Audi - Echo and the Bunnymen "The Killing Moon"
Courtesy Audi
Audi calls their commercial "Vampire Moon" and chose a Twilight theme. The music accompanying this depiction of vampire fun is "The Killing Moon" by the post-punk group Echo and the Bunnymen. "The Killing Moon," from the band's 1984 album Ocean Rain, was a top 10 pop hit in the UK. It is one of the group's three top 10 hits. The song has been used in commercials before and may be most familiar for its use in the 2001 film Donnie Darko.
Bud Light Platinum - Avicii "Levels"
Courtesy Anheuser-Busch
If you are wanting to promote a new product to go with good times, what better music than the biggest club hit of the past year? Avicii's "Levels" provides the background for Anheuser-Busch's launch of Bud Light Platinum. "Levels" was a #1 dance hit in 2011 in both the US and the UK as well as charting high on pop singles charts around the world. It is currently climbing the Billboard Hot 100.
Budweiser - The Cult and Flo-Rida Mash-Up
Courtesy Anheuser-Busch
Budweiser titles their commercial "Eternal Optimism" and put together a fascinating mash-up as the soundtrack. The backing music is The Cult's 1985 UK hit "She Sells Sanctuary." The lyrics are Flo Rida's rap from his current hit "Good Feeling." The effort manages to make the music sound timeless just like the depiction of Budweiser in the commercial.
Chevy Sonic - fun "We ARe Young"
Courtesy Chevrolet
This may be a first. The Chevy Sonic commercial stars the music group OK Go but the song featured is by a different group. fun's hit "We Are Young" is a perfect anthem for all of the stunt fun shown for a Chevy Sonic. "We Are Young," a top 15 alternative songs hit, landed in the Billboard Hot 100 last year after it was featured in Glee.
Honda CR-V - Yello "Oh Yeah"
Courtesy Honda
Since Honda was bringing back the Ferris Bueller concept in the person of Matthew Broderick, why not go back to music from the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off as well? Yello's 1985 single "Oh Yeah" was included on the soundtrack of the movie and now provides the backdrop for the new commercial. The song never climbed higher than #51 as a pop single, but it has become very very familiar through commercial and film usage.
Hyundai - "Rocky" Theme
Courtesy Hyundai
The theme song from the 1977 film Rocky remains synonymous with efforts to achieve something. Hyundai cleverly uses the song that way once again in their new Super Bowl commercial. "Theme From Rocky (Gonna Fly Now)" by Bill Conti was a #1 pop hit and certified gold for sales.
Kia - The Chordettes and Motley Crue
Courtesy Kia
Kia uses two entirely different songs to illustrate the sandman's troubles in their Super Bowl commercial. The first is the Chordettes' 1954 #1 hit original version of "Mr. Sandman." A bit later in the commercial Motley Crue take over belting out "Kickstart My Heart" live as the soundtrack to a dream gone into hyperdrive. "Kickstart My Heart" was a top 30 pop hit single from the band's 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.
Pepsi - Melanie Amaro "Respect"
Courtesy Pepsi
X Factor promised winner Melanie Amaro a Pepsi commercial for the Super Bowl, and here it is. She co-stars with Elton John. To prove she can sing, Melanie Amaro takes on Aretha Franklin's classic "Respect" in a dance version. "Respect," a 1967 #1 smash, is included in both the Grammy Hall Of Fame and the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.
Samsung - Soft Cell "Tainted Love"
Courtesy Samsung
Those bored hipsters waiting in line are experiencing a "Tainted Love" for another company's devices. Samsung uses the Soft Cell classic in their commercial. "Tainted Love" was first released as a B-side to a 1965 single by soul singer Gloria Jones. However, it truly came into its own as a top 10 smash by electro-pop duo Soft Cell, released in 1982. "Tainted Love" reached a new generation in 2006 when it was sampled in Rihanna's first #1 hit "S.O.S."
Volkswagen - James Brown "Get Up Offa That Thing"
Courtesy Volkswagen
For the workout spree of an overweight dog, Volkswagen uses James Brown's 1976 stage workout "Get Up Offa That Thing." The song was a top 5 R&B smash for James Brown. It was his last appearance in the R&B top 5 until 1988. "Get Up Offa That Thing" also climbed to #45 on the pop charts. The song has been used frequently in films.
