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.





April 5th, 2009 at 6:19 AM
To Shawna: The song “How Lovely to Be a Woman” by Marisa Ferdenzi is featured in a recent Wal-Mart ad. For background info on the song, see this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/business/media/23adnewsletter2.html
April 6th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Re#2349, That’s Great Logan! now if I can only get the remake of Space Oddity from Chan Marshall! I guess “You can’t always get what you want”. Luv, O.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Hi. Another day, here’s another commercial. Please tell me who does the Soul MP3 Input commercial where it’s the hamsters driving the red car & on their mp3 player there’s these british sounding male singing this techno pop with beat with the words,”now I don’t care what you dress like or what you wear but please make it short baby you got some color in there”. Thanks again, Luv O.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:03 AM
To Ottenbacher: I hope the Soul MP# Input ad song is “Colours” by Calvin Harris.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:04 AM
To Ottenbacher: Oops. MP3.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:06 PM
To Ottenbacher: Ford Lincoln has been kind enough to release the full and free cover of Major Tom (Coming Home) by Shiny Toy Guns. Enjoy.
http://www.lincoln.com/extras/tvads.asp?id=7&intcmp=B_FreeSongDownload_MKZHome_LincolnTVAds_20090408
April 12th, 2009 at 6:31 AM
Thanks again Logan,You always come through for many of us. You’re a Darling! Here’s another one: It’s from another Soul commercial, Blue tooth- Kia motors. The song has a hip hop/techno vibe. It’s a girl group & some of the words are:”cause the middle, hey diddle hey diddle cause my dribble, one two two bump bump at the house…”Who is this group or singer. Thanks again & a Happy Bunny day. O.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:18 AM
To:Ottenbacher
I believe that it’s “junkyard” by The Potbelleez
April 14th, 2009 at 8:03 PM
what is the name of the song used in the cinemax hd commercial for the summer movies such as the hulk, the strangers and a few others??
April 15th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Thanks again Logan, the Soul commercial has 3 versions, You know with the little Hamsters in their Hamster wheels all over the place. Then suddenlly a Hamster couple pull up in a red car listening on a mp3 & grooving to the beat to the featured song. This is the 3rd version & the song goes like this:(female singing w/ a hip hop vibe} “I love the way you do.” And then a male figure sings:”front side, front side,side side side, front front front…” Who is the artist. Thanks again, O.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:44 AM
Im with nick, doesn’t it have like a “No Worries” thing on it or sumthing like that?!?!, man i would really appreciate the answear to this one
April 17th, 2009 at 10:05 PM
alright I found it. it is “nothing to worry about” by peter bjorn and john
April 19th, 2009 at 8:33 PM
did anyone find the body rocket…yea song on the optimum triple play commercial? It’s been bothering me and I need to know the song!
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Hi everyone,
I know this has been asked before, but no answer yet… I’m dying to know the song from the Astro Zero yogurt commercial that goes “lalalalalala…” It’s not Rosemary’s Baby, or Lullaby!
Please help!
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 PM
The 3rd Soul commercial (MPG Hwy-Bluetooth) goes like this:” (Male sings)Front back side to side, front front side to side…” beat beat beat” & (female singer)”I love the way you do…” And who does the Acura TSX 2009 commercial that goes like this:”let the drama kid now, let the drama kid now…” Thanks again, O.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:39 PM
To Ottenbacher: Haven’t seen the Acura ad, however, I’m hoping the song you refer to is actually “Let the Drummer Kick” by Citizen Cope. Lyrics are commonly misheard on this song.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Thanks again my main man Logan;=) I go to the movies once a week & they have been advertisements with great background music. One of those commercials has been the Soul commercials & they advertise the same thing but have 3 versions of background music. One of them was with calvin Harris & another one was with Potbelleez. Who was the other singer for the 3rd version of the Soul commercial? Thanks again, O.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:35 PM
To Ottenbacher: So far, I’m striking out on the Soul ads. I’ll keep trying as time permits.
Only thing I find close to that is “Front, Back & Side to Side” by U.G.K. Don’t think that’s it.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:46 AM
The song in the Kia commercial with the Hamsters is “Do What You Do” – Marz ft. Pack and Mumiez
April 25th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Thanks fellas, but unfortunately, I cannot find the “Do what you do” by Marz ft. Pack & Mumiez:=( Thanks again though. O.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:04 PM
To Ottenbacher: Do you not have access to this link? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAoxk3zRaxQ
April 28th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I am seeking a tune/song from the new Delta Faucet Commercial, you can see the vid with the music here: http://www.deltafaucet.com/videogallery/index.html?filter=commercial&video=diamonds
April 28th, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Try this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV1cczPv4_o&feature=related
this delta ad music looks to me is taken from this 1950s indian movie
April 29th, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Either you linked to the wrong thing, or you just think this is a gag?
