Sing a song of service with Ford in WWII

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World War II was an arid time for advertisers. Civilian goods were scarce and were a cinch to sell, so advertising was meant simply to keep the company's name before the public.

Few cars were made, and all were tagged for the military. Automakers settled for maintenance messages.

Singing commercials were in style, and some were cute and catchy. Pepsi-Cola (now just plain Pepsi) delivered its message in song and landed a roundhouse blow on the chin of the King of Colas:

Pepsi-Cola hits the spot;

Twelve full ounces, that's a lot.

Twice as much for a nickel, too -

Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you.

Recognize the jab? Pepsi came in 12-ounce bottles. Coca Cola had that wondrous Coke-bottle shape, which held only six ounces. Teenagers voted for Pepsi.

But Detroit radio station WWJ spoiled the fun for all advertisers: It banned singing commercials. You could recite the words but couldn't sing them.

You haven't lived until you've heard a deep-voiced radio announcer wrap his pear-shaped tones around:

There's a Ford in your future,

But the Ford in your past

Is the Ford you have now,

So you better make it last.

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