Which McDonald's slogan became famous through the 1971 campaign featuring ordinary customers?

“You Deserve a Break Today” was the McDonald's slogan associated with its famous 1971 campaign.

The campaign presented McDonald's as a convenient and rewarding pause in an ordinary day. Its advertising helped connect the restaurant with rest, relief, and a small personal treat rather than only with hamburgers or speed of service. The slogan became one of the most memorable lines in the company's advertising history.

The phrase was created for McDonald's by the advertising agency Needham Harper Steers. Its best-known musical execution turned the words into a highly recognizable jingle, strengthening recall across television and radio advertising.

This slogan is often confused with later McDonald's lines such as “I'm Lovin' It.” They belong to different periods and campaigns. “You Deserve a Break Today” is especially associated with the early 1970s and should not be dated to the company's later global branding era.