Barry Manilow Sang A Jingle In The '70s That Has One Of The Silliest Lines In Commercial History

Not only did Barry Manilow sing on a 1972 jingle that features one of the most iconic lines in commercial history, but he also lent his voice to arguably the silliest in that decade. Having said that, no one can deny that Manilow's voice over a Kentucky Fried Chicken ad, exhorting us to "get a bucket of chicken," lives rent-free in everybody's mind. It's brain-tickling good! 

Speaking to NPR, Manilow recalled the experience of recording the KFC jingle, laughing along with the hosts about how silly it is in retrospect, especially the "get a bucket of chicken" line that serves almost like a direct instruction to consumers rather than a mere suggestion. "I mean, that is really a catchy melody," he said. "And that started — that jingle started off right at the top of the hook. There was no beginning to that jingle. It just started on the hook." 

Manilow explained how he wasn't responsible for writing the lyrics, though. He only arranged the piece and belted out the classic but hilarious lyrics. The jingle's influence continues to linger in pop culture, since everyone talks about it decades after its release, while the average person may not remember what they ate for lunch yesterday.

Barry Manilow has contributed to many catchy jingles over the decades. From KFC to Pepsi and Band-Aid, the musician has shaped the public's perception of various brands through his undeniable ability to carry a memorable tune that stays stuck in the brain, long after the ad airs. Yet, Manilow didn't fall into the world of commercials by choice. Instead, it was an opportunity that just presented itself organically, and he rode the wave to further success.

In an interview with the Television Academy, Manilow discussed how he started to record his own songs and sent out demos when he was noticed by the advertising industry. "I got this phone call from a commercial agency: Would I be interested in trying for a jingle for Dodge?" he said. "They needed a melody. So they gave me their lyric, and I wrote this melody for Dodge. It got selected, so people kept calling me to do jingles."

In 2009, while accepting an award at the 50th anniversary CLIO Awards, Manilow stated that his time creating jingles taught him invaluable lessons about music as a whole. "I learned the most about music working in the jingle industry," he said (via Adweek). "It was the best music college I could ever imagine."