Long Before The Hits, Barry Manilow Wrote Famous Jingles For Two Rival Fast Food Chains - Tasting Table

"In the late '60s and early '70s, writing songs to sell burgers may have been considered selling out, but it was a reliable entry point for composers trying to break into the music industry. Jingles pay well, demand airtight hooks and require songwriters to skillfully compress melody and emotion into 30 seconds or less."

"One of his most enduring early credits is McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today" ad campaign - which quickly became one of the most recognizable fast food jingles of its era. Even today, it can still get stuck in your head after one listen. The gently soaring tune felt reassuring and upbeat, a melodic invitation that positioned the brand as wholesome and approachable."

"That's right, the same songwriter helped shape the defining sound of the era for two rival fast food chains, both competing for dominance in the American quick-service landscape. Similarly, he wrote songs for both Dr. Pepper and Pepsi."

Barry Manilow began his music career in the late 1960s and early 1970s writing commercial jingles for fast food chains and other brands. Though jingle writing was sometimes viewed as selling out, it provided reliable income and valuable training for composers entering the music industry. Manilow excelled at the format, creating memorable hooks compressed into 30 seconds or less while maintaining emotional resonance. His McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today" campaign became one of the era's most recognizable fast food jingles. He also wrote for competing brands including KFC, Dr. Pepper, and Pepsi, demonstrating his versatility. Jingle writing served as intensive musical training, demanding immediate memorability and skillful melodic compression that shaped his later artistic development.

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