Nayara Elvina
The landscape of modern country music is often defined by rapid-fire releases and meticulously planned radio campaigns, yet one of the genre’s most significant recent hits nearly remained an unrecorded demo. Luke Combs, a central figure in the contemporary country music scene, recently provided an in-depth look at the circuitous journey of his 18th consecutive number-one single, "Where The Wild Things Are." During an appearance on the podcast Therapuss with Jake Shane, Combs revealed that the track, which dominated the airwaves in early 2024, was a "famous" demo in Nashville circles for nearly a decade before he decided to record it during a moment of spontaneity in the recording studio.
The song, written by seasoned Nashville songwriters Randy Montana and Dave Turnbull, serves as a standout track on Combs’ 2023 album, Gettin’ Old. Its ascent to the top of the Country Airplay charts solidified Combs’ status as a historic hitmaker, but the artist admits the song’s success was far from guaranteed, given its technical difficulty and its departure from his usual practice of recording self-penned material.
The Origins of a Nashville Legend
The history of "Where The Wild Things Are" traces back to at least 2016. In the highly competitive ecosystem of Nashville’s Music Row, demos—high-quality recordings of unreleased songs used to pitch to artists—often circulate for years. According to Combs, the demo for this particular track, featuring Randy Montana on vocals, had earned a reputation among industry insiders long before it reached the general public.
Combs noted that the song first appeared on his phone around 2016, a period when he was just beginning his meteoric rise with his debut album, This One’s for You. At that time, however, Combs was focused almost exclusively on his own songwriting. "That song had been kinda famous in town," Combs explained during the interview. "It ended up in my phone probably in 2016, maybe? I mean it’s been around a while, and it had already been around sometime at that point I believe. It wasn’t like, ‘Hey I wrote this yesterday, check it out.’ I didn’t even get it from Randy."
Despite his admiration for the track, Combs did not immediately move to record it. The Nashville "song plugger" system involves pitching tracks to various A-list artists, and for years, "Where The Wild Things Are" was passed over. Rumors within the industry suggested that several major acts, including Eric Church—an artist known for his narrative-heavy "story songs"—had considered cutting the track but ultimately declined.
The Spontaneous Recording Session
The decision to finally record "Where The Wild Things Are" occurred during the final stages of production for Gettin’ Old in 2022. Combs and his co-producer, Jonathan Singleton, had completed their planned itinerary for a recording session when they realized they had approximately one hour of studio time remaining.
Combs recalled the moment as a low-stakes experiment. "We had like an extra hour, and I was like, ‘Well what if we just cut it?’ It wasn’t on the plan, it wasn’t on the sheet of stuff that we were going to cut," Combs said. He played the song for Singleton, who shares a close professional and personal bond with songwriter Randy Montana. Singleton’s enthusiastic approval—"We oughta do it man, that song’s awesome"—was the final push needed to bring the song to life.
This spontaneous addition to the album would eventually become one of its most commercially successful singles. The recording process captured a raw, atmospheric energy that resonated with listeners, despite Combs’ initial reservations about whether a complex narrative song could achieve mainstream radio success in an era often dominated by rhythmic, "vibe-heavy" tracks.
Technical Challenges and the Art of Breath Support
One of the primary reasons "Where The Wild Things Are" may have been overlooked by other artists for nearly a decade is its inherent technical difficulty. The song is a "story song," a subgenre of country music that prioritizes lyrical narrative over repetitive hooks. Beyond the mental engagement required from the listener, the song presents a significant physical challenge for the performer.
Combs highlighted "breath support" as a major hurdle. The phrasing of the verses and the soaring intensity of the chorus require a vocalist to manage their air intake with surgical precision. "It’s not the easiest song to sing, from a breath support standpoint," Combs remarked. "You have to have a lot of breath to be able to sing that song live. I think that was probably some people’s hesitance with that song. It’s like, well if I put the song out and it’s a big hit and I have to sing it every night, can I even sing it every night?"
During rehearsals for his world tour, Combs spent several days specifically identifying the windows within the lyrical structure where he could catch his breath without breaking the narrative flow. This technical barrier likely deterred other vocalists who feared the song would be unsustainable during a grueling touring schedule. Combs’ ability to execute the song nightly has become a point of praise among critics and a highlight for fans who often find themselves breathless attempting to sing along.
Narrative Depth: The Story of the Indian Scout
The lyrical content of "Where The Wild Things Are" contributes to its "nostalgic" and "haunting" reputation. The song tells the story of a free-spirited brother who leaves his small-town life for the allure of the West Coast, specifically riding an Indian Scout motorcycle. The narrative arc follows his journey through "nights that ignite like gasoline" before meeting a tragic end in a motorcycle accident.
The chorus serves as both a celebration of that wild spirit and a mournful eulogy:
“Oh, it’s hearts on fire and crazy dreams / Oh, where the nights ignite like gasoline / And oh, them Indian Scouts, man, they’re built for speed / And oh, they said he hit that guardrail at half past three / Lit up those streets that never sleep when the sky goes dark / We buried him out in the wind ‘neath the West Coast stars / Out where the wild things are.”
This type of detailed storytelling was less common in the mid-2010s when the song was first written, a period often referred to as the "Bro-Country" era. The industry’s shift toward more traditional, narrative-driven songwriting in the early 2020s created a more hospitable environment for the track’s eventual release.
Statistical Success and Market Impact
When "Where The Wild Things Are" reached the number-one spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in February 2024, it marked Luke Combs’ 18th consecutive chart-topper. This streak is unprecedented in the history of the format, surpassing records previously held by icons such as George Strait and Garth Brooks in terms of consecutive hits from the start of a career.
The song’s success was bolstered by its performance on digital platforms. It became a viral sensation on TikTok, where users utilized the song’s cinematic audio to soundtrack travel videos and tributes to loved ones. This organic social media growth provided a "second life" to the track, extending its reach beyond traditional radio listeners.
On the Billboard Hot 100, the song reached the Top 30, proving its crossover appeal. The success of "Where The Wild Things Are" also provided a significant boost to the careers of Randy Montana and Dave Turnbull. Montana, in particular, has become one of Nashville’s most sought-after writers, known for his ability to blend traditional country grit with modern sensibilities.
Broader Implications for the Nashville Songwriting Community
The journey of "Where The Wild Things Are" serves as a case study for the endurance of quality songwriting in Nashville. It reinforces the industry adage that "a great song will always find its home." The fact that a song could sit unrecorded for seven years and then become a multi-platinum, number-one hit suggests that the value of a well-crafted narrative is timeless, even if it does not immediately fit the prevailing radio trends of the moment.
Furthermore, Combs’ willingness to record an outside cut—meaning a song he did not write—signals a maturing of his artistic process. While his early career was defined by his prolific songwriting, his later work shows a discernment for "best song wins" logic, regardless of the source. This openness allows for a broader range of perspectives and stories to be told through his platform.
As Luke Combs continues his "Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old" tour, "Where The Wild Things Are" remains a cornerstone of his setlist. Its transformation from a forgotten demo to a career-defining hit is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the music industry and the power of a single hour of studio time. For Combs, the song is more than just another number one; it is a reminder of the "wild things" that can happen when preparation meets a momentary flash of inspiration.
