What Is The '90s One Hit Wonder In Sam Adams' Super Bowl 2023 Commercial?

Football fans are already on the edge of their seats for this year's highly anticipated Super Bowl. On February 12, the Kansas City Chiefs will play against the Philadelphia Eagles in this year's game. In addition, Rihanna has plans to perform at the halftime show, and she couldn't be more thrilled about it. An insider recently told People, "She is ready for the Super Bowl. She is rehearsing right now. She's very excited, ready, and focused. She can't wait to kill it."

The Super Bowl fun doesn't end there. Fans can get a headstart on the festivities by watching this year's commercials. Of course, plenty of celebrities have made special appearances so far. From Budweiser's narration by Kevin Bacon to Jack Harlow's role in a Doritos commercial, major companies have capitalized on big names to make big bucks. Others have used songs from the past for nostalgia's sake. Pull out your Shazam app because a song from the latest Samuel Adams commercial may ring a bell.

Samuel Adams recently released a Super Bowl commercial called "Your Cousin's Brighter Boston." In the spot, a man purchases a box of Samuel Adams beer at a convenience store. He asks the cashier, "Sam Adams Boston Lager. 'Now brighter?'" She replies, "Oh, imagine that. A brighter Boston." With their heavy accents, it's clear that the two are Boston natives. Then, the man suddenly imagines a "brighter Boston." At that point, the commercial really takes off and plays on cliches about the stereotypically ill-mannered and abrasive city. The lighthearted scene is sprinkled with hilarious moments, such as two drivers politely quarreling over a parking spot. Former Boston Celtics player Kevin Garnett even makes a guest appearance.

But there's something else notable about the commercial. A familiar song plays in the background, which '90s kids will surely recognize. "Steal My Sunshine" was released in 1999 by the Canadian duo Len, which is made up of brother and sister duo Marc and Sharon Costanzo, per The Guardian. The track features an upbeat melody and is still considered a summer hit. While the song stands on its own, the music video is also popular and has racked up over 60 million views on YouTube. It's no surprise that "Steal My Sunshine" made a 2023 comeback, as the fun-loving nature of the song fits the tone of the Super Bowl commercial perfectly.

So, what are the details of "Steal My Sunshine?" In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Marc Costanzo reflected on the making of the hit song. According to him, the song's inspiration came after partying at a rave. He said, "It's just a song about what happened that night of the party." In addition, Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning put on the song, "More, More, More" by Andrea True Connection. Costanzo shared, "I ended up sampling it that morning and looped it, [and] it sounded great." The track ended up taking the No. 1 spot in Canada. Years later, Costanzo looked back on the experience with joy. He said, "When I hear the song now, it makes me laugh. It makes me smile. It takes me back to that time. I know how I felt. When people play it, I dance to it."

In a 2016 interview with Stereogum, Costanzo elaborated on making it big with "Steal My Sunshine." He revealed, "Well, the record label sent it to KROQ [in California], and we're listening live, and KROQ right there said, 'This is gonna be the song of the summer!' And we were like, 'Holy s***.' Probably the most influential station in the world." From that point on, a number of radio stations played the song. The rest is history.