10 Annoying TV Commercial Jingles from the ’80s and ’90s

During the ’80s and ’90s, TV jingles were a big part of advertising. Some were catchy and memorable, while others were so repetitive they got stuck in your head for days. These jingles, whether you loved or hated them, became a lasting part of pop culture.

1. “Meow Mix”

The Meow Mix jingle was a repetitive loop of “Meow, meow, meow, meow” sung in different tones. It played endlessly during commercials for the popular cat food brand.

While it might have been cute the first time, the song quickly became grating for anyone who didn’t own a cat.

2. “1-800-COLLECT”

This ad promoted its collect call service with a jingle that repeated the phone number over and over. It was meant to be helpful, but the melody stuck with you even when you didn’t need to call.

The overexposure during TV breaks made it hard to escape this tune in the ’90s.

3. “Folgers Coffee – Best Part of Wakin’ Up”

This coffee commercial repeated the phrase “The best part of wakin’ up is Folgers in your cup” in a bright and cheery melody. It aired constantly in the ’80s and ’90s.

Though intended to inspire good mornings, its overuse meant it eventually became more irritating than pleasant.

4. “Chili’s Baby Back Ribs”

The jingle promoting Chili’s ribs featured the endlessly looping line, “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back ribs.” While catchy, the repetition made it hard to forget.

This commercial aired frequently, and by the late ’90s, most people were ready for it to stop airing entirely.

5. “Oscar Mayer Bologna”

The Oscar Mayer bologna jingle was another earworm from the ’80s. It spelled out “B-O-L-O-G-N-A” in a bouncy tune that children sang along to in commercials.

Although it was playful, hearing it on repeat wore down even the biggest fans of processed meat products.

6. “FreeCreditReport.com”

This jingle followed a singing spokesperson describing the woes of bad credit. While the message was clear, the song itself got stuck in your head far too easily.

As the commercials aired on repeat in the ’90s, the music became harder to enjoy with each viewing.

7. “Kit Kat – Gimme a Break”

The Kit Kat jingle, “Gimme a break, gimme a break, break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar,” was catchy but overly repetitive. It aired across the ’80s and ’90s.

The tune became one of the most recognizable in candy advertising but also one of the most irritating for many.

8. “Slinky”

The Slinky jingle was from an earlier era but aired well into the ’80s. The song repeated the line, “It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,” making it impossible to forget.

While the toy was fun, the commercial’s repetitive nature annoyed parents who heard it countless times during cartoons.

9. “Empire Carpet – 800-588-2300”

This carpet company’s phone number was sung over and over in its commercials. The jingle’s simplicity made it effective, but hearing it on repeat was exhausting.

It became one of the most memorable ad campaigns of the time, though many wished they could forget it entirely.

10. “Crossfire Board Game”

The ad for the Crossfire board game featured an intense rock-style jingle repeating “Crossfire!” in a dramatic way. It tried to create excitement but came across as overly aggressive.

While kids may have been drawn to the energy, adults often found it obnoxious after repeated viewings.