Top 10 Songs From Commercials

This song doesn’t only hold the distinction of being used in slick-looking ad for one of the best selling luxury automakers in the world, but said ad also had its premiere at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. “Sail” by AWOLNATION the ultimately became a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, but it’s how well the crisply shot scenes and the electronic rock sounds go along together so perfectly in this BMW USAcommercial that land it here. And let’s not forget the bunny.

This song may have found initial success after it was covered on “Glee”, but it was this ad for the Chevy Sonic that aired during the Super Bowl in 2012 that helped make it inescapable. In the ad, dubbed “Stunt Anthem,” we see huge stunts being performed in several different environments by skateboarder/reality TV star Rob Dyrdek. Chevrolet liked the tune so much that they picked it before even matching it up with the video.

The drum fill from this song is so iconic that you knew as soon as you heard it that it was gonna be used in a big ad someday. In this part of Cadbury’s campaign promoting its Dairy Milk chocolate bar, we see a close-up of a gorilla and then discover it is behind a drum kit when the camera zooms out to show it banging out the Phil Collins’ tune’s famous drum sound. The ad also helped re-ignite interest in the original 1981 hit single over 25 years after its original release, re-entering the charts in the U.K. and New Zealand.

A little less conversation and a little more action,” indeed! During this commercial that was produced as part of Nike’s “Secret Tournament” ad campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, we see many of that time’s biggest football stars pitted against each other in a three-on-three tournament that’s taking place on a ship. Nike combining this big-budget ad with this big beat remix of an Elvis tune that wasn’t as well known when originally released in 1968 turned out to be a match made in football and advertising heaven.

This might be the least well-known song on this list, but in terms of how well it goes together with this popular Heineken commercial, it makes perfect sense for it be on here regardless. The beer ad is stylish and slickly produced and it’s got fantastic movements, choreography and some martial arts moves here and there too. Meanwhile, the song by the Danish indie pop group has a cool retro vibe that fits the fancy, high-class party being held in this commercial like a glove.

This tune charted relatively well when it was first released by the Four Seasons in 1967, but its remix by French DJ Pilooski 40 years later gave it a modern twist and top spot on the UK Dance Chart. The remix version was then used by Adidas for their 2009 “House Party” ad. In the commercial, we see the likes of David Beckham, Katy Perry, Missy Elliott and a number of other celebs getting together for a wild and crazy party while wearing many different kinds of Adidas clothes – combining old school with new school in the coolest kind of way.

People love cute animals in 3D form, and this was the motive behind Kia’s ad campaign that included the use of the lead single from Lady Gaga’s album Artpop. One of several ads promoting the Kia Soul by mashing up 3D hamsters with successful pop songs, this one shows three human-like hamsters jogging, working out, swimming, getting their hair done, and walking the red carpet after getting out of the hatchback, all while looking incredibly cool in the process.

First made popular by its appearance in the 2001 film Donnie Darko, this somber, stripped-down cover of the original Tears for Fears song somehow fits just as well with a third-person shooting game as it does with the popular science fiction movie – as strange as that sounds. But just watch the ad and you’ll see what we mean. And thanks to this commercial, as well as “Mad World” being featured in other multimedia formats, this song has re-appeared on singles charts around the world decades following its release.

It’s hardly unusual for car companies to combine their sleek new models with major songs from the alternative rock world, and Cadillac struck gold by bringing together their SRX and one of 2009’s biggest alt-rock songs in this ad. Not only did it help sell a cool car, it also helped to raise this French band’s profile in the United States. In fact, “1901” would peak at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010, which was the same year of the model of Cadillac SRX they would help advertise in this commercial.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell Williams
Sun Drop


“Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet
Apple iPod


“I’m an Albatraoz” by AronChupa
Hyundai Sonata


“Lose Yourself” by Eminem
Chrysler 200

“Elephant” by Tame Impala
BlackBerry Z10


“Pink Moon” by Nick Drake
Volkswagen Cabriolet

Feist may or may play the song much live anymore, but it’s arguably still the one that pays her bills these days, and it’s all thanks to this. In this neat-looking ad promoting the iPod Nano, we see the hugely choreographed, one-take music video of Feist’s song as it plays on the iPod’s small screen. The end result? A gigantic rise in popularity for the Canadian singer-songwriter. The indie pop tune reached the top 10 in the States, and was nominated for two Grammys as well.
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite song from or featured in a commercial? With new and musical top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.