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The story behind Spain's most iconic supermarket jingle
The catchy "Mercadooona, Mercadona" jingle has become inseparable from Spain's most popular supermarket. Played across all 1,637 Mercadona stores, it’s a tune that millions recognize instantly. But how did it come to life, and who was behind its creation?
A five-minute inspiration
The man responsible for the iconic jingle was Lluís Miquel Campos, a Valencian actor, singer, and key figure in the Nova Cançó movement, which championed Catalan and Valencian music during Franco's dictatorship. In a 2018 interview with Vice, Campos revealed that the melody came to him spontaneously in just five minutes, a stark contrast to the years he would spend composing other works.
Campos’ connection with Mercadona began in the 1970s when he established an audiovisual studio. At the time, Mercadona’s predecessor, Supermercados Doña Amparo, founded by Juan Roig, needed a theme song. Campos delivered. Years later, when Mercadona replaced Doña Amparo in 1986, Roig returned to Campos, leading to the creation of the jingle that has since become a cultural phenomenon.
The voices behind the melody
While Campos composed the tune, the voice that sings it belongs to actress Mamen García. But neither reaped significant financial rewards for their contributions. Campos earned 100,000 pesetas (around €600 today), and García was paid just €60. Despite the lack of royalties, Campos appeared unbothered by the modest payment, focusing instead on his artistic legacy.
A legacy beyond the supermarket aisle
Campos, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 79, is remembered primarily as a pioneer in Valencian music rather than the creator of the Mercadona jingle. Yet, the melody remains one of his most enduring works, symbolizing the daily rhythms of life in Spain.
For many Spaniards and visitors alike, "Mercadooona, Mercadona" is more than a marketing tool—it’s the soundtrack to familiar routines, from grocery runs to encounters with neighbors. Its upbeat tune evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia, weaving itself into the fabric of Spanish life.
As one foreigner put it in a YouTube remix of the song: "Mercadooona, Mercadona – Welcome to Spain!"
