Before we list some all-time great jingles, the question of what qualifies as a great jingle comes to the back of our minds. Great jingles are timeless, catchy, easy to recognize, and enjoyable to sing or hum along to. We hear them enough times, and every time we hear the jingle, the company or product that uses them instantly comes to mind.
Needless to say, the chime keeps playing in our head long after we hear them and make us fond of advertised products or awakens cravings we didn’t initially have. Plus, they’re fun and even nostalgic at times. Here are the ten most memorable commercial jingles you can’t stop singing.
Related: Top 10 Banned Commercials
10 “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” by Coca-Cola
When a discussion about jingles starts, it would only be complete if Coca-Cola is mentioned somewhere within the conversation. For that reason, we start the list of jingles with a classic from the beverage giant Coca-Cola: “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke.”
The “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” jingle was first used in a Coca-Cola commercial in 1971. The commercial was part of a larger campaign called “It’s the Real Thing,” which was designed to promote Coca-Cola as a symbol of unity and harmony in a time of social and political turmoil.
The idea for the commercial came from Bill Backer, a creative director at the advertising agency McCann Erickson. Backer was on a flight to London in 1971 when bad weather forced the plane to land in Ireland. As he waited in the airport, Backer observed a diverse group of passengers sharing stories and laughing together over bottles of Coca-Cola. This experience inspired him to write the lyrics for the “Buy the World a Coke” jingle, which he believed captured the spirit of unity he witnessed in the airport.
The jingle was performed by a group of young people from around the world, who gathered on a hilltop in Italy to sing the song in a Coca-Cola commercial. The commercial was a huge success, and the jingle quickly became one of the most iconic and memorable in advertising history.
Over the years, the “Buy the World a Coke” jingle has been adapted and updated for different markets and occasions. In 1991, for example, Coca-Cola used a new version of the jingle in a commercial that celebrated the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The jingle continues to be recognized as a symbol of unity and harmony around the world.
9 “Give Me a Break” by Kit Kat
The “Give Me a Break” jingle is one of the most recognizable and enduring advertising campaigns in candy bar history. It has been associated with Kit Kat, a chocolate-covered wafer candy, for several decades. Here’s a brief history of the jingle:
The jingle was first created in the UK in 1957, where Kit Kat was first launched in 1935. The catchy tune was written by a British composer named Jack Strachey, and its lyrics were penned by an advertising executive named Donald McGill. The jingle was initially used in a television commercial that showed a stressed-out office worker taking a break and enjoying a Kit Kat, which was positioned as a quick and satisfying snack.
The “Give Me a Break” jingle became so popular that it was eventually adapted for use in other countries. In the United States, the jingle was first used in a Kit Kat commercial in 1986. The jingle was modified slightly to appeal to American audiences, but it retained its catchy melody and memorable lyrics. The “Give Me a Break” jingle has been used in countless Kit Kat ads ever since, and it has become a beloved part of the brand’s identity.
Over the years, the “Give Me a Break” jingle has been parodied, imitated, and referenced in countless pop culture contexts. It has been covered by famous musicians like Miley Cyrus and Eminem, and it has been used in movies, TV shows, and video games. The jingle’s enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal and the enduring popularity of Kit Kat as a tasty treat.
8 “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There” by State Farm
Everybody hopes for a good neighbor. One who is reliable and concerned for their well-being. A brother’s keeper. State Farm knew this and rode on it! They have been a good neighbor in the insurance industry for many years.
Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman developed the jingle, which has been used since 1971 for the State Farm insurance commercials. The jingle is catchy and memorable, as a good jingle should be, and has made State Farm one of the most popular insurance companies in the world.
The jingle equated the company to a neighbor. If that is not heartwarming, I don’t know what is. The company sent the message that clients should reach out whenever they are in need, as they always do with neighbors. The jingle was, therefore, easily relatable whenever disaster or accident stuck. State Farm insurance company has maintained the tune since it first played, making it familiar across generations. Timeless indeed!
