting than buying sneakers usually is.
Distributed by Elektra Records, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
#6: “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin had traditionally resisted licensing its recordings for commercials, which made Cadillac’s use of “Rock and Roll” in 2002 especially noticeable. The company wanted younger buyers to view Cadillac as exciting rather than something their grandparents drove to bingo. The thunderous 1971 track certainly helped get everyone’s attention.
Robert Knight Archive, Getty Images
#7: “Rocket Man” by Elton John
Volkswagen built a memorable 2011 Passat commercial around people confidently mishearing the lyrics to Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” Released in 1972, the song was already famous, but the advertisement made its confusing lyrics a running joke for younger audiences. It also confirmed that almost nobody knows exactly what Elton is saying.
Heinrich Klaffs, Wikimedia Commons
#8: “Fly by Night” by Rush
Rush’s 1975 song accompanied a 2012 Volkswagen Passat commercial featuring a tightly wound businessman hiding in his car. Once safely inside, he loosens his tie and launches into an enthusiastic air-drum performance. The advertisement introduced Rush’s technical rock to viewers who might otherwise have considered air drumming strictly a parental activity.
#9: “Beth” by Kiss
Kiss was better known for thunderous guitars and face paint, but Volkswagen chose the band’s softer 1976 ballad “Beth” for a humorous commercial. The unexpected pairing reminded younger viewers that Kiss had once recorded something gentle enough for a car advertisement, although Peter Criss still sounded like he might miss dinner.
Casablanca Records, Wikimedia Commons
#10: “Slow Ride” by Foghat
Firestone Complete Auto Care eventually discovered what classic-rock radio had known for decades: Foghat’s “Slow Ride” was practically made for driving. The 1975 song appeared in a commercial featuring vehicles cruising into the shop. Its heavy riff gave another generation the urge to turn up the radio and ignore the actual speed limit.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
#11: “Working Man” by Rush
Rush’s “Working Man” was released on the Canadian band’s 1974 debut album. Decades later, Walmart used it in an advertisement honoring tradespeople and employees who worked with their hands. The song’s slow, powerful riff sounded tailor-made for hard hats, work boots, and people who never describe Monday morning as their favorite part of the week.
Mercury Records, Wikimedia Commons
#12: “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
Budweiser used Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 ballad in its emotional 2013 Super Bowl commercial about a trainer reuniting with a horse he had raised. The advertisement required no dialogue because Stevie Nicks handled the emotional work. By the end, plenty of millennial viewers were pretending they had something in their eye.
Herbert Weber, Hildesheim, Wikimedia Commons
#13: “Fame” by David Bowie
Cadillac used David Bowie’s 1975 chart-topper “Fame” in a commercial for the Escalade. The song’s slick rhythm, whispered title, and instant swagger made the luxury SUV appear even more glamorous. It also introduced younger audiences to a Bowie hit that was less common on retro playlists than “Changes” or “Heroes.”
#14: “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner
Hot Pockets transformed Foreigner’s 1978 hit into an extremely literal parody in 2014. The familiar chorus became a celebration of microwaved snacks, proving that no classic-rock song is completely safe from rewritten commercial lyrics. Millennials who heard the advertisement repeatedly may now find it impossible to separate Foreigner from dangerously hot cheese.
Distributed by Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons
#15: “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” by Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Roy Ayers Ubiquity released this mellow soul-jazz favorite in 1976. Apple later featured it in a commercial celebrating Black photographers and the iPhone camera. The campaign introduced the track’s relaxed groove to millions of younger viewers, many of whom had already heard its influence throughout hip-hop without knowing where the sound began.
photographer:Gilles Petard, Polydor records, Wikimedia Commons
#16: “Magic” by Pilot
Pilot’s 1974 hit gained a strange new identity when its chorus was rewritten for Ozempic commercials. The endlessly repeated “Oh, oh, oh” melody made the original song recognizable to people who could not name Pilot if their lives depended on it. A cheerful soft-rock hit had officially become pharmaceutical earworm royalty.
#17: “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
Queen included “Don’t Stop Me Now” on its 1978 album Jazz, but the song became even more popular in later decades through movies, television, and advertising. Adidas, Cadbury, Silk, Toyota, and Amazon were among the brands that recognized its value. Few songs can make a vacuum cleaner or carton of almond milk seem genuinely thrilling.
