Is the commercial jingle a thing of the past?

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Has anyone else noticed this?

About a month ago, while washing dishes and listening to the TV in the other room, I noticed I was hearing a lot of familiar songs. Once I noticed, I couldn't help it. Each time a commercial break come on, I paid attention to the music. And it's became so common to hear pop songs, I started a list to see what would happen.

Target - Hello/Goodbye by the Beatles
Pantene - Unwritten by Natashia Beddingfield
Crumble Kraft Cheese - Unbelievable by EMF
Swifer Wet Jet - One Way by Blondie
KFC - Sweet Home Alabama by Lynrd Skynrd
Bali - There She Goes by The La's
Venus Razors - Venus by Bananarama (kind of an obvious one)
Gillette Soleil Razors - Let the Sun Shine In from the musical Hair. (Also used in the Kia Rondo commericals)
GMC Acadia - I'll Melt with You by Mest
Zales - A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
Lending Tree - One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx
Lipton Tea - This Little Light of Mine (I have no idea who originally recorded this song.)
Sun Chips - Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
Chevrolet - American Pie by Don McLean (I'm very surprised this hasn't happened much sooner.)
Cotton - Goodbye to You by Michelle Branch
Propel Fitness Water - Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie (arguably the greatest pop song ever recorded.)
I've heard the dreaded tick song in the background of a commercial for S'mores. But whether is was for Hersey's, Jet Puffed, or Nabisco, I don't recall.

Granted, this list is for over a month of paying attention, but it seems a little long. (And proves I have a ridiculous amount of music-related information in the back corners of my mind.) Why aren't commercial jingles around much anymore? The whole concept of writing a song just for a product is a simple one - give the consumer some way to remember the product so when in the store, they will buy it, right? What about the song Kiss Me is going to make me pick up a bag of Sun Chips at the grocery store? I wouldn't even remember it if I hadn't written all of the above down.

Comments

ptg said…
Some current Shell gasoline television ads feature a nearly subliminal version of Jim Dandy, a tune recorded by LaVern Baker & The Gliders in 1956. They can't slip those oldies past the old feeder.
7:49 AM
ptg said…
I almost forgot. Some of those old 'jingles' are almost like a virus. I never know when my inner voice will break out with "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent".
7:53 AM
stephanie said…
Virus indeed. Try as I may to forget, I will always remember "good to the very last drop..."
6:51 PM
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