The 30 Most Influential U.S. Jingles Since 1948

Earlier in the week we shared Eric Swartz's 100 Most Influential U.S. Taglines Since 1948. There's more from Eric, this time influential Jingles. His criteria and methodology:

-More than 400 nominated U.S. taglines and jingles were sent to 100 advertising, marketing, and branding professionals on both the client and agency side.

-The survey was restricted to taglines and jingles created after 1948 (the advent of commercial broadcast TV).

-Informants were asked to rank their top 10 taglines and top 3 jingles based on the following branding criteria:

    * Longevity: Have they endured the test of time?
    * Equity: Have they become synonymous with a company or product?
    * Portability & Memorability: Have they exercised an influence on our culture, media, and language?
    * Originality: Have they broken new ground in the advertising industry?

-Nominated taglines and jingles were given a weighted ranking based on the number of votes they received and the rank they were assigned.

And the chosen jingles are...

1. My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R. (1960s) - Oscar Mayer
2. Plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is. (1970s) - Alka-Seltzer
3. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. (1971) - State Farm Insurance
4. Double your pleasure, double your fun. (1959) - Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum
5. Be all that you can be. (1981) - U.S. Army
6. For all you do, this Bud’s for you. (1970s) - Budweiser
7. A little dab’ll do ya. (1950s) - Brylcreem
8. It’s the real thing. (1970) - Coca-Cola
9. Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man. (1970s) - Ace Hardware
10. You deserve a break today. (1971) - McDonald’s

11. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. (1953) - Peter Paul Mounds/Almond Joy
12. I’d like to teach the world to sing... (1971) - Coca-Cola
13. I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener. (1965) - Oscar Mayer
14. Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun. (1975) - McDonald’s
15. Things go better with Coke. (1963) - Coca-Cola
16. In the valley of the jolly--ho-ho-ho!--Green Giant. (early 1960s) - Green Giant
17. There’s always room for J-E-L-L-O. (1950s) - Jell-O
18. I’m a pepper, he’s a pepper, she’s a pepper… (1970s) - Dr. Pepper
19. Just for the taste of it, Diet Coke. (1986) - Diet Coke
20. See the USA in your Chevrolet. (1950s) - Chevrolet
21. Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee. (1972) - Sara Lee
22. Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven. (1957) - Pillsbury
23. What would you do for a Klondike Bar? (early 1990s) - Klondike Bar
24. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. (1954) - Winston Cigarettes
25. If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the beer. (1980s) - Miller Beer
26. You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent. (1953) - Pepsodent Toothpaste
27. Here’s to good friends. (1978) - Lowenbrau Beer
28. Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat. (1961) - Rice-a-Roni
29. Away go troubles down the drain. (1956) - Roto-Rooter
30. Maxwell House coffee pot percolator theme (1961) - Maxwell House

Honorable Mention
Meow, meow, meow, meow… (1976) - Ralston Meow Mix
I am stuck on Band-Aids ‘cause Band-Aids stuck on me. (early 1980s) - Band-Aids
Intel inside logo -- four-note theme (1994) - Intel

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Comments

[Susan Plunkett]

It's interesting looking over the list and reflecting on it from a global perspective because some of those jingles became very well known here. The Coke ones yes, because they took advantage of already well known songs. The McDonalds ad we had here also. The little dab'll do ya became a well known phrase and I've heard it done on Brit sit coms.

The ad jingles that I recall from my childhood and growing up:
1. "Ya canna handa mana granda spanner" Sidchrome
2. "We're happy little vegemighters bright as bright can be" Vegemite
3. "I like Aeroplane Jelly, Aeroplane Jelly for me" Aeroplane Jelly
4. "Louie the Fly, I'm Louie the Fly" Mortein Fly Spray