Pepsi recently made headlines with an ad featuring AI (artificial intelligence) and AI (Allen Iverson) in their pitch.
It’s a cheeky effort that shows a pair of office workers discussing filling out NCAA March Madness brackets. One of them suggests that the other use artificial intelligence but, of course, ends up asking Iverson for advice.
“I can’t always be the answer,” Iverson quips, referencing his nickname.
The commercial got us thinking about some of the all-time efforts from Pepsi in the advertising arena. And they have some gems from the 1970s on up.
Pepsi, after all, is Americana. And their iconic ads have been around for decades. Here are a few of the best over the years.
The Pepsi Challenge – 1975
The Pepsi Challenge ads were a significant marketing campaign initiated by the company in 1975.
These ads invited consumers to participate in a blind taste test, where they would choose between two unmarked cups, one containing Pepsi and the other Coca-Cola.
The campaign was based on the premise that more people preferred the taste of Pepsi over Coca-Cola. While the fairness of these sip tests was questioned, the results of the ad campaign were not.
The Pepsi Challenge marked a turning point in the Cola Wars and prompted Coca-Cola to respond with “New Coke” years later, which was a dud with soda drinkers.
Michael Jackson Block Party – 1984
The 1984 Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial is often referred to as the “block party” ad.
It was a significant moment in pop culture and advertising history. The ad was part of Pepsi’s “New Generation” campaign and featured Jackson performing his hit song “Billie Jean.”
The pop legend is seen in the Pepsi ad walking through a city street, attracting a crowd of people who join him in a spontaneous block party.
It marked one of Jackson’s first true major endorsements. And he and his brothers were the first of many pop stars to endorse their products.
It was a significantly better commercial effort than the time Pepsi accidentally set Jackson’s hair on fire.
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Creation – 1987
The Pepsi “Creation” commercial, which aired in 1987, featured music legends Tina Turner and David Bowie.
The ad was part of Pepsi’s “The Choice of a New Generation” campaign, aimed at appealing to a younger, more vibrant demographic.
In the commercial, Turner and Bowie perform a duet of the latter’s hit song “Modern Love.” Oddly though, Bowie is playing a scientist in a lab who accidentally spills his Pepsi and creates Franken-Turner … or something.
Madonna – 1989
This ad, predictably, was best known for the controversy surrounding it at the time.
In 1989, Madonna starred in a Pepsi commercial that was part of a $5 million deal with the company. The ad featured Madonna singing “Like a Prayer” in front of a neon Pepsi sign.
The problem wasn’t so much the commercial as the music video that would premiere for the same song. The video featured provocative visuals laden with controversial religious imagery.
Pepsi actually reintroduced the commercial at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards as time has made it seem less controversial.
Ray Charles – 1991
Ray Charles, the iconic songwriter, starred in a series of commercials for Pepsi and delivered one of the most memorable jingles for the company.
The ads featured Charles singing and playing the piano, surrounded by models, and singing an energetic tune.
Who could ever forget the iconic closing line in Charles’ signature baritone voice: “You’ve got the right one baby, uh-huh!”
Cindy Crawford – 1992
The Cindy Crawford Super Bowl ad from 1992 is not something anybody who saw it will ever forget. Ever.
The ad featured Crawford in a white tank top and denim shorts, looking like a smoke show and stepping out of a red sports car to buy a Pepsi from a vending machine at a gas station.
As she drinks the Pepsi, two young boys watch in awe.
“Is that a great new Pepsi can or what?” one of them says.
It was so good that Crawford decided to recreate the look 30 years later.
Spice Girls – 1998
Many of you may not believe this, but once upon a time, the Spice Girls were a thing. And yes, the pop group starred in a Pepsi commercial in 1998.
The commercial featured the Spice Girls performing a song titled “Move Over.”
In it, they all sport futuristic-looking outfits. The sponsorship deal was reportedly worth a hefty sum and helped to increase Pepsi’s share of the cola market in Europe.
Brittney Spears – 2001
The Britney Spears “Joy of Pepsi” commercial from 2001 is memorable mostly because, unlike other pop artists, she contributed an original song for the commercial.
In this ad, Spears is seen singing and dancing in a Pepsi factory, showcasing her signature sexy style and energy.
She didn’t just phone it in either. The commercial is complete with choreography and a team of backup dancers as if she were performing at a concert.
Gladiators – 2004
Spears returned in 2004 and joined two other pop stars Pink and Beyoncé to create the “Gladiators” ad.
The three ladies defy Emperor Enrique Iglesias by drinking Pepsi instead of fighting while singing Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
Everybody at the Coliseum ends up a winner!
Blue Steel – 2023
Ben Stiller reprised his role as Derek Zoolander in a Pepsi Super Bowl ad in 2023. He was tasked with showcasing his character’s famous “Blue Steel” pose.
The ad was part of Pepsi Zero Sugar’s “Great Acting or Great Taste?” campaign, which playfully blurred the lines between acting and reality.
“The real is real,” Zoolander says with pouting lips.
He concludes in the same voice, “This is really, really ridiculously good tasting.”
It is a play on an actual line from the film in which Stiller’s character says: “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good-looking. And I plan on finding out what that is.”
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