List of McDonald's ad programs

This is a list of promotions by McDonald's restaurants through various time points.

Slogans

Here is a partial list of slogans:^[3]

indicates the Golden Arches logo was used in place of a regular letter M.

Arab World

• انا احبه (I'm loving it) (2003–present)
• تعرف جودة مأكولاتنا (Check our food quality) (2006–present)

Australia

• You deserve a Break Today (May 30, 1971–1975)
• We got it all for you (1975–1980)
• You deserve a Break Today (1980–1984)
• Love a Burger, Love a McDonald's (1981)
• It's a Good Time for the Great Taste (1984–1988)
• McDonald's is cooking ... breakfast! (1987–1992, breakfast)
• The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's (1988–1992)
• It's MacTime (1992)
• It's MacTime Now (1992)
• It's MacTime Again (1994)
• MacTime Rocks On (1994, Featured David Essex's song Rock On)
• Only McDonald's (1998)
• Mac your Day (2000-September 20, 2003)
• Big McDonalds (2001)
• Feed your inner child (2005)
• Hand in hand with Australia (2006–current)
• Bacon bacon bacon (2007, bacon menu)
• I'm Lovin' it! (September 21, 2003–current)
• It's a Little Bit Fancy. (2009–present, used for the "M Selections" line of products)
• 2011 it! (2011–2012)
• 2012 it! (2012-present)

Philippines

• It's A Good Time for the Great Taste. (1984–1988)
• The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's. (1988–1994)
• Ulitin Ang Sarap! (Repeat the deliciousness!) (1994–1997)
• Kita Kits sa McDo (See you at McDo) (1997–September 2003)
• Love ko 'to (I love this) (September 2003–present)
• Love ko' 5 (I love 5) (2004–present, orientation videos)

Austria

• McDonald's ist einfach gut
• Everytime a good time (1999–2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)

The Bahamas

• We love to see you smile (2000–2003)
• i'm lovin' it (2003–present)

Brazil

• É um bom momento para o delicioso sabor do McDonald's (It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's) (1984–1994)
• Esse é o momento que gostoso que é McDonald's (1987)
• Gostoso como a vida deve ser (Hot like life should be) (1994–2003)
• Amo Muito Tudo Isso (Love all that much) (2003–present)

Bulgaria

• i'm lovin' it (December 10, 1994–present)

Canada

English

• The closest thing to home (1967–1969)
• McDonald's is your kind of place (1967–1971)
• You deserve a break today (1971–1975)
• Enjoy the best food at McDonald's (1973, concurrent with 1971 slogan)
• We do it all for you (also known as You, you're the one) (1975–1979)
• Nobody can do it like McDonald's can (1979–1980)
• You deserve a break today (1980–1983)
• Nobody makes your day like McDonald's can (1980–1983)
• That's My McDonald's (1981, concurrent with 1980 slogans)
• Never Nasty, Your Dog Will Be Happy (1981–1982)
• We cook it all for you at McDonald's (1982, concurrent with 1980 slogans)
• McDonald's and you (1983–1984)
• It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's (1984–1988)
• It's Mac Tonight (1985, Mac Tonight advertising)
• McDonald's is your place to be (1986)
• The good time, great taste of McDonald's (1988–1990)
• There's nothing quite like a McDonald's (1988–1990)
• You Deserve A Break Today (1989–1990, concurrent with 1988 slogan)
• Food, folks and fun (1990–1991)
• McDonald's Today (1991–1992)
• What you want is what you get (1992–1997)
• Do you believe in magic? (1993–1997, Happy Meal advertising)
• Have you had your break today? (1995–1997)
• My McDonald's (1997)
• Did somebody say McDonald's? (1997–2000)
• We love to see you smile (2000–2003)
• Put a Smile On (2000–2003)
• Smile (2001–2003)
• There's a little McDonald's in everyone (2002–2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)
• It's what I eat and what I do (2005)
• What we're made of (2008–present)
• " Good things come in 3's" (2011)

French

• Moi J'm McDonald (Me I love McDonald's) (1971–2003)^[4]
• C’est ça que j’m^[5] (It's that which I love) (2003–)

