Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly

Episode: “Jingles: Rhythmic Instruction Manuals”
Release Date: February 7, 2026
Host: Terry O’Reilly
Network: Apostrophe Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the 100th anniversary of the advertising jingle by exploring a particular subcategory: jingles that double as “rhythmic instruction manuals.” Host Terry O’Reilly takes listeners on a lively, nostalgic journey through the evolution of advertising jingles—especially those whose lyrics weren’t just memorable, but actually taught people how to use a product. Packed with pop culture, history, and behind-the-scenes ad-industry stories, this episode shines a spotlight on the creative art and business impact of these catchy tunes, as well as their enduring influence on pop culture and consumer behavior.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. TV Theme Songs as Instruction Manuals

[04:21–08:25]

• TV theme songs aren’t just mood-setters; many were written to recap the show’s premise every week so the audience wouldn’t forget.
  • The Beverly Hillbillies (“The Ballad of Jed Clampett”): Summed up the backstory in lyrics.
  • Green Acres: “It has the rare distinction of being sung by the show’s stars, Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. And every week, the theme song would reiterate the show's premise.” (Terry O’Reilly, 06:36)
  • Gilligan’s Island: Network rejected a John Williams-penned calypso in favor of a rewritten, narrative jingle.
  • WKRP in Cincinnati: The theme lyrics explained everything you needed to know about the characters and the setting.

2. The Birth and Power of the Advertising Jingle

[09:23–11:28]

• 2026 marks the centennial of the radio jingle, with Wheaties’ 1926 barbershop number seen as the origin.
  • The jingle saved the failing cereal and even spawned an act, “The Wheaties Quartet.”
• Jingles boomed during the '50s and '60s, with classics for brands like McDonald’s and Smarties.
  • Quoting Terry: “They peaked in the '50s and '60s. Here’s one of my all-time favorites.” [Ref. Pepsodent, 10:49]

3. Jingles as Rhythmic Instruction Manuals

[11:28–16:40]

• Certain jingles were crafted to literally explain product usage—not just sell, but teach.
  • The Clapper:
    “Clap on, clap off…the Clapper.” [12:16]
    • Jingle explained the sound-activated function in six words.
    • 7 million sold; still in stores.
  • Alka Seltzer:
    The “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz” jingle reminded consumers to take two tablets, not one:

    “The Plop plop fizz fizz jingle lyric was a reminder to take two tablets instead of one. With that tiny change, Alka Seltzer doubled its sales.” (Terry O’Reilly, 13:56)

    • Composed by Tom Dawes of ‘The Cyrkle,’ connected to the Beatles et al.
  • Mr. Clean:
    The jingle provided a laundry-list of uses in rapid-fire rhyme:

    “Mr. Clean gets rid of dirt and grime and grease in just a minute. Mr. Clean will clean your whole house and everything that’s in it…” (Jingle, 15:39)

    • Within 6 months, it was the #1 cleaner in the US.

4. Jingles That Changed Buying (and Playing) Habits

[18:33–25:36]

• Chiquita Banana (1947):
  The jingle directed consumers how to ripen and eat bananas, and, crucially, told them not to keep them in the fridge to ensure faster repurchase.

  “But bananas like the climate of the very, very tropical equator. So you should never put bananas in the refrigerator.” (Ms. Chiquita, 19:42)

• Toys & Games:
  Jingles were essential for explaining how new or odd toys worked, becoming oral “instruction manuals.” Examples include:
  • Barrel of Monkeys:
    “Nothing’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys. The Lakeside game’s so easy to play, empty the barrel, pick up a monkey, hook ‘em together one by one…” [20:42]
  • Easy Bake Oven:
    “Easy bake, easy bake, fast as you can, mix ‘em up, mix ‘em up, pour ‘em in the pan…” [23:13]
  • Pop O Matic Trouble:
    Explains the unique dice-popping mechanism.
  • Twister:
    Instructs players on spinning the spinner and placing body parts on colored dots.
  • Slinky:
    “What walks downstairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound…” [27:05]
    • The jingle made clear it was a toy to “walk” down stairs; also, it was “fun for a girl and a boy.”

5. The Most Annoying—and Relentless—Modern Jingle

[30:59–31:23]

• Cars for Kids:
  A current jingle “many listeners beg us to take off the air,” surviving despite its share of vitriol.

  “On Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver said the jingle was ‘the coronavirus of commercials. It's horrifically infectious and ruins people's lives.’” (Terry O’Reilly, 31:23)

  • Noted for its effectiveness despite (or because of) its catchiness. Even the FAQ on Cars for Kids' own site says they won’t change it “because it works.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of jingles as “instruction manuals”:

  “A subcategory that used lyrics to teach you how to use the product. They were rhythmic instruction manuals.” (Terry O’Reilly, 11:28)

• About the Alka Seltzer jingle’s origins and its effect:

  “With that tiny change, Alka Seltzer doubled its sales.” (Terry O’Reilly, 13:56)

• Ms. Chiquita’s culinary advice:

  “So you should never put bananas in the refrigerator.” (Ms. Chiquita, 19:42)

• On the endurance of jingles:

  “Several of the jingles we played today are over 60 years old and I bet a lot of you remembered every single word.” (Terry O’Reilly, 32:37)

• Regarding Cars for Kids:

  “On the actual Cars for Kids website there is a Frequently Asked Questions section. The last question on the page is can you please change your jingle? The Cars4Kids answer is no, because it works.” (Terry O’Reilly, 31:23)

• On the art of jingle writing:

  “It’s not easy to create a 30 second piece of music that is so catchy people hum it. And it’s doubly hard to create a jingle with difficult lyrics that tell you how to use the product or play the game.” (Terry O’Reilly, 32:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:21] – Introduction to TV theme songs as sonic “instruction manuals”
• [09:23] – The birth of the advertising jingle (Wheaties, 1926)
• [11:28] – The emergence of the instructional jingle
• [13:45] – Alka Seltzer: “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz” origin story and impact
• [15:39] – Mr. Clean jingle’s comprehensive product tutorial
• [18:33] – Chiquita Banana jingle: teaching North Americans how to eat bananas
• [20:42] – Jingles explain toy/game mechanisms: Barrel of Monkeys, Easy Bake Oven, and more
• [27:05] – Slinky jingle: defining how to enjoy a (seemingly odd) toy
• [30:59] – Cars for Kids: the most persistent jingle of modern times
• [32:37] – Reflections on the decline and legacy of the ad jingle

Closing Reflections

Terry O’Reilly concludes that while the heyday of jingles may have passed, their clever design as “rhythmic instruction manuals” has left an indelible mark on both advertising and popular culture. Though few companies invest in them today, these meticulously crafted earworms continue to live rent-free in our heads—proof that a 30-second jingle, when done right, can sell millions and teach us something, too.

Quote to Remember:

“These rhythmic instruction manuals became part of the cultural landscape, lasted for years, and sold millions of products. Some jingles made you smile, some were annoyingly effective, and a surprising number still reside on our cranial shelves.”
— Terry O’Reilly [32:55]