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Ad slogans and taglines generally come to us in the form of a declaration. Like, It takes a licking and keeps on ticking; or With a name like Smuckers….it has to be good; or Good to the last drop. But my favorites have always been the ones that beg you to answer a question. Here are 18 of the most memorable ad questions. If we left one of your favorites off the list, drop a comment and let us know!
1. Got milk?
Brand: California Milk Processor Board
Ad Campaign Launched: 1993
That $10,000 trivia question: Serious _flossers should remember that very first ad that ran on TV, featuring the history buff who had to answer the question: “Who shot Alexander Hamilton in that famous duel?” (A. Sitting Vice President Aaron Burr, of course, in 1804.)
2. Have you driven a Ford lately?
Brand: Ford
Ad Campaign Launched: 1982
Can you say Sigma?: The original name of the Ford Taurus was Sigma. But the brass at Ford didn’t like the name. So it was changed to Taurus because the top two men running the Sigma rollout had wives who were born under the astrological sign Taurus.
3. Can you hear me now?
Brand: Verizon Wireless
Ad Campaign Launched: 2002
Who is that guy? Paul Marcarelli, an actor and a writer. He has a twin brother named Matthew, a highly decorated lieutenant at the New Haven Fire Department.
4. Where do you want to go today?
Brand: Microsoft
Ad Campaign Launched: 1994
Madison Ave? Not quite. The tagline was the work of a Portland, Oregon-based firm called Wieden+Kennedy. Dan Wieden and David Kennedy were the guys who cooked up the famous Nike tagline: Just do it.
5. Do you… Yahoo!?
Brand: Yahoo!
Ad Campaign Launched: 1996
Yah-ching!: There are more Yahoo! e-mail accounts around the world than twice the population of Mexico. Yahoo stands for: Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.
6. Does she or doesn’t she?
Brand: Clairol
Ad Campaign Launched:1964
What’s in a name? Started in 1931, the name Clairol comes from a hair-coloring preparation found in France while the company’s founders were traveling there.
7. Where’s the beef?
Brand: Wendy’s
Ad Campaign Launched:1984
Watch it now:
8. How do you spell relief?
Brand: Rolaids
Ad Campaign Launched:1970s
What’s in a name? It’s reportedly derived from the old-school packaging: a foil roll (like Lifesavers, etc.)
9. Is it live, or is it Memorex?
Brand: Memorex
Ad Campaign Launched:1971
Did you know? Ella Fitzgerald appeared in an early ad:
10. This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?
Brand: Partnership for a Drug Free America
Ad Campaign Launched: 1987
Did you know? While most remember the tag line I’ve printed above, the one that actually aired on television was, “This is your brain. This is drugs. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?”
11. Aren’t you glad you use Dial? Don’t you wish everyone did?
Brand: Dial
Ad Campaign Launched:1953
Blast from the past:The 1950s were a great period for TV spots. Check this one out:
12. Did somebody say McDonalds?
Brand: McDonalds
Ad Campaign Launched: 1997
Did somebody say hit the slopes? Forget Drive-thrus. Did you know that in Sälen, Sweden, one of the McY D’z sports ski-thru service?
13. What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Brand: Good Humor-Breyers
Ad Campaign Launched:Early 1982
Did you know? The original Klondike hit the market in 1929 and was only sold in PA and Ohio until the 1970s. The polar bear has been on the wrapper since the beginning.
14. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie-Roll center of a Tootsie-Pop?
Brand: Tootsie-Roll
Ad Campaign Launched: 1969
Takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’: Unless you grew up in the ’70s, you probably never saw the longer version, where the cartoon boy asks many different animals the classic question. It’s the shortened version with the turtle and the owl most of us know, and it’s still running today, making it one of the longest running commercials in history. Here’s the original (more or less ;-):
15. Doesn’t your dog deserve ALPO?
Brand: Purina
Ad Campaign Launched: 1970s
What’s in a name? ALPO is short for Allen Products, founded in 1936 by Robert F. Hunsicker in Allentown, PA.
Will the real spokesperson please stand up? ALPO has been blessed with not one, but three famous ad faces: Lorne Greene, Ed McMahon and Garfield.
16. Fun anyone?
Brand: Sony PlayStation
Ad Campaign Launched: 2003
PlayStation Fun Fact: It was originally intended as a CD add-on to the Super Nintendo. But then licensing problems and other issues popped up, so Sony decided to develop the PlayStation by itself.
