In addition to a wealth of shitty adult contemporary music, Barry Manilow has also given the world several famous commercial jingles. His collection of jingles includes Band-Aid’s “I am stuck on Band-Aid…” and State Farm Insurance’s “Like a good neighbor…”. When State Farm approached Weezer about recording a version of Manilow’s jingle, the band asked if it was part of a larger song. It turns out Mr. Manilow did indeed write a full version, one which had never been recorded, and State Farm was able to dig up the lyrics and music for the whole song.
Now, State Farm has a video over on YouTube, with Weezer’s full performance of the song1. As Vulture notes, your initial reaction might be that this is a ridiculous sell-out. Perhaps it is. But it’s also disturbingly good.
Weezer performing a song for an insurance company
Give it a listen, especially if you remember Weezer’s early stuff fondly. I’ve transcribed the lyrics below2, so you can even sing along. It’s a throwback to a once-great sound. It’s also the most rockin’ jingle I’ve ever heard.
Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There
Whenever you’re driving,
And wherever you’re bound,
On freeways and byways,
The whole country round.You’ll feel better knowin’,
Anytime, anywhere,
That like a good neighbor,
State Farm is there.Your home’s where your heart is3,
It’s a feeling that grows,
The house that you live,
The love that it shows.You’ll feel better knowin’,
Anytime, anywhere,
That like a good neighbor,
State Farm is there.We all hope the good times,
Never leave us behind.
We face our tomorrows,
With some peace of mind.No man has a promise
Of a life without care.And like a good neighbor,
State Farm is there.
State Farm is there!
State Farm is there!
State Farm is there!
Footnotes:
As usual for future-proofin’, the video is also archived here. ↩︎
If State Farm comes after this free advertising for copyright infringement, we can all laugh our asses off. ↩︎
So your real home’s in your chest. ↩︎
