It’s funny, but I find a lot of my new music from TV commercials. Unfortunately, it takes some investigating to figure out who wrote what music because the music isn’t always publicized. Some companies, like VW, have a place on their web site dedicated to this type of info. Others, like Mitsubishi don’t mention their commercials at all. Of course, VW has already released a compilation CD of some of their commercial music. So, they might be the exception rather than a norm.
I’ve found some good resources on matching music to commercials, though. Here they are:
- Clipland
- Commercial Breaks and Beats: UK Television Advert Music Database
As a result, I’ve found out that the cool VW commercial they’re showing on the Loews commercial reel has music by ELO called Mr. Blue Sky.
Now, who owns an ELO CD anymore?
There are some cool finds buried in there, and it’s a lot of fun to figure this stuff out.
On another note, I’ve noticed that I find “new” music from the companies focused on younger consumers. Like VW, or the Mitsubishi Montero commercial (which turned me on to telepopmusik). On the other hand, companies like Lexus (which used a Chemical Brothers track on one of their recent commercials) tend to focus on established artists, even if it’s electronica or some alternative style. I realize this is probably a function of their advertising agency and probably by design, anyway, but I just thought it was interesting.
Update: Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Regular readers are happy to answer, as am I.





January 30th, 2009 at 10:48 AM
oops…found it in case anyone else is interested….Koop Islands Blues..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTTGX27fsA4
January 30th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Hi Everybody, I’m baaaack! well, here’s my first commercial tune question of the year. Who does the background music for the show “Jockeys” for the Animal Planet Channel? It sounds hip hop & it sounds like this” that what doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger, man, I’ve been waiting all night now …” Thanks again, O
January 30th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
AND who does the one that advertises the Greatest Dog Show on the Discovery Channel where a woman says “get this party started…once this body gets started, it cannot stop…” and it’s not Pink! Thank yooou, Luv O
January 30th, 2009 at 8:28 PM
I think the Astro Zero% yogurt commercial is Lullaby by Mia Farrow. It’s such a soothing song, and my sister’s baby loves it so much…anyways, I’m not sure, but the same song (or an uncannily similar one) was in Rosemary’s Baby and it was written by Krzysztof Komeda but sung by Mia Farrow. Hope it helps!
January 31st, 2009 at 8:57 PM
I just saw an ad for Tim Hortons (from 2009) that had the lyrics going: “Whenever I say hello, ” I don’t think the second line is exact…
I am also interested in the Rambo AMC song. : )
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Does anyone know what the background music is on AMC that was played behind the movie previews the last few weeks? My friend heard it and loved it, and now he says it’s gone and something else is playing now? He really loved the music!
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 PM
OK Obscurity at its finest here… I need to find a song they play during boarding/exiting on Delta Airlines flights. I know their ‘boarding music’ can be found on iTunes in their iMix section but for some reason this song is not listed in their January iMix! It has the song before and the song after listed but not the song I like! Maybe it’s not avaialable on iTunes so it was left out of the iMix? I dont know, anyway…
The lyrics are something like “I am the one you can count on/ when ??? ??? ???” lol its a male singing.
… thats about all I’ve got.
Thanks!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:01 AM
the song featured during the commercial for “Jockeys” on the Discovery Channel is “Harder Better Faster by Daft Punk, originally a Kanye West song titled “Harder”
February 6th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
ooops, got that messed up, it is Kanye West “Stronger”, orginally done by Daft Punk as harder better faster
February 8th, 2009 at 8:09 PM
I saw this potato chip commercial.. I forgot to sit and wait to see the company’s name, but I remember a rural community all going out to sit around a potato field while potatoes suddenly leapt out of the ground and exploded like fireworks.
The lyrics were something like this: “Light will pour out of your eyes, out into a field of spies/spice?”
Please help? : )
February 10th, 2009 at 12:21 AM
the song in the Lays chip commercial is by Slow Club, called Thinking Drinking Sinking Feeling
February 10th, 2009 at 5:39 PM
What is the artists name and the name of the song that was on a car commercial a few months ago..It sounds like it is the chemical brothers or crystal method where it sounds like astronauts talking to mission control… I dont know how else to describe it. PLEASE HELP IT’S DRIVEING ME CRAZY
February 10th, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Highroller by Crystal Method
February 14th, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Name & artist for the Clorox commercial with a young boy wearing a cap, mom washing, sitting on bus with young girl? Something like “imaginary girl…”
February 15th, 2009 at 7:27 AM
I want to know the song from the Tim Horton’s commercial too. It goes “Whenever I try to say hello, it’s alright ’cause you’re there and I know, that we’re gonna be together, together…” Is there any way to get that song?
February 16th, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Hi! Did anyone watch American Idol last Wednesday when they picked the top 36? If so, do you know the name of the song and singer of the music playing in the background that the producers used when Danny Gokey’s friend Jamar Rogers was eliminated from the competition. Danny is the guy who lost his wife and Idol gave a fair amount of air time to these two buddies. The song was slow and haunting, and the woman who sang had a smoky voice (if I remember correctly). The end credits told me nothing. Thanks!
February 17th, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Thank you, Marlene!
February 18th, 2009 at 2:58 PM
This one might be a stumper. Brita water filters has a commercial with a traditional choir piece in it. anyone possibly know it?
February 20th, 2009 at 11:26 AM
In case anyone else was wondering, I found my song. Its You Can Count On Me by Aiden Falls
February 20th, 2009 at 11:53 PM
To LittleBit13: Glad you found it and thanks for letting us know.