Chile

• Un Momento Especial, Cada Dia (A special moment, every day) (1999–2003)
• Me Encanta Todo Eso (All that I love) (2003–present)
• Me Encanta(I love it) (2003–present, secondary)

El Salvador

• Me Encanta ("I love it) (Jul. 20, 1972–present)
• ¡McDonald's Está Chivisimo! (McDonald's is Cool!) (2009–present)

Finland

• I'm lovin' it (Dec. 14, 1984–present)

France

• Ca se passe comme ca chez MacDonald's (It happens like that at Mc'Donalds) (1985–September 28, 2003)
• C'est Tout Ce Que J'aime (That's all I Like) (September 29, 2003–present)
• Venez comme vous êtes (Come as You Are) (late-November 2008–present)

Germany

• Das etwas andere Restaurant (The somewhat different restaurant) (1971–1987)
• Essen mit Spaß (Eating with fun) (1978–1982)
• Gut, dass es McDonald's gibt (It's good that McDonald's exists) (1982–1987)
• Der Platz, wo Du gern bist, weil man gut isst (The place where you like to be because you eat well) (1987–1991)
• McDonald's ist einfach gut (McDonald's is simply good) (1991–1999)
• Every time a good time (1999 – September 1, 2003)
• Ich liebe es (I'm lovin' it) (September 2, 2003–present)

Guatemala

• Esse momento para gran sabor de McDonald's (1984–1995)
• El sabor de la alegría (The Taste of Joy) (1995–2003)
• me encanta (2003–present)

Honduras

• Me encanta (1995–present)

Hong Kong

• Nobody can do it like McDonald's can (1979–1984)
• Good Times and Great Tastes (1984–1985)
• It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's (1984–1988)
• Good time, great taste (that's why this is our place) (1988–1993)
• Only McDonald's (1993–1995)
• Every time a good time (1999–2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)
• You are the sunshine of my life (2011-present)

Iceland

• I'm lovin' it (2003–2009)

India

• McDonald's mein hai kuch baat. (Oct. 13, 1996–1999)
• Toh aaj, Mmmmmmmmmm! McDonald's ho jaye. (1999–2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)

Indonesia

• Manalagi selain di McD (1999-2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)

Israel

• I'm lovin' it (Oct. 14, 1993–present)

Jamaica

• I'm lovin' it mon (2003–2005)

Japan

• 味なことやる! マクドナルド! (1975-1978)
• 世界のことば! マクドナルド! (1978-1984)
• おいしい保語! マクドナルド! (1984-1989)
• だから, マクドナルド! (1989-1995)
• いい顔いっぱい、バリューがいっぱい。 (1995-1998)
• みんなはマクドナルドを愛して (1998-2003)
• i'm lovin' it (2003-present)
• ching chong bing bong ding dong...penis

New Zealand

• We've got it all (7 June 1976 - )
• The good time, great taste of McDonald's (1988 - 1990)
• Grab the Moment (early 1990s)
• It's gonna be a lovely day (1994 - 2000, breakfast weekdays)
• It's gonna be a great weekend (1994 - 2000, breakfast weekends)
• It's Mac Time (late 1990s)
• That's our tucker (1990s & 2005)
• Make every time a good time (early 2000s)
• I'm Lovin' it! (2003–current)
• Proud to be part of the change (2006–2009)
• It's a Little Bit Fancy. (2009, used for the "M Selections" line of products)
• More than you expect (2011)
• Just because (17 August 2011 - present)

Netherlands

• McDonald's maakt meer van lekker uit eten. (McDonald's makes eating out more.)
• Ze zei meneer tegen me.(she called me Sir!)
• Je mag hier met je handjes eten (You can eat with your hands here!)
• Gek op Mac (Crazy about Mac)
• McDonalds is altijd goed (McDonalds is always good)
• Everytime a good time
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)

Norway

• Spis den beste maten! (Eat the best food!) (1999–2003)
• Må få min smak! (Must get my taste!) (2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)
• Hvis Du Vil (If You Want) (2004, Greek Salad commercials)

