The video of the band Sidewinder covering the Adele song “Rolling in the Deep” comes courtesy of an anonymous Twitter feed run by a man who goes by the Twitter handle @areyousuprised. He says he’s stationed in a “Sandbox, Middle East” and he uses his Twitter feed and YouTube videos to “build up the courage to come out to family, girlfriend, friends, and coworkers,” once “don’t ask, don’t tell” ends. It’s not clear whether he’s one of the members of the band, but he did sent the video into a viral tailspin he hadn’t quite expected. “My latest video is getting blown up like crazy,” he wrote.

The band members did not expect it either. Staff Sgt. Angie Johnson, of the 571st Air Force Band, 131st Bomb Wing, Air National Guard, only found out about the viral video when Carson Daly contacted her on Twitter. In short order, Mark Burnett and NBC’s the Voice reached out as well. “ Totally can’t believe I’m tweeting with you right now. Jaw.On.Floor,” Johnson wrote.

Air Force band’s Adele cover goes viral
By Melissa Bell

Jaw on floor is exactly what happened to me when I saw Angie post on her Facebook page that Carson Daly was trying to reach her. I couldn’t wait to tell my  husband, who met Angie while overseas performing for the troops himself. He always said, “It is only a matter of time before she’s discovered.” His respect and amazement at the entire Air Force Band is one he’s never hidden. They are incredibly talented individuals who take it a step further by choosing to serve their country.

YouTube sensations happen every day. You never know what its going to be… a skateboarding dog… some crazy trick shot in any given sport… or recently, a barking cat. But its one of those things that happens to strangers. Watching it happen to a friend is… crazy!

Now, I’ll be the first to admit, my husband and I don’t “run around with” Angie and her husband, and I haven’t actually seen her in a couple years. She isn’t on speed dial — I’m not even sure I actually have her current phone number. But I keep up with her via Facebook and Twitter. I still deeply regret missing her wedding, but her posts about enjoying her home, or spending time with her husband, always make me smile. We do the, “We need to get together!” game, but sadly never actually do. Just a couple weeks ago, she posted a series of photos of her in a box as a prank while overseas in an undisclosed location. I admit I giggled and shook my head. I admire her; she doesn’t even know how much of a joy her posts are.

Living in Nashville, I am not for want for amazing singers. Some stand out more than others. But across the board, it baffles and saddens me how many get passed up by record labels for any reason or for no reason. So many great singers that the world will never know. So many who ache to just sing their songs for a living, but instead waitress or work as mechanics. So many that live on the tips they earn downtown, praying they don’t have their cars repossessed, cell phones turned off, or maybe just hope to get to eat tonight. Talent undiscovered all over the place.

Seeing Angie be discovered in such a random way in this crazy business amazes me. She wasn’t found anywhere here in Music City. She was found via YouTube while entertaining our troops somewhere out in the sands “over there.” It just reminds me to not give up hope of dreams coming true in the most random and unlikely of ways.

Good luck, girl!! You deserve it!