Stuck in Our Minds

Jingles. Creating advertising jingles is an art: It has to be short, catchy, memorable.

Not a jingle but a line from a TV ad stuck in our minds — “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”

In the 1980’s, raisin characters danced to Marvin Gaye’s 1960’s hit, “I heard it through the grapevine.” What was the product?

One of the most popular jingles ended with “everyone would be in love with me.”

Here are more. “Double your pleasure, double your fun.”

“Everybody doesn’t like something but nobody doesn’t like . . . “

Since 1935 a jingle starts with “Mmmm good, mm-mm good.” What’s so good?

“My bologna has a first name.” “For those that think young.” “Be all that you can be.” “Plop-plop Fizz-Fizz.” “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.”

“Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.”

“Have it your way,” “Would you like to be a Pepper too?”

“They’re magically delicious.” “If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the beer.” “A little dab’ll do ya.”

“You deserve a break today.” “Just for the taste of it.” “Seee thaaa U-S-A in your ….” “Nothing says ‘lovin’ like something from the oven.”

“You’’ll wonder where the yellow went.”

“From the valley of the jolly Ho-Ho-Ho.”

“The San Francisco treat.” Answers: Alka Seltzer, California Raisins, Oscar Mayer, Doublemint gum, Sara Lee, Campbell Soup, Oscar Mayer, Pepsi Cola, U.S. Army, Alka Seltzer, Coke, Almond Joy, Burger King, Dr. Pepper, Miller Beer, Brylcreem, Diet Coke, Lucky Charms cereal, Miller Beer, McDonald’s, Diet Coke, Chevrolet, Pillsbury, Pepsodent, Green Giant, Rice-A-Roni.

How many of the Big Mac ingredients can you name from the 1975 commercial? (Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.)

A really effective jingle will have you finishing the rest of the first line such as “Nationwide is on . . . “

I don’t have to sing it because you just did.

joenphillips@yahoo.com