Samsung If I Can Dream Christmas Ad – The Location, the Music, and More!

As one who’s just joined the flip side (read a recap of my flip phone journey), I thought it would be fitting to write about the Samsung Galaxy Christmas commercial, plus it features a song by my all-time favorite artist Elvis Presley. Take a look, then scroll down for more info…

The Location. This ad is shot in Prague, Czechia. It appears that the street is Římská Street. This is just one of many shoots in Prague as explained in the video below, including clips from Kanye West and Apple.

The Music. The original song is by Elvis Presley in 1968. This, however, is a cover and fans have narrowed it town to Georgia Crandon or Lake Street Dive. Oh gosh, is this turning into a heated debate like deciding if the dress is blue or black, or what do you hear, Yanny or Laurel (spoiler alert, it’s Yanny!)? In the Samsung commercial, is it Georgia Crandon or Lake Street Dive singing the cover? Let the convincing begin!

Do you like the ad? Where does it land on your all-time favorite Christmas commercials? On my list, I’d add it to the top five somewhere behind this AT&T commercial and this Amazon commercial. Thanks for dropping in…

-Out of the Wilderness

Two Words – Tickle. Fight.

Do you have those middle of the night thoughts that come out of nowhere but you promise not to forget so you can write it down when you wake up? There are so many thoughts I’ve lost from not writing them down right then and there BUT!! I had one last night that makes so much sense. With all the turmoil around the world, this thought seems to be the answer.

How many conflicts can be resolved and wars avoided with a tickle fight?

-me

Obviously this is super childish but when’s the last time you were tickled and DIDN’T laugh? Now imagine two world leaders, Biden and Putin, for instance, in a tickle fight. By the end of it they’d be exhausted and come to some sort of common ground to end all the hostility. Don’t you think?

Next time I’m upset with someone, I’m going to start a tickle fight, even if it’s the woman in the checkout line in front of me using a check to buy her groceries.

Thanks for dropping in…

-Out of the Wilderness

L.L. Bean Christmas Commercial – The Clothes, the Actor, and More!

Hello and thanks for checking out my commercial post today! Is it just me or is every single company making Christmas commercials this year? I’ve written about a few I never really expected to have holiday ads (click on each for the commercial) — Etsy, Sprite, and even The Red Cross. Spoiler alert, Sprite’s is pretty terrible. But I won’t be a Scrooge, most of the ads are great and just recently I wrote about the best commercial you’ll see all season from AT&T. Another new ad this year is from L.L. Bean. I’ve written about their Christmas ad last year, and it was simply adorable. This year’s offering is less adorable but still features the brand clothes and overall flavor we’ve come to expect from L.L. Bean. Take a look then scroll down for more info…

The Actor. Playing the part of William is actor Jeremy Gimenez. Check out more of his professional work on IMDb here. I can’t find much more about him but at least we know his name now!

The Clothing. The flannel shirt he’s wearing will run you between $89 and $129. The boots are $179. The vest, color is called emerald spruce, is $119. The snow cap, or beanie, whatever they’re called, is $29.95.

The Music. Briefly playing at the end of the commercial is “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes. I wonder how much it costs to license that song for under 10 seconds?

Wrap Up. This doesn’t quite reach the cuteness level of their ad from last year, although the pup in this one is awfully adorable. I guess women might find “William” cute but I barely have an idea what women find attractive! Overall, it’s a good ad showcasing L.L. Bean products in a subtle, seasonal way. If I had to pick something that’s slightly confusing, it’s the opening text slide, “A Real L.L. Bean Holiday Story.” Are we supposed to believe someone wrote in with that story? This doesn’t seem quite genuine to me, so if it’s NOT a note from an actual customer, then why open the commercial like that?

How do you feel about the commercial? Does it give you the warm and fuzzy Christmas feels? Chime in below, and thanks for dropping in…

-Out of the Wilderness

The AT&T Christmas Commercial – The Song, the Singer, and More!

Just when you think the best holiday commercial has already aired this season (Amazon is was the best with their snow globe ad), another one comes along and becomes the glittery star at the top of the Christmas tree. Enter AT&T. Take a look at their ad featuring everyday heroes then scroll down for more about the music from the commercial…

The Music. The song is “Here Comes the Night,” most well-known by Them (Van Morrison) over 50 years ago. But as you’ve already figured out, this AT&T cover version is special. It’s one of those moments that stopped me in my tracks. I had to see and listen! The singer is Isla June, a singer/songwriter in Los Angeles. She’s on Instagram and TikTok (so follow her on those platforms- Instagram: @IslaJuneMusic and TikTok: @IslaJuneMusic) and one of her Instagram posts is such an endearing reaction of her watching the commercial on TV for the first time. There’s also an acoustic performance of the song with cover co-creator Trent Bower (so follow him, too… @trentbower). Confession, I might like the acoustic version better than the one in the commercial, if that’s possible? Check out both of the Instagram posts below.

The OG. Here’s the version of the song from way back in 1965 by Them (although the very first release of the song was by Lulu in 1964).

There are also covers by other famous artists, so I’ll include one of my favorite country singers, Dwight Yoakam, from 1997.

Final Take. Best cover of “Here Comes the Night,” hands down. In fact, is it sacrilegious to say this short cover of the chorus is BETTER than the entire original song? I’m sure anyone who hears and watches this commercial wouldn’t hate to have a full version from Isla June and Trent Bower. I’d be curious how they tackle the verses of the song, which have a fast tempo with lyrics that are less charming than we’d hope for such a tender chorus (it IS a break-up, lost-love song, after all). But the commercial music… I was not ready for it. Such a refreshing take on a song from last century. Because of the song and arrangement from Isla June and Trent Bower, AT&T has the best Christmas commercial this season and that’s saying a lot because, well, Publix is almost always #1, with ads like this.

How do you feel about this ad? Does it rank high on your holiday commercials list? Thanks for dropping in…

-Out of the Wilderness

What’s the point of one-ply toilet paper?

Pardon my “potty” mouth but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why one-ply toilet paper is a thing. The only benefits are that it’s thinner (for plumbing issues) and it’s cheaper. I guess, with the economy going in “the toilet,” we gotta pinch pennies wherever we can. I haven’t done the math at all but I doubt that single-ply is very much cheaper than two-ply. Why? Because every time you need to wipe, you’re bundling up so much of it, you might as well be using two-ply. It’s just silly!

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I’m a two-ply guy. I’ll proclaim it from the rooftops! Speaking of roofs, if you’re going to TP a house, stick with one-ply. Wasting two- or three-ply toilet paper is the stuff horror movies are made of.

Thanks for “rolling” by…

-Out of the Wilderness