7 “Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz” by Alka Seltzer
The “plop plop fizz fizz” jingle is a famous advertising slogan for Alka-Seltzer, a brand of antacid medication that was first introduced in the United States in 1931. The jingle was first introduced in a television commercial in 1976 and quickly became one of the most recognizable advertising jingles of all time.
The jingle was created by a New York advertising agency called Wade Advertising, which had been hired by the makers of Alka-Seltzer, Miles Laboratories, to come up with a new advertising campaign. The jingle was written by Tom Dawes, a musician and songwriter who had previously been a member of the band The Cyrkle, and composed by Charles “Chas” Calacanis, an advertising executive at Wade.
The inspiration for the jingle came from the sound that Alka-Seltzer tablets make when they are dropped into water. Dawes and Calacanis decided to incorporate this sound into the jingle, and came up with the memorable “plop plop fizz fizz” lyrics. The jingle was performed by an anonymous group of studio singers and was accompanied by an animated commercial starring Speedy that showed Alka-Seltzer tablets being dropped into a glass of water and fizzing.
The jingle was an instant success and helped to boost Alka-Seltzer’s sales. It was also parodied and imitated in popular culture, becoming a staple of TV shows, movies, and even political campaigns. Over the years, the jingle has been updated and modernized, but the “plop plop fizz fizz” catchphrase remains a beloved and recognizable part of American popular culture.
6 “Oscar Mayer Weiner” by Oscar Mayer
The Oscar Mayer jingle is a well-known advertising jingle that has been used in Oscar Mayer’s commercials for decades. The jingle was first created in 1962 by the advertising agency N.W. Ayer & Son and quickly became a hit with audiences.
The original lyrics of the jingle were “Oh, I’d love to be an Oscar Mayer wiener / That is what I’d truly like to be / ‘Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener / Everyone would be in love with me.” The jingle was written by Richard D. Trentlage, a composer from Chicago who also created many other advertising jingles.
The jingle was so successful that it became a cultural phenomenon. It was used in commercials, on radio programs, and even in movies and TV shows. The jingle has been updated over the years with new lyrics and new arrangements, but the basic melody and the catchy “wiener” refrain have remained the same.
The Oscar Mayer jingle has become one of the most recognized advertising jingles of all time, and it is still used in Oscar Mayer commercials today. The jingle has been so successful that it has even inspired a series of Wienermobiles, which are large, mobile hot dog-shaped vehicles that travel around the country promoting Oscar Mayer products.
5 “It’s Slinky” by James Industries
The Slinky jingle is a catchy and memorable tune that was first created in the 1960s to promote the Slinky toy. The Slinky is a simple toy consisting of a long, thin spring that can walk down stairs or slopes, and was invented in the early 1940s by Richard James, a naval engineer.
The original Slinky jingle was written by James’s wife, Betty James, and her brother-in-law, Richard James Jr. The jingle was created for a television commercial for the Slinky that aired in the early 1960s, and it quickly became an iconic part of American popular culture.
The lyrics of the jingle are as follows:
“What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs
And makes a slinkity sound?
A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!
Everyone knows it’s Slinky!
It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,
For fun, it’s a wonderful toy!
It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,
It’s fun for a girl and a boy!”
Over the years, the jingle has undergone various updates and adaptations, but the basic melody and lyrics have remained largely unchanged. The jingle has been used in countless Slinky commercials and featured in movies, television shows, and other forms of popular media. Today, the Slinky jingle is considered a classic advertising jingle and is widely recognized and beloved by people of all ages.
4 “You’re a Pepper” by Dr. Pepper
The “You’re a Pepper” jingle is one of the most famous advertising campaigns in American history, and it has been associated with Dr. Pepper for decades. The jingle was written by a creative team at the Doyle Dane Bernbach advertising agency in the early 1970s, and it was first used in a television commercial for Dr. Pepper in 1977.
