5 Classic Rock Favorites That Were In Television Commercials

5 Classic Rock Favorites That Were In Television Commercials. You can't go a day without an earworm song that takes you back years.

Television commercials often turn to classic rock songs for their pitch to make people pay attention.

Recalling the title of the song can be a challenge and makes you think where have I heard this song? Right now pharmaceutical companies have cornered the market with classic rock favorites. One of the worst offenders is a song by the 70s band, "Pilot." who had the hit song, "Magic" now being used by the drug called Ozempic. The song plays in the background as they remind you along with diet and exercise improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Remember if you are old enough, The California Raisins ads in the 70s. In 1984 the California Dancing Raisin increased awareness for California raisins. The cost for the  30-second commercial was $300,000. “Heard It Through the Grapevine” which was originally by Marvin Gaye. Watch Here

A 2005 commercial introducing Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper as the Muppets' version of "Mah Na Mah Na" plays in her head. Watch Here

Dean Martin" used  "The Birds  & The Bees," song to promote the car company. Watch Here

Here is a list of favorites from over the years that I remember. There are so many to choose from I won't be surprised if this is the start of a series. Take this then as Vol 1. of the Best Classic Rock Favorites. Hope some are of your personal favorites.

If you have a personal favorite, feel free to contact me for a future episode of the best of the best classic rock songs in TV commercials. screamin@wcsx.com

KISS' hit song "I Was Made For Loving You" is featured in the new commercial for the U.K. coffee brand. In the 60-second spot, dozens of men and women, including genuine Costa baristas, are buried up to their necks in a sea of coffee beans while singing along to the KISS track. Makes me want coffee about now.

Deep Purple’s song “Smoke On The Water” is being used at the end of a commercial in the USA for the automobile “Dodge Avenger“. Dodge also in the past has used the song, "Highway Star." 

Ford used Rare Eath's classic, "I Just Wanna Celebrate." for an ad campaign in 1999. Rare Earth from Detroit, Michigan. The band was signed to Motown's subsidiary label Rare Earth. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first successful act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members.

Our Own Mayor of Michigan Bob Seger let Chevrolet use of his song, "Like A Rock" to sell trucks. It was only suppose to be used for a short 3 to 6 months. The song was so popular for the company the campaign ran for 13 year.

Jim O'Brien from WCSX's Big Jims House talks to Bob Seger about cars on Big Jim's podcast. Check out this incredible interview here .   Big Jim and Bob spent a 1/2 hour talking cars before the Woodward cruise back in 2016. Great memories of Detroit, his first car and what he listens to in the car.