American Idol in Hollywood – Recap Part 1

The first episode in Hollywood has come and gone. It aired on Easter Sunday and while the tomb of Jesus may be empty, this episode was full…….. of entertainment. There were highs, there were lows, there were moments of cringe, and moments of holding back tears. I’ve solidified my top 4 favorites and if you disagree, you’re dead to me.

The episode opened with the platinum ticket trio singing “California Dreamin'” and while they have the luxury of sitting out of the first round (like a ‘bye’ in sports terms), they’re going to be playing catch-up when their auditions resume because some of the first rounders knocked it so far out of the park. First to audition in the Idol Arena was Triston Harper but before his song, someone thought it was a great idea to shoot clips of Triston walking in cowboy boots through thick, deep sand. 🤔 Okkkkkkkkkk. They were California dreamin’ alright. Triston is so young, he probably didn’t want to tell them how horrible of an idea that was. Those boots were made for walking but not through sand, you dummies! Triston performed an original song and he’s as country as a turnip green. I just don’t know where exactly he would fit within country music– he’s young but sings very traditionally. His target audience is anyone’s guess at this point. Just don’t make him walk in the sand again…

Emmy Russell is as sweet as a Georgia peach. I love that she’s in the season of life where she’s stepping out of her legendary grandmother’s shadow (Loretta Lynn). She will find her place in this world but I don’t think this season of American Idol is going to be part of her journey much longer.

The Middle Singers. Somewhere existing in the mid-tier talent from the episode is KBlocks, Kaibrienne, and Kayko. They each had good performances but not anything anyone will remember a few weeks from now. Kaibrienne connected with the audience in her performance, KBlocks is quirky which will help her for a little while longer until her voice can’t keep up with the competition, and Kayko is a talented musician and singer but just a little bland.

The Bottom Singers. All of America who thought Camila Galavis and Madaí ChaKell were already outmatched were 100% right. Even “American Idol” thought so, since they haven’t even posted either contestant’s Hollywood audition. One piece of advice to Madaí: never, ever, ever throw the band under the bus. It will not work in your favor. In reaction to her audition, Luke said something to the affect of this: Maybe next year, instead of American Idol they can have American Humble. Boom, roasted. Madaí was incredibly entitled and arrogant. Gross.

Cream of the Crop. I thought these four singers were head and shoulders above the rest. They’re easily my top 4 and I really, really hope they all make it to the live shows. Jennifer Jeffries (who I’ve liked from her first audition) is unlike anyone else in the competition. A voice that’s immediately recognizable and a talented writer, too.

I can’t say enough how much I like Jack Blocker. It seems as though his facial expressions might divide people between loving him or not, but my goodness he can sing. I hope the judges aren’t party poopers. He absolutely needs to get to the top 24 so America can vote for him. His rendition of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” was very special.

And then there’s Ziggy. We’re living in weird times when just being gay is so refreshing. Actually, I don’t even know if Ziggy is gay but that’s kind of the point of what I’m saying. His sexuality isn’t forefront. With American culture lifting up trans this, trans that, non-binary, gender fluid, asexual, pansexual, one day she’s a he, another day he’s a them… it’s all so exhausting. But Ziggy, whatever his preferences are, comes across as such a nice and humble person. So besides his love life not being front and center, he can sing as good as any man or woman on the show. In a way, his style reminds me of Prince, and that’s never a bad thing. Cotton Candy to the moon!

What is there to say about Mckenna Faith Breinholt? She has such a seasoned voice, as if she’s been performing for 40 years. Her attention-grabbing low note in this performance stopped me in my tracks. I have no doubt the judges will include her in the top 24 so be ready to vote her to the top, America.

-Out of the Wilderness

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

As millions of people all over the world celebrate Easter, a particular song has popped up in my own little world this weekend. I’ve already heard it twice in two days at my church’s Good Friday service and a rendition by Skye Peterson during a concert Saturday evening (Holy Saturday), the amazing Andrew Peterson and his Resurrection Letters Tour. The song is “Were You There?”

Andrew Peterson, The Resurrection Letters Tour

One peculiar coincidence (probably not a coincidence, actually) is that both versions I’ve heard this weekend stop short of how I remember the song wrapping up going way back to when I first heard it as a member of staff at a summer camp in Missouri in 2001. I think there’s a reason for the shortened versions. The first verses could be categorized as pre-resurrection. Questions like “Were you there when the crucified my Lord?,” “Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?,” “Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?”.

The final verse (or verses, depending on which version you listen to) could be called the resolution. The verses leading up to it are somber. But then these questions arise with celebratory power, “Were you there when the stone was rolled away?” and “Were you there when He rose up from the dead?” The repeating phrase that “it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble” is swapped out now to say “I feel like shouting glory, glory, glory.” Maybe most of the song is about Good Friday and Holy Saturday and the concluding verse is Easter Sunday… a reason to shout glory, glory, glory! To borrow a phrase from another favorite song, “Glory, glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on.”

