The Earworms Madison Avenue Built
The 1970s gave us leisure suits, shag carpeting, and commercial jingles engineered to occupy the human brain indefinitely. These miniature pop songs could sell everything from bologna to long-distance telephone calls, often before viewers realized what was happening. How many can you still sing?
Oscar Mayer / J. Walter Thompson, Oscar Mayer Commercial (1973)
#30: Ken-L Ration — “My Dog’s Better Than Your Dog”
A 1973 Ken-L Ration commercial used “My Dog’s Better Than Your Dog,” an advertising adaptation of a song written years earlier by Tom Paxton. Its playground-taunt melody was ridiculously easy to repeat, especially for children. It also encouraged dogs everywhere to develop completely unrealistic expectations about dinner.
Screenshot from Ken-L Ration Commercial, J. Walter Thompson Company (1973)
#29: Levi’s — “Good Morning, World”
Levi’s introduced its “Good Morning, World” commercial in 1972, pairing youthful optimism with denim-clad people who seemed far more energetic than anyone had a right to be before breakfast. The uplifting melody sounded like the opening number of a musical, making ordinary jeans feel like admission to a happier planet.
Screenshot from Levi’s Commercial, Levi Strauss & Co. (1972)
#28: Löwenbräu — “Tonight, Let It Be Löwenbräu”
“Tonight, let it be Löwenbräu” gave imported beer the sound of a grand romantic occasion. The rich, sweeping melody suggested that opening a bottle might cause the lighting to soften and everyone nearby to become more sophisticated. Repeating “tonight” alongside the unusual brand name helped the jingle lodge firmly in listeners’ memories.
Screenshot from Löwenbräu Commercial, The Miller Brewing Company (1978)
#27: Hamburger Helper — “Helped Her Hamburger”
A particularly memorable Hamburger Helper jingle appeared near the end of the 1970s, singing about how the boxed mixture “helped her hamburger.” The phrase’s playful alliteration and slightly awkward grammar made it unforgettable. It also made stretching one pound of ground beef sound like a major culinary achievement.
Screenshot from Hamburger Helper Commercial, General Mills (1978)
#26: Charlie Perfume — “Kinda Young, Kinda Now”
Revlon launched Charlie perfume in 1973 with advertising that presented its wearer as modern, confident, and gloriously busy. The “kinda young, kinda now” jingle used breezy repetition and a bright melody to make the fragrance sound like bottled independence. Nobody knew precisely what “kinda now” meant, but it apparently smelled terrific.
Screenshot from Charlie Perfume Commercial, Revlon (1976)
#25: Kmart — “Kmart Is Your Saving Place”
Long before online shopping let people buy socks without leaving the sofa, Kmart promised to be America’s “saving place.” The jingle turned a straightforward retail claim into a cheerful musical destination. Its simple rhyme and repeated brand name made it nearly impossible to forget, even after the blue-light specials went dark.
Screenshot from Kmart Commercial, Kresge-Kmart Corporation (1978)
#24: Blue Bonnet — “Everything’s Better With Blue Bonnet on It”
Blue Bonnet commercials were singing this sunny claim during the 1970s, usually while presenting margarine as the solution to nearly every meal. The familiar rhythm and repeated brand name made the line exceptionally easy to finish. Evidently, the decade believed toast needed both margarine and its own musical endorsement.
Screenshot from Blue Bonnet Commercial, Standard Brands Inc. (1973)
#23: Toyota — “You Asked for It, You Got It”
“You asked for it, you got it, Toyota” was practically built for repetition. The line had an easy conversational rhythm, a tidy internal rhyme, and a brand name that landed exactly where listeners expected it. After enough airings, viewers could finish the jingle automatically, whether or not they had requested a Corolla.
Screenshot from Toyota Commercial, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (1973)
#22: General Electric — “We Bring Good Things to Life”
General Electric introduced “We Bring Good Things to Life” near the end of the decade. The warm melody and broad promise could accompany nearly anything GE manufactured, from household appliances to enormous industrial equipment. It was corporate advertising delivered with the emotional confidence of a lullaby and the inventory of a hardware warehouse.
