It\u2019s astonishing how an advert can linger in our memories and continue to press emotional buttons, sometimes decades after they were first released. But how much of that is to do with the visuals and how much is down to the music?<\/strong><\/div>\n\n
Here is our guide to some of the most unforgettable Christmas adverts that deliver on both fronts.<\/div>\n\n
Best Christmas adverts<\/h2>\n
1. John Lewis & Partners<\/h3>\n\n<p>With a \u00a36 million campaign, the first John Lewis & Partners Christmas ad, back in 2007, was nothing if not stylish, featuring shadowy people making art out of items bought at the store to the soundtrack of Prokofiev\u2019s Morning Serenade from <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/romeo-and-juliet-music\/"\">Romeo and Juliet<\/a>. Since then there have been many memorable Christmas ads, some of them unexpectedly moving.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Watch\" the=\"\" john=\"\" lewis=\"\" christmas=\"\" advert=\"\" a=\"\" little=\"\" love=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LUmPzwLNiMk?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>In \u2018Give a Little Love\u2019 (2020), we see a little boy presenting a snowman with a love-heart balloon. Featuring Celeste\u2019s \u2018A Little Love\u2019 \u2013\u00a0the first instance of a song being specially commissioned for the store\u2019s Christmas ad campaign \u2013 it was a touching tribute to the various acts of kindness by the public during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""John\" lewis=\"\" boy=\"\" and=\"\" the=\"\" piano=\"\" elton=\"\" john=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-CMMFx_4a5w?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>But the one that really had me blubbing was 2018\u2019s offering: \u2018The\u00a0Boy and the Piano\u2019, in which Elton John played the opening notes of \u2018Your Song\u2019, then reminisced about his life and career in reverse, culminating with Christmas Day in the\u00a01950s when he received a piano for Christmas from his mother.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""John\" lewis=\"\" boy=\"\" and=\"\" the=\"\" piano=\"\" elton=\"\" john=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-CMMFx_4a5w?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h3><b>Sainsbury\u2019s The Greatest Gift<\/b><\/h3>\n<iframe title=\""The\" greatest=\"\" gift=\"\" sainsbury=\"\" ad=\"\" christmas=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bq5SGSCZe4E?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<div>\n<div>Created to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children\u2019s Charity, this 2016 Christmas advert told the story of Dave, a hard-working dad who realises that the best gift he can give his family for Christmas is his time.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div>\n<div>Although the stop-motion visuals are charming, what pulls it all together is the witty song in the background, voiced by British actor James Corden and composed by Bret McKenzie, a comedian, musician and producer who won the 2012 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/all-the-oscar-winners-and-nominees-for-best-original-score\/"\">Oscar<\/a> for best original song in The Muppets.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<h3><b>Aldi\u2019s Christmas Advert 2020<\/b><\/h3>\n<iframe title=\""Aldi\" christmas=\"\" advert=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-mfMGayV_Fs?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<div>\n<div>Featuring Santa, snow, a roasted turkey and Kevin the carrot, this entry in our Christmas advert Hall of Fame presses all the right buttons as far as visuals are concerned.<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div>But it\u2019s Guy Farley\u2019s score \u2013 a nifty cross-breed of <i>Home Alone<\/i>\u00a0and <i>Pirates of the Caribbean \u2013 <\/i>that elevates it all and turns it into a cinematic experience.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>4. Yellow Pages\u2019 Mistletoe<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<iframe title=\""Mistletoe\" pages=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yVjecF6oVuw?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<div\/>\n<div>\n<div>Yellow Pages. Remember those? You may well remember this ad from 1992, with the tall girl, the shorter boy and the mistletoe. Apparently Dean Cook, who played the boy and now runs an upholstery business in Essex, still gets recognised all the time. Would it be quite so famous without that cosy, tinkling tune in the background? That\u2019s anybody\u2019s guess.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div>\n<h3>5. IRN-BRU\u2019s Snowman Advert<\/h3>\n<iframe title=\""IRN-BRU\" snowman=\"\" advert=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4yZOab5gl-4?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<div>\n<div>\u2018We\u2019re walking in the air, I\u2019m sipping on an Irn Bru. My chilly snowman mate says he would like some too.\u2019 So go the lyrics in IRN-BRU\u2019s 2006 reimagining of The Snowman, which sees our pyjama-clad hero cracking open a can of the orange fizzy stuff and launching into flight.\u00a0 In 2018, IRN-BRU came back with a sequel, but not everybody was happy according to the <a href=\""https:\/\/www.thescottishsun.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/3567262\/irn-bru-christmas-snowman-advert-sequel-watch-reactions\/"\">Scottish Sun<\/a>, given that the recipe had changed that year, with the sugar content of each can\u00a0cut by half.<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>6. Marks & Spencer\u2019s Paddington & The Christmas Visit<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<iframe title=\""Paddington\" the=\"\" christmas=\"\" visitor=\"\" m=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1_0vaFqvBzg?