Back when I didn’t know who Queen was

I usually like individual songs, not researching the band who performs them or entire albums from where they come. Such was the case when I was just a wee little lad and knew of a song called “We Will Rock You.” Who performed it? I didn’t know. What album it was on? I didn’t think to ask. I just liked the song.

The band is Queen. Or WAS Queen, depending on how you feel about the current group with the addition of Adam Lambert. I love most of the Queen songs I hear or have heard. But when I was little, I simply didn’t think past the music.

This has happened quite a bit, I’m sure, but the two other band I can think of off hand that came into my world the same way are U2, and The Head and the Heart.

U2. Very similar to Queen, there were songs I loved growing up and then only learning who the band was years later. One of the first I loved from U2 is “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” I remember hearing it on the radio as a child and loving it, but also not really knowing why because I was just a young kid. I guess it was the melody, or something.

The Head and the Heart. As an adult in Nashville, I listened to Lightning 100 a lot before I got SiriusXM. Over the course of a months and maybe years, they would play certain songs that seemed to vibe with me more than others. Eventually I looked one of them up (“Shake”) and found that the band was The Head and the Heart. Then my mind was blown and very pleased to discover they are the band behind many of the other songs that I was vibing with. So they became a favorite and they are still one of my all-time favorites.

Circling back to the beginning of this post, there’s a use of a Queen song in a TV show that is my top favorite of any Queen song in a movie or show. It also may be my favorite of ANY song by ANY band in a show or movie. The song is “Save Me” and it was used so perfectly in a scene of New Girl where Schmidt witnesses the love of his life get proposed to… and she says yes.

Great, great, great scene.

Anyway, are there bands you loved before you even knew they were a band? Comment below with which one and let’s chat about it!

-Out of the Wilderness

My dream woman…

I’m totally about to let you down because this post isn’t a romantic list of real characteristics I found in any real woman. But I do wish all the women a happy month since evidently March is “Women’s History Month”… which I had no idea was a thing until it showed up in my Google calendar as a U.S. holiday, but anyway, did you all know we are supposed to celebrate women’s history in March?

I’m more interested in the woman of my future.

Perfect circle back to my dream woman. I mean, she was literally in a dream I had recently. We were seated side by side eating macaroni and cheese. As I always do, I added a layer of ketchup because ketchup makes most dinners better (come fight be about it, bro!) and I glanced over to her plate of macaroni and she had ketchup on hers, too.

That’s when I knew I was in love with her.

Does this lovely woman exist? Maybe only in my dreams so… I hope I’ll see her again when I fall asleep tonight 🙂

-Out of the Wilderness

The royals and the religious

Every time they’re in the news, I wonder why I need to care about the goings-on of the royal family? Recently, there was an Oprah interview of Harry and Meghan, former royalty, with a slew of “bombshell” revelations about the entire family, etc. I’ll even go back to the royal wedding (check out my 2018 post about the wedding craze) as highlighted below and ask again… who cares?

There was a frenzy here in the U.S., people buzzing with excitement in anticipation for the wedding, and happiness that it would be televised globally. Then the newlyweds parted ways from the royal family but so much for fading out of the spotlight because everything they do is in the news. I guess if I lived in Britain it would be relevant to my life… but I don’t. This is ‘Merica!

This sentiment of mine was also awakened again last week as news of the pope going to Iraq made headlines. I’m like….

I honestly couldn’t care less about where the pope goes, what he does, what he says about anything going on in the world, much less American society. Why is there an obsession with his whereabouts and opinions on stuff? I get that he is the leader of the Catholic faith and all, but does that warrant national, or even international, coverage on the evening news?

From what I can decipher, and I’m not meaning to sound sexist, but it seems that most of the folks who care about the royal drama are women. When the wedding was big news, I don’t think I read a post or tweet from any man that was eagerly awaiting the ceremony. Maybe there is something related to growing up wishing/pretending to be a princess that connects the royal family with women across the country. Maybe that’s why boys who wished/pretended to be a professional wrestler loved Hulk Hogan, Iron Sheik, and more recently Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Thanks for going along with me down a random trail of thoughts today. What’s your take on the Harry and Meghan drama? How about the celebrity status of the pope? Chime in below or else I’ll administer on you Iron Sheik’s signature move, the camel clutch!

-Out of the Wilderness

Kohl’s hopscotch ad: the actors, music, and location!

Kohl’s really nailed it with their holiday ad from Christmas 2020, and now they’re back with an adorable new commercial that might just make you grin from ear to ear. Check it out…

This commercial was shot in Burbank, CA, more specifically at the address: 721 North Orchard Drive. The market value of the home is around $1 million. This link should take you to Google street view so you can pan around to see the rest of the neighborhood.

The grumpy delivery guy is perfectly portrayed by actor Michael King. His sly smile at the end is the perfect way to wrap up the commercial! His reel can be seen here.

The young actress who gives so much personality to the ad is Liliana Bonilla. She is perfect for this ad, showing such joy and spreading that to the neighbors (and the grouchy delivery guy 🙂 ) who pass by.

The song playing as the soundtrack to this ad is “Sunny Side of the Street” by Jon Batiste. The full version is below.

Check out Michael King on Instagram (@MikeKingJr).

Liliana Bonilla is also on Instagram (@LilyFashion0202).

More of Jon Batiste’s music can be found on his YouTube channel here.

Also check out more behind the scenes and background info of popular ads on my TV Commercials page here.

Did you like the ad? Comment below and thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Listening to all of band’s music

While I was walking my dogs recently I had my phone in my pocket, listening to music on Spotify. When I walk my dogs, I can’t really fiddle with my phone so I pretty much have to “set it and forget it.” This brings about a critical decision that needs to be made: What do I listen to? What music can I listen to and not care to switch it to anything else?

This leads to the logical next question… which band can you play and just… let play? For me, there are a handful, which I will list for you now:

The Head and the Heart
Needtobreathe
DCTalk
Prince
Beach Boys

Those are a few I could think of right off the bat. I can play the music from any of these bands/singers and be 93% content (we all know there are some songs you just can’t listen to all the way through…. soooo…. that’s 7%). Lately, I’ve been letting Spotify play me the entire catalog of The Head and the Heart while we’re on one of our mile-long walks. Song after song, I’m thinking, “Oh yeah, I love this one, too!” I think, of all the music I’ve heard at least as an adult, this band has lyrics that are the closest to how I’ve felt about life and relationships. I really love their music.

How about you? Is there a band or artist you can listen to and not need to skip past any tracks? Let me know in the comments. I’ll leave you with a favorite track from The Head and the Heart.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness