Let’s take a trip down memory lane to some unforgettable commercials. They bring me back to some lovely memories and I would like to think that the rest of my fellow baby boomers would enjoy that as well. I don’t know what comes into your mind when I say baby boomers, but I think of the 70’s. The peak of intelligent advertising. Rather than just dazzling us with special effects and graphics, they made unique catches and characters that would be stuck in our heads for years to come.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Oscar Mayer Bologna Song (1973)
- 2 2. Life Cereal’s “Mikey Likes It!” (1972)
- 3 3. Coca-Cola’s “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” (1971)
- 4 4. Band-Aid’s “I Am Stuck on Band-Aid” (1975)
- 5 5. McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today” (1971)
- 6 6. Alka-Seltzer’s “I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing” (1972)
- 7 7. Budweiser’s “This Bud’s For You” (1979)
- 8 8. Toys “R” Us “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” (1982)
- 9 9. State Farm “Like a Good Neighbor” (1971)
- 10 10. Dr Pepper’s “I’m a Pepper” (1977)
- 11 11. Tootsie Roll Pop “How Many Licks?” (1970)
- 12 12. Heinz Ketchup “Anticipation” (1979)
- 13 13. Pillsbury “Nothing Says Lovin’ Like Something from the Oven” (1965)
- 14 14. Calgon “Ancient Chinese Secret” (1972)
1. Oscar Mayer Bologna Song (1973)
Who could forget the little boy who sang, “My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R.” The jingle has become a large part of pop culture and one of the longest running jingles all thanks to that boy.
Save for later
Want to come back to this story? Save it with your email so it is easy to find again.
2. Life Cereal’s “Mikey Likes It!” (1972)
The Mikey commercials had three siblings who had a bowl of Life cereal. The first ad aired in 1972 and has had three generations of ads, making it one of the longest running ads of all time.
3. Coca-Cola’s “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” (1971)
Finally, we have the multi-generational commercial that had a group of people of different races and ethnicities on top of a hill in Italy. When they all started singing, it was a moment of political and commercial history. The group sang a song called “I would like to teach the world to sing”.
4. Band-Aid’s “I Am Stuck on Band-Aid” (1975)
Another ad that has a jingle written by Barry Manilow is the Band Aid commercial. The jingle goes “I am stuck on Band-Aid brand ‘cause Band-Aid’s stuck on me!” The ad also showed children with real injuries which made it relatable to most kids, making it a fan favorite.
5. McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today” (1971)
The jingle created for McDonald’s was loved by everyone and helped them stay trendy throughout the decade. It was called one of the best ads of the 20th century by Advertising Age, due to the innovative way of advertising and the effectiveness of the campaign.
6. Alka-Seltzer’s “I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing” (1972)
For Alka-Seltzer, sales skyrocketed due to this commercial. This ad featuring the re-enactment of “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” became a part of popular culture, and exemplified the phenomenon of over-consumption.
7. Budweiser’s “This Bud’s For You” (1979)
The 1979 “This Bud’s for You” campaign was the first to celebrate the work of the average American with a song dedicated to them. This slogan and jingle became associated with Budweiser, and further secured their title as the beer of America.
8. Toys “R” Us “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” (1982)
The 1982 jingle developed by a marketing agency resulted in children pulling their parents’ hands all the way to Toys “R” Us stores, leaving parents with empty pockets. The ad featured the famous backward “R” and Geoffrey the Giraffe.
9. State Farm “Like a Good Neighbor” (1971)
In 1971, Barry Manilow created a jingle for State Farm that became a staple of American society when he recorded it. The phrase “like a good neighbor” resonated with many individuals, giving State Farm a reputation as a trustworthy insurance company.
10. Dr Pepper’s “I’m a Pepper” (1977)
David Naughton was the face of one of the world’s happiest commercials in pop culture history. His performance helped Dr. Pepper to no longer be a regional trait and become a nationally recognized brand. “Be a Pepper” became the slogan.
11. Tootsie Roll Pop “How Many Licks?” (1970)
The wise old owl and his young friend attempted to answer the age old question \\”How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?/\\” The answer is \\”three/\\” then an owl crunch, making it one of the best commercials of that era.
12. Heinz Ketchup “Anticipation” (1979)
With Carly Simon’s hit song \\”Anticipation\\” playing the commercials turned waiting for Heinz ketchup to pour into your plate into a virtue for the product. The commercials became a marketing strength as they cleverly turned a product weakness into something positive.
13. Pillsbury “Nothing Says Lovin’ Like Something from the Oven” (1965)
The Pillsbury Doughboy, also known as Poppin’ Fresh giggled his way to commercials that loved home baking. The jingle \\”Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven/\\” became a huge hit and is how fans remember the brand the most.
14. Calgon “Ancient Chinese Secret” (1972)
The saying \\”Ancient Chinese Secret, huh?\\” became a classic in the 70s thanks to a commercial that featured a Chinese laundry owner that had his wife reveal his \\”secret\\” which was actually Calgon, solidifying that saying in the American culture.
