Ask one or both parts a. Which piano player starred in a television advertisement for Diet Coke? b. Which piano player starred in a television advertisement for Diet Pepsi?

The fierce marketing rivalry known as the "cola wars" saw soda giants enlisting major music stars to win over consumers. In the early 1990s, Diet Pepsi launched one of its most memorable campaigns, starring the legendary Ray Charles. The advertisements featured an incredibly catchy jingle and the slogan, "You Got the Right One, Baby, Uh-Huh!" Charles's soulful delivery of the "Uh-Huh" line, backed by his singers, turned the simple phrase into a national catchphrase and a pop culture touchstone of the era.

Decades later, Diet Coke tapped another piano-playing icon for a major brand relaunch. For a 2018 campaign celebrating individuality and the soda's new flavors, Sir Elton John was featured in an advertisement. In the spot, he is seen at his piano creating a new, upbeat jingle specifically for the brand. While Ray Charles's campaign relied on a recurring, unforgettable slogan, Elton John's appearance was part of a broader, more modern strategy to associate the drink with a message of creative self-expression, proving the enduring appeal of musical legends in advertising.