Needle Drops 2025: The Killer Tracks That Turned Ads Into Bops
The ‘needle drop’ is a long-known shortcut to making an impact and resonating with audiences. When chosen well, it can elevate even a mid ad to one people remember and enjoy. If the opportunity to tap into pre-existing connections and cultural memories is there, it makes sense for admakers to take it.
Christmas ads, especially in the UK, deploy the needle drop often with John Lewis leading the charge and opting for covers of well-known and loved tracks. 2022 was the year the retailer gave us a cover of Blink-182’s ‘All The Small Things’ by Postmodern Jukebox; Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakey’s ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ got the cover treatment by Lola Young in 2021; and in 2019, Bastille covered ‘Can't Fight This Feeling’.
2025 wasn’t short on needle drops either. One of our favourites – the trailer for the ROG Xbox Ally – is shrouded in a touch of mystery. In it, Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’ is covered by someone who sounds an awful lot like the Geese frontman Cameron Winter though neither he, the band, or the credits confirm this. Still, to our ears that tenor is unmistakable.
What else perked up our ears in ‘25? Scroll to see our selection of noteworthy needle drops from the year past.
adidas x Oasis – Original Forever
Song: ‘Live Forever’ by Oasis.
Ocado – Life Delivered
Song: Chemical Brothers, ‘Let Forever Be’, with vocals from Noel Gallagher.
RONA – Build It Right
Song: ‘Love Hurts’, by Nazareth.
Guinness – A Lovely Day
Song: ‘Iron Sky’, Paolo Nutini.
Uber -- Close
Song, Fleetwood Mac, 'Landslide', performed by James Blake.
Burberry -- Festival
Song: ‘Sweet Harmony’, Liquid.
Uber – In Good Time
Song: Billie Eilish, ‘When The Party's Over’.
HOKA – Together
Song: ‘Shelter From the Storm’, Bob Dylan.
Facebook – Secret Santa
Song: 'Cold Gin', Kiss.