Screenshot from General Electric Commercial, BBDO (1979)
#21: C&H Sugar — “Pure Cane Sugar From Hawaii”
C&H commercials transformed a bag of sugar into a miniature tropical vacation. The Hawaiian setting, gentle island-style melody, and repeated description of “pure cane sugar” created a soothing tune that followed viewers directly into the baking aisle. Apparently, even granulated sugar needed a vacation soundtrack in the 1970s.
Screenshot from C&H Sugar Commercial, California and Hawaiian Sugar Company (1976)
#20: Enjoli — “I Can Bring Home the Bacon”
Enjoli’s 1978 commercial featured a woman singing about earning money, cooking dinner, and remaining irresistibly glamorous through all of it. The assertive tune and escalating list of accomplishments made the advertisement unforgettable. It also left an entire generation wondering when this exhausted woman was ever supposed to sit down.
Screenshot from Enjoli Commercial, Charles of the Ritz (1979)
#19: Budweiser — “Here Comes the King”
Written by prolific jingle composer Steve Karmen, “Here Comes the King” became a Budweiser anthem during the 1970s. Its marching rhythm, swelling chorus, and royal imagery made the arrival of a beer sound like a state ceremony. Few beverages have ever entered a living room with this much musical advance notice.
Screenshot from Budweiser Commercial, Anheuser-Busch(1979)
#18: Kentucky Fried Chicken — “Have a Barrel of Fun”
Kentucky Fried Chicken’s 1972 “barrel of fun” jingle was performed by Barry Manilow before his pop career took off. Its cheerful rhyming hook turned buying a bucket of fried chicken into a family celebration. The tune was so relentlessly upbeat that even washing the greasy plates afterward sounded potentially festive.
John Margolies, Wikimedia Commons
#17: Bell System — “Reach Out and Touch Someone”
The Bell System’s “Reach Out and Touch Someone” campaign arrived in its familiar musical form in 1979. Sentimental scenes and a soaring refrain made long-distance calling seem like a profound act of human connection. It encouraged viewers to telephone Grandma, although most still waited until the cheaper evening rates began.
Screenshot from Bell System Commercial, N. W. Ayer & Son (1979)
#16: Big Red — “Kiss a Little Longer”
Big Red gum began using “Kiss a Little Longer” in 1979, wrapping its cinnamon flavor in an exceptionally romantic promise. The gentle melody, repeated phrasing, and slightly daring subject made the tune difficult to ignore. It also suggested that chewing gum was doing a remarkable amount of work in America’s dating lives.
Screenshot from Big Red Commercial, William Wrigley Jr. Company (1979)
#15: Kodak — “Times of Your Life”
Paul Anka recorded “Times of Your Life” for a 1975 Kodak campaign before releasing it as a commercial single. Its wistful melody and message about preserving memories matched photography perfectly. Rather than shouting about film, the commercial quietly reminded viewers that everyone they loved was aging, which certainly sold some snapshots.
Screenshot from Kodak Commercial, J. Walter Thompson (1975)
#14: Libby’s — “Libby’s, Libby’s, Libby’s”
Libby’s commercials repeatedly sang the company’s name while showing cans with the familiar label. That was essentially the entire strategy, and it worked magnificently. The bouncing rhythm turned “Libby’s” into a musical reflex, proving that sophisticated lyrics were unnecessary when a company was willing to repeat its name until viewers surrendered.
Screenshot from Libby’s Commercial, J. Walter Thompson (1974)
#13: Pepsi — “Have a Pepsi Day”
Pepsi’s “Have a Pepsi Day” campaign took the language of a friendly farewell and attached it to a soft drink. The bright tune and relentlessly cheerful delivery made the slogan sound like something Americans should say to one another. It was sunny, simple, and repetitive enough to follow viewers away from the television.
Screenshot from Pepsi Commercial, Ace-Compton Advertising Inc. (1977)
#12: Nair — “Who Wears Short Shorts?”
Nair launched its “Short Shorts” advertising campaign in 1975, using a reworked version of the 1958 pop song “Short Shorts.” The call-and-response hook practically demanded an answer, while the dancing performers made the product seem youthful and fun. The campaign even earned a Clio Award, proving catchy questions could sell almost anything.
Screenshot from Nair Commercial, Carter-Wallace, Inc.(1975)
#11: Chevrolet — “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet”
Chevrolet’s 1974 jingle assembled four supposedly essential pieces of American life into one remarkably singable line. Its familiar images, brisk rhythm, and strategically placed brand name made it feel like a patriotic checklist. Whether a car truly belonged beside apple pie became irrelevant once everyone could sing the list.