17. Wassup?!
Brand: Anheuser-Busch Budweiser
Ad Campaign Launched: 1999
Wassup must come-a-down: Everyone knows about all the parodies, but did you know the slogan made its way into pop songs? According to Wiki: “Whazzup” by True Party reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart in 2000, and “Wassup” by Da Muttz (a nom de plume of producers Alex Rizzo and Elliot Ireland) hit #11 in the UK, and #12 on the Australian ARIAnet singles chart, also in 2000.
18. Pardon me. Do you have any Grey Poupon?
Brand: Grey Poupon
Ad Campaign Launched: 1980
Have you seen the original?
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Comments (50)
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A big omission from the list: American Express \Do You Know Me?\
posted by wboenig on 9-28-2009 at 9:12 am
Hmmm… I think I just used #s 3,13,14,15, and 18 in one of my suggestions for what AJ Jacobs should do next, ie – find out the ANSWERS! :-)
posted by Amy on 9-28-2009 at 9:43 am
I didn’t know that the Who Shot Hamilton Milk ad was the first one! It was by far the best one too! I was 8 when it came out but I laughed hysterically every time it came on. (that’s whatcha get when your dad’s a history teacher I guess.)
posted by Shawn on 9-28-2009 at 11:25 am
Hmm…I’m not sure the video for number 14 is entirely the original advertisement. ;)
posted by Kelsey on 9-28-2009 at 11:32 am
In print ads, especially the classifieds, the best way to draw a reader’s eye to your ad is the humble question mark.
posted by Johnny Cat on 9-28-2009 at 11:35 am
You missed my favorite, “Do you love beer?” I had to answer every time Sam Adams ran this ad.
posted by Marilyn on 9-28-2009 at 11:38 am
I’d add to this list:
What kind of man reads Playboy?
reCaptcha: the tassled !
posted by John W on 9-28-2009 at 11:49 am
Then there are ad questions for failed trend products:
Why Ask Why? (Bud ‘Dry’)
posted by John W on 9-28-2009 at 12:03 pm
How about “What can Brown do for you?”
posted by Erica on 9-28-2009 at 12:14 pm
Do you believe in magic? (McDonald’s)
posted by amaneaux on 9-28-2009 at 12:16 pm
OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Izam on 9-28-2009 at 12:26 pm
AWON BUH! AWON BUH!
posted by bedhead on 9-28-2009 at 12:30 pm
How about “Are you in good hands?”
posted by Darren on 9-28-2009 at 12:40 pm
What’s in YOUR wallet?
posted by Shelly on 9-28-2009 at 12:48 pm
Totally amused by this post. Mainly because I remember so many of them. That Grey Poupon ad must have run for a while. I was born in ‘83 but distinctly remember seeing it on tv.
Wow, Dragon Ball Z was really in the original Tootsie Pop commercial? lol
And these jingles will now be going through my head for the rest of the day…
posted by Hastings on 9-28-2009 at 12:59 pm
@ Hastings: I was born the same year you were, and yes, I do remember this ad also. I still crack up whenever I watch “Wayne’s World” and they parody this commercial! It makes me wonder if any kids these days would get that joke.
I also remember in the ’90s a take on this for a cell phone company (can’t remember which one), where a lady pulled up to an old man in a fancy car and said, “Pardon me, but do you have a cellular phone?”, then takes off laughing. Anyone else remember that commercial, or the company behind it?
posted by Krie on 9-28-2009 at 1:11 pm
“Have you played Atari today” ?
posted by Robert Holdridge on 9-28-2009 at 1:12 pm
i think this needs some updating. “ba ba ba ba bum, i’m lovin’ it” needs to replace the mcdonald’s example on there now.
posted by Rita on 9-28-2009 at 2:06 pm
How about a young Farah Fawcett looking into the camera and purring “Have you seen my XR-7?
posted by Hawaiian on 9-28-2009 at 2:12 pm
What do you want on your Tombstone?
posted by Dave on 9-28-2009 at 2:14 pm
southwest airlines: wanna get away?
posted by Sliggitay on 9-28-2009 at 2:14 pm
There’s a make-up company down here in S. America (Peru, anyway) that uses the tagline ‘Who do you want to be today?’ (in Spanish, of course) I’ve always thought it was a very effective slogan for what they’re selling.
posted by Kelly on 9-28-2009 at 2:20 pm
Are those Bugle Boy jeans you’re wearing?
posted by Kate on 9-28-2009 at 3:00 pm
A pretty radical one from back in the day had a guy asking the camera. Do you mind if we talk about…(whispered) diarrhea? I believe the ad was for pepto-bismol.
