Back in the mid 1990s, during a time when they were considered to be at the pinnacle of “selling out,” the Rolling Stones began shilling the rights to its most famous tunes to the likes of McDonald’s and Microsoft for millions in advertising dollars. It’s a trend that has grown over the years and everyone from car companies to snack manufacturers have benefited from the punch popular music gives their advertisements.
Fortunately for retailers, pop music icons have been singing the praises of the c-store industry for years now—at no charge. Here’s a list of some companies that have reached musical immortality:
Carly Simon’s “Cow Town” pays homage to oil-rich Houston with the lyrics, “So they flew hand in hand to Houston, home of Exxon, Gulf and Shell. He said we have an income bigger than France. We all think that’s swell.”
Sting and the Policeacknowledge Mobil in thesong “Fill Her Up” withthe lyrics, “Mobil stationwhere I stand, this old gaspump in my hand.”
Texaco has had its moment in the Southern spotlight over and over again while a variety of Country Western musicians have tipped their hats to the fuel marketer and its famed star beacon. In her tune “Songbook,” Trisha Yearwood mentions waiting “underneath the Texaco star.”
In “Honky Tonk History,” Travis Tritt is “Callin’ all girlfriends, spring break weekend, meetin’ at the Texaco.” Ricky Lee Jones even penned a ditty about famed Route 66 called “The Last Chance Texaco.”
Young U.K. musician Lily allen has recently moved into the U.S. market while singing of another U.K. invader: Tesco. In her song “LDN,” Allen tells the tale of a little old lady “struggling with bags from Tesco.”
And while most people stop by a Wawato check out its foodservice offering, G Loveand Special Sauce are going in for otherreasons. In the song “Cold Beverages,” theband sings about grabbing a quick drink.”Wawa’s to the right. They got a beverageinside, dig me a hot coffee, fill it up withice.”
Looking for a way to kill time during the graveyard shift? So were the boys in R.E.M., whose song “Saturn’s Return” echoes the idea with these lyrics about third shift astronomy. “Late shift convenience store, cut out the lights, telescope roof towards the northwestern sky.”