Paraguay

• Me encanta! (I love it) (1996–present)

Poland

• W McDonald's spotkajmy się (Let's meet in McDonald's) (1991-1999)
• Every time a good time (1999-2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003-present)

Puerto Rico

• La cosa más cercana a casa (The closest thing to home) (1967)
• De McDonald's es el tipo de lugar (McDonald's is the kind of place) (1967–1971)
• Te mereces un descanso hoy (You deserve a break today) (1971–1975)
• Disfruta de la mejor comida en McDonald's (Enjoy the best food at McDonald's) (1973, concurrent with 1971 slogan)
• Lo hacemos todo para usted (We do it all for you) (also known as Tu, eres el uno) (1975–1979)
• Nadie puede hacerlo como McDonald's puede (Nobody can do it like McDonald's can) (1979–1980)
• Te mereces un descanso hoy (You deserve a break today) (1980–1983)
• Nadie hace que su día como McDonald's puede (Nobody makes your day like McDonald's can) (1980–1983)
• Nos cocinar todo para usted en McDonald's (We cook it all for you at McDonald's) (1982)
• De McDonald's y Guste (McDonald's and you) (1983–1984)
• Es un que momento para el gran sabor de McDonald's (It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's) (1984–1988)
• Es Mac Esta noche (It's Mac Tonight) (1985)
• De McDonald's es el lugar para estar (McDonald's is the place to be) (1986)
• Que momento, que sabor (Good Time, Great Taste) (1988–1990)
• No hay nada como un McDonald's (There's nothing quite like a McDonald's) (1988–1990)
• Que se merece el día de hoy (You deserve a break today) (1989–1990, concurrent with 1988 slogans)
• Alimentación, amigos y diversión (Food, friends and fun) (1990–1991)
• Hoy de McDonald's (McDonald's today) (1991–1992)
• Lo que queremos es lo que obtienes (What you want is what you get) (1992–1995)
• ¿Crees en la magia? (Do you believe in magic?) (1993–1997, Cajita Feliz advertising)
• ¿Ha tenido su día de hoy? (Have you had your break today?) (1995–1997)
• Mi McDonald's (My McDonald's) (1997)
• ¿C Alguien decir McDonald's? (Did somebody say "McDonald's"?) (1997–2000)
• Que gusto verte sonreír (We love to see you smile) (2000–2003)
• Pon una sonrisa en (Put on a smile) (2000–2003)
• Sonríe (Smile) (2002–2003)
• Me Encanta (I love it) (2003–present)
• Lo que estamos hechos de (What we're made of) (2008–present)

Russia

• Великие моменты каждый день в McDonald's (Great moments every day at McDonald's) (1990–2002)
• Великие моменты в McDonald's (Great moments at McDonald's) (2002–2003)
• Bот что я люблю (2003–present)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present, secondary)

South Africa

• Make every day a McDonald's day (1994)

Spain

• Sabemos lo que te gusta (We know what you like) (1998–2003)
• I'm lovin' it (2003–present)

Sweden

• It's a Good Time for the Great Taste (1984)
• The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's (1988)
• Kom till McDonald's – vi ger mer (1993) (Come to McDonald's – We give more)
• Livet har sina goda stunder (1996) (Life has it´s good moments)
• Every Time a Good Time (1999–2003)
• Gotta Get My Taste (2003)
• i'm lovin' it (2003–present)

Turkey

• McDonald's Gibisi Yok! (1995–present)
• İşte Bunu Seviyorum (2003–present)

