The writers for the Chevy Silverado TV commercial “A Little Bit Country, Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll” had it kind of easy. (As they say, good writers borrow great writers steal.) In order to express the broad appeal of the Chevy Silverado, the team just went back to the classic theme song to the TV Variety Show Donnie & Marie. The brother and sister team from Utah famously sang about their differences and how they came together — with country and rock and roll music meeting as happily as peanut butter and jelly.
The Silverado commercial doesn’t borrow the music, just the lyrics. One after another character goes about his or her business reciting a line from the song, creating a terrific effect and a crescendo that’s similar to what happens in the song. And like the song, it’s fun. A cowgirl is a “little bit of Memphis and Nashville,” while a construction worker claims a “little bit of Motown in my soul.” Lines right out of the song, which was written by ASCAP award-winning songwriter Marty Cooper.
