7 Cursed Adverts That Live In My Head Rent-Free

One of the weirdest things about nostalgia is that we remember absolutely everything.

Beloved TV shows? Of course.

Favourite songs? Naturally.

The exact smell of a school hall before a disco? Somehow, yes.

But for some reason, our brains also cling to adverts. Not necessarily good adverts. Not even adverts for products we’ve ever bought. Just random commercials that have burrowed into our memories and refused to leave.

So, in honour of all the strange marketing decisions of the past few decades, here are seven adverts that live in my head rent-free.

1. The Budweiser Frogs

Bud.

Weis.

Er.

That’s it. That’s the advert.

Three frogs sat in a swamp croaking the name of a beer.

Why was it so memorable? Why do I still remember it decades later despite never having drunk Budweiser in my life?

Questions for another day.

2. The Smash Martians

If you know, you know.

Tiny alien robots laughing hysterically at humans for making mashed potato from actual potatoes instead of instant mash.

As a child I couldn’t decide whether they were funny or slightly terrifying.

As an adult I still can’t.

3. The Belly’s Gonna Get Ya

Who approved this?

For anyone lucky enough not to remember, this advert featured giant stomachs chasing people down the street.

Nothing says “buy our trainers” quite like being pursued by an enormous belly.

Perfectly logical.

4. The Drumming Gorilla

A gorilla.

Playing drums.

To Phil Collins.

To advertise chocolate.

Somewhere in a boardroom, somebody pitched that idea and somehow everyone agreed.

And you know what? It worked.

I can still picture it.

5. Compare the Meerkat

What started as an insurance advert somehow became a cultural phenomenon.

People collected the toys.

Quoted the catchphrases.

And occasionally forgot what the actual product being advertised was.

That’s impressive marketing.

6. CHECK IN IS NOW CLOSED

You know the one.

You’re happily watching television when suddenly an overly cheerful airport announcement blasts through the room.

“CHECK IN IS NOW CLOSED.”

Thank you.

I wasn’t planning on catching a flight, but now I’m stressed anyway.

7. That One Random Advert You Can’t Explain

Every generation has one.

The advert nobody else remembers.

The one that randomly pops into your head at 2am.

The commercial that was probably only on TV for six weeks but somehow became part of your personality.

Mine changes regularly.

The human brain is weird.

Final Thoughts

Nostalgia isn’t just about the things we loved.

Sometimes it’s about the things that confused us, annoyed us, mildly traumatised us, or simply refused to leave our heads.

And honestly?

Those memories are often the funniest ones.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and wonder why I can remember a frog advertising beer from decades ago but can’t remember why I walked into the kitchen.