February 21st, 2009 at 7:41 PM
what about the cvs piano song? it is a beutiful piece that u heard when they put u on hold
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:36 PM
What is the song that plays while Slumdog millionaire is being featured on T.V? (the coming attraction). It goes something like this:”It’s the girls, ahh ahh ahh ahh… It’s the boys, ahh ahh ahh ahhh…”
Thanks O.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Hi! I can be a little more specific about the background song I wanted info on from American Idol played during the elimination of Jamar. The only instrument is guitar, the woman’s voice is not smoky but more like Alison Krauss ( it very well might be her), and some definite lyrics I heard were “… like two strangers journey into dark.” Other lyrics went something like this: “stir (still?) falling, breathless and all again”, “inside today”, and “this side make(?) today”. Thanks.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:29 AM
apol7lo-I asked for the same info back at #2106 on page 43. Not a peep from anyone in answer to the question. However, a shortened version of it can be found on YouTube. Just type in: Brita Pitcher Commercial. I have found this same clamoring for an answer to this question on “adtunes”, “name that tune”, and “what’s it called” websites. People have contacted Brita to find out and were told it was written specifically for the ad. Brita is owned by Clorox, though. Maybe if enough people contacted Clorox, they would do the same as the music they used in their other ads, which is put it on itunes for charity,
February 24th, 2009 at 1:28 PM
To Ottenbacher: Slumdog Millionaire song is “Great DJ” by The Ting Tings (possibly a remix).
February 24th, 2009 at 1:34 PM
To pk: Regarding the American Idol tune, though the lyrics are a bit different from those you posted, perhaps the song is “Into Dust” by Mazzy Star ??
February 24th, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Thank you logan. Mazzy Star’s “Into Dust” is the song. The music is beautiful and so are you!
February 25th, 2009 at 7:24 AM
To pk.: Glad you got your song and thanks for the compliment.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:14 PM
what a wonderful site!
i had the same question about American Idol as PK and managed to catch the same lyric so i typed it into google and it came up with this site
thanks logan!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:17 PM
To Bexcina: Welcome to Fatmixx.com and I’m glad you found the song.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:32 AM
To pk Thanks for the info, pk. So its not just me, huh? I’m off to youtube and clorox. Much obliged for your help.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:59 AM
the astro zero yogurt commercial (la lala lala lalaaaaa) lol wasn’t the lullaby by mia farrow. does anyone know what it is? its stuck in my head.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Oh Logan, Thank you sooo much! I thought you have forgotten me. I missed you so much! You are so indispensible for Fatmixx! Thanks again, Luv O.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 PM
To Ottenbacher: You’re most welcome and missed you too. Hope you enjoy the song.
March 5th, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Hey am looking for this song from MBC2 channel it goes like this(just damn)its kind of techno with a female singing I’ve been looking for it everywhere but I can’t find it so HELP!!
March 11th, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Hey there- I am wondering what the background music is in the newest Yaz birth control pill commmercial where the lady talks about what the FDA wants them to tell you. It’s instrumental and I have heard lots of places before but can never figure out who it is! Thanks anyone who knows-
March 12th, 2009 at 12:04 AM
This one is old and obscure. I can’t even find the commercial anymore. But it the music was simple and catchy. It was from the VW commercial when the girl drives her golf from Denver to Phoenix on one tank of gas and it shows here stripping down as she crosses climates. Anyone remember it? The music had what sounded like bagpipes and an acoustic guitar. Anyone know whose song it is?
March 17th, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Hellooo, who’s the singer who does the latest Dell commercial? It’s a female singer & the words goes like this: “I love you, ooh no, I need you, ooh no, big money, big sister, big brother, cha cha…” Thanks again, O
March 18th, 2009 at 1:22 PM
To Ottenbacher: The Dell ad song you seek is “I Love You, Ono” by Stereo Total.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:20 PM
whats the song in the new wells fargo commercial?
March 20th, 2009 at 9:38 PM
To ally: Is the Wells Fargo song Rjd2 – “Ghostwriter” or is it newer than that?
March 21st, 2009 at 5:03 PM
To Logan: “you don’t know, how beautiful you are…” Thanks regarding the Stereo Total song. Luv, O
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 AM
To Ottenbacher: “I feel pretty, Oh so pretty
I feel pretty and witty and bright.” Glad we got you fixed up O.
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:32 AM
I’ve got a request. There was a reel running on Discovery HD theater about two years ago and I’m looking for the music running in the background. All I remember is that the song was mellow and the vocals were done by a woman. The only lyric I remember is “Close to you” or “Closer to you”
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 AM
To Telefunker: Could the Discovery HD song have been “Close yo You” by The Carpenters ?? http://pop.youtube.com/watch?v=rzl_SuzzsuA
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 AM
To Telefunker: Could the Discovery HD song have been “Close yo You” by The Carpenters ?? http://pop.youtube.com
Should have been “Close to You”. Edit tool please.
March 29th, 2009 at 4:29 AM
What is the name of the song in VISA ad ” A FAT MAN DANCING”? HELP ME OUT, please?
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Hi again, who is the female singer who does the remake of “Major Tom” on the Lincoln MKZ commercial? Thank you,O
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 PM
To Ottenbacher: The new ad for the 2010 model featuring a cover of the song Major Tom (Coming Home) is performed by Shiny Toy Guns. Excellent cover. http://shinytoyguns.com/news/major-tom/
There you go kiddo
April 5th, 2009 at 1:23 AM
arggg I’ve been listening to the TV all day hoping the darn commercial will play again. I don’t know if it’s a commercial for Target or Sears or maybe JC Penny’s but in the commercial it’s a series of women and girls putting on makeup and walking around with spacer on their toes trying to protect the pedicures and the song goes something like, “…lucky to be a girl…” Does anyone know the song I’m thinking of? The song sounds like an old song…