Somehow, product jingles just stick in your brain forever. No matter how long ago we last heard them, they come right back as soon as we see a vintage commercial again. Many have entered the cultural zeitgeist, and some people probably know retro jingles without ever having seen the commercials. Here are some of the most memorable vintage product jingles that we’re betting you can still sing along with.
1. “Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener”
The Oscar Mayer Weiner song was created for a contest in 1962, and it’s become one of the best-known jingles of all time. It’s been aired on commercials in 19 countries and appeared on a Hallmark card.
Watch the Oscar Mayer commercial on YouTube.
2. “I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid”
A junior copywriter and a future crime novelist at Toys ‘R’ Us co-wrote this ubiquitous song in the early 1980s. It was probably sung by about a million kids to try and convince their parents to take them to the toy store.
Watch the Toys ‘R’ Us commercial on YouTube.
3. “Plop plop, fizz fizz”
“Oh what a relief it is!” That jingle was created in the 1960s, and it helped to double Alka Seltzer’s sales. A doctor concluded that taking two tablets at a time was more effective than one, so the jingle let everyone know to try the product again.
Watch the Alka Seltzer commercial on YouTube.
4. “My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R”
Yes, Oscar Mayer has two jingles on this list, and there’s no way you don’t know both. This one taught everyone how to spell b-o-l-o-g-n-a — no easy feat — and came out in the early 1970s.
Watch the Oscar Mayer commercial on YouTube.
5. “Meow meow meow meow…”
While there’s only one word to the actual song, everyone knows the tune of Meow Mix’s catchy jingle from 1974. Luckily, the company included subtitles so we know exactly what the cat is saying.
Watch the Meow Mix commercial on YouTube.
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6. “The best part of waking up is Folger’s in your cup”
This upbeat Folger’s jingle debuted in 1984 and has been recorded by a number of artists over the years, including Aretha Franklin and Randy Travis. Weirdly, the future royalties to the song were auctioned off for $90,000 in 2021.
Watch the Folger’s commercial on YouTube.
7. “I’d like to teach the world to sing”
Though it’s more of a song than a jingle, Coke’s 1971 commercial is probably one of the most recognizable in the world. It’s about unity and harmony, and people connected with the storytelling in the iconic song in over 100 countries.
Watch the Coca-Cola commercial on YouTube.
8. “Chi-chi-chi-Chia!”
Though Chia Pets are often the butt of jokes, the company has sold over 25 million of them. The silly, simple jingle debuted in commercials in the 1980s, and it’s been stuck in everyone’s heads since then.
Watch the Chia Pet commercial on YouTube.
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9. “My Buddy and me!”
My Buddy was a toy that debuted in the mid-’80s and was marketed as a doll for boys, a controversial concept at the time. But most people know it by the commercial jingle, which stuck in your head forever.
Watch the My Buddy commercial on YouTube.
10. “Hot dogs, Armour hot dogs…”
The lyrics of Armour Hot Dog’s jingle from the 1960’s are a real eyebrow-raiser today. “Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks. Tough kids, sissy kids, even kids with chicken pox.” Things were different back then!
Watch the Armour Hot Dog commercial on YouTube.
11. “Whatever it is I think I see becomes a Tootsie Roll to me”
This iconic jingle was recorded in 1976 by 9-year-old girl named Rebecca. It aired on TV commercials for decades, especially during Saturday morning cartoons when kids were sure to be watching.
Watch the Tootsie Roll commercial on YouTube.
12. “I am stuck on Band-Aid brand”
Band-Aid’s catchy tune was released in 1975. Weirdly enough, it was written by Barry Manilow, and one commercial even featured a young John Travolta in the shower, as well as Teri Garr playing a policewoman. Who would have thought?
Watch the Band-Aid commercial on YouTube.
13. “Gimme a break”
“Gimme a break…” was a “throwaway song,” according to the man that created the infamous Kit Kat jingle in the 1980s. The vocals and instrumentals were both recorded in one take, yet the song tested better with the public than the competition it was up against.
Watch the Kit Kat commercial on YouTube.
14. “Sometimes you feel like a nut”
“…Sometimes you don’t.” The jingle advertising both Almond Joy and Mounds candy bars was written in the 1970s, and played for decades. Eventually, the iconic lyrics were inducted into the Advertising Slogan Hall of Fame.
Watch the Almond Joy commercial on YouTube.
15. “Two all-beef patties…”
“…Special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.” This 1975 McDonald’s jingle taught everyone exactly what came on a Big Mac. It was the chain’s attempt at getting into hip hop, but it certainly doesn’t seem like rap nowadays.
Watch the McDonald’s commercial on YouTube.
16. “Ho-ho-ho Green Giant”
While there’s a short jingle for Green Giant, most people know it best from it’s deep baritone “ho-ho-ho” in the middle. That voice of the Jolly Green Giant was recorded in 1959 by Len Dresslar, and he’d re-record it again a number of times over the years for the company.
Watch the Green Giant commercial on YouTube.
17. “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?”
This jingle — and it’s sing-songy “do-oo-oo” — feels like an age-old question, but it was only created in 1982. Still, it’s so a part of pop culture that people replace “Klondike Bar” with other things to find out just how much someone wants something.
Watch the Klondike Bar commercial on YouTube.
18. “Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat!”
Rice-a-Roni was created in San Francisco in the 1950s based on an Armenian immigrant’s recipe for rice pilaf. The jingle came around in the ’60s on TV commercials and introduced America to the quintessential convenience food.
Watch the Rice-a-Roni commercial on YouTube.
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