Jazzy Jingles

Advertising jingles have a habit of working their way into our memories and taking up residence because the repetitive tunes and memorable lyrics are designed to trigger singalong behaviour.

- Sandra Smith

One of the most iconic and longest-running jingles was Fairy Liquid’s Hands That Do Dishes. Sung by Rosemary Squires, the washing-up liquid refrain earned her the nickname Queen of the Jingles, while the cadence of her voice and gentle melody became part of the nation’s culture, filtering into our homes for more than 40 years.

For housewives preferring a more upbeat ditty, Shake n’ Vac, written by prolific jingles creator Jonathan Hodge, oozed energy and enthusiasm. The ad featured actress Jenny Logan dutifully showering carpet freshener around her lounge and became a hit during the 1980s. Proving the retention factor of jingles, in 2000 this advert was listed in the Top 20 of Channel 4’s The 100 Greatest TV Ads. You may never have bought the carpet powder, but I’m sure you have no trouble conjuring up this enduring jingle.