List of McDonald's marketing campaigns

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This is a list of marketing promotions by McDonald's restaurants.

Slogans

Here is a partial list of slogans:[1]

Arab world

Argentina

Australia

Austria

The Bahamas

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

English

French

Chile

China

Costa Rica

Czech Republic

El Salvador

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Guatemala

Honduras

Hong Kong

English

Cantonese

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Malaysia

Mexico

New Zealand

Netherlands

Norway

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Romania

Russia

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Taiwan

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey

United Kingdom

Ukraine

Uruguay

United States

English

Spanish

Jingles

Perhaps the best-known jingle was "You deserve a break today" a song sometimes incorrectly attributed to a young Barry Manilow,[6] (who did sing it in one version of the commercial and thus included it in his "Very Strange Medley" of product theme songs, with others he had written) was in fact, written by jingle singer/songwriter Kenny Karen. The melody was either used in, or originates from, a song called "We're Together", credited on The Brass Ring S/T album as being composed by A. Ham/K. Gavin/N. Kipner/S. Woloshin. In the accompanying TV commercial,[7] there was almost no mention of food. Instead, the ad featured an all-male McDonald's cleaning crew, singing after-hours about their individual tasks, and emphasizing that "at McDonald's it's clean!" just before launching into the almost operatic chorus: "You deserve a break today / So get up and get away / To McDonald's!"

Another well known jingle was the "McDonald's is your kind of place / It's such a happy place / Hap, hap, hap, happy place..." from 1967, sung to the tune of "Down by the Riverside".[8]

Big Mac

English (1974–)

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.[9]

Portuguese (1987–)

Dois hambúgeres, alface, queijo, molho especial, cebola, e picles num pão com gergelim.

Russian (1990–2022)

Две мясных котлеты гриль, специальный соус, сыр, огурцы, салат и лук – всё на булочке с кунжутом. Только так, и это БигМак.

"McDonald's and You!" (1983–1984)

McDonald's and you. McDonald's and you. Sharing good times together wherever with you. McDonald's and you, and you, and you! Sharing the good time and no matter where we do. Remember there's only one McDonald's and there's only one you. You! Together, McDonald's and you![10]

"It's a good time for the great taste" (1984–1988)

It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's.[11]

There is also a full version used in one commercial.

It's a good time for the great taste. It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's. It's a good time for the great taste, gotta gotta get a bite. Gotta get going to just one place, got a McDonald's appetite. Going for McNuggets, Coke, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, fries keep color you fast. It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's. Good time, great taste. It's a good time (good time) for the great taste (great taste). It's a good time (good time) for the great taste (great taste). It's a good time (good time) for the great taste, taste, taste, taste, taste of McDonald's. Let's go!

Good Time, Great Taste (1988–1990)

Good Time, Great Taste. That's why this is our place! The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's.

There is also a full version sung by Ronald McDonald, some kids, and the McDonaldland gang in one commercial.

What a great day for singing our new song. Good Time, Good Time. Great Taste, Great Taste. That's why this is our place. Our place! The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's. Good Time, Great Taste. Rabba rabba. That's why this is our place! Our place! The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's. Rabba-rabba burger rabba shake stomp de domp. Rabba-rabba fries rabba shake stomp de domp. Rabba-rabba shake rabba shake stomp de domp. Good time, Great Taste, McDonald's! Here's the spot! Good Time, Great Taste. That's why this is our place! The Good Time, Great Taste of Mc-D-o-n-a-l-d-s, Mc-D-o-n-a-l-d-s. The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's. McDonald's! Yay!

A Visit to McDonald's Makes Your Day (UK, 1988–1991)

Make your day, make your way to the sign that says 'you're welcome'! A visit to McDonald's makes your day!

Food, Folks and Fun (1990–1991)

It's food, folks and fun. Food, folks and fun. You know the one, McDonald's, for food, folks and fun.

There is also a full version used in one commercial.

There's a new-fangled daddy comin' down the street, a modern mama, and the two compete in a high-tech world, complete an oasis, a place where you can get back to basics. It's food, folks and fun. (You'll like it for fun!) Food, folks and fun. (McDon-McDon-McDonald's!) You know the one, McDonald's, (You know the one!) for food, folks and fun.

McDonald's Today (1991–1992)

Here today, here to stay. You deserve a break today. McDonald's today.

What you want is what you get (1992–1994)

What you want is what you get at McDonald's today.

