10 Classic Commercials From the 70s Still Stuck in Your Head That Bring Back Great Memories

The 1970s gave TV commercials a style all their own. The jingles were simple but catchy, and the characters stuck with you.

These ads weren’t just about selling something. They became a part of everyday life, and honestly, it’s wild how they stick in your brain years later.

You might be surprised how many of these classic 70s commercials pop back into your head. Advertisers back then leaned hard on music and fun moments to make a real impression.

1) I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke

If you hear “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke,” you probably picture that hillside full of people singing together.

They all gathered from different countries, smiling in the sun. The ad was about sharing and peace, and somehow, it made you feel connected—just by drinking a Coke.

You can still find this commercial online. It’s honestly wild how a simple idea and a jingle can bring people together like that. For more, check out the 1971 Coca-Cola Commercial: I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke.

2) Wheaties: Breakfast of Champions

You’ve heard “Breakfast of Champions,” right? Wheaties made that slogan famous, and by the 70s, their commercials showed athletes gearing up for big games.

They always made it seem like eating Wheaties would give you that extra push to win. Jogging suits, famous faces like Bruce Jenner, and those orange boxes—kind of hard to forget.

Wheaties put athletes right on the box, so every breakfast felt like a little piece of sports history. It’s such a simple idea, but it really stuck. You can catch some classic ads on Wheaties’ site or YouTube.

3) Meow Mix Theme Song

The Meow Mix jingle? You’ve definitely heard it more times than you’d like to admit. Just cats “meowing” along to a tune—it’s so simple but so sticky.

The jingle showed up in the 70s and became an instant favorite. No words, just meows, and yet it’s impossible to shake from your mind.

That cat’s mouth moving to the beat? Adorable. You might find yourself humming it long after the commercial’s over.

It’s a perfect example of how something so silly gets stuck in your head for decades. Want to know why it’s so catchy? Take a look at Meow Mix commercials from the 70s.

4) Frito Bandito

If you grew up in the 70s, you probably remember the Frito Bandito. He was a cartoon bandit who sang a catchy little jingle about Fritos corn chips.

The commercial was goofy and a little mischievous, and the tune stuck with you. It made you want to grab a bag of chips.

Looking back, the ad caused some controversy for its stereotypes—definitely wouldn’t fly today. Still, people remember Frito Bandito as a part of classic 70s TV.

Curious? There’s more about the Frito Bandito commercials.

5) Alka-Seltzer: ‘I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing’

How many times have you heard, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing”? That Alka-Seltzer ad from the 70s showed a guy who ate way too much and instantly regretted it.

His wife told him to take two Alka-Seltzers, and he felt better. The whole thing was just so relatable.

That phrase became something people said all the time after a big meal. The ad made a common problem funny, and it’s still easy to remember.

Want to relive it? Watch the original Alka-Seltzer commercial.

6) The California Raisins

Who could forget the California Raisins? They were those funky claymation raisins that sang and danced—sure, they showed up in the 80s, but they feel like a throwback.

You probably remember them grooving to “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” They started out selling Sun-Maid raisins but ended up as pop culture icons.

They even had albums and TV specials. Not bad for a bunch of singing raisins.

If you want to see how music and animation can totally take over an ad, check out their story in this California Raisins article.

7) Oscar Mayer Wiener Song

The Oscar Mayer Wiener song is one of those tunes you can’t help but sing. It’s simple and catchy, and every kid seemed to know it.

You might remember that little boy in the commercial, singing about wanting to be an Oscar Mayer wiener. The song made a plain hot dog seem like the best thing ever.

Oscar Mayer even sent out Wienermobiles and handed out “Wiener Whistlers” that played the jingle. Kind of a genius move, honestly.

Still humming it? You’re not alone. There’s more at these classic jingles from the past.

8) Mr. Clean’s Magical Wand

Remember Mr. Clean’s magical wand? In those 70s commercials, he made dirt vanish with a single swipe.

The wand turned cleaning into something almost magical. You could imagine your house sparkling just like in the ad.

Mr. Clean made chores seem less of a pain. You probably still hear that jingle in your head sometimes.

Want to see the wand in action? Check out these classic Mr. Clean ads from the 1970s.

9) Maxwell House: ‘Good to the Last Drop’

“Good to the last drop”—if that doesn’t ring a bell, you probably never watched TV in the 70s. Maxwell House made that slogan famous.

Legend says President Teddy Roosevelt came up with it after tasting the coffee at the Maxwell House Hotel. Since then, it’s stuck as a sign of reliable taste.

Most commercials showed everyday moments—coffee in the kitchen, a cozy chat, that sort of thing. The jingle felt warm and inviting, promising satisfaction in every cup.

You can still catch the phrase in ads today. Want to see it? Here’s the Good To The Last Drop Maxwell House Song Commercial (1979).

10) Avis: ‘We Try Harder’

“We Try Harder”—that was Avis in the 70s. They didn’t hide being number two in car rentals; they owned it and promised to work harder for you.

The slogan made you feel like the company actually cared. Employees even wore the words on their buttons, and the CEO took customer calls.

If you saw those commercials, you probably remember how honest and friendly they felt. The campaign really helped Avis stand out.

More about this classic campaign here.

The Cultural Impact of 70s Commercials

It’s easy to forget how much 70s commercials shaped music and marketing. Those jingles you still hum? They came from simple, catchy tunes.

Advertisers had to work with what they had—no digital tricks, just creativity and a good hook.

How Catchy Jingles Shaped Pop Culture

Jingles in the 70s were like mini-songs that stuck with you. Companies used short, repetitive melodies, making it easy to remember their products.

You could sing along any time, and that made these brands a regular part of your day.

Some jingles even crossed over to radio and TV shows. They turned into little pieces of pop culture, not just ads.

With only a few TV channels, you saw the same commercials over and over. That’s probably why these jingles have stuck around in your memory for so long.

Advertising Techniques Unique to the 1970s

Back in the 1970s, advertisers didn’t have computers or the internet. They got creative instead. You’d see visual storytelling everywhere—bold colors, wild graphics, and characters you couldn’t forget. Products just popped out at you.

Humor showed up a lot more in ads then. Everyday scenes felt relatable, and honestly, that made commercials seem warmer and more genuine. Maybe that’s why people trusted those brands.

Advertisers leaned on simple slogans and repeated them until they stuck in your mind. Pair those with a catchy jingle, and suddenly, you couldn’t get the tune out of your head.

TV time was precious—there weren’t as many distractions. So, ads had to grab your attention fast. They really made every second count.

Want to see some of these classics? Here’s a collection of 70s commercials that defined a generation. Odds are, you’ll recognize a few.

Why These Commercials Stand the Test of Time

You probably remember these ads because they just hit the right notes, emotionally speaking. They connected with how people felt, and they really captured the shifts happening in advertising back then.

Emotional Connections That Last

A lot of ’70s commercials built deep emotional bonds with viewers. They told simple stories—sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming, sometimes just plain sweet. If an ad showed a family or a small act of kindness, it felt familiar and comforting.

Music mattered too. Those jingles? They got stuck in your head and stayed there. When you remembered the tune, you remembered the product and that good feeling it brought. These ads weren’t just about selling stuff. They made you feel something, and honestly, that’s why they’ve stuck around in people’s memories.

Evolution of Nostalgia in Advertising

Back in the ’70s, advertising felt totally different. With just a handful of TV channels and barely any competition, commercials really had to work to grab your attention.

Marketers often made ads that were funny, simple, and got right to the point. You could probably still remember some of those clever jingles.

These days, nostalgia has turned into a go-to trick for advertisers. They love to bring back those old jingles or familiar characters—weird how just a few notes can send you straight back to childhood, right?

That little flash of memory makes the commercials stick in your mind. Sometimes, it feels like you’ll never forget them, even decades later.

For a trip down memory lane, check out 15 commercials from the ’70s that everyone can still recite by heart.