While radio is still considered the powerhouse of jingle placement, other marketing professionals created television commercial jingles to build their brand. Here is a list of the most popular commercial jingles that have set the bar for catchy television commercials.

Polaroid Television Jingles

In the 1960s, the company behind Polaroid was known for its catchy commercials, clever re-inventions and cutting-edge marketing approaches. Their core product was a camera that can effortlessly deliver a clear picture in a minute. While this technology wasn’t really new in 1968, the hip attitude of its commercials was very refreshing. Its most popular television commercial jingle featured Mariette Harley and James Garner, who portrayed a bickering married couple.

The most popular commercial of Ajax featured a knight who points his lance at kids and waits until the dirt on their clothes disappear. Image courtesy of Flickr.

Ajax Laundry Detergent

Ajax, one of the leading brands of laundry detergents in the United States, also came up with a legendary marketing campaign. Its famous commercial in the 1960s featured a white knight riding on a white horse. He points his lance at kids who are playing in mud, and then their clothes will become clean in an instant. This commercial series ran for almost a decade, helping Ajax instill in the minds of television viewers that it is stronger than dirt.

Winston Television Jingles

“Winston tastes good like a cigarette should,” a memorable slogan, became the first ever hummable TV commercial when it was set to music. It debuted in the mid-fifties, with several variations continuing throughout the sixties. Language purists and English teachers were against the slogan, so Winston came up with a new one – “What do you want, good grammar or good taste?” This witty television commercial jingle was clearly ahead of its time.

McDonald’s – You Deserve a Break Today

From then until now, McDonald’s has consistently led the way in commercial jingles. “We Do It All for You” and “Good Times, Great Taste” were only two of its most popular slogans turned jingles. Another jingle that goes, “Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles,” and so on also became its most classic commercial jingle. During this time, most McDonald’s commercials focused on how clean their establishment was, instead of how big their servings were.

These are only four of the most popular commercial jingles that have continued to ring a bell among the old and the young, alike. As the most effective form of instilling brand recognition, a television commercial jingle is still one of the most effective ways to market any product.