-Out of the Wilderness

The GEICO Gecko Is Left-Handed!?

It’s been revealed in a recent GEICO commercial that the gecko is left-handed. I’m not sure a good way to test this is by noting which hand he grabs a mic with (which is mentioned in the commercial). I’m left-handed but I hold a mic in my right hand. For a more accurate ruling, the investigators need to look back at the tapes and find out on which wrist he wears a watch. This, this is a better way to determine one’s strong side. More times than not, and I’d even suggest that it’s almost always true, right-handed folks wear watches on their left wrist and lefties wear them on the right.

What have you noticed about characteristics regarding dominant traits? I remember growing up trying to use scissors with my left hand was always disappointing. So my mom taught me to use scissors with my right hand for a much smoother experience. She’s left-handed, too, so she knew (and still knows) we live in a right-handed world and sometimes we lefties just have to abide.

Here’s the gecko commercial… and it’s a great campaign they have going contrasting everyone’s admiration for the gecko juxtaposed to indifference towards the GEICO caveman, who is making a resurgence in commercials.

-Out of the Wilderness

The Voice of the Hank the Buffalo in Buffalo Wild Wings Commercials

I have a tense relationship with Buffalo Wild Wings. Actually I have a tense relationship with buffalo, too, if I’m being honest. When I lived in Tennessee I had the most uncomfortable date at Buffalo Wild Wings. And that’s saying a lot because I’ve been on a dinner date with a woman and her newborn. Talk about awkward. It was also awkward when real buffalo got all up in my business on a camping trip in Texas. So much tension!

That’s the most wild thing that’s happened in or around my camper… but aside from my boring dating life here’s Hank the buffalo with a vicious box out maneuver in the latest Buffalo Wild Wings commercial, airing a lot during March Madness.

The Voice. Providing his voiceover talent is Saturday Night Live actor Beck Bennett. I suppose he’s another actor that deserves a spot on this list of famous people behind commercial voiceovers.

Laughable. This buffalo campaign is a great one from Buffalo Wild Wings. Hank’s comedic timing is great and even though I don’t eat meat anymore, the commercials *might* help erase the memory of the most laughable date I’ve ever had. I remember the woman was a North Carolina Tarheels fan so I wonder what she’ll be doing this weekend besides not watching UNC (who lost to Alabama) while sitting at a table in a Tennessee Buffalo Wild Wings? Maybe Hank will show up and box her out… of the window.

-Out of the Wilderness

Kate Hudson Does Music and It’s Not That Bad

Here we are again: another Hollywood celebrity dipping their toes in music. Actress Kate Hudson, who’s been in just about every blockbuster movie you can think of from the 90s and 2000s, is not only an accomplished actress anymore. She’s a singer, too. I didn’t wake up thinking I’d find out something new about her but a music video popped up on YouTube, Kate’s second single and it’s called “Live Forever.” Take a look…

I can be skeptical when actors try to become musicians because of the few that have ruined that whole idea. Jeremy Renner. Scarlett Johansson. Steven Seagal. Miley Cyrus (just kidding, calm down!). I rather like when musicians become actors, though. Have you seen Post Malone in the remake Road House yet? Or Harry Styles in Don’t Worry Darling? I think singers are better at crossing over than actors.

Jennifer Lopez as Kat Valdez in Marry Me (2022)

The newest celebrity to step up to the mic is Kate Hudson. You might be surprised, like I was, that she actually has a decent voice and two music videos under her belt. I’m not a fan of either of her songs, however they aren’t *that* bad.

If I had to offer one critique about “Live Forever” it’s this: I can’t think of a scenario where this song makes sense to listen to. It’s not being played at a party. There isn’t a beach playlist that’ll have this song on it. Teenagers aren’t choreographing dances for the song on TikTok. It’s not the type of song to play as background music. It won’t be part of any road trip mixes.

So in that regard, I’m chalking it up as a pet project from a talented A-List actress who might one day have a hit song that appeals to the masses. Working in Kate’s favor though, is that her video comes on the heels of one of the worst music videos, and songs, anyone has ever heard… Dylan Mulvaney’s horrendous single “Days of Girlhood.”

You know that feeling when you’re so hungry, you’ll eat almost anything? Even food you don’t like sounds appealing in the throws of starvation. After Dylan’s song debut last week, Kate’s sounds like a masterpiece… even if it actually isn’t. And for every exception, which Kate might be, there’s 10 others that sound as bad or worse than this… 👇

-Out of the Wilderness