posted by Michael on 9-28-2009 at 3:31 pm
Beef It’s What’s for Dinner
posted by Kristina on 9-28-2009 at 3:36 pm
That milk commercial came out when i was 6 and it was my favorite! For some reason it really has stood out in my memory as one of the best commericals ever, and I always remember who shot Hamilton! I never answered that question wrong on my US history tests!
posted by Juliepie on 9-28-2009 at 6:22 pm
Pork. The other white meat.
posted by James on 9-28-2009 at 8:17 pm
An oldie but a goodie
“Do you Canoe?”
posted by Bob on 9-28-2009 at 8:41 pm
AmEx with Karl Malden–What will you do? WHAT WILL YOU DO?!
posted by shirleyfeeney on 9-29-2009 at 1:12 am
and one more…”Mom, do you ever get that…not so fresh feeling?”.
I always said if my teen daughter asked me that, I’d respond with “what did you do to GET that ‘not so fresh feeling’?!”
posted by shirleyfeeney on 9-29-2009 at 1:14 am
[really old ones]
Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is. [Alka Seltzer]
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
Sooner or later you’ll own Generals (tires)
posted by Tdave on 9-29-2009 at 8:40 am
Uh Oh, Some of us are forgetting that it’s Ads That Use Questions.
posted by Tdave on 9-29-2009 at 8:53 am
And that question that sent chills through every parent’s heart:
Do you know where your children are?
posted by billj on 9-29-2009 at 9:03 am
What’s in YOUR wallet? Capital One
posted by pamg on 9-29-2009 at 10:56 am
To me, the ‘best ever’ was FedEx’s “Why fool around with anyone else?”
posted by KevinP on 9-29-2009 at 11:03 am
“What’s in the bright pink box?” for a feminine hygiene product and “Wanna know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing” No undies, Brooke?
posted by Susan on 9-29-2009 at 11:31 am
“Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?”
Trouble is, my answer to that one was “No.”
A closed-end question that can be answered with a “No” is a dangerous tactic to try.
posted by Tim Orr on 9-29-2009 at 11:54 am
I remember some of these. I was born in ‘83, too.
posted by Sara in AL on 9-29-2009 at 1:20 pm
“Is it in you?” — Gatorade
posted by AdamS on 9-29-2009 at 1:23 pm
I grew up in the 80’s and I remember the tootsie pop commercial – they brought back at some point.
Anyone else remember an updated version in the 90’s of the “This is your brain…” psa? A girl smashes the egg with a frying pan then continues to demolish the rest of the kitchen with said pan (this is what it does to your family, your self-respect, etc). Finally ending with “Any Questions?”
posted by Nerak on 9-29-2009 at 2:03 pm
Great slogan successes then when marketing efforts were at a different caliber and audience reach. Now imagine their success with mobile branding efforts and today’s innovative strategies?
Great article David, this took me back some years!
Gonzo
L7z Group, LLC (find us on Facebook)
posted by Gonzo on 9-29-2009 at 2:25 pm
“I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” – Alka Seltzer
and then the other one that stands out is
“My bolonga has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R, my bologna has a second name, it’s M-A-Y-E-R…..oh I love to eat it everyday and if you ask me why I’ll say….’cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A”
posted by Christine on 9-29-2009 at 3:20 pm
CAN YOU HANDLE THE SOUR????
posted by Kathy on 9-29-2009 at 4:10 pm
Have you had your SOUR today?
posted by Kathy on 9-29-2009 at 4:10 pm
Who’s hiding behind those Foster Grants?
posted by Shirley on 9-29-2009 at 7:48 pm
I liked the Snickers “Not going anywhere for a while?” ads, especially the one with the guy who’s just finished painting the end zone in Kansas City and discovers he’s written “Chefs.”
posted by Karen In Japan on 9-30-2009 at 3:52 am
From the late 70s-
“What do you want?
Good Grammar or good Taste?”
posted by Shar on 10-1-2009 at 10:54 am
What about…
Have you had your break today?
McDonald’s. 1995. very memorable. I expected to see it, it was the second one i came up with after got milk.
posted by Vicki on 10-1-2009 at 4:37 pm
What’s in your wallet? Capital One.
posted by Cody on 10-3-2009 at 4:57 pm
What Becomes a Legend Most?
I *think* that was Blackglama Furs?, it’s been a while, but that phrase still sounds like a classic to me. Lou Reed did a song with that title.
posted by sroz on 10-5-2009 at 10:31 pm