What's the Song on the New McDonald's Advert?

What Is The Music On The McDonald’s ‘Raise Your Arches’ Advert?

McDonald’s UK turned heads with their ‘Raise Your Arches’ campaign, which first aired in January 2023. The commercial was created by advertising agency Leo Burnett and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright, best known for Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver. The music featured in the advert is ‘Oh Yeah’ by Yello, a 1985 synth-pop track that many viewers will recognise from its iconic use in the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The ad proved so popular that McDonald’s brought it back for subsequent campaigns.

The premise of the advert is deliberately understated: no food, no restaurant, no voiceover. Instead, a colleague writes an ‘M’ on a post-it note and raises her eyebrows, a silent invitation to head to McDonald’s, which sets off a chain reaction across the office. The golden arches are never shown directly; viewers are trusted to make the connection themselves.

What Is Yello?

Yello is a Swiss electronic music duo formed in Zurich. The group is led by Dieter Meier and Boris Blank, and is known for their distinctive blend of minimalist electronic pop, often built around unusual samples and Blank’s elaborate studio production. Their best-known tracks include ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘The Race’ and ‘Vicious Games’.

About ‘Oh Yeah’

‘Oh Yeah’ was released in 1985 and became a cult favourite after featuring prominently in the 1986 John Hughes film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Its deep, deadpan vocal delivery and memorable synthesiser hook have made it one of the most instantly recognisable tracks in advertising history.

Watch ‘Oh Yeah’ on YouTube

The song has been used in films, TV shows and commercials for decades, and its reappearance in the McDonald’s ‘Raise Your Arches’ campaign is a further testament to its enduring appeal.

Who Sings McDonald’s ‘I’m Lovin’ It’?

McDonald’s long-running ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ jingle, the familiar ba-da-ba-ba-baaaa, is performed by Justin Timberlake. According to BBC Newsbeat, “I’m Lovin’ It is sung by Justin Timberlake and produced by The Neptunes, Pharrell’s production duo with Chad Hugo.” It was first released as a single in 2003 and remains one of the most recognised advertising slogans in the world, even as individual campaigns like ‘Raise Your Arches’ move away from it.

Who Wrote ‘I’m Lovin’ It’?

This is where the story gets more interesting. Timberlake performed the song and The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) produced it, but the jingle itself was written by rapper Pusha T. The New York Times reported this, and BBC News picked it up. For years, Pusha T’s role in creating one of the world’s most-played advertising hooks went largely unacknowledged in popular coverage of the campaign.

So the short version: Pusha T wrote it, The Neptunes produced it, Timberlake sang it. The single was tied directly to McDonald’s global ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ campaign, which rolled the slogan out across more than 100 countries. As of 2026 it remains McDonald’s active global slogan, over two decades after its debut.

Is ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ Available To Stream?

Yes. ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ by Justin Timberlake is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming platforms. Search for the track under Timberlake’s name and you will find it. It appeared as a single rather than as part of one of his studio albums, so look in his singles catalogue if it does not surface immediately in a standard search.

More McDonald’s Advert Songs

McDonald’s has a long history of memorable music choices in its UK advertising. If you’ve heard a track in a recent McDonald’s ad and want to identify it, sites such as TV Ad Songs and TV Ad Music maintain up-to-date logs of music used in McDonald’s commercials.

Advertising music choices are rarely accidental, they are carefully selected to reinforce the mood and message of a campaign. The decision to use ‘Oh Yeah’ in ‘Raise Your Arches’ was particularly well judged: the track’s knowing, slightly absurd quality mirrors the ad’s own tongue-in-cheek humour, while its familiarity from Ferris Bueller adds a layer of cultural warmth for older viewers.