A fifty-year-old commercial that led to a tune with immense staying power.
Conceived in an airport cafe in Ireland, where creative director Bill Backer was held up because of a bad weather forced landing. He noticed formerly irate passengers sitting together, with snacks and sodas.
“In that moment [I] saw a bottle of Coke in a whole new light… [I] began to see a bottle of Coca‑Cola as more than a drink that refreshed a hundred million people a day in almost every corner of the globe. So [I] began to see the familiar words, ‘Let’s have a Coke,’ as more than an invitation to pause for refreshment. They were actually a subtle way of saying, ‘Let’s keep each other company for a little while.’ And [I] knew they were being said all over the world as [I] sat there in Ireland. So that was the basic idea: to see Coke not as it was originally designed to be — a liquid refresher — but as a tiny bit of commonality between all peoples, a universally liked formula that would help to keep them company for a few minutes.”
The ad was born, and it captured the essence of unity and togetherness, promoting the idea of global harmony and inclusivity. With its heartwarming message and memorable song, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony),” the ad resonated with viewers and solidified Coca-Cola’s position as a global brand.
Michael's Musings 