# What is the song from the mcdonalds advert

> Justin Timberlake sang the McDonald's "I'm Lovin' It" jingle released in 2003, produced by The Neptunes with Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

**Published:** 2026-05-10
**Updated:** 2026-05-10
**Category:** ADVERT_MUSIC
**Author:** Recharge Vodafone editorial team
**Canonical URL:** https://rechargevodafone.co.uk/what-is-the-song-from-the-mcdonalds-advert/

## Key takeaways

- Justin Timberlake sang 'I'm Lovin' It', which was originally written as a jingle for McDonald's in 2003.
- The song was produced by The Neptunes, the production duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.
- Rapper Pusha T has been credited with writing the 'I'm Lovin' It' jingle according to reports by the New York Times.
- The jingle became McDonald's global advertising slogan and is now one of the most recognised slogans in fast food history.

## Key statistics

- **2003** — Year 'I'm Lovin' It' was released as a single by Justin Timberlake (Source: Reddit (r/todayilearned))

## Article

<p>The song from the McDonald's advert is "I'm Lovin' It", performed by Justin Timberlake. It was originally written as a jingle for McDonald's and released as a single in 2003. The track has since become one of the most recognised advertising slogans in fast food history.</p>

<h2>Who actually sings the McDonald's song?</h2>

<p>Justin Timberlake is the singer. According to BBC Newsbeat, "I'm Lovin' It is sung by Justin Timberlake and produced by The Neptunes, Pharrell's production duo with Chad Hugo." So when you hear that familiar hook, it is Timberlake's voice you are hearing.</p>

<p>The Neptunes, the production partnership between Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, shaped the track's sound. Their fingerprints are all over the upbeat, percussive feel that made it stick so effectively in the memory.</p>

<h2>Did Justin Timberlake write the song?</h2>

<p>This is where the story gets more interesting. Timberlake performed the song, and The Neptunes produced it, but the jingle itself was written by rapper Pusha T. The New York Times reported this, and BBC News picked it up. For years, Pusha T's role in creating one of the world's most-played advertising hooks went largely unacknowledged in popular coverage of the campaign.</p>

<p>So the short version: Pusha T wrote it, The Neptunes produced it, Timberlake sang it.</p>

<h2>When did the song come out?</h2>

<p>The single was released in 2003, tied directly to McDonald's global "I'm Lovin' It" campaign. It was written specifically as a jingle for the brand rather than as a standalone pop record that McDonald's later licensed. That origin makes it unusual: most major advertising songs are adapted from existing tracks, but this one was built for the campaign from the start.</p>

<p>McDonald's rolled the slogan out across more than 100 countries, and the "ba da ba ba baa" melody became shorthand for the brand worldwide. As of 2026, it remains McDonald's active global slogan, over two decades after its debut.</p>

<h2>Is the song available to stream?</h2>

<p>Yes. "I'm Lovin' It" by Justin Timberlake is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming platforms. Search for the track under Timberlake's name and you will find it. It appeared as a single rather than as part of one of his studio albums, so look in his singles catalogue if it does not surface immediately in a standard search.</p>

<h2>Why does the song sound so familiar even now?</h2>

<p>Repetition is the obvious answer. McDonald's has used the jingle consistently since 2003, making it one of the longest-running fast food advertising campaigns anywhere. The Neptunes' production style, built around tight rhythms and minimal arrangement, also makes the hook easy to recall after a single hearing. Pusha T's writing kept the lyric simple enough to translate across languages and cultures, which explains why a jingle written over twenty years ago still runs in UK adverts today.</p>

## Quotations

> I'm Lovin' It is sung by Justin Timberlake and produced by The Neptunes, Pharrell's production duo with Chad Hugo.
> — BBC Newsbeat (BBC News) (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-36443380)

## Frequently asked questions

### who sings the McDonald's I'm Lovin It song

Justin Timberlake sings the McDonald's 'I'm Lovin' It' jingle. The track was produced by The Neptunes, the production duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, and released as a single in 2003.

### did Justin Timberlake write I'm Lovin It

No, Justin Timberlake performed the song but did not write it. Rapper Pusha T wrote the jingle, while The Neptunes produced it. Timberlake's role was as the vocalist for the McDonald's campaign.

### when was I'm Lovin It released

The 'I'm Lovin' It' single was released in 2003 as part of McDonald's global advertising campaign. It has since become one of the most recognised advertising slogans in fast food history.

### who produced I'm Lovin It McDonald's

The Neptunes produced 'I'm Lovin' It'. The Neptunes is a production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who shaped the track's upbeat, percussive sound that made it memorable.

### Pusha T I'm Lovin It writer credit

Pusha T wrote the 'I'm Lovin' It' jingle for McDonald's, though his contribution went largely unacknowledged in popular coverage for years. The New York Times and BBC News have reported on his role in creating the iconic advertising hook.

## Sources

1. [I'm Lovin' It (song) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Lovin%27_It_(song)) (en.wikipedia.org)
2. [Pusha T wrote McDonald's I'm Lovin' It jingle, not Pharrell or Justin Timberlake - BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-36443380) (www.bbc.co.uk)
3. [TIL the McDonald's "I'm Lovin' It" jingle was written by Pharrell ...](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1oyhtft/til_the_mcdonalds_im_lovin_it_jingle_was_written/) (www.reddit.com)
