How Much Do Brands Control Your Brain?

The new book The Sonic Boom takes a smart look at the world we experience through our ears. See which brands own your ears by taking this quiz.

1.

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  1. What is this jaunty tune helping to sell?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    Farmer's Insurance

    It's the little song that immediately conjures the image of J.K. Simmons' cue ball head.

    Farmer's Insurance

2.

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  1. What company sounds like this?

    Thinkstock
    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    AT&T

    Purposeful, curious and open are the ideals that inspired Joel Beckerman to put together those four little notes, which were distilled down from an initial "anthem" written to represent the brand.

    AT&T

3.

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  1. Which delicious soft drink sounds like this?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    Coca-Cola

    That friendly little whistle is the sound of your blood sugar going up while the Dark Overlords of the soda world take over your brain.

    komikler.com

4.

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  1. What does this company make?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    Duracell Batteries

    Duracell was actually the first battery company to use a (super creepy) pink bunny to advertise their product, in 1973. Why the bunnies are pink and how they are related to alkaline power products is anyone's guess.

    Duracell

5.

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  1. Which of these shows starts after this sound?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    The Newsroom/HBO

    You may know that snowy TV + "aaaaah" sound from the time you stole your ex's grandma's HBO Go login and became one with your couch.

    HBO

6.

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  1. Where would you find the product associated with this sound?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    Inside your computer/Intel Inside

    The four note sonic logo for Intel Inside is widely considered one of the most prevailing instances of sonic branding gone right. It was composed by Walter Werzowa, whose other major hit is a song called "Bring Me Edelweiss" lol.

    Intel

7.

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  1. Which of these shows is *not* related to this sound?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    2 Broke Girls/NBC

    The NBC three-note chime was introduced in 1929 as a station identification and has stuck around since then, which explains why it's one of the most enduring earworms known to the human race.

    NBC

8.

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  1. What is this cheery whistling tune trying to sell you?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    Deodorant/Old Spice

    That little whistling tune is what you hear if you're watching an Old Spice commercial because whistling is the natural mating call of the sexy shirtless man.

    Old Spice

9.

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  1. What comes after this sound?

    Correct! 
    Wrong! 

    A movie/THX

    That revving sound is called "Deep Note" and it was composed by honorary Jedi/sound engineer James A. Moorer (pictured). It premiered in 1983 at a screening of "Return of the Jedi."

    THX

10. Are you completely brainwashed or are your ears only attuned to the sound of artisanal ukelele played by a musician nobody has heard of? Share in the comments!

The Sonic Boom: How Sound Transforms the Way We Think, Feel, And Buy is available here. Direct any complaints for humming these sounds to co-authors Joel Beckerman and Tyler Gray. ;)

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