There was a time when businesses would hire artists to write and record jingles for their ad spots. Now, though, it seems that the age of the jingle has passed. In recent years, commercials have started to feature songs from a variety of artists across the genre spectrum. While some songs, like Walker Hayes’ “Fancy Like” seem like they were written to be the soundtrack to an unskippable ad, other songs don’t seem to fit the advertising mold.
Videos by American Songwriter
Today, we’re going to look at four songs that I never expected to hear in a commercial but did. These songs either have subject matter that one wouldn’t expect to be advertiser friendly or are just surprising to hear in a major ad campaign.
[RELATED: 4 Famous Rock Songs You Didn’t Know Were Used in TV Commercials]
“Plantasia” by Mort Garson
In 2023, Intuit started running a commercial for TurboTax featuring a song from the cult classic album Mother Earth’s Plantasia by electronic music pioneer Mort Garson. Unlike other songs on this list, there’s nothing that would make someone believe that “Plantasia” is unfit for advertising. There are no lyrics, so it can’t contradict the messaging of the ad. I was just genuinely shocked to hear this track playing during an ad.
Mort Garson is a criminally underrated songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Today, Mother Earth’s Plantasia is among his best-known releases. However, there’s a good chance that very few people had heard the song before this TurboTax ad.
“1st of tha Month” by Bone Thugs -N- Harmony
Last year, Nike began running an ad featuring “1st of tha Month” by the rap group Bone Thugs -N- Harmony. The commercial shows people getting up early to run while the song plays. While the hook repeats phrases like “wake up” and “get up” the song isn’t about getting out there, exercising, and getting a healthy start to the day.
The song is about getting up early on the first of the month, but no one included in the lyrics is going on a run unless the police are behind them. This track is a celebration of the day that food stamps and welfare checks come in and the effect they have on the illicit economy of impoverished neighborhoods. The members of Bone Thugs -N- Harmony take turns rapping about celebrating the first of the month by partying, selling crack, and keeping an eye out for the cops. It’s a whole different kind of “rise and grind.”
“Back in Black” by AC/DC
When restaurant chain Applebee’s announced the return of its IrresistABowls in 2021 with a commercial featuring “Back in Black” by AC/DC. While the song does mention someone returning, it seemed like a weird way to advertise a quick lunch item.
After the band’s original vocalist Bon Scott died, AC/DC released “Back in Black” as a tribute to him. Penned by his replacement, Brian Johnson, the song was a celebration of Scott’s hard-partying lifestyle. It’s one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever recorded but doesn’t make me want a bowl of Southwest chicken and rice.
“My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” by Khia (kind of)
Dove recently started running an ad for their full-body deodorant that features an interpolation of Khia’s 2002 debut single “My Neck, My Back (Lick It).” For those who are familiar with the original song, especially those who heard it somewhere other than terrestrial radio, this song was a wild pick for a commercial.
I’m not saying anything negative about Khia, her catalog, or this song. “My Neck, My Back” is a banger, plain and simple. However, hearing the interpolation of this “dirty rap” song advertising anything was a shock to the system. I guess the original does point out a few key places that one would want to keep smelling fresh, but that still doesn’t make the decision make sense.
“Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve
Recently, the supermarket chain Publix started running an ad about how great spending money in their stores can make shoppers feel. It almost feels like the chain tried to pick the worst possible song for this commercial and came up with “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve.
The British rock band’s late ’90s hit just doesn’t seem like the song to use in a commercial, especially one for a supermarket. One of the opening lines is Tryna make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die. While the instrumental intro feels right for an ad spot, it doesn’t exactly give the “Shopping makes me incredibly happy” vibe that the ad is trying to push.
Featured Image by Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
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