With Super Bowl 47 taking place this weekend, not all eyes are going to be on the action that's taking place on the field. As we all know by now, advertising departments Statewide often use the prime time television slots during the commercial breaks to air some of their funniest, most innovative stuff. The highly sought after slots go for millions, such is the guaranteed size of the audience who'll be tuning in to the game, which means that the companies need to give it everything they've got in order to lure in the customers. Here at Contactmusic, we thought we'd have a look over the history of the Super Bowl ad, and pick out ten of favorites of all time...

10. Monster.com – When I Grow Up (1999)

A slightly sad commercial that sees children telling us their dreams for when they grow up, except those dreams turn out to be dead-end jobs and positions of employment that they don’t want to do. Why? Because they didn’t go through Monster.com and potentially get the job they always DID want of course.

9. Bud Light – Magic Fridge (2006)

A short but witty little clip, the guys are going over to our protagonist’s gaff to watch the game, which of course presupposes that there’s going to be a beer shortage at some point. However, to combat this, he’s installed a ‘magic fridge’ which he can revolve from the front room to the kitchen to keep a check on stock. “Genius” as his friend says.

8. E-Trade – Baby Love Triangle (2010)

Funny, but also a bit creepy, as the E-Trade baby sits on a webcam and explains to a female tot how he’s planned his investing and financing, flipping on it’s the head the fact that, y’know, they’re a few months old. The comedy punchline is delivered when his conversation partner asks “and that milkaholic Lindsay wasn’t over?” causing Lindsay – who is indeed there – to ask “milkawhat!?” Sheer japery.

7. Snickers - Betty White (2010)

At 88, veteran comedian Betty White was thrust back into the limelight on this hilarious Snickers ad that saw her take a hit on the park in an American Football game. The twist is that, in the narrative, it isn’t really her, just someone playing so feebly that they’re “playing like Betty White”. Thankfully a Snickers sorts all that out.

6. Diet Pepsi – Ray Charles Ad (1991)

Worth it just for the amazing Ray Charles. Charles stars out solo on the piano, before the lights come up and he’s joined by go-go dancers, a string section and a full band for a feel-good minute’s celebration of Diet Pepsi, featuring an enjoyable tongue twisting end section from the legend himself.

5. Coca Cola – Mean Joe Greene (1979)

This classic Coke ad from 1979 won’t mean anything to anyone these days who isn’t aware of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle ‘Mean’ Joe Greene. With a reputation as one of the toughest, hardest competitors on the gridiron field, this ad showed a rarely-seen light side to the sportsman, as he accepted a coke from a child.

4. Nike - Michael Jordan Meets Bugs Bunny (1992)

Eventually they would pair up in Space Jam, but this ad saw two iconic Americans – Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny – meet for the first time, Bugs enlisting the basketball playing great’s skills to help him defeat a team of regular schmoes. Jordan did all the slam dunking, whilst Bug capered around and made his opponents look foolish as he so often does.

3. Apple – 1984 (1984)

A dystopian vision directed by Ridley Scott, this advert is one of the most famous of all time. Inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, it ultimately goes down as the moment when Apple started their long steady climb to dominate the entertainment technology market. Ironically the advert seems to be pushing Apple as the opponent to a singular, uniformed way of thinking, but in 2013, is it not they who are now that overbearing power?

2. Reebok - Terry Tate Office Linebacker (2003)

The first glimpse of Terry Tate and arguably the best. Tate’s been employed as office linebacker by a company to generally take out those who’ve been slacking or not doing their tasks properly. The genius of seeing someone casually leaning against a cubicle wall before suddenly being smashed to the ground by the larger than life Tate never gets old, and the success of the ad saw many sequels served up.

1. McDonalds - Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan (1993)

The classic game of H.O.R.S.E taken to ridiculous levels by two basketball greats. They start on the court, then go up on the scoreboard, into the rafters of the arena, outside onto the roof and beyond … and what for? The chance to eat a Big Mac. You’d think the stakes would’ve been a little higher than that.