THE BOOK OF LISTS: The 10 Best soundtracks of 2003

1. Lynx Pulse "pulse"

Only one agency was ever going to top this list: BBH has the golden touch when it comes to music . The TV ad was based on Room 5's cover of Oliver Cheetham's 80s classic Get Down Saturday Night. It sold 325,000 copies in the UK and was number one for four weeks.

Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Artist: Room 5 featuring Oliver Cheetham
Track: Make Luv

2. Nationwide "spending street/lifelong avenue"

Two classy ads from Leagas Delaney with music to match. The jazz legend Dave Brubeck supplies a compelling, rhythmical soundtrack that fits the action sequences perfectly.

Agency: Leagas Delaney
Artist: The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Track: Unsquare Dance

3. Peugeot "envy"

The protagonist in this ad lives in constant fear that jealous hands will wreck his beautiful car. A haunting piece of classical music communicates his agony.

Agency: Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper Partners
Artist: d'Alberto Iglesias
Track: Otra Vez Huyendo y Sin Despedirme

4. PlayStation "mountain"

Thousands of people clamber over each other forming a mountain of bodies. TBWA must have been tempted to use something contemporary and chaotic as the soundtrack. But Shirley Temple's sweet, innocent vocals contrast splendidly with the frenzy of activity onscreen.

Agency: TBWA\London
Artist: Shirley Temple
Track: De Gospel Train

5. Velvet "love your bum"

A jaunty instrumental version of A, You're Adorable serenades us while we watch a procession of naked posteriors. They almost look as though they're dancing.

Agency: Publicis
Original composer: Sydney Lippman (1948), arranged by Ann Dudley
Track: A, You're Adorable

6. Siemens Xelibre

Mother's bizarre vision of a future in which dancing is illegal is rendered stranger by the fact that one actor plays every role in this ad. Something quirky and contemporary was needed, so the agency used the most cutting-edge dance track around to excellent effect.

Agency: Mother
Artist: Azzido Da Bass (remixed by Timo Maas)
Track: Dooms Night

7. 118 118 "Rocky"

Within the first few toots of the trumpet, you know you're in for something special. Everyone loves nostalgia and most of us love the runners, so WCRS was always on to a winner with this entertaining parody of the Rocky films.

Agency: WCRS
Artist: The Rocky Orchestra
Track: Gonna Fly Now

8. Mercedes "athlete"

This post-production tour de force was intelligently scored with a compelling and occasionally disjointed Aphex Twin electronic number. The images and sound work extremely well together.

Agency: Campbell Doyle Dye
Artist: Aphex Twin
Track: Windowlicker

9. KFC "Peking Chicken Twister"

Music is an integral part of BBH's "soul food" campaign for KFC. Every execution is aurally astute but this one, the first in the campaign, set out BBH's stall with a powerful piece of funk by The Majestics.

Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Artist: The Majestics
Track: Funky Chick

10. Fanta "body builder"

The obscure hip-hop track Soul found for the second adventure of the Fanta fan really strikes a chord.

Agency: Soul
Artist: Stylophonic
Track: Way of Life

This article was first published on Campaign