Super Bowl Commercials: The Music Behind the Ads

Posted on Feb 7th 2010 11:30PM by Kim Davis
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It was a Super Sunday for the New Orleans Saints tonight in Miami, Fla. The team, repping the once Hurricane-ravaged Big Easy, overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the seasoned Indianapolis Colts, triggering the town's much-deserved Mardi Gras festivities more than a week early.

While, sure, the night's focus was on football -- running, passing, tackling, touchdowns and the like -- there was an undeniable cloud of celebrity surrounding the big game. Colts vs. Saints meant Kendra (Wilkinson of 'The Girls Next Door,' 'Kendra') vs. Kim (Kardashian of 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians'). Wilkinson, who married Colts receiver Hank Baskett, reportedly had pre-Bowl words with Kardashian, who dates the Saints' running back Reggie Bush.

But nothing -- not even a good-natured reality TV girl fight -- would trump our anticipation of this year's set of Super Bowl commercials. This year, as in years past, we paid special attention to the songs behind the ads. And with artists like Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, Cheap Trick and more soundtracking the commercial breaks, it was nothing short of a sonic treat. Read our list of the songs featured in this year's Super Bowl commercials below, then head to Fanhouse, where you can relive all the marketing magic, quarter-by-quarter.

-- Dr. Pepper's commercial for their cherry-flavored variety ("a little kiss of cherry") featured both Kiss and their dedicated tribute band Mini Kiss rocking out to 'Dr. Love.'

-- Arcade Fire's 'Wake Up' played during each ad for the 75th annual NFL Draft. As previously reported on Spinner, the indie darlings donated all money from the licensing agreement to Haiti relief.

-- Super Bowl halftime heroes the Who pulled double duty. Their 'My Generation,' remixed by the Black Eyed Peas' Wil.i.am, was the driving force behind the Flo.TV ad.

-- Perhaps our favorite of the night was Volkswagon's punch buggy-themed ad featuring Stevie Wonder, Tracey Morgan and Grizzly Bear's bouncy track 'Two Weeks.'

-- We finally learned what Lance Armstrong reaches for when jonesing for a cold one: Michelob Ultra. Blur's 'Song 2' blasts in the background as we watch the athlete extraordinaire hanging, biking, living strong.

-- In the adorable sock-puppet -gone-wild video for KIA Motors' Sorrento, we are treated to the Heavy's groovy, horn-heavy 'How You Like Me Now.'

-- Of the many Budweiser beer spots, the musical highlight was certainly Electric Light Orchestra's 'Don't Bring Me Down' during the Bud Select 55 ad.

-- Hands down, Cheap Trick won MVP of Super Bowl ads this year. The Illinois rockers transformed their 1979 hit 'Dream Police' into 'Green Police' for a genuinely funny, environmentally aware commercial for Audi in which everyday people get busted for things like throwing away batteries and failing to compost orange slices.

Watch All 2010 Super Bowl Commercials