The Super Bowl 2022 commercial for Expedia does an excellent job of showcasing Ewan McGregor, some adorable puppies, and some fun nods to traditional advertising scenarios as he talks about the importance of having life-changing experiences over having a ton of “stuff.” As McGregor walks through a soundstage, expounding on the emptiness of material possessions, a steady guitar beat is heard before eventually giving way to a catchy song that begins to play as the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” actor pushes open the stage door. That song is “Whole Wide World” by Wreckless Eric (via YouTube).
“Whole Wide World” is a song from Wreckless Eric’s 1979 compilation album “The Whole Wide World,” featuring a variety of his singles and some B-side tracks (via Spotify). The song remains popular to this day. It has since been revisited by several artists and musical groups, including The Proclaimers in 2007, Cage The Elephant in 2017, and most recently, Billie Joe Armstrong in 2020.
The song fits well with Expedia’s messaging, and McGregor makes his way through people on their phones pretending to be in beautiful destinations before he opens the door to a pleasant beach scene. Ultimately, the commercial reminds viewers to focus a bit more on the real world rather than the perfectly curated one they see online. Of course, nothing beats a day at the beach.