UK

• You'll enjoy the difference (1974)
• There's a difference at McDonald's You'll Enjoy (1974–1986)
• It's a Good Time for the Great Taste (1986–1988)
• At McDonald's we've got time for you (1985–1988)
• A Visit To McDonald's Makes Your Day (1988–1992)
• There's nothing quite like a McDonald's (1992–1997)
• Enjoy more (1997–2001)
• Only McDonald's (2001–2003)
• Things that make you go MMMMMM! (2002 – September 16, 2003)
• i'm lovin' it (September 17, 2003–present)
• It's What I eat and what I do
• The Sign of a Good Burger (2006)
• Make Up Your Own Mind (2006)
• Oh! Burger (2007)
• That's what makes McDonald's (2008–present)
• That's McDonald's...and then some (2009–present) (this phrase was voted #2 most irritating piece of British advertising likely to deter custom after the Moonpig.com cards jingle in an independent March 9 survey by RM)
• That's McDonald's...but cozy (Used for the Winter Menu in 2009)
• That's McDonald's...with Yee-Hah! (Used for the Tastes of America series in 2009)
• That's McDonald's...but Summery (Summer 2009)
• That's McDonald's...but Merrier (Used for the Festive Menu in 2009)
• There's a McDonald's for everyone (2009–present)

Ukraine

• Великі моменти в McDonald's. (1997–2003)
• Я це люблю (2003–present)

Uruguay

• Me Encanta! (I love it!) (1991–present)

US

• Lets eat out! (1960–1965)
• Look for the Golden Arches! (1960–1967)
• Go for the Goodness at McDonald's (1962–1969)
• The closest thing to home (1966–1969)
• McDonald's is your kind of place (1967 – January 22, 1971)
• You deserve a break today (January 23, 1971 – April 23, 1975)
• Enjoy the best food at McDonald's (1973, concurrent with 1971 slogan)
• McDonald's Sure is Good to Have Around (1974, concurrent with 1971 slogan)
• We do it all for you (also known as You, you're the one) (April 24, 1975 – April 23, 1979)^[6]
• Nobody can do it like McDonald's can (April 24, 1979 – January 19, 1983)
• You deserve a break today (August 21, 1981 – January 19, 1983)
• Nobody makes your day like McDonald's can (1980 – January 19, 1983)
• That's My McDonald's (1981, concurrent with 1980 slogans)
• We cook it all for you at McDonald's (1982, concurrent with 1980 slogans)
• McDonald's and you (January 20, 1983 – April 15, 1984)
• It's a good time for the great taste of McDonald's (April 16, 1984 – April 10, 1988)
• 30 years of good times and great taste (1985, 30th anniversary)
• It's Mac Tonight (1985, Mac Tonight advertising)
• McDonald's is your place to be (1986, also used by NBC between 1990 and 1992 as NBC is the place to be)
• The good time, great taste of McDonald's (April 11, 1988 – May 10, 1990)
• You Deserve A Break Today (1989–1990, concurrent with 1988 slogan)
• Food, folks and fun (May 11, 1990 – March 18, 1991)
• McDonald's Today (March 19, 1991 – March 16, 1992)
• What you want is what you get (March 17, 1992 – February 16, 1995)
• Do you believe in magic? (March 17, 1992 – February 18, 1997, Ronald McDonald and Happy Meal McDonald's ads)
• Have you had your break today? (February 17, 1995 – February 18, 1997)
• One Two Three Four... Big Mac burger! (1997)
• My McDonald's (February 19 – October 1, 1997)
• Did somebody say McDonald's? (October 2, 1997 – June 29, 2000)
• We love to see you smile (June 30, 2000 – September 28, 2003) (On September 11th, 2001, this commercial^[7] aired before NBC's 4 day coverage of the 9/11 attacks. After the words "We love to see you smile", NBC returned to the Today Show with Katie Couric telling viewers a plane crashed into the World Trade Center.)
• Put a Smile On (June 30, 2000 – September 28, 2003)
• Smile (2001 – September 28, 2003)
• I'm lovin' it (September 29, 2003–present)
• It's what I eat and what I do (2005, combined with 2003 slogan to make It's what I eat and what I do...I'm lovin' it)
• What we're made of (2008–present)
• Gimme Back that Filet-O-Fish (2009–present, Filet-O-Fish advertising)
• You want it, need it, you gotta have a taste of McDonald's burgers (December 1, 2010 – present, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Angus Burger advertising)

