sings in the Pepsi Super Bowl commercial 2026

Every year, the Super Bowl delivers not just a championship game, but a cultural moment where advertising becomes a primary source of entertainment. Brands pull out all the stops, crafting mini-movies designed to make us laugh, cry, and hit repeat on our phones. They spend millions not just on airtime, but on securing the biggest directors, the most clever concepts, and the most memorable music. And every year, one question echoes across social media moments after a particularly powerful spot airs: "What was that song?"

For Pepsi's highly anticipated 2026 Super Bowl LX commercial, titled "The Choice," that question is on everyone's lips. The ad, a humorous and visually stunning piece directed by the Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), features a beloved character breaking free from his past in a most unexpected and delightful way. But the soul of the commercial, the element that gives it its emotional and triumphant core, is its iconic soundtrack.

If you've been searching for the voice behind the Pepsi 2026 Super Bowl commercial, the answer is one of the most legendary voices in music history: the incomparable Freddie Mercury of the rock band Queen.

The Song: An Anthem of Liberation

The song that powers Pepsi's "The Choice" is the timeless Queen anthem, "I Want to Break Free." Released in 1984 on the album The Works, the song became an instant global classic. It is known for its pulsating, futuristic synthesizer intro (a departure for the band at the time), its driving, unforgettable bassline played by John Deacon, and, most importantly, its powerful and yearning vocals by the one and only Freddie Mercury.

Lyrically, the song is a declaration of independence—a desire to escape from confinement, whether physical, emotional, or societal. The chorus is a universal cry for freedom that has resonated with millions for over four decades: "I want to break free / I want to break free from your lies / You're so self-satisfied I don't need you / I've got to break free." This theme of liberation is the perfect narrative engine for the commercial, providing a ready-made emotional arc that the visuals can ride.

You can listen to the original masterpiece here:

Queen - "I Want to Break Free" (Official Video) [4K Remastered]:

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Queen - "I Want to Break Free" (Official Lyric Video):

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How the Song Powers "The Choice"

In Pepsi's 2026 commercial, the song isn't just background music; it's the narrative and emotional core. The ad, directed with Taika Waititi's signature wit, visual flair, and love for quirky characters, features a protagonist many will instantly recognize: a beautifully animated CGI polar bear. But this is no ordinary polar bear. This is a clear and playful nod to the iconic mascot long associated with Pepsi's biggest rival, Coca-Cola. It's a bold and brilliant piece of competitive marketing.

The commercial opens with the polar bear in a monochrome, icy, and frankly boring world—a world of white, cold, and isolation. He looks despondent, trapped in a landscape that feels empty and devoid of joy. Then, the unmistakable opening synth line of "I Want to Break Free" begins to pulse. The bear's ear perks up. He is drawn, almost magnetically, towards a distant splash of vibrant color.

As Freddie Mercury's voice soars with the first lines, the bear literally musters the courage to break through the ice of his old world. He emerges into a stunning, sun-drenched, and wildly colorful landscape. He's no longer alone; he's surrounded by people dancing, music playing, and life pulsing everywhere. He takes a tentative sip of an ice-cold Pepsi, and his transformation is complete. The world around him explodes into even more vivid, saturated color. The song's powerful crescendo and famous guitar solo mirror his complete and total liberation. The message is clear and delivered without a single word of dialogue: choosing Pepsi is choosing a life of color, freedom, and joy.

The ad is a masterclass in using music to tell a story. The song's structure—from its longing verses to its triumphant release—is perfectly synced to the bear's journey from confinement to liberation.

Why Queen and This Song Were the Perfect Choice

Selecting "I Want to Break Free" for this campaign was a masterstroke of music supervision for several interlocking reasons:

The Perfect Thematic Match: The song's central theme of breaking free is a direct and powerful metaphor for the commercial's plot. The polar bear is literally breaking free from his old identity, his old brand allegiance, and his old, monochrome world to choose a new, more exciting path. The alignment between the song's meaning and the ad's story is so seamless it feels almost destined.

Universal Recognition and Emotion: Queen's music is one of the few things that truly unites people across generations. From baby boomers who grew up with them to Gen Z fans who discovered them through Bohemian Rhapsody and TikTok, their music is universally beloved. Freddie Mercury's voice is instantly recognizable and carries immense emotional weight—a mix of vulnerability, power, and pure showmanship. Using such a powerful and well-known track instantly elevates the commercial, creating a shared moment of recognition and feeling for over 100 million viewers.

A Touch of Playful Subversion: The original music video for "I Want to Break Free" is itself famous for its comedic and subversive nature. It features the band members dressed in drag, parodying a working-class British soap opera, Coronation Street. This spirit of playful rebellion, of not taking oneself too seriously, and of challenging norms aligns perfectly with the humorous, cheeky tone Taika Waititi brought to the Pepsi commercial. For those who know the video's history, it's an extra layer of cleverness—a wink from the filmmakers.

Where to See the Full Commercial

The best way to appreciate the genius of this pairing is to watch the commercial itself. You can see how perfectly the visuals are synced to the music's emotional arc and appreciate the high-quality animation and direction.

Watch the official Pepsi Super Bowl 2026 commercial here:

Pepsi Super Bowl 2026 - "The Choice" (Official Commercial):

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For those interested in a deeper dive into the ad's strategy and humor, including its direct and brilliant nod to the Coca-Cola polar bear, you can also find analysis videos that explore the context of the long-running cola wars and why this particular ad was so effective.

See analysis and the shorter version of the ad:

Analysis of the Pepsi Commercial and the Cola Wars:

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Pepsi Super Bowl 2026 Commercial (30-Second Version):

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The Legacy of a Perfect Partnership

Pepsi's "The Choice" is a prime example of what makes a Super Bowl ad truly memorable and worthy of the immense hype. It's a perfect storm of creative elements. It combines a brilliant, offbeat directorial vision from one of Hollywood's most unique voices (Taika Waititi), a clever and playful concept that directly engages with decades of pop culture and brand rivalry (the cola wars), and the unparalleled, timeless, and emotionally resonant power of Queen's music.

The voice you hear, the soul of the commercial, is the legendary Freddie Mercury. His cry for freedom becomes the polar bear's cry, and by extension, an invitation to the viewer to choose the more exciting, vibrant, and liberating option. It's a powerful testament to the fact that the right song doesn't just accompany a commercial; it becomes the commercial, elevating it from a simple advertisement into a piece of cultural storytelling that people will remember and talk about long after the game is over.

So, the next time you watch a polar bear trade a colorless, isolated world for a colorful, joyful one, you'll know exactly who to thank for the perfect, powerful soundtrack that makes the moment so triumphant. And you'll appreciate the genius of pairing a timeless anthem of freedom with a story about making your own choice.

Who sings in the Pepsi Super Bowl commercial 2026?

The Song: An Anthem of Liberation

How the Song Powers "The Choice"

Why Queen and This Song Were the Perfect Choice

Where to See the Full Commercial

The Legacy of a Perfect Partnership