Commercials

by Amanda Flinner

If you've ever gotten the urge to drive a Silverado while listening to Bob Seger's "Like a Rock" or dreamed of a Caribbean cruise after hearing Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life," then this Fact or Fiction is for you.

A long time ago, in an office building far, far away, a clever advertiser realized he didn't need to write catchy jingles when the Billboard charts were already full of them. TV commercials haven't been the same since. Suddenly Aretha Franklin didn't demand "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." but craved "R.O.A.S.T.E.D." chicken from KFC. Otis Redding was no longer "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay," but "Sippin' My Hires All Day" for the root beer brand. Our songs used in commercials category is chock full of such atrocities. Can you figure out which of these pairings of song and commercial are real, and which are pure fiction?
Further reading: Subversive Songs Used To Sell
More Fact or Fiction

Comments: 14

  • Pete from Long Island NyIf Circuit City would have used my idea to adapt "Surf City" for their theme song, they'd probably still be in business.
  • Piper from San Franciscohere is another one:

    fact or fiction
    the Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn song "You're the Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly" was a background song for a Vermont adoption agency commercial in 1975.

    search it out
  • Mark from CaliforniaSince "Tonight's the Night" is about someone who died of a heroin overdose, I doubt Michelob would want to use it in a commercial.
  • Marcus from North CarolinaGreat quiz and a great, fun website to entertain, amuse and learn about music. So much great content! Keep on pickin , chikin!! ????????????????
  • Marcus from North CarolinaGreat quiz and a great, fun website to entertain, amuse and learn about music. So much great content! Keep on pickin , chikin!! ????????????????
  • Paulo Antonio from VancouverI got 9 out of 10 correct. Fun quiz.
  • Rob Orick Alias "robgems68" from Oxford, Michigan"Like A Rock" was composed by Bob Seger with the car images in mind. Bob had many friends here in the Detroit area who worked in General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler auto plants, and requested to Bob to compose a working man's anthem about the car makers. It was just a coincidence that Chevrolet wanted to use the song in their ads after the song hit the charts in 1986. "Ring Of Fire" was used in the 1990's as an advertisement for Applebee's Restaraunts. One memorable instrumental song from the 1960's is based on an actual advertisement for Mile's Laboratory and Alka Seltzer: 1965's "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In") by The T-Bones, A Top 3 Hit On Billboard Charts That later had actual members of the 1970's group Hamilton, Joe Frank , and Reynolds.
  • Gordon from MackayI loved every part o the quiz
  • Ed Aguinaga from Glen Burnie, MdAll but one and some of these I haven't thought about in years.
  • Richard Alan Hart from Home; Willisville IllI have allway loved the song : Wings of a dove. MY mom & Dad loved the song to .
  • Dave from Greer, Sc8/10. I remember some of these from when I was a kid
  • Shawn from MarylandWow! I managed to get them all right! :)
  • Chipp Ross from PdxSigh....Devo was a duo?Try Quintet.Mark Mothersbaugh,Bob Mothersbaugh,Gerald Casale (YAY,you got one right),Bob Casale and Alan Myers was the lineup that recorded most of their early work,including the song "Whip It". Songwriting credit goes to the "Duo" of Mark and Jerry but yeah.
  • Jim from Mobile, AlI think I need a real hobby, I got them all right.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.