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<div\/>\n<div>Everyone\u2019s favourite marmalade enthusiast took centre stage in Marks & Spencer\u2019s 2017 Christmas ad, where he mistakes a robber for Santa Claus and and helps to return a load of stolen presents to their owners.\u00a0 Alex Baranowski\u2019s bespoke score, full of soaring strings and playful percussive effects, helps to create a warm vibe, with just the right amount of sugar.<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><b>7. H&M\u2019s Come Together<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<iframe title=\"""Come\" together=\"\" a=\"\" h=\"\" holiday=\"\" short=\"\" film=\"\" directed=\"\" by=\"\" wes=\"\" anderson=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aXLO2dFfwLE?start=5&feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>H&M went for it in a big way in 2016, hiring Wes Anderson to direct their Christmas advert and Oscar-winner Adrian Brody to play a train conductor who throws a surprise Christmas party for his passengers when it becomes clear that delays will stop them from celebrating at home. As you would expect of Anderson, the result is very surreal, thanks in part to the contrast between the restrained, highly-stylised visuals and the sheer exuberance of the music: John Lennon\/Yoko Ono\u2019s\u00a0 1971 song \u2018Happy Xmas, War is Over\u2019.<\/p>\n<h3><b>8.\u00a0<\/b><b>Coca Cola\u2019s Christmas Advert<\/b><\/h3>\n<iframe title=\""Coca\" cola=\"\" christmas=\"\" advert=\"\" are=\"\" coming=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X13N-Bx17Oc?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>Who can resist that maddeningly catchy jingle? Known as Christmas caravans, the trucks in the classic Coca Cola Christmas advert were first designed in 1995, and are still rolled out every year giving out free bottles of coke. Bit of trivia: the lights and effects in this 1995 ad come from the same team behind the <i>Star Wars <\/i>movies.<\/p>\n<h3><b>9. Magic Moment\u2019s\u00a0Quality Street Christmas\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<iframe title=\""Quality\" street=\"\" magic=\"\" moments=\"\" uk=\"\" tv=\"\" advert=\"\" driving=\"\" test=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/to7vrRAuu_o?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>With the cute kid and his touching encounter with the lollipop lady, this short but sweet Quality Street advert from 1992 still ranks among our holiday favourites. And that jingle is just as joyously\/irritatingly whistleable as ever.<\/p>\n<h3><b>9. Allegro\u2019s English for Beginners<\/b><\/h3>\n<iframe title=\""English\" for=\"\" beginners=\"\" czego=\"\" szukasz=\"\" w=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tU5Rnd-HM6A?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<div\/>\n<\/div>\n<div>It may be a bit of a left-field entry, but this 2016 advert from the Polish auction site Allegro is a real tear-jerker, telling the story of a Polish grandfather learning to speak English in order to communicate with his grandchild. Plaintive woodwind, stirring strings and fragments of \u2018Silent Night\u2019 combine to make a suitably poignant score.<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div\/>\n<div>\n<div\/>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div\/>\n<div\/>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div\/>\n<div>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> \n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/music-gifts-for-kids\/"\"><b>Music gifts for kids: 10 Christmas present ideas for music-loving children<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-classical-music-for-children\/"\"><b>10 pieces of classical music for children<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/how-can-i-get-my-child-into-classical-music\/"\"><b>How can I get my child into classical music?<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div\/>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/best-christmas-piano-music\/"\"><b>The best Christmas piano music<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/christmas-violin-music\/"\"><b>Easy Christmas music for the violin<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><\/div>\n<div>\n<div\/>\n<div\/>\n<div>It may be a bit of a left-field entry, but this 2016 advert from the Polish auction site Allegro is a real tear-jerker, telling the story of a Polish grandfather learning to speak English in order to communicate with his grandchild. Plaintive woodwind, stirring strings and fragments of \u2018Silent Night\u2019 combine to make a suitably poignant score.<\/div>\n<div\/>\n<div\/>\n<\/div><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Hannah Nepilova Published: Friday, 11 November 2022 at 12:00 am It\u2019s astonishing how an advert can linger in our memories and continue to press emotional buttons, sometimes decades after they were first released. But how much of that is to do with the visuals and how much is down to the music? Here is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":21330,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music.png",1812,906,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music-300x150.png",300,150,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music-768x384.png",768,384,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music-1024x512.png",800,400,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music-1536x768.png",1536,768,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/10-unforgettable-christmas-adverts-with-the-best-music.png",1812,906,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Hannah Nepilova Published: Friday, 11 November 2022 at 12:00 am It\u2019s astonishing how an advert can linger in our memories and continue to press emotional buttons, sometimes decades after they were first released. But how much of that is to do with the visuals and how much is down to the music? Here is…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/21329"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}