The Delta ad is a contemprary piece airing currently and bearing No resemblance to what you posted.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:24 PM
if anybody knows the name of the tune from the gmc truck seirra please let me know
April 30th, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Hey ! Has anyone heard the great new song on the Howard Johnson hotel commercials? It goes “happiiieeee yeah”. Is that an actual song or no? Luv it.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Gene! I have the song to the commercial you’re looking for. It’s called “I want it All” by the Transplants.
Has anyone got the name for the new Doritos Late Night ad?
There’s a girl riding in a cab during the day and everything she sees turns into something from the nightlife?
Lyrics are something like this:
Get it get it
Let it all out
You gotta let it all out
May 4th, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Mercury auto (Milan???) commercial music??
Played during “24″ tonight.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:46 PM
man, thats funny, but i’m looking for the same song. i remember it from back in the day, but cant put my finger on it.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:59 AM
Sorry Jinju — I looked high and low for that song and it just so happens that it is an original piece composed by a company called “Human” — they made that song clip specifically for that commercial therefore it cannot be found anywhere
May 13th, 2009 at 4:33 PM
To Ottenbacher: I must be tired; that was a rough one. Here you go: Fort Knox by Goldfish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Pd5AFzAfk
Enjoy
May 19th, 2009 at 10:14 PM
anyone know the name of the song on the new jeep commercial sung by a woman where some of the lyrics are “we’re gonna go where the tall grass grows” or something like that?
May 20th, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Thanks for that info, Logan. I’m gonna tell you a little secret: I have trouble downloading anything from youtube. I just don’t like downloading anything free & I’m afraid of viruses. But I wrote it down & hope for the best. Can you please tell me who sings this song from a Doubletree commercial. It’s been around & it’s a female singer. Here are the words: “Relax Max…Your nerves are jumping like jumping jacks…Stay cool…take it easy…that’s the rule. Thanks again, O.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:11 PM
To Ottenbacher: I posted the youtube for your listening pleasure; not for downloading per se. The Doubletree ad is “Relax Max” by Dinah Washington. Enjoy.
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I really want to know what the song is on the new Jeep Commercial. I heard it while watching The Office on Thursday. It is by a woman and goes something like..”I will be in a tree, living free, as any child would want to be” Thanks for any help!
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:37 PM
To Melissa: regarding the jeep ad. Wild guess. “Living in a Tree” by Priscilla Ahn ??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK9qjPhO5nE
May 24th, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Aw, thanks, v-licious. : C
May 28th, 2009 at 1:35 AM
What is the name of the techno song that plays at the end of some of the 2009 mtv movie awards. I have looked everywhere and can’t find it.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:18 PM
What is the name of the song on the xerox commercial where the girl paints and the paint drips through the ceiling onto printouts?
May 28th, 2009 at 11:40 PM
hey does anyone know who sings the song Anything it was used in Amanda Bynes Commercial for Deer heres the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCj2×7Aa7V0&feature=related
if some one could tell me who sings that then that would be great! i’ve been lookin for it forever!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:39 PM
This is a shot in the dark but i saw this commercial a couple months back, and i think it was either a lowes or home depot commercial, But it a family playing in the yard and had a female singer but don’t know the song can someone help?
June 5th, 2009 at 7:12 PM
I am also trying to find the song for the CVS hold music. Our [formally Longs Drugs Store] has this hold music when trying to reach the pharmacy that I’m trying to track down. One person said it was Karl King’s Golden Dragon, but I beg to differ, since the song is NOTHING like the beautiful piano piece you just want to fall asleep to.
The closest I’ve gotten is “Liebestraum” by Franz Liszt, but although it sounds the same, it’s not quite the same, and it’s killing me to know; is there another version of the Liebestraum that is the same as the CVS hold music?
BTW…I’m actually looking for this song for my exboyfriend, and I’ve called CVS twice already just to be put on hold so that I can hear this piece (recorded it to my cell phone’s VM the second time. haha). One pharmacist must have gotten calls about this before because she wasn’t shocked and said she thought it was something like monosome. *shrug*
~Mari
June 10th, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Anyone know the name of this song and artist ? Bet Logan does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXhFfsVKOJ4
June 11th, 2009 at 11:23 PM
To Space1999: Sorry, I’m not familiar with the tune. Very nice however.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Did you find the answer to your question yet? I can’t seem to get the tune out of my head either – but I can’t seem to place it nonetheless…
June 15th, 2009 at 7:19 AM
Help please somebody .. I can’t find or know the name of a song in a car commerical thats been aring the past few months .. it has the inside of the car looking like the dash of a shuttle or something all light up .. its a chick singing she counts down from 5 then goes into the corse .. can anyone help
June 15th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
To mrsmae: The song you’re looking for is Major Tom (Coming Home) by Shiny Toy Guns. Listen to it here: http://www.myspace.com/shinytoyguns
June 15th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
The other song in the Soul commercial with the Hampsters is Canadian Band, MSTRKRFT (pronounced mastercraft) “BOUNCE”
June 25th, 2009 at 11:38 AM
who is the singer that performs the free credit report dot com commercials.?
June 25th, 2009 at 8:07 PM
To Mac: the freecredit.com songs are reportedly sung by Eric Violette. The “band” in the ads are only actors.