i'd like to teach the world to sing (in perfect harmony)

The New Seekers held us in their arms and kept us company with their hit adaptation of a popular television commercial. Advertising executive Bill Backer came up with the line "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" after watching how fellow passengers who had been forced to land and delayed overnight due to fog found a reason to smile about the situation over bottles of Coca-Cola: "In that moment I saw a bottle of Coke in a whole new light... I began to see a bottle of Coca-Cola as more than a drink that refreshed a hundred million people a day in almost every corner of the globe. So I began to see the familiar words, 'Let's have a Coke,' as more than an invitation to pause for refreshment. They were actually a subtle way of saying, 'Let's keep each other company for a little while.' And I knew they were being said all over the world as I sat there in Ireland. So that was the basic idea: to see Coke not as it was originally designed to be -- a liquid refresher -- but as a tiny bit of commonality between all peoples, a universally liked formula that would help to keep them company for a few minutes."

He shared his idea with songwriters Billy Davis and Roger Cook. Davis had a problem with the idea: "If I could do something for everybody in the world, it would not be to buy them a Coke...I'd buy everyone a home first and share with them in peace and love." Backer responded, "Okay, that sounds good. Let's write that and I'll show you how Coke fits right into the concept." Roger Greenway and Roger Cook had recorded some ideas for jingles a year earlier, and Greenway played them for Davis. Greenway and Davis expanded on one of them to create a new one they called 'Mom, True Love, and Apple Pie.' Backer loved the melody and four of them worked through the night to create the new jingle. Davis produced "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" with the New Seekers.

The famous hilltop commercial was eventually filmed outside of Rome, Italy after original attempts in Dover, England were plagued by rain. The campaign was so popular that DJ's were telling Davis he should record it as a single. The song was re-written without the Coke references and expanded with extra verses. Because the New Seekers were not available, Davis brought together a group of studio singers to record the new song, and they called themselves The Hillside Singers. The New Seekers also eventually recorded 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)', selling ninety-six thousand copies in one day and twelve million total. Their version went to number seven in the US and number one in the UK. The Coca-Cola Company waived royalties to the song and instead donated $80,000 in payments to UNICEF.

I'd like to build the world a home

And furnish it with love

Grow apple trees and honey bees

And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing

In perfect harmony

I'd like to hold it in my arms

And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once

All standing hand in hand

And hear them echo through the hills

For peace throughout the land

That's the song I hear

Let the world sing today

A song of peace

That echoes on

And never goes away

I'd like to teach the world to sing

In perfect harmony

I'd like to teach the world to sing

In perfect harmony

I'd like to build the world a home

And furnish it with love

Grow apple trees and honey bees

And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing

In perfect harmony

I'd like to hold it in my arms

And keep it company

The original Coca Cola commercial