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My Gen X Playlist: Wherever You Will Go – The Calling

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I watched A Man on the Inside on Netflix last weekend. The story begins with a retired man coping with life after the loss of his wife. Needing to find a way to carry on becomes wrapped around an amusing storyline of him going undercover in a retirement home to solve the mystery of a stolen necklace. What? Yeah, I know. I initially scratched my head at that, too.

The show’s inciting incident comes when Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) challenges her retired professor father, Charles (Ted Danson), to find a project or a hobby that will bring some purpose and excitement into his stagnant life. Charles sees a classified ad seeking an “investigative assistant” who’s “aged 75–85,” and so begins his professional search for a jewelry thief.

Netflix

The show was funny, heartwarming, sad and redeeming. He finds solace in the end and solves the crime at the same time. I have to admit, a couple of times I felt a tear or two well up. But it’s not a sad show. There’s plenty of feel good and amusing moments throughout to amply counterbalance this. The series consists of 8 half hour episodes and I surprised myself by bingeing the whole lot – without an ounce of guilt might I add. The juice was worth the squeeze.

The Calling released Wherever You Will Go in 2001. The connection here is it was inspired by the passing of a grandmother’s best friend.

The guitarist of The Calling, Aaron Kamin, wrote this song which caught on with the touching message of following someone to the ends of the earth. Aaron explained in a radio interview: “At the time my grandmother’s best friend had passed away and she left behind a husband of 50 or more years and I was at the funeral and afterwards I just started thinking of what it would be like to be him and have your whole life change so dramatically and not for the best in a matter of moments. Somebody that you live and grow with and are one with, just to be gone, is crazy and I figured all he ever thinks about probably is finding a way to get back to her or be with her or make sure she’s alright or something like that. That was the sentiment behind that.”

Songfacts

I enjoy reading the backstory of a song and then listening to the lyrics again. I never would have guessed the inspiration for this one, especially after seeing twenty-somethings in the music video. It didn’t quite match. And I also didn’t expect to see the youthful appearance of the lead singer. He literally looks like a teenage kid with a 43 year old voice. What’s up with that?

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face

If a great wave shall fall
And fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

And maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days

If a great wave shall fall
And fall upon us all
Well then I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love

I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

If I could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
I'll go wherever you will go

24 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Wherever You Will Go – The Calling”

  2. I LOVE “A Man On The Inside.” I’m on episode 7….delaying the end, because I’ve enjoyed it so much and I don’t want it to be over. I’ve been working it in between binge-watching “Breaking Bad.” I know–two totally opposite genres. That’s why I need to sprinkle some comedy into the mix. “Breaking Bad” (I’m in the middle of season 3) is very, very dark.

    Great analogy with the song!

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    1. I watched Better Call Saul… which I heard was a spin off of Breaking Bad. I loved it. I may have to go back and watch Breaking Bad.

      After watching A Man on the Inside, I watched The Good Place. Same creator and also has Ted Danson. I recommend it. It was clever and funny.

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      1. Loved, loved, loved “The Good Place.” It was fabulous! I also watched “Better Call Saul” first…it sort of spoils some of the “Breaking Bad” storyline, but not completely. On the positive side, it helps to understand some of the “Breaking Bad” characters more fully.

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      2. Sounds like we share similar taste in shows. I started watching Breaking Bad years ago. I took a short hiatus and it’s just been out there. I hit yo the point where he shaved his head. My friends tell me that is exactly the point NOT TO STOP. Their voices were in all caps. Maybe I should pick it up again.

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      3. I’m in season 3 of 5 of “Breaking Bad” and it’s all unfolding at a rapid pace. I strongly urge you to get back into it. If you got that far into the storyline and didn’t give up on it completely, you need to keep going. Especially if you liked “Better Call Saul.”

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  3. Ah, one of my very most favorite songs…I have played it often since I first heard it as the closing song in the last episode of “Saving Grace” ( the greatest tv show evah!). I’ve played it even more since my husband died.

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