[Classic Hits of the 70s] A Compilation of Western Songs Used in Commercials
When it comes to Western music from the 1970s, there were so many timeless classics that are still loved today.
Many of those popular songs have been used in TV commercials in Japan since back then.
And in recent years, quite a few of them have been newly featured in commercials again.
In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive introduction to 1970s Western songs that have been used in commercials so far.
As we gathered the tracks featured in commercials, we ended up with a wonderful collection of masterpieces, so take this opportunity to find some new favorites!
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[70s Masterpieces] A Compilation of Western Songs Used in Commercials (1–10)
Walk This WayAerosmith
A single released in 1975 by Aerosmith, the American rock band also well known in Japan for the Armageddon theme song.
With its catchy, distinctive guitar riff that defines the track and a fast-paced vocal that makes you want to move, it’s a rock number that grabs you.
It’s also famous for the collaboration with the hip-hop group Run-DMC; their cover offered an enjoyable fusion—unusual for the time—of rock and hip-hop.
20th Century BoyT-REX
A song by T.
Rex, a British rock band led by the legendary musician Marc Bolan.
Elements like the intro guitar riff were groundbreaking at the time and evoked a sense of a new era, leading to its use in Japan in car commercials as well as McDonald’s ads.
It’s also known as the theme song for the film adaptation of the manga 20th Century Boys.
Hot StuffDonna Summer
Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” was released as a single in 1979 and is also included on the album “Bad Girls.” She won a Grammy for this song, and since it has been covered by many artists, it can be considered one of her signature tracks.
It features a quintessential disco sound with a powerful beat, driving guitars, and her soaring vocals that leave a strong impression.
As a commercial jingle, it’s well known for its tie-in with Diet Coke featuring Anna Umemiya; paired with the song, it powerfully conveys a sense of female strength.
[Classic Hits of the ’70s] A Compilation of Western Songs Used in Commercials (11–20)
Bohemian RhapsodyQueen
Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a song included on the 1975 album A Night at the Opera.
Its innovative song structure and the content of its music video drew widespread attention and had a major impact on the music industry.
Because the song features a variety of developments, the impression it gives can change greatly depending on which part you focus on—an interesting aspect of the piece.
The section used in Toyota’s Pronard commercial was the soaring, triumphant-sounding part, which conveyed beauty when paired with footage of a car racing through a sunset.
Black NightDeep Purple
Deep Purple’s “Black Night” is a song released in 1970 and one of the band’s signature tracks.
It wasn’t included on an album for a while, but it was added as a bonus track when the remaster of Deep Purple in Rock was released in 1995.
The guitar riff—one of the band’s hallmarks—is striking in this song as well, and the way the chugging rhythm and vocals layer over it gives the track a cool, driving feel.
In Japan, it was used in commercials for UCC Black (unsweetened), and the pairing with this song even makes black coffee feel cool.
Highway StarDeep Purple
The song used in the commercial featuring driving scenes of the Wagon R is one of the signature tracks by the English hard rock band Deep Purple.
Its brisk, thumping guitar and exhilarating, fast-paced melody make for an unforgettable arrangement once you’ve heard it.
It was included on their 1972 album Machine Head, which also features another of their signature songs, Smoke on the Water.
Let It BeThe Beatles
The Beatles’ “Let It Be” was released in 1970 and is one of the band’s signature songs, a classic that stands out in music history.
The fact that both the album title and the song share the name “Let It Be” also makes it feel like a particularly special track.
Its structure builds from a quiet piano-and-vocal opening to gradually layered instrumentation, conveying a sense of human connection and warmth.
In Japan, it was used in a commercial for Toshiba’s IC Stereo Boston, and the choice to feature a song by such a historic band in an audio equipment ad reflects strong confidence in the product’s quality.