What slogan did McDonald's introduce in 1971 in its famous singing television campaign?

McDonald's introduced the slogan “You Deserve a Break Today” in 1971 as the centerpiece of a famous singing advertising campaign.

The campaign was created by Needham, Harper & Steers and became one of the best-known examples of McDonald's brand advertising. Its jingle presented a McDonald's meal as a small, deserved pause in a busy day, linking the restaurant with convenience and emotional comfort.

The slogan is often remembered alongside later McDonald's lines, especially “We Love to See You Smile” and “I'm Lovin' It.” Those slogans belong to different advertising periods. “You Deserve a Break Today” is also sometimes confused with “You, You're the One,” an earlier McDonald's campaign from the 1960s.

The 1971 campaign helped move McDonald's advertising beyond simply describing menu items. It sold a recognizable feeling and routine, an approach that became central to the company's later branding.