Koh Hasebe; Distributed by Elektra Records, Wikimedia Commons
#18: “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
Redbone’s 1973 recording returned repeatedly in commercials for brands including Alltel, Walmart, and Kroger. Its irresistible opening made it ideal for advertisements needing immediate warmth. Films and television also helped, but constant commercial use ensured millennials knew the song long before many discovered the groundbreaking Indigenous American band behind it.
#19: “Changes” by David Bowie
Released in 1971, “Changes” was an obvious choice for advertisers selling reinvention, technology, or something with a redesigned cup holder. BMW used the recognizable opening in a campaign about cleaner automotive technology. For younger viewers, Bowie’s repeated call to face change became almost inseparable from companies announcing that their newest product was different.
#20: “Baba O’Riley” by the Who
The Who’s 1971 classic was used by Nissan, allowing its famous synthesizer introduction to reach viewers who had never explored Who’s Next. The opening sounded futuristic decades after it was recorded, making it ideal for selling cars. It also left another generation incorrectly referring to the song as “Teenage Wasteland.”
#21: “We Will Rock You” by Queen
Evian’s 2003 “Water Boy” commercial featured children performing Queen’s 1977 stadium anthem while behaving like tiny rock stars. The song was already unavoidable at sporting events, but the advertisement helped carry it into millennial childhood. Apparently, selling bottled water becomes much easier when an entire cafeteria starts stomping and clapping.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
#22: “Brand New Key” by Melanie
Melanie’s quirky 1971 hit returned in a 2010 HP ePrint advertisement featuring a baby zooming across the country in a walker. The unusual visuals paired perfectly with the song’s childlike melody. Younger viewers who had never heard of Melanie suddenly found themselves humming a tune about roller skates and a mysterious key.
#23: “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
Gap used “September” in an early-2000s campaign, while Kohl’s, Tesco, Target, and other advertisers later returned to it. Released in 1978, the song contains everything a commercial wants: celebration, instant recognition, and absolutely no gloomy section where everyone must pause to reconsider their life choices.
Distributed by Columbia Records, Wikimedia Commons
#24: “O-o-h Child” by the Five Stairsteps
The Five Stairsteps released “O-o-h Child” in 1970, and its hopeful message made it perfect for emotional advertising. Verizon, American Family Insurance, Volkswagen, and Procter & Gamble campaigns used the original song or later covers. Millennials repeatedly heard it whenever a commercial needed encouragement, reconciliation, or a mother staring proudly from the sidelines.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
#25: “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones
The Ramones’ 1976 single never became a major chart hit, but its “Hey! Ho! Let’s go!” chant was advertising gold. Diet Pepsi used it in 2005, while GoPro, Taco Bell, Google, and other brands followed. Commercials helped turn an early punk song into something nearly every millennial could shout on command.
Danny Fields, Wikimedia Commons
#26: “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel
Wendy’s used the 1973 Stealers Wheel hit in a 2006 commercial, while IBM and other companies later returned to it. The title offered advertisers an easy joke whenever someone or something was physically trapped between two objects. Clever? Sometimes. Subtle? About as subtle as ordering a triple cheeseburger.
#27: “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest
King Harvest’s 1972 recording became a feel-good favorite long after its original chart run. Walmart licensed it for a 2008 television campaign, while other international brands also used the song or later covers. Its laid-back chorus offered millennials three minutes of sunshine, even when the commercial appeared during a very long winter.
Screenshot from Walmart Commercial, Martin Agency (2008)
#28: “More Than a Feeling” by Boston
Boston’s towering 1976 hit became a dependable advertising soundtrack for Yoplait, Barclaycard, Coors Light, and other brands. That enormous chorus could make yogurt, credit cards, or a singing snowman feel like the climax of an arena concert. Millennials may not have owned Boston’s debut album, but advertisers made sure they knew the guitar solo.
Premier Talent Associates (management company), Wikimedia Commons
#29: “Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Office Depot wisely adopted Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s 1974 anthem for several advertising campaigns. The connection was so obvious that it almost seemed unfair. The song returned during back-to-school promotions and workplace commercials, giving younger audiences a classic-rock chorus to associate with binders, printers, and frantic Sunday-night homework.
Mercury Records, Wikimedia Commons
#30: “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy released this enduring rock anthem in 1976. Chase, McDonald’s, Applebee’s, and advertisements for the Toy Story franchise later put its famous chorus to work. Any product, menu item, or animated cowboy could suddenly make a triumphant return simply by announcing that the boys, or occasionally the toys, were back in town.
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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