Classic Commercial Catch Phrase Countdown #1
Top honors go to the feel-good classic of Aquarian consumerism, “I’d like to teach the world to sing,” the centerpiece of Coke’s immensely successful “It’s the Real Thing” campaign:
The TV spot debuted in 1971, and it was so popular that it spawned two hit pop versions (sans Coke references), one recorded by the Hillside Singers and another by the New Seekers. The latter reached #10 on the U.S. pop charts; the former, #13. For more about the song, the ad, and the commercial spinoffs, read here.
And as a special bonus, here’s the Christmas version of the ad: