25 songs you probably recognize from commercials

Empire of the Sun’s “Walking On A Dream” was originally released in 2008, and it was quite successful in Australia at the time. However, the song experienced a resurgence in popularity when it was featured in a 2016 Honda Civic commercial. This exposure helped the track chart on the Billboard Hot 100 several years after its initial release. 

“Let It Happen” by Tame Impala was released in 2015 and quickly became a beloved track. The massive hit received even more attention and praise after being featured in a 2019 Ford Edge commercial. In fact, many fans claim it goes down as one of the best songs of all time. 

"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" by The New Seekers actually originated as the "Buy the World a Coke" jingle. Initially, it was written by British songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, and sung by Susan Shirley. However, The New Seekers later recorded the song and gained major traction.

Apple’s “Welcome Home” commercial amassed a ton of attention around Anderson .Paak’s “‘Til It’s Over.” The ad, which was directed by Spike Jonze, delivered a cinematic, thought-provoking experience for viewers, as most of Jonze’s work does. The song itself provided the ideal sound for such a surreal video. 

Do you remember when Taylor Swift featured in an Apple Music workout ad, rapping to Drake and Future’s “Jumpman?” Apparently, her cameo increased digital sales by 431% for Drake. The commercial was a success, to say the least.

There’s only so much you can do to make an ad for a web browser enticing. However, using a dubstep remix of Alex Clare’s “Too Close” is a great start. The Internet Explorer 9 commercial in which it was featured attracted a ton of attention to the track, launching him to international fame. 

Marian Hill’s “Down” wowed consumers when it was featured in an AirPods commercial years ago. In fact, to this day, many people claim it goes “down” as their all-time favorite commercial, with some admitting it was their first time ever hearing the song. Fans soon became obsessed with the track, and for good reason.

Apple is clearly known to draw a loyal fanbase—even for its featured artists. The company used the track “Shut Up And Let Me Go” by The Ting Tings in one of their 2000s commercials, which features colorful dancing silhouettes. Undoubtedly, many recognize the song from this quintessential Apple ad.

Another Apple-backed hit is Willy Moon’s “Yeah Yeah.” This track was featured in a 2012 Apple iPod Bounce commercial, which showcased a colorful lineup of iPods. Viewers were instantly captivated by the song’s upbeat, modern hip-hop sound. 

Feist’s “1234” was featured in a famous Apple iPod Nano commercial back in the early 2000s, which she claimed was quite effective in boosting sales. In fact, the Canadian singer-songwriter once told BBC News that the commercial led to a “definite shift” and “peak” in curiosity from fans. Of course, the song remains her No. 1 track to this day.

SHAED’s song “Trampoline” gained popularity from a 2018 MacBook Air commercial. In fact, after the ad was released, its exposure led to massive chart success for the song. Eventually, SHAED even recorded a remix featuring Zayn Malik.

“Love Song” by Sara Bareilles was an iconic 2000s hit. In fact, it’s the very song that fueled Sara’s rise to fame. However, the track gained much of its traction from its feature in an ad for music streaming service Rhapsody.

Yael Naim’s infamous song “New Soul” became popular after being featured in an Apple MacBook Air commercial. In fact, many loyal fans claim they discovered the singer from the ad. With the amount of exposure it received, it’s no wonder the song charted on Billboard Hot 100.

Receiving a feature in a Budweiser Super Bowl dog commercial is bound to amass loyal fandom. This was the exact case for Passenger’s international hit “Let Her Go.” As soon as the commercial premiered, the song instantly went viral. 

Do you remember the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial ft. the random dancing girl? If so, you likely know “Days Go By” by Dirty Vegas all too well. This popular dance/electronic hit even went on to win a Grammy.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t hear “We Like to Party” without thinking about the legendary Six Flags commercial. You know, the one that features the iconic dancing old man, “Mr. Six?” Vengaboys received a ton of attention from the popular commercial.

“Vertigo” by U2 is another case of a successful Apple iPod commercial. While U2 certainly didn’t need help with their rise to fame, many people associated the song with the particular ad. In fact, some even considered it to be a bit incessant. 

Chairlift’s song “Bruises” was the soundtrack in a popular iPod Nano commercial back in 2008. After the band’s increased exposure from the ad, they went on to release multiple albums and landed a major record deal.

“Pink Moon” by Nick Drake did not originally perform well after its initial release. However, once it was featured in a 1999 Volkswagen commercial, it gained major attention. The wholesome commercial was a game-changer for the song, helping it chart nearly three decades after its original release.

Another ‘90s Volkswagen commercial featured Trio’s catchy tune “Da Da Da.” The popular ad brought renewed fame to the 1982 hit. In fact, many people still recall the commercial to this very day. 

Bob Seger’s  "Like a Rock" gained massive popularity during the Chevy Trucks "Like a Rock" ad campaign, which ran from 1991 to 2004. In fact, it was one of the most successful and long-lasting automotive ad campaigns in history. 

Pop band fun. is famously known for its 2012 hit “We Are Young.” Many fans associated the track with Chevy's “Stunt Anthem” Super Bowl Commercial, which features the popular song. The advertisement propelled the song into mainstream success.  

"Do I Wanna Know" by Arctic Monkeys achieved major commercial success after its feature in Bacardi's 2013 "Untameable Since 1862" campaign. Though the commercial wasn’t the sole reason for the song’s breakthrough, it definitely provided great exposure. 

Who knew a Sony Bravia bouncy ball commercial could be so deeply emotional? Well, considering it features the song “Heartbeats” by Jose Gonzales, it makes sense. The video captures 250,000 bouncy balls rolling down a San Francisco street to the heartfelt track, which has since been used in countless iconic TV love scenes. However, it was through this very commercial that it rose to fame.

I will never forget the first time I watched Extra Gum’s cinematic commercial following two high school sweethearts. This ad undoubtedly propelled Haley Reinhart’s emotive cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” to success. I still cry at the commercial a decade later, and that’s in large part due to the incredible song.