1995 Janis Joplin "Mercedes Benz" TV commercial for Mercedes

It was probably inevitable - Janis Joplin is heard singing "Mercedes Benz" circa October 1970 in this 1995 television commercial for Mercedes Benz. The BetaGems channel also has "1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cherubs musical TV commercial," as well as an entire playlist of uploads called "Rare & Lost TV Commercials." BetaGems are culled from an archive of over 1000 beta video tapes recorded from 1983 into the 1990s. Most feature live music performances broadcast on television in San Diego CA, though there are also rarely seen commercials, comedy clips, and other material that doesn't seem to be anywhere else on Youtube or online. Most of the tapes were recorded on a Sony SL-HFT7 Super Beta Theater Hi-Fi Stereo - the same model was refurbished and is being used for these digital transfers and uploads. In rare occasions where a BetaGems clip does appear elsewhere, we're only uploading if our own beta master is better quality or contains material not seen previously. Much footage comes from public television and public access broadcasts that the taper monitored nightly for several years. Some of the programming is strictly regional, mostly from the San Diego area. This upload features materials protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. To be used for research and archive purposes only, no commercial reproduction allowed.

Added 29 Jul 2026