Pepsi re-releases music video commercials in celebration of music legends
Pepsi, a pioneer of the concept of music video commercials, continues its celebration of its 125th birthday and star-studded history by reviving some of the brand's most famed music video-styled spots.
The re-released versions of archival commercials pay tribute to music legends Madonna, Britney Spears, Tina Turner, Robert Palmer, and Ray Charles, each of whom has played a major role in shaping the brand's legacy as one of the first brands in advertising history to release music video spots.
For the first time in decades, versions of the iconic Madonna and Britney Spears spots will return to national television during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Tuesday, September 12.
The new Pepsi logo and visual identity – which continues to roll onto store shelves—now anchors the revived music video commercials in the intro and end cards of each classic spot, including:
Tina Turner's "Taste For Pepsi" (1986): Known around the world as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", Tina Turner had an unmistakable voice, that was roaring across airwaves around the globe, making her one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible" (1989): Palmer's breakout hit topped the music charts, becoming one of the most listened-to songs of the decade, leading him to win his second GRAMMY Award.
Madonna's "Like A Prayer" (1989): Following three back-to-back multi-platinum albums, the "Queen of Pop" created a hit single that was released as a single ahead of her now certified quadruple platinum album "Like A Prayer."
Ray Charles' "The Right One Baby" (1991): As one of the most important influences on popular music for over 40 years, Charles used his instantly recognizable voice to deliver the ever-so-popular catch phrase "you got the right one baby."
Britney Spears' "The Joy of Cola" (2001): Dubbed in the early millennium as the "Princess of Pop", Spears was well on her way to becoming one of the biggest popstars in the world, following her debut album in 1999.
The original spots of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" and Spears' "The Joy of Cola" have not been aired on national television in full since their original runs, over 30 and 20 years ago, respectively, making the 2023 VMAs the perfect stage for Pepsi to re-debut them. Pepsi has a long history at the VMAs, showing up consistently at the show for decades, including the recent premiere of the Pepsi-Cola Soda Shop music video inspired by the film "Grease" in 2021.
Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer, Pepsi: "Over the years, Pepsi has clearly established itself as an innovative brand with a deep heritage of 'firsts' in music – from inventing the first-ever marketing jingle, to being the first brand to turn commercials into music videos. So, as we celebrate Pepsi's 125th birthday, it is only fitting that we partner with the MTV Video Music Awards to celebrate some of the most iconic Pepsi music videos from our past. We are excited for a new generation to experience these epic commercials with our newly refreshed logo and visual design alongside pop icons like Britney Spears, Madonna, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and Robert Palmer. From Madonna's 'Like a Prayer,' to Britney's 'Joy of Cola,' to Ray's 'The Right One Baby,' there are some absolutely epic and memorable tracks that are sure to have everyone singing along."
