Coca Cola - Hilltop / I'd like to buy the world a Coke - (1971) :60 (USA)

As legend goes, Bill Backer was on a flight to London, that was diverted to Shannon, Ireland due to heavy fog. In the airport, irate passengers from all over the world, who were marooned together sat down in the café and befriended one another over some soda pop. Bill watched as the drink became an ice-breaker to a very different mix of people, and that's when Backer jotted down some words on a napkin: "I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company."

If you believe in ad legends, that is.

This ad cost $250,000 to produce which was a very high sum at the time. The jingle was recorded by the New Seekers and shipped to American radio stations in February 1971. It reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

This ads original airdate is July 8 1971. It proved so popular that Coke also aired it during the Super bowl 1972.

Ad agency: McCann Erickson
Creative Director Copywriter: Bill Backer
Art Director: Harvey Gabor
Music director: Billy Davis
Lyrics: Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway and Bill Backer
Director: Roberto Malenotti