The lyrics of the jingle, which include the line “You’re a Pepper, he’s a Pepper, she’s a Pepper, we’re a Pepper,” were intended to convey the message that Dr. Pepper was a drink for people who wanted to stand out from the crowd and be unique. The jingle quickly caught on with consumers, becoming a cultural phenomenon.
The jingle was so successful that it became the centerpiece of a larger advertising campaign that included TV commercials, radio spots, and print ads. The campaign was so effective that it helped Dr. Pepper to increase its market share and become one of the top soft drink brands in the United States.
Over the years, the “You’re a Pepper” jingle has been updated and adapted to appeal to new generations of consumers. It remains a beloved part of Dr. Pepper’s advertising history and a testament to the power of a catchy jingle in capturing the public’s imagination.
3 “I’m Lovin’ It” by McDonald’s
The “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle is a popular and successful advertising campaign created for McDonald’s in 2003. The jingle was created by the advertising agency Heye & Partner, a subsidiary of the global advertising company DDB Worldwide.
The campaign was developed in response to declining sales at McDonald’s and was designed to reinvigorate the brand and appeal to a younger demographic. The “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle was a key element of the campaign and was intended to be a catchy and memorable tune that would stick in people’s heads and make them associate McDonald’s with positive feelings.
The jingle was composed by German music producer and songwriter Tom Batoy and his team at Heye & Partner. It features a simple melody with the lyrics “Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, I’m lovin’ it,” along with other variations such as “Ba-da-ba-ba-bah, I’m lovin’ it.” The jingle was performed by a variety of popular artists, such as Justin Timberlake, Nelly, and Pharrell Williams, among others.
The “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign was launched globally and was a huge success, helping to boost sales and revive the McDonald’s brand. The campaign has continued to evolve over the years, and the jingle remains part of McDonald’s advertising to this day. In addition to the jingle, the campaign has also featured a range of other elements, such as TV ads, billboards, and digital media, all designed to convey the message that McDonald’s is a fun and enjoyable place to eat.
2 “My Bologna Has a First Name” by Oscar Mayer
“My bologna has a first name” is a jingle created for Oscar Mayer—the second appearance of the company on this list—and has become one of the most recognizable advertising slogans in American pop culture.
The jingle was first created in 1973 by a young advertising executive named Tim McElligott, who worked for the advertising agency N.W. Ayer & Son. McElligott created the jingle as part of a campaign to promote Oscar Mayer’s bologna. The original lyrics went:
“My bologna has a first name,
It’s O-S-C-A-R,
My bologna has a second name,
It’s M-A-Y-E-R,
Oh, I love to eat it every day,
And if you ask me why I’ll say,
‘Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A!”
The jingle was an instant hit and quickly became a fixture on television and radio commercials for Oscar Mayer. Over the years, the company has used variations of the jingle in its advertising campaigns, making it has become one of the most beloved and recognizable jingles in American pop culture.
In 2010, the jingle was ranked #21 on Advertising Age’s list of the 100 Best Ad Campaigns of All Time. Today, it is still used in Oscar Mayer’s advertising campaigns and still makes us long for those bologna and cheese sandwiches of our childhood.
1 “Band-Aid” by Johnson & Johnson
As we wind up on jingles, we feature one from back in the day to end our list of jingles that stick to the mind. One that is a classic and that was a hit back in the 1970s—the Band-Aid jingle. The band-Aid jingle makes you feel warm and safe even today from just listening to it. The catchy song played along with a video where Band-Aids stuck to a wound, protecting it despite being in the water and other environments that would make a Band-Aid peel off. It sure seems the Band-Aids were quite serious about wounds, and Johnsons and Johnsons were at the helm.
The jingle described the benefits of using the Johnson and Johnson Band-Aids. It painted a picture of superior Band-Aids that could cover small or big wounds. With its good tune, the advert was the only thing one could remember if they got bruised and needed a Band-Aid.
The Band-Aid was stuck on you, and you had no choice but to reciprocate the energy. Now, if only Band-Aids would hold on like that today.
