Here's Where You Know That Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Commercial Song From
Once again, it's that time of year when the NFL teams up with the music and ad industries to put together the year's biggest game of "name that tune." Yup, it's Super Bowl time. Naturally, we're pumped, as well as on pins and needles over who'll emerge as the winner... among this year's Super Bowl advertisers.
Traditionally, a number of beverage giants have leveraged the Super Bowl to debut ad campaigns that often turn out to be iconic (via Business Insider). For Super Bowl LV, however, many major drink brands are taking a time out. That's including Budweiser, which is sitting out in an effort to promote COVID-19 vaccination awareness. But one major beverage company we can count on to stay "in the game" this year is Michelob, whose parent company, Anheuser-Busch, purchased four minutes of ad time (via AdAge).
As you'll see, the Michelob commercial is nothing short of epic, featuring an impressive roster of pro-athletes, including tennis great Serena Williams, basketball star Anthony Davis, and football's Peyton Manning, just to name a few. The ad's called "Happy," and they can all be seen relaxing and having fun while exploring the philosophical question, "Are you happy because you win, or do you win because you're happy?" (via Twitter). But what truly brings the message of joy is the commercial's iconic choice of music. Here's where you know that Michelob Ultra Super Bowl commercial song from.
The Michelob commercial song takes us way back to 1990
The song that forms the soundtrack for the Michelob Super Bowl commercial will take many viewers on a trip down nostalgia lane. It's the 1990 R&B song, "Can I Kick It?" from the debut album of alternative hip hop band, A Tribe Called Quest (via The Source), and it works on multiple levels. First, there's the title, which not only calls to mind football but also the dual notions of motivation and bravery, which obviously come into play in the context of playing sports. Then there's the tune, which A Tribe Called Quest sampled from Lou Reed's classic "Walk on the Wild Side," which many viewers, particularly Boomers and Gen Xers, may recall playing in the background of their formative days.
Lilting and playful, "Can I Kick It?" also carries with it a sweet irony that feels appropriate for the commercial's "happiness" theme. As it turns out, A Tribe Called Quest made no money off the song, due to a royalties-related snafu (via Rolling Stone). However, the band was never bitter. Quite the opposite, in fact. They were grateful. The song, did, after all, put the band on the map. And now it's the soundtrack for Michelob's Super Bowl LV commercial, virtually guaranteeing it will be seeing lots more replays going forward.