Jingles

Perhaps the best-known jingle was "You deserve a break today" (a song sometimes incorrectly attributed to a young Barry Manilow,^[8] who did sing it in one version of the commercial and thus included it in his "Very Strange Medley" of product theme songs, with others he had written) in fact, written by jingle singer/song writer Kenny Karen. In the accompanying TV commercial,^[9] there was almost no mention of food. Instead, the ad featured an all-male McDonald's cleaning crew, singing after-hours about their individual tasks, and emphasizing that "at McDonald's it's clean!" just before launching into the almost operatic chorus: "You deserve a break today / So get up and get away / To McDonald's!" Another well known jingle was the "McDonald's is your kind of place / It's such a happy place / Hap, hap, hap, happy place..." from 1967, sung to the tune of "Down by the Riverside".^[10] This jingle was parodied by many older kids at the time when it aired.

Big Mac

English (1974-)

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

^[11]

Portuguese (1987-)

Dois hambúgeres, alface, queijo, molho especial, cebola, e picles num pão com gergelim.

Russian (1990-)

Две мясных котлеты гриль, специальный сосус, сыр, огурцы, салат и лук - всё на булочке с кунжутом. Только так, и это БигМаг.

McDonald's and You! (1983)

McDonald's and you. McDonald's and you. Sharing good times together wherever with you. McDonald's and you, and you, and you! Sharing the good time and no matter where we do. Remember there's only one McDonald's and there's only one you. You! Together, McDonald's and you!

Good Time, Great Taste (1988-1990)

Good Time, Great Taste. That's why this is our place! The Good Time, Great Taste of McDonald's.

Food, Folks and Fun (1990-1991)

It's food, folks and fun. Food, folks and fun. You know the one, McDonald's, for food, folks and fun.

McDonald's Today (1991-1992)

Here today, here to stay. You deserve a break today. McDonald's today.

What you want is what you get (1992-1997)

What you want is what you get at McDonald's today.

There was also an extended version used in one commercial which goes like this:

What you want is what you get, every day in every way. What you want is what you get at McDonald's today. What you want is what you get, every day in every way. What you want is what you get at McDonald's today. At McDonald's today.

Have you had your break today? (1995-1997)

Have you had your break today? We all need to get away. There's one place that's on your way, McDonald's is your break today, Have you had your break today? Oh, feast yourself the McDonald's way. Spend a little money for a smile in your tummy. Have you had your break today? Eat a nibble, you deserve breaks today. Oh Yeah! La, La! Go to McDonald's too with your ki, kid. Have you had your break today? You deserve the McDonald's way. There's a place with a smile in your face. Have you had your break today? Have you had your break today?

Have you had your break today? (Big Mac/Canadian version, 1995-1997)

There was also a Canadian version that also promoted the Big Mac.

Have you had your break today? Easy does it on your way. So much to love, so little to pay, McDonald's is your break today, Have you had your break today? Fun on the run and it's coming your way. Save a little money, put a smile in your tummy, have you had your break today? Feed me, please me, tempt me, tease me. I'm havin' a Big Mac Attack. Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, rush me down to Mickey D's. Have you had your break today? Keep your eyes on the fries don't let 'em get away. Nothin', nothin', like an Egg McMuffin, have you had your break today? Have you had your break today?

Livet har sina goda stunder

This campaign was used in Sweden in 1996 and was recorded by Swedish band Ultima Thule.

Leva livet fritt och glatt, man vill inte sitta still...

...en plats, som alltid är ljus och varm och bara finnas till...

...träffa dom man tycker om, och göra vad man vill...

Livet har sina goda stunder.

Doo wap ap ap a doo den do den doo wap ap ap a do den doo...

Dagar kan passera fort som en våg på öppet hav...

...på McDonalds varva ner, hos oss finns inga krav...

...träffa dom man tycker om och bara koppla av...

Livet hav sina goda stunder.

i'm lovin' it (2003-)

ba-da-ba-ba-ba... i'm lovin' it.

