background song in the Chipotle Mexican Grill “Real Food”

If you've watched a Chipotle commercial recently, you've likely experienced something unusual: a moment where advertising becomes art. The brand has built a reputation for pairing stunning visuals with incredibly moving music. But if you're trying to identify a song, the answer depends entirely on which commercial you saw.

Chipotle's "Real Food" campaign has featured multiple musical artists across different ads, each bringing a unique emotional tone. Here's your complete guide to the voices and songs behind Chipotle's most memorable commercials.

🌈 1. "Unfolded" with Halsey (2025-2026)

The most recent Chipotle commercial is a stop-motion animated short film titled "Unfolded." It visually represents how a Chipotle bag unfolds to reveal a whole world of sustainable farming.

Watch the official "Unfolded" video here (video currently unavailable):

Watch YouTube video

The Song: "She's a Rainbow" (Cover)

The background music for this stunning visual piece is a cover of the classic Rolling Stones song "She's a Rainbow." Originally released in 1967, the song is known for its vibrant, psychedelic sound and lyrics celebrating color and joy—the perfect match for an ad showcasing the colorful, fresh ingredients in Chipotle's food.

The Artist: Halsey

Performing this cover is the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated artist Halsey. Known for their powerful voice and genre-blending music, Halsey brings a fresh, ethereal quality to the classic track. Their version strips back some of the original's psychedelic rock energy and replaces it with a softer, more intimate feel that complements the stop-motion animation beautifully.

Halsey's involvement is significant. As an artist who has spoken openly about social and environmental issues, they align perfectly with Chipotle's messaging around sustainable food systems. The collaboration feels authentic—not just a celebrity paid endorsement, but a shared commitment to values.

🚜 2. "A Future Begins" with Kacey Musgraves

If you've seen a deeply emotional Chipotle commercial featuring a farming family and the passing of land to a new generation, you're thinking of "A Future Begins." This ad is one of the most awarded in Chipotle's history, and for good reason.

Watch "A Future Begins" here:

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This video has amassed over 11.2 million views since its release in November 2021, a testament to its powerful storytelling. It follows a young farmer inheriting the land and responsibility from previous generations, highlighting the challenges and hopes of modern farming.

The Song: "Fix You" (Cover)

The background music is a cover of Coldplay's beloved anthem "Fix You." The original song is known for its emotional build—from gentle piano to soaring, cathartic chorus—which perfectly mirrors the narrative arc of the commercial. As the young farmer faces struggles and ultimately finds hope, the music swells, creating an unforgettable emotional experience.

The Artist: Kacey Musgraves

Performing this cover is the Grammy-winning country artist Kacey Musgraves. Her rendition strips away some of the original's rock production and replaces it with a delicate, acoustic sensitivity that feels intimate and personal. Musgraves' voice carries a warmth and authenticity that makes the story feel real rather than sentimental.

According to the video description, you can stream or buy "Fix You" by Kacey Musgraves at the provided link. The commercial was part of a larger Chipotle initiative to support young farmers through programs like seed grants and scholarships, aiming to transfer 1 million acres of farmland to the next generation.

🎶 3. "Choices" (Real Food Campaign)

If the Chipotle commercial you remember has a completely different energy—think hip-hop beat, confident lyrics, and a focus on comparing real ingredients to processed food—then you're thinking of the "Choices" campaign.

Watch the "Choices" commercial here:

Watch YouTube video

This ad takes a more upbeat, urban approach. It visually contrasts Chipotle's real ingredients (fresh avocados, real chicken, actual vegetables) with the processed alternatives used by other chains. The message is clear: when you choose Chipotle, you're choosing real food.

The Song: "Choices (Yup)"

The track driving this commercial is "Choices (Yup)" by veteran Bay Area rapper E-40. The song's hook—"I got choices, yup"—becomes a perfect anthem for consumer empowerment. It's catchy, confident, and gets stuck in your head.

The Artist: E-40

E-40 is a hip-hop legend known for his unique flow, extensive vocabulary, and decades of influence on West Coast rap. His involvement in a Chipotle commercial might seem surprising, but it's a brilliant choice. It signals that real food isn't just for one demographic—it's for everyone, including those who appreciate authentic hip-hop culture.

The "Choices" campaign uses the song's energy to make a serious point feel fun. Rather than lecturing about nutrition, it lets the beat and the visuals make the argument. Viewers come away feeling empowered rather than preached to.

Why Chipotle's Music Choices Matter

Chipotle's approach to music in advertising reveals a sophisticated understanding of brand storytelling. Here's why their choices work so well:

Emotional Resonance

Each song is chosen not for popularity alone, but for emotional fit. "Fix You" brings tears; "She's a Rainbow" brings joy; "Choices (Yup)" brings confidence. The music tells you how to feel before you've even processed the visuals.

Artist Alignment

Halsey, Kacey Musgraves, and E-40 aren't random picks. Each artist brings a built-in audience and a set of values that align with Chipotle's brand. Halsey's activism, Musgraves' authenticity, and E-40's cultural influence all reinforce different aspects of "Real Food."

Cultural Relevance

By featuring a range of genres—alternative, country, hip-hop—Chipotle speaks to diverse audiences without feeling fragmented. The brand isn't trying to be everything to everyone; it's acknowledging that "real food" matters to people of all musical tastes.

Memorable Moments

Great advertising creates memories. These songs, paired with powerful visuals, become impossible to forget. Months after watching, you might still hear "Fix You" and picture that young farmer surveying his land.

The Numbers Behind the Success

The success of this approach is visible in the numbers. The Kacey Musgraves "A Future Begins" video alone has over 11 million views—not paid views, but actual people choosing to watch a commercial. That's the power of treating advertising as art.

The comments sections on these videos are filled with viewers expressing genuine emotion:

"I cry every time I see this commercial."
"This is why I choose Chipotle."
"The music, the visuals, the message—perfect."

What This Means for Advertising

Chipotle's music strategy represents a shift in how brands approach commercials. Rather than licensing generic background tracks, they're creating cultural moments that stand on their own artistic merit.

Key lessons for marketers:

Choose songs with emotional depth, not just popularity.

Partner with artists who genuinely align with your values.

Let the music guide the edit, not the other way around.

Trust that audiences appreciate art, even in advertising.

Where to Experience the Full Campaign

Ready to hear all these incredible songs in context? Here's your Chipotle playlist:

"Unfolded" with Halsey – Experience the stop-motion magic (link may be currently unavailable)

"A Future Begins" with Kacey Musgraves – Prepare to feel all the emotions

"Choices" with E-40 – Get energized by the beat

The links throughout this article will take you directly to each video. Even if some are temporarily unavailable, they provide the official sources for when you want to experience these campaigns.

Final Thoughts

The question "What is the background song in the Chipotle commercial?" doesn't have a single answer—and that's exactly the point. Chipotle has created a library of advertising that feels less like marketing and more like a curated collection of short films, each with its own musical soul.

Whether it's Halsey's ethereal take on The Rolling Stones, Kacey Musgraves' heartbreaking cover of Coldplay, or E-40's confident anthem, the music in Chipotle's ads elevates them from commercials to cultural moments. So the next time you hear a song and feel something, you'll know exactly why—and exactly who to thank.