Screenshot from Chevrolet Commercial, Campbell-Ewald (1974)
#10: Almond Joy and Mounds — “Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut”
The Almond Joy and Mounds campaign used one jingle to explain the difference between two candy bars: one contained almonds, while the other did not. The playful contrast, crisp rhythm, and simple choice made the song stick. It was catchy advertising and a tiny lesson in confectionery decision-making rolled into one.
Screenshot from Almond Joy and Mounds Commercial, Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company (1979)
#9: Burger King — “Have It Your Way”
Burger King introduced “Have It Your Way” in 1974, inviting customers to alter their Whoppers by holding ingredients they disliked. The instructions became part of the song, creating an unusually catchy fast-food order. Suddenly, requesting no pickles felt less like fussiness and more like participating in a Broadway production.
Screenshot from Burger King Commercial, BBDO (1974)
#8: Dr Pepper — “I’m a Pepper”
The “I’m a Pepper” campaign arrived in 1977 with crowds of smiling people proudly declaring their soft-drink identity. The upbeat melody, group vocals, and invitation to join made the commercial resemble a remarkably organized beverage movement. After several airings, even non-drinkers knew how to become Peppers too.
Screenshot from Dr Pepper Commercial, Young & Rubicam (1977)
#7: State Farm — “Like a Good Neighbor”
Barry Manilow wrote State Farm’s “Like a Good Neighbor” jingle in 1971. Its melody was warm, compact, and easy to complete after hearing only the opening words. By comparing an insurance company to a dependable neighbor, the song made paperwork feel personal, although most neighbors rarely ask to inspect your deductible.
Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine, Wikimedia Commons
#6: Alka-Seltzer — “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz”
The famous Alka-Seltzer hook was short, rhythmic, and conveniently imitated the product’s journey into a glass. Each word matched an action or sound, giving viewers a miniature performance they could recreate at home. The promise of relief completed the sequence, turning an upset stomach into a surprisingly cheerful musical event.
Screenshot from Alka-Seltzer Commercial, Wells Rich Greene (1976)
#5: Meow Mix — “Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow”
Introduced with the cat food in 1974, the Meow Mix jingle replaced ordinary lyrics with carefully arranged meows. The melody was simple, repetitive, and performed as though a cat were singing for its supper. It was funny the first time and a permanent resident of the brain by the twentieth.
Screenshot from Meow Mix Commercial, Ralston Purina Company (1974)
#4: Band-Aid — “Stuck on Band-Aid”
Barry Manilow and lyricist Donald B. Wood created the familiar Band-Aid jingle in 1975. Its clever use of “stuck” described both the adhesive bandage and customers’ loyalty to the brand. The bouncing melody did the rest, attaching itself to listeners almost as securely as the product attached itself to scraped knees.
Screenshot from Band-Aid Commercial, Johnson & Johnson (1975)
#3: McDonald’s — “You Deserve a Break Today”
McDonald’s began telling Americans they deserved a break in 1971. The message was flattering, the melody was inviting, and the restaurants were presented as cheerful destinations where somebody else handled dinner. It lodged in people’s memories because it did not merely advertise hamburgers; it granted official permission to stop cooking.
Screenshot from McDonald’s Commercial, Needham, Harper & Steers (1971)
#2: Oscar Mayer — “My Bologna Has a First Name”
First aired in 1974, Oscar Mayer’s bologna jingle turned spelling into entertainment. A child slowly spelled the company name while viewers mentally joined in, transforming a lunch-meat advertisement into an educational singalong. Millions of adults can still spell “bologna” correctly, but only if they are allowed to use the tune.
Oscar Mayer / J. Walter Thompson, Oscar Mayer Commercial (1973)
#1: Coca-Cola — “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke”
Coca-Cola’s 1971 Hilltop commercial gathered young people from around the world to sing about harmony over bottles of soda. The folk-pop melody, enormous chorus, and idealistic imagery made it feel bigger than advertising. It became so popular that the song was expanded into a commercial single, making it the decade’s ultimate jingle.
Screenshot from Coca-Cola Commercial, McCann Erickson (1971)
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