There was also an extended version used in one commercial which goes like this:

What you want is what you get, every day in every way. What you want is what you get at McDonald's today. What you want is what you get, every day in every way. What you want is what you get at McDonald's today. At McDonald's today.

There was also a full version used in 25 years of The best of McDonald's on TV VHS which goes like this:[12]

You've always know just what you want, always got just what you need. Anything you looking for, and there a little more. And every years go by my friends, these sudden things you can depend onto go your way, really make your day. What you want is what you get, every day in every way. What you want is what you get at McDonald's today. What you want is what you get, every day in every way. What you want is what you get at McDonald's today.

Have you had your break today? (1995–1997)

Have you had your break today? We all need to get away. There's one place that's on your way, McDonald's is your break today, Have you had your break today? Oh, feast yourself the McDonald's way. Spend a little money for a smile in your tummy. Have you had your break today? Eat a nibble, you deserve breaks today. Oh Yeah! La, La! Go to McDonald's too with your ki, kid. Have you had your break today? You deserve the McDonald's way. There's a place with a smile in your face. Have you had your break today? Have you had your break today?

Have you had your break today? (Big Mac/Canadian version, 1995–1997)

There was also a Canadian version that also promoted the Big Mac.

Have you had your break today? Easy does it on your way. So much to love, so little to pay, McDonald's is your break today, Have you had your break today? Fun on the run and it's coming your way. Save a little money, put a smile in your tummy, have you had your break today? Feed me, please me, tempt me, tease me. I'm havin' a Big Mac Attack. Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, rush me down to Mickey D's. Have you had your break today? Keep your eyes on the fries don't let 'em get away. Nothin', nothin', like an Egg McMuffin, have you had your break today? Have you had your break today?

Livet har sina goda stunder

This campaign was used in Sweden in 1996 and was recorded by Swedish band Ultima Thule.

Leva livet fritt och glatt, man vill inte sitta still
en plats, som alltid är ljus och varm och bara finnas till
träffa dom man tycker om, och göra vad man vill
Livet har sina goda stunder.

Doo wap ap ap a doo den do den doo wap ap ap a do den doo
Dagar kan passera fort som en våg på öppet hav
på McDonalds varva ner, hos oss finns inga krav
träffa dom man tycker om och bara koppla av
Livet har sina goda stunder.

Every time a good time

This campaign was used in Germany in 1999 and was originally recorded by Billy White and Patricia Darcy Jones.[13][14][15][16][17][18] The campaign was also used in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Hong Kong. "Every time a good time" song was written by: David Buskin, Janet Fox, Susan Hamilton and published by TUTTAPANNA MUSIC.

When you need a change of pace
wanna put a smile into your day
Got your favorite place
when you want to just break away

Time after time
feel good, feel fine
McDonald's ... Every time a good time.

I'm lovin' it (2003–present)

ba-da-ba-ba-ba... i'm lovin' it.

There are also two full versions sung by Justin Timberlake. The first one was used in one commercial.

Ba da ba ba ba. I'm lovin' it. Is this the place to eat? Since I don't cook, I'll just rock to the beat. I'm lovin' it. At the end of the day, to relieve the stress, we add a little play. I'm lovin' it. Sometimes, we have mishaps. You should overcome and adapt to said facts. I'm lovin' it. You know you're in my world. You know you're in my world. I kick and I love taps from my girl. McDonald's. Ba da ba ba ba. I'm lovin' it. Move your feet, rock to the beat, hungry for the music, gotta eat. I'm lovin' it. I'm lovin' it. No guts, no glory. Seems like I've stumbled in the wrong territory. I'm lovin' it Who'd want to mock me? Run around the edges, a tad bit sloppy. I'm lovin' it. My car's way too clean. If only I could start this fine piece of machine. I'm lovin' it. Ba da ba ba ba. McDonald's, ba da ba ba ba, I'm lovin' it.

The second one was used in one commercial.

Ba da ba ba ba. I'm lovin' it. Is this the place to eat? Since I don't cook, I'll just rock to the beat. I'm lovin' it. At the end of the day, to relieve the stress, we add a little play. I'm lovin' it. Sometimes, we have mishaps. You should overcome and adapt to said facts. I'm lovin' it. You know you're in my world. You know you're in my world. I kick and I love taps from my girl. McDonald's. Ba da ba ba ba. I'm lovin' it. Move your feet, rock to the beat, hungry for the music, gotta eat. I'm lovin' it. I'm lovin' it. No guts, no glory. Seems like I've stumbled in the wrong territory. I'm lovin' it Looks can't be deceiving. There's a slight change of plans for the evening. I'm lovin' it. My car's way too clean. If only I could start this fine piece of machine. I'm lovin' it. Ba da ba ba ba. McDonald's, ba da ba ba ba, I'm lovin' it.

