Which company used the slogan "You Deserve a Break Today"?

When 1970s moms needed a night off from cooking, one advertising jingle spoke directly to their souls. "You deserve a break today" became the soundtrack to kitchen cleanup and carpool lines across America, with mothers humming it from coast to coast. The catchy tune made everyone crave a quick meal break, but which restaurant chain convinced America we all deserved one?

Reveal answer and learn more:

▼

The answer is: McDonald's

McDonald's struck advertising gold in 1971 with "You deserve a break today," though they nearly went in a totally different direction. Their ad agency, Needham, Harper & Steers, had crafted an entire "McDonald's as islands" campaign until they discovered a Nebraska restaurant chain was already marketing themselves as "Islands of Pleasure." Back to square one.

The campaign came in two flavors. Some commercials featured McDonald's workers singing while prepping their stores at dawn, complete with synchronized mop choreography and their peppy message: "You deserve a break today, so get up and get away to McDonald's!" Others used professional vocals, including several versions sung by a pre-fame Barry Manilow, who still performs the jingle at his concerts today.

The campaign only ran in the United States for four years, but it made such an impact that Ad Age later ranked it the fifth-best advertising campaign of the 20th century (Volkswagen's "Think Small" was #1). The slogan spoke directly to overworked Americans who desperately needed permission to take that break.

While McDonald's has launched dozens of slogans since, none have captured America's imagination (or taste buds) quite like those singing workers and their promise of a well-deserved break.