Who are the artists in the Uber One commercial?
Inside the music-heavy cast behind the hit-song themed Super Bowl spot
(By Carmichael Phillip)
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When Uber One launched its major Super Bowl campaign in 2023, the creative hook was simple yet clever: hire a mega-producer to help craft a “hit” for Uber One. In the commercial, Sean “Diddy” Combs (also known as Diddy) is approached by the brand’s board and asked: “You want a hit?” — rather than just a jingle. In response, he recruits a selection of artists famous for their own “hits” to remix or repurpose those songs for Uber’s membership pitch.
Rather than a straightforward ad with one face, the campaign uses music-star power and recognition to anchor the message: Uber One offers something memorable (a membership program) and they want you to remember it like a song you can’t get out of your head. The nostalgia angle—artists known for big songs of the ’90s and early 2000s—makes the ad more than a product pitch; it plays on cultural memory.
Artist: Montell Jordan
One of the first major names you’ll recognise in the ad is Montell Jordan. Best known for his 1995 smasher “This Is How We Do It,” Jordan appears in the commercial reworking that hit into new lyrics: “Uber One can save you on rides and eats / It’s kinda sweet.”
Jordan’s inclusion is strategic: the original song was a cultural anthem for party vibes and 90s R&B; by repurposing it, the ad signals both fun and recognition. The old hit becomes a brand message.
Artist: Kelis
Another key artist in the cast is Kelis—famous for “Milkshake” (2003). In the commercial she delivers a version of that song’s hook adapted to Uber One: “Your milkshakes cost way less than before / This membership is better than yours.”
Kelis’ inclusion plays on her signature track’s recognisability and a playful wink: yes, that song you know, now about something entirely different (delivery membership). That twist helps the ad land in viewers’ consciousness.
Artist: Donna Lewis
The cast also features Donna Lewis, who is best known for the 1996 soft‐pop hit “I Love You Always Forever.” In the Uber One spot she offers a reworked lyric: “Uber One saves you forever / Rides and eats / Save on whatever.”
Her presence adds a slightly different musical flavour—softer pop rather than the pure R&B or dance hits of the other artists—broadening the ad’s appeal to a more diverse audience of music-memories.
Artist: Haddaway
One of the final key music stars in the ad is Haddaway, whose 1993 dance anthem “What Is Love (Baby Don’t Hurt Me)” gets a brand new twist: “Uber One / Uber One saves me / Saves me / Way more.”
Haddaway’s contribution leans into the earworm territory: that original song is still widely recognised (for good or bad) decades later. Using it ensures the ad sticks—once you hear that melody, you remember the spot and, by extension, the brand.
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Artist: Ylvis
Rounding out the music-artist list is the Norwegian comedy‐duo Ylvis, best known for their viral 2013 novelty track “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?).” In the Uber One commercial they appear with a comedic turn, delivering the line: “How does the fox say, U-U-U-U-U-ber One?”
Though their contribution is more tongue-in-cheek than the others, their inclusion adds a humour layer and broadens the cast beyond strictly serious music stars—making the ad feel playful and irreverent, which can help it cut through the Super Bowl noise.
Lead producer and face of the spot: Sean “Diddy” Combs
While he may not be re-singing his own hit in the spot, the anchor of the entire music-cast concept is Diddy. In the ad he’s portrayed as overseeing a hit-song creation process for Uber One, calling together the artists above to remix their hits and help brand the new service.
His role is crucial—not only because he is a heavyweight music-industry figure, but because his framing (“you want a hit?”) ties together the narrative of the commercial: the membership programme is as catchy and can’t-escape-it as a musical earworm. Using Diddy gives the branding a credible music backbone.
Why this cast matters: combining music, nostalgia & brand recall
The selection of these artists works on several layered levels for the brand:
Instant recognition: Each artist is linked to a signature, memorable song. That recognisability helps pull viewers in.
Nostalgia factor: Many of the hits are from the ’90s or early 2000s. Audience members who grew up during that time will have an emotional connection, which the ad leverages.
Remixing hits = brand hook: Rather than original music, the ad repurposes known hits with new lyrics. That means the music is familiar but new, creating a “wow, I recognise that but it’s different” effect.
Cross-genre and cross-demographic: With R&B (Montell Jordan), pop/dance (Donna Lewis, Haddaway), novelty/comedy (Ylvis), and a contemporary twist (Kelis), the ad touches multiple musical zones. That helps the brand reach varied audiences.
Earworm potential: Music sticks. If the song lingers in your head, the brand lingers too. By building the commercial around a “song” for their membership, Uber One uses music as brand memory device.
Meta-narrative: hit-making for membership: The commercial’s story—artists collaborating, producing a hit—mirrors what the brand wants the membership to be: a hit offer. That narrative makes the brand message more engaging than a straight ad.
What viewers should look for when watching the ad
If you watch the Uber One commercial again, keep your eyes/ears open for:
Montell Jordan’s familiar groove and how the lyric “This Is How We Do It” is reworked for “Uber One can save you on rides and eats…”
Kelis’ appearance and the re-lyric-ing of “Milkshake” into “Your milkshakes cost way less than before…”
Donna Lewis stepping in with her softer vocal style and the lyric referencing “forever” turned into “Uber One saves you forever…”
Haddaway’s “What Is Love” melody being recognisably repurposed with “Uber One / Uber One saves me…”
Ylvis’ appearance in costume, with a comedic twist on “What does the fox say?” to “U-U-U-U-U-ber One?”
Diddy acting as the studio executive/producer figure, glancing between artists, coaching the process and delivering the ad’s framing line “You want a hit?”
By spotting these pieces, you’ll appreciate how the ad’s music cast isn’t just “celebrity cameo” but actively tied to the message and creative.
In summary: the artists and their role in the Uber One campaign
In summary, the primary artists in the Uber One commercial include:
Montell Jordan — repurposing “This Is How We Do It” for Uber One.
Kelis — reinventing “Milkshake” with new membership-themed lyrics.
Donna Lewis — delivering a new take on “I Love You Always Forever.”
Haddaway — reworking “What Is Love” into “Uber One / Uber One saves me…”
Ylvis — the novelty duo referenced via “What does the fox say? U-U-U-U-U-ber One.”
And at the centre of it all, Diddy frames the spot and unites the artists under the “One Hit” concept.
This cast matters because it transforms what could have been a routine ad into a musical moment, playing off nostalgia, recognisability, and the power of a catchy tune to make a brand stick in your mind.
For a brand like Uber One—seeking to elevate its membership service amid competition—leveraging stars known for their musical hits makes a lot of sense. The next time you hear a snippet of one of those songs you’ll likely think of that spot, and thus of Uber One’s message.
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