I’d like to buy the world a Coke…

Catchy jingle ‘I’d Like To Buy The World A Coke’ is back on our TV screens as the soundtrack to our special 125th anniversary Coca‑Cola advert.

10 fun facts about the ‘Hilltop’ advert:

• The idea behind the advert came from Bill Backer, creative director for Coca‑Cola at McCann-Erickson advertising agency. Backer was inspired when he saw passengers in an airport café laughing together over bottles of Coca‑Cola after their flights had been redirected to Shannon airport, Ireland due to heavy fog in London.
• The song ‘I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke’ was written in less than 24 hours.
• The advert’s international cast included actors from more than 20 countries.
• The lead singer, a British nanny working in Rome, was discovered two days before the final shoot by producers while pushing a baby carriage. She declined the opportunity at first, but was finally persuaded to take the role. The original lead singer eloped during the production in Italy.
• The cast did not sing ‘I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke’ but rather lip-synced to a recording by Australian group New Seekers.
• ITV ranked ‘Hilltop’ as the greatest TV ad ever made.
• Following the ad’s success, the lyrics were adapted to remove the Coke reference and the song was renamed ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’. Since 1971, the song has been recorded and released more than 75 times.
• Channel 4 ranked ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’ as the greatest song from a TV ad.
• Mancunian rock band Oasis used the song as inspiration for the track ‘Shakermaker’ on their 1994 album ‘Definitely Maybe’.
• Coca‑Cola donated $80,000 (approx. £50,000) from the sale of the song ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’ to UNICEF.

  Download the lyrics!

  Download the lyrics to ‘I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke'.