Why do they play 'Sweet Home Alabama' for a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial?

Question

Shouldn't they use a song like 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'? Or some KY Blue Grass song? WTF does SHA have to do with KFC? Please help explain this.

Well, if I lived in KY, I would be well lubricated. No, but seriously, take my wife, please. If I lived in Kentucky, I would be pissed. Why would I want to share my famous chicken with Alabama? Screw that. Maybe the guy below is right about dumb people in advertising. Maybe they thought Kentucky was a city in Alabama or vice versa. Then they thought, "Oh, let's use that cool song the Freebird guys did." Then they ruin it with mediocre guitar playing in the commercial. I digress.

Answer 1

Because intelligent people don't go into advertising.

Answer 2

I would say that it's because it used to be touted as Southern Fried Chicken. Hence the use of Southern rock. I hear that song and I do think of the South, which reminds me of fried chicken (not stereotyping, just my taste buds reminiscing), anyway and then of course I think of fried chicken....a.k.a. KFC. Advertisers seem to do it all the time, it's a ploy to embed it into your brain. Sad thing is you'll always remember it no matter what venue you hear the song on. I think any Kentucky song would only remind people of horses, and of course that's not to appetizing, at least not in my opinion lol Have a great night!

Answer 3

No freaking way! I was thinking this too. The only explanation I can come up with is that the South is united by some common bond (insert joke here). Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, whatever. I guess once you venture south of the Mason-Dixon, no one is really keeping track unless it pertains to a college football game. Also, Yum Brands probably liked the more well-known song from Lynyrd Skynyrd as opposed to any KY blue grass.

Answer 4

Perhaps for the same reason that the world's first KFC was in Salt Lake City, UT

1952
The Colonel begins actively franchising his chicken business by traveling from town to town and cooking batches of chicken for restaurant owners and employees.

The Colonel awards Pete Harman of Salt Lake City with the first KFC franchise. A handshake agreement stipulates a payment of a nickel to Sanders for each chicken sold.

Answer 5

I think they use "Sweet Home Alabama" because as a culture we see that song as related as a southern, country song. And Kentucky Fried Chicken is a country food.

Answer 6

Ever heard of Home Sweet Home? When people (from the South, like Kentucky) think of home cooking, they think of fried chicken, and it reminds them of home sweet home. Besides it's a good song, and people will buy more food from a place with a good jingle/theme song.

Answer 7

well the ruined that song for me, everytime i hear it on the radio, im thinking, KFC. well it was a good idea to use a very popular song with their ads, cuz i think kfc whenever i hear it, but companys do that because it helps their ads. but unfortunately it ruins the song, in 10 years or less theyll have pearl jam with cars. some commercial i saw, with a friendly product, had a song about doin heroin in the back, its more of the jingle than the content orginaly, hope that settles it ya

Answer 8

Hi Bottom,

LQQK who lives in Alabama & y'all Southerner's like there greasy laden fried chicken enough said!
Have a good night. :0)
Additional Details: KFC should have used Bob Dylan's Everyone Must Get Stoned-munchie snydrome.

Answer 9

I thought the very same thing! I guess cause all southerners identify with it...who knows?

Answer 10

well your talking about the commercial isn't that th point? to get people to pay attention to there add wile spreading there name?