This page attempts to list the various products or companies advertised using Jeff's songs. This list does not include film or television use of the songs, which is handled separately (and on a webpage yet to be designed).
For most of Jeff's professional career, it was not fashionable for rock musicians to sell their songs for advertising. Many fans and critics maligned the band's use of Hold On Tight in the Coffee Achievers ads in the early 1980s. By the late 1990s, the practice had become acceptable and Jeff's songs began appearing much more frequently in advertising campaigns in the 2000s. Jeff even went so far as to record a whole new version (or versions) of Mr. Blue Sky to be used for the 2003 Volkswagon Beetle convertible and Sears ad campaigns. Odds are good that there will be many more of Jeff's songs used to hawk wares in the future. Don't turn that dial!
If you see any errors or know of any songs used in advertising that are not listed on this page, please contact me at the address at the bottom of this page.
Robert Porter
February 2012
Artist Song Advertiser/Product Season Type Notes Electric Light Orchestra Telephone Line Woolworths (UK) 1978 TV Electric Light Orchestra Turn To Stone Shiseidoh Cosmetics (Japan) 1979 TV Electric Light Orchestra Hold On Tight Coffee Achievers (USA) early 1980s TV & Radio Electric Light Orchestra Prologue DAICON IV (Japan) 1983 Convention The song is set to Japanese anime. Electric Light Orchestra Twilight DAICON IV (Japan) 1983 Convention The song is set to Japanese anime. Electric Light Orchestra Hold On Tight DAICON IV (Japan) 1983 Convention The song is set to Japanese anime. The full song is not used. Electric Light Orchestra Twilight Toyota Celica XX (Japan) early 1980s TV Roy Orbison I Drove All Night Peugeot cars (UK) 1993 TV Christine Anu Livin' Thing New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (Australia) 2001 to ? TV This is not an ELO performance, but a cover version by Christine Anu. Roy Orbison You Got It Target department stores (USA) 2003 TV Three different remixes of the song were used. Jeff Lynne Mr. Blue Sky Volkswagon Beetle convertible (USA) 2003 TV This is a new recording by Jeff Lynne. Electric Light Orchestra Hold On Tight Ameriquest Mortgage Company (USA) early 2005 TV Unknown cover artist Mr. Blue Sky Telia - Orange Bli'r Til Telia (Denmark) Early 2005 TV Electric Light Orchestra Mr. Blue Sky Marks and Spencer women's clothing line (UK) Summer and fall 2005 TV Electric Light Orchestra Mr. Blue Sky Telia mobile (Denmark) 2005 TV Electric Light Orchestra Mr. Blue Sky France Telecom (France) Fall 2005 TV Uses the intro and first verse only. Electric Light Orchestra Do Ya Monster.com (USA/UK) 2005/2006 TV & Radio Electric Light Orchestra Livin' Thing JC Penney department stores (USA) Christmas 2005 TV Unknown cover artist Last Train To London Banco Hipotecario (Argentina) 2006 TV Electric Light Orchestra Shine A Little Love Starlight Day (Australia) May 2007 TV Jeff Lynne Mr. Blue Sky Sears department stores (USA) May to August 2007 TV This is a new recording by Jeff Lynne. The song was used in various TV ads, including some for Mother's Day, Father's Day and general appliance (refrigerators, washers, etc.) ads. Unknown cover artist Xanadu Softbank (Japan) Summer 2007 TV Electric Light Orchestra Hold On Tight Honda Accord (USA) Late Summer to December 2007 TV Electric Light Orchestra/Lily Allen Mr. Blue Sky SFR (France) Late 2007 TV Both ELO's version and Lily Allen's version of Mr. Blue Sky were used in various ads. Electric Light Orchestra Mr. Blue Sky NBWA/American Beer Distributors (USA) Early 2008 TV This ad follows a day in the life of "Mr. Beer Guy" and mimics the camera tricks and imagery from the VW Beetle convertible ad. Jeff Lynne Mr. Blue Sky Guinness (Ireland) Early 2008 TV This is a new recording by Jeff Lynne. Jeff Lynne Mr. Blue Sky JetBlue (USA) Summer 2008 TV & Online This is a new recording by Jeff Lynne. Jeff Lynne Mr. Blue Sky All Nippon Airways (ANA) (Japan) Summer 2008 TV & Online This is a new recording by Jeff Lynne. Electric Light Orchestra Mr. Blue Sky Kmart (USA) Summer 2008 TV Electric Light Orchestra Midnight Blue Anycall - T*Omnia (Korea) 2008 TV Electric Light Orchestra Mr. Blue Sky Anycall - Haptic Pop (Korea) Early 2009 TV Jeff Lynne Mr. Blue Sky Target department stores (Australia) Summer 2011 TV This is a new recording by Jeff Lynne.
Again, if you know of any errors or omissions, please contact me at elofan@juno.com and let me know. I strive for accuracy.
Robert Porter
February 2012