—i'm lovin' it

McDonald's menu song

The McDonald's $1,000,000 Menu Song was an instant-win promotion created as part of an advertising campaign, which ran from 1988 to early 1989. As the name suggests, the song, which was a remake of Reunion's 1974 hit single "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)", incorporates all of the items (at that time) on the McDonald's menu: sandwiches, other lunch/dinner items, breakfast items, dessert items, and drinks, in that order.

Promotion overview

Either Eva-Tone Soundsheets or cardboard records containing the song were attached to advertising inserts and distributed within newspapers across the United States. On all but one of the issued recordings, the singers were not able to recite the song perfectly from start to finish; when the singers made a mistake, the record was over. On the unique, prize-winning recording, the singers were able to complete the song; this record was a $1,000,000 instant winner.

Approximately 80,000,000 records were distributed, and only one of them was a winner.^[12] The promotion was won by Galax, Virginia, resident Charlene Price, who used the money to purchase the convenience store where she worked.^[13]

United States lyrics

The lyrics read as follows:

Big Mac, McDLT, a Quarter-Pounder with some cheese, Filet-O-Fish, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a Happy Meal. McNuggets, tasty golden french fries, regular or larger size, and salads: chef or garden, or a chicken salad oriental. Big Big Breakfast, Egg McMuffin, hot hot cakes, and sausage. Maybe biscuits, bacon, egg and cheese, a sausage, danish, hash browns too. And for dessert hot apple pies, and sundaes three varieties, a soft-serve cone, three kinds of shakes, and chocolatey chip cookies. And to drink a Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and orange drink, A Sprite and coffee, decaf too, A lowfat milk, also an orange juice. I love McDonald's, good time great taste, and I get this all at one place...

Québec

Around the same time (1989–90), a French version of the ad campaign was produced for Quebec; however, no promotion was attached. [1]

The order given in this version was sandwiches, other lunch/dinner items, dessert items, drinks, and breakfast. The Québec lyrics read as follows:

Big Mac, McDLT, un quart de livre avec fromage, filet de poisson, un hamburger, un cheeseburger, un McPoulet, des McCroquettes, des frites dorées en deux formats. Salade du chef, ou du jardin, ou de poulet à l'orientale voilà sûrement un vrai régal. Et pour dessert: chausson aux pommes, biscuits aux brisures chocolatées, des laits frappés en trois saveurs, un sundae y a rien de meilleur, suivi d'un Coke diet, d'un Sprite, d'un Coke, d'une délicieuse root-beer, chocolat chaud, un, lait, un thé, ou un café en deux formats. Ommelette, McMuffin au jambon, rôties un frits avec bacon, œuf McMuffin, muffin anglais, crêpes, et saucisses danoise au pommes, servez-moi donc un jus d'orange, de pamplemousse, ou bien de pommes. J'aime McDonald, j'ai le goût c'est l`heure de savoir mon menu par cœur.

—
McDonald's Canada: "Le menu chanté, 1989

Media tie-ins

Scratch-off games and sweepstakes promotions

United States

• 1982 – Taste the thrill of Atari at McDonald's.
• 1984 – Los Angeles Olympics Scratch-off game.
• 1988 – Seoul Olympics Scratch-off game. Customers received a card for an Olympic event. If the USA won gold in that event, you won a Big Mac. If the USA got Silver, you won a medium fries. If the USA got bronze, you won a small drink.
• 1989 – Million-Dollar McDonald's song contest for Big Mac.
• 1991 – Dick Tracy Scratch-off game. This one was easily broken and many people essentially cheated to win as folding the card in half and rubbing a coin on the crease allowed you to see the winnings. Upon finding the winning circle, you just folded it back up, scratched off the winner, and the associate didn't have a clue.
• 1996–2000, 2004, 2009 – Teenie Beanie Babies
• 1999 – Disney's Inspector Gadget Code Name Game
• 2005 – Monopoly Game collect-and-win sweepstakes
• 2006 – FIFA World Cup 2006 Meal
• 2006 – Pirates of the Caribbean Sweepstakes
• 2006 – Monopoly Game collect-and-win sweepstakes
• 2010 - Monopoly Game collect-and-win sweepstakes
• 2011 - Monopoly Game collect-and-win sweepstakes

References