Some of the best adverts ever are sports ads – they always pack a punch (pun intended). They also play with a viewer’s emotions, highlight important topics of discussion and unite global audiences. Oh, and more often than not they feature welcome appearances from lionised athletes, actors, artists and others in the public eye.
For example, who can forget McDonald’s Mike VS Larry advert which sees the two b-ball legends go head-to-head for a Big Mac? Or Nike’s controversial Colin Kaepernick ‘Just Do It’ ad that aimed to open up a conversation on diversity in the sporting world?
And what’s a vital part of great sports ads? The music they use. So as we take you through our list, we’ll also be looking at the music choices.
The Best Sports Ads Ever
Nike – ‘For Warriors’
Guaranteed to get your heart racing, Nike’s 2005 For Warriors ad – starring the likes of baseball’s Albert Pujols and American football’s Brian Urlacher – is a masterclass in sports advertising.
And although the featured song (rock band Cop Shoot Cop’s Migration) isn’t the easiest to listen to, we must admit, it does work well with the commercials off-beat visuals.
Nike – ‘The Conductor’
Nike’s The Conductor ad is humorous, purposeful and stars the people’s hero, Kobe Bryant – just three reasons why it’s one of the best sports adverts ever.
Plus, the song, sung by the ‘haters’ in the commercial, sounds to be inspired by soul music, one of our favourite genres.
Coca Cola – ‘Hey Kid, Catch’
Coca Cola’s 1979 advert Hey Kid, Catch ‘proves’ that the soft drink can lift anyone’s spirit – even ‘Mean’ Joe Greene’s.
The catchy, upbeat song used in the ad feels very 70s and features the lyrics, ‘a Coke and a smile makes me feel good’.
Gatorade – ‘Be Like Mike’
A young, high-spirited Michael Jordan is the focus of Gatorade’s 1992 commercial titled Be Like Mike.
The memorable music that runs throughout the minute-long commercial kicks off with a tribal beat and sports-inspired whistle, and later features a range of different vocals.
Adidas Originals – ‘Change Is A Team Sport’
For Change is a Team Sport, Adidas recruited the likes of Pharrell Williams, Blondey, Jonah Hill and Jackson Wang for an uber-stylish commercial that encourages viewers to work as a team.
The piano-led track that accompanies the visuals are fittingly perky and animated, which helps add to the zany world the three stripes is trying to create.
Nike Football – ‘The Last Game’
Created for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Nike Football’s The Last Game commercial is one of the first ads that come to mind when discussing the best sports ads ever.
The Swoosh commercial stars a slew of professional football players brought to life in animation form (from Rooney to Neymar) and uses an array of different music styles, from techno to epic orchestral music.
Under Armour – ‘Will Makes Us Family’
Sports unites people across the globe and reminds us all that we are one. Under Armour’s 2018 advert titled Will Makes Us Family effectively does this by editing together clips of different athletes from the four corners of the world – including professional boxer Anthony Joshua.
But what ties the advert together? Music, of course. Gene Allison’s classic R&B track You Can Make It If You Try, to be exact.
Nationwide – ‘Holiday Jingle’
Nationwide’s short but sweet Christmas commercial puts American football quarterback Peyton Manning at the forefront and centre.
The funny ad – commonly recognised as one of the best sport advertisements ever– uses an upbeat festive track to emphasise its wacky holiday vibe.
P&G – ‘Thank You, Mom/Strong’
P&G’s ad for the Rio 2016 Olympics looks to the generation above the athletes.
The result is a touching campaign that reminds us of our own relationships with our mothers, aided by a track that’s concurrently grand, delicate and emotional.
NBA – ‘It’s A Whole New Game’
To help fuel hype around 2020’s NBA Restart, the basketball association enlisted the help of woman-of-the-moment Issa Rae.
Needless to say, the commercial is an absolute joy to watch and the percussion-heavy track that plays throughout the ad only makes things more exciting.
Music For Your Sports Adverts
Looking for fantastic tracks for sports ads? Our huge catalogue of high quality, original music has everything you need. Explore playlists (updated every fortnight), with everything from sports anthems to countdown clocks, moments of high drama to beautiful emotions.
Need Music for Your Project?
At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!
This page was last updated 23/05/2024.
