"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" is a pop song which originated as an advertising jingle, produced by Billy Davis and sung by The New Seekers, for Coca-Cola, and was featured in a 1971 as a TV commercial. For Popular music (music that is popular, rather than of a specific genre or style), see Popular music. ... Roquel Billy Davis, or Billy Davis, (July 11, 1932 - September 2, 2004) was producer of the song Id like to teach the world to sing, from the 1971 Coca-Cola TV advertisement. ... The New Seekers was an Australian pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... A television commercial (often called an advert in the United Kingdom) is a form of advertising in which goods, services, organizations, ideas, etc. ...

Origins

The song began life as a collaboration by UK hit songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway called "True Love and Apple Pie" and recorded by Susan Shirley. It was then rewritten by Cook, Greenaway, Coca-Cola account executive Bill Backer, and Billy Davis and recorded as a Coca-Cola radio commercial, with the lyric "I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company." First aired on American radio in 1970, it was also used as a TV commercial a year later, sparking public demand for its release as a single. Reworked, again, to remove the references to the brand name, the single climbed to UK #1 and US #7 in 1971. Roger Cook may be: Roger Cook, songwriter Roger Cook, investigative journalist This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Roger John Greenaway (born August 23, 1938, Fishponds, Bristol, England), is a popular British songwriter, best remembered for his collaborations with Roger Cook. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... Roquel Billy Davis, or Billy Davis, (July 11, 1932 - September 2, 2004) was producer of the song Id like to teach the world to sing, from the 1971 Coca-Cola TV advertisement. ...

TV commercial

The 1971 TV commercial featured young people from around the world singing on a hilltop, and was so popular that the song (without the Coke references) became a hit in its own right. Commercial recordings as a pop-song were issued by The New Seekers and The Hillside Singers.

In the commercial, the lead singer and the people surrounding her were filmed in isolation, and never met (or sang with) any of the hundreds of young people represented in the final version of the ad.

The song's success was particularly notable in the UK where it is one of the 100 best selling singles of all time.

When South Africa planned to use this advert on SABC, they wanted Coca Cola to use an all-white version (there are people of different races in the video, which upset the apartheid government). The application for it was steadfastly refused. SABC is an abbreviation for either South African Broadcasting Corporation - in South Africa or Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council - in the United Kingdom ... The Coca-Cola Classic logo, used from 2003-present. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ...

In the media

The song's melody was later used as the basis of the song "Shakermaker" by the rock group Oasis. They were successfully sued for the unlicensed use by The New Seekers and had to pay out A$500,000. This incident was the inspiration for the Oasis parody/tribute band No Way Sis's cover of the song in an Oasis style. Shakermaker is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by their lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Oasis are a rock band originally formed in Manchester, England. ... The Australian dollar (currency code AUD) has been, since 1966, the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu. ... No Way Sis were the official Oasis tribute band who Noel Gallagher heralded as the second best band in the world. ...

A 2002 7-Up commercial parodied the famous Coke ad as an attack on its soft drink rival. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 7 Up (or Seven Up) is a brand of a lemon-lime flavored soft drink. ...

In 2005, Coca-Cola Zero was introduced with an ad campaign featuring "I'd Like to Teach the World to Chill", with rewritten lyrics intended to better match a new generation's sensibilities. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Coca-Cola Zero or Coke Zero is a product of the Coca-Cola Company. ...

In 2005 the Fox show "American Dad" referenced it in a video of the Stan and Haily. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2006 the song was used again in the Coca-Cola commercial at least in the Netherlands. The song is covered by the dutch singer Berget Lewis. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Story of the Commercial
• Non-commercial pop song lyrics
• The Coke Page -- Coca Cola Advertising lyrics