McDonald's menu song

The McDonald's $1,000,000 Menu Song was an instant-win promotion created as part of an advertising campaign, which ran from 1988 to early 1989. As the name suggests, the song, which was based on Reunion's 1974 hit single "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)", incorporates all of the items (at that time) on the McDonald's menu: sandwiches, other lunch/dinner items, breakfast items, dessert items, and drinks, in that order.

Promotion overview

Either flexi-discs or cardboard records containing the song were attached to advertising inserts and distributed within newspapers across the United States. On all but one of the issued recordings, the chorus was not able to recite the song perfectly from start to finish; when the chorus made a mistake, the record was over. On the unique, prize-winning recording, the singers were able to complete the song; this record was a $1,000,000 instant winner.

Approximately 80 million records were distributed, and only one of them was a winner.[19] The promotion was won by Galax, Virginia, resident Charlene Price, who used the money to purchase the convenience store where she worked.[20]

United States

In the United States, the lyrics read as follows:

Big Mac, McDLT, a Quarter-Pounder with some cheese, Filet-O-Fish, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a Happy Meal. McNuggets, tasty golden french fries, regular or larger size, and salads: chef or garden, or a chicken salad oriental. Big Big Breakfast, Egg McMuffin, hot hot cakes, and sausage. Maybe biscuits, bacon, egg and cheese, a sausage, danish, hash browns too. And for dessert hot apple pies, and sundaes three varieties, a soft-serve cone, three kinds of shakes, and chocolatey chip cookies. And to drink a Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and orange drink, A Sprite and coffee, decaf too, A lowfat milk, also an orange juice. I love McDonald's, good time great taste, and I get this all at one place...

Canada

In Canada, the lyrics were as follows:

Big Mac, McDLT, a Quarter-Pounder with cheese, Filet-O-Fish, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, McChicken, and McNuggets, tasty golden french fries, regular or larger size, and salads: chef or garden, or a chicken salad oriental, and for breakfast: Egg McMuffin, hot hot cakes, and sausage. Maybe Omelette McMuffins all 3 kinds of danish, hash browns too. And for dessert hot apple pies, and sundaes three varieties, a soft-serve cone, three kinds of shakes, and chocolatey chip cookies. And to drink a Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and orange drink, A Sprite and coffee and hot chocolate, also apple, orange, and grapefruit juice. I love McDonald's, good time great taste, and I get this all at one place...

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the lyrics were as follows:

Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, Double Burger, french fries, hamburger, Egg McMuffin, cheeseburger, and apple pie. I'll have a McChicken and Sausage McMuffin, hot chocolate, Big Breakfast, orange juice, hash browns. A strawberry sundae, an icy cold Coke, a Sprite over here, a Fanta to go. A milk, hot cakes, it's time for tea, a chocolate shake, a cup of coffee for me. I love McDonald's, good time great taste, and I get this all at one place...

Québec

Around the same time (1989–90), a French version of the ad campaign was produced for Quebec; however, no promotion was attached.[21]

The order given in this version was sandwiches, other lunch/dinner items, dessert items, drinks, and breakfast. The Québec lyrics were as follows:

Big Mac, McDLT, un quart de livre avec fromage, filet de poisson, un hamburger, un cheeseburger, un McPoulet, des McCroquettes, des frites dorées en deux formats. Salade du chef, ou du jardin, ou de poulet à l'orientale voilà sûrement un vrai régal. Et pour dessert: chausson aux pommes, biscuits aux brisures chocolatées, des laits frappés en trois saveurs, un sundae y a rien de meilleur, suivi d'un Coke diet, d'un Sprite, d'un Coke, d'une délicieuse root-beer, chocolat chaud, un, lait, un thé, ou un café en deux formats. Ommelette, McMuffin au jambon, rôties un frits avec bacon, œuf McMuffin, muffin anglais, crêpes, et saucisses danoise au pommes, servez-moi donc un jus d'orange, de pamplemousse, ou bien de pommes. J'aime McDonald, j'ai le goût c'est l`heure de savoir mon menu par cœur.

