Cars in tune with the charts

What do James Brown, Janis Joplin, The Prodigy, M People and cars have in common?

The answer is some of the most memorable car advertising soundtracks according to a new poll.

Citroën’s iconic C4, with its morphing robot dancing to the tune of ‘Jacques Your Body’ by Les Rhythmes Digitales, took the No 1 spot in the survey by car maintenance firm, motoreasy.com. Renault’s ‘I See You Baby’, by Groove Armada – a hit track to accentuate the sizeable boot on the Megane – came a close second.

In fact, French car companies polled more tunes than any other country in the Top 10 with Peugeot taking seventh place for its 406 campaign to the soundtrack of M People’s ‘Search for the Hero’. It was also the oldest TV advert in the Top 10.

German brands, BMW and Mercedes, were fifth and sixth respectively, thanks to their use of the musically juxtaposed Prodigy and Janis Joplin.

The nation’s most popular manufacturer, Ford, had two small screen campaigns in the list compiled by motoreasy.com. The Blue Oval’s retro Puma advert, set to the theme from classic car movie Bullitt, was fourth, and the James Brown tune ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ crept in at number nine.

Some of the classics that failed to register in the top ten included Volkswagen’s reworked version of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and Mike Oldfield’s ‘Tubular Bells’, Vauxhall’s use of Boney M’s ‘Daddy Cool’ and Frank Sinatra’s ‘Come Fly With Me’, which featured on Renault’s 2002 Laguna campaign.

Spokesman for motoreasy.com, David Gerrans, said: "Clearly, French manufacturer’s have the rhythm to capture the imagination of the car buying public. It proves how the right toe-tapping tune can help grab the public’s attention for a car brand."

Citroen C4 (2004) - Les Rythmes Digitales – Jacques your body

Renault Megane (2003) - Groove Armada – I see you baby

Saab 93 Convertible (2004) - Bobby Womack – California Dreaming

Ford Puma (1997) - Lalo Schifrin – Theme from Bullitt

BMW 1 Series (2004) - The Prodigy – Under my wheels

Mercedes Benz (1998) - Janis Joplin – Oh Lord won’t you buy me a M-Benz

Peugeot 406 (1996) - M People – Search for the hero

Fiat Punto (2002) - Human League – Don’t you want me baby?

Ford Focus (2001) - James Brown – It’s a man’s man’s man’s world

VW Convertible (2002) - ELO – Mr Blue Sky