— McDonald's Canada: "Le menu chanté", 1989

Media tie-ins

The following movies and TV shows were made into Happy Meals and other promotional products:

4Kids Entertainment

20th Century Studios

  • The Pagemaster (1994)
  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
  • Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)
  • Dr. Dolittle (1998)
  • Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
  • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
  • Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
  • Avatar (December 4–31, 2009)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (January 1 – February 4, 2010)
  • Star Wars (2010)
  • Rio (2011)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
  • Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D (2012)
  • Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
  • Epic (2013)
  • The Book of Life (2014)
  • The Peanuts Movie (2015)
  • Ice Age: Collision Course (2016, international markets only)
  • Ron's Gone Wrong (2021)

Aardman Animation

Activision

American Greetings

Bagdasarian Productions

  • Alvin and the Chipmunks (1989)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (January 1 – February 4, 2010)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)

Dimension Films

DreamWorks Animation

Fox Kids/Jetix

Hasbro

Lego Group

Lucasfilm

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008, 2010, 2011)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Marvel Studios

  • Spider-Man (1994, 2009)
  • Marvel Heroes (2010)
  • Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  • Eternals (2021)
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
  • The Marvels (2023)

Mattel

Mojang Studios

Necco

  • Sweethearts (2015)

Nickelodeon

Nintendo

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies

  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
  • Peanuts (1989)
  • Hotel for Dogs (2009)
  • The Last Airbender (2010)
  • The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015)
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Paws Inc.

  • Garfield (1984, 1988, December 1991, 1998)

Sanrio

  • Hello Kitty (2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2024)

Schneider's Bakery

Sega

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Summit Entertainment

  • Astro Boy (2009)

Televisa

Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting System

Cartoon Network Studios

Universal

Walt Disney Studios and Jim Henson Productions

(1996):

(1997):

Warner Bros.

Pathe

Zazzle

  • iZ (2006)

Miscellaneous

Scratch-off games and sweepstakes promotions

United States

Notes

  1. ^ a b This slogan is mentioned in an episode of Scare Tactics.
  2. ^ This happens to be the longest-running slogan in Quebec and was teamed up with U.S. campaign slogan themes from 1982 until 1995 and the Have you had your break today? theme from 1995 until 2003.
  3. ^ The letter "m" has the same sound in French as "aime" (love). This slogan was coined by an ad agency in 1982.

References

  1. ^ "Advertising Slogans, "M"". TV Acres.com. August 4, 2006. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  2. ^ SFOAdMan (December 16, 2008), McDonalds – You Deserve a Break Today (1982), archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved August 21, 2018
  3. ^ Bill McDonald (June 6, 2013), McDonalds – It's MacTime Now – Australian Ad 1991, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved August 21, 2018
  4. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "McDonald's Commercial - "Something Big" (1991)". YouTube.
  5. ^ "Billboard from a 2003 McKiełbasa Campaign in Poland".
  6. ^ Barry Manilow
  7. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "McDonalds Television Ad - c. 1970's". YouTube.
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "McDonald's Commercial 1967". YouTube.
  9. ^ "Big Mac © Museum - the most tasteful museum in the world". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  10. ^ Kevin Noonan (January 22, 2014), McDonald's and You commercial 1982, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved August 21, 2018
  11. ^ PhakeNam (August 9, 2015), 80's Ads: McDonald's "It's A Good Time For The Great Taste of McDonald's" (1985), archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved August 21, 2018
  12. ^ Luna, Reno (September 9, 2016), McDonald's 25 Years of Commercials, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved October 21, 2018
  13. ^ "Jingle "Every Time a Good Time" (1999) RARITÄT". YouTube. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016.
  14. ^ commercialsgeek (July 29, 2018), Jingle 'Every Time a Good Time' 1999 RARITÄT, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved July 29, 2018
  15. ^ "Jingle Every time a good time, recording session".
  16. ^ "Jingle "Every time a good time"". July 29, 2018.
  17. ^ "Jingle 'Every time a good time'".
  18. ^ "Jingle 'Every time a good time'".
  19. ^ Michael Gitter and Erika Glazer (1999). Do You Remember TV? The Book That Takes You Back. Chronicle Books. p. 51.
  20. ^ "Va. Contest Winner Buys Bosses Out | Article from The Washington Post | HighBeam Research". Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  21. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Pub Québec - McDonald's "Le Menu Chanté"". YouTube.
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