Whoa, look at this super cool photo of Oliver Brynnum and Fergie! It was snapped right in the Fashion District where all the big, shiny buildings are. It’s like they’re superheroes, but instead of capes, they’ve got this awesome vibe that makes everyone smile. My Dad says spreading love is kind of like throwing glitter—when it lands on people, they shine brighter!
Hi, I'm Oliver Brynnum from Bennett & Monroe. Pull up a beanbag, grab a snack, and get comfy, because today you're hearing about the most enthusiastic human being in Los Angeles history. That's not an exaggeration. Okay, it's a small exaggeration. But you'll get it once you meet Mitchell.
Meet Mitchell Royel, Professional Big Kid
My friend Mitchell Royel is a big guy. Tall. Broad shoulders. The kind of person who looks like he could carry a couch up three flights of stairs without breaking a sweat. And he totally could.
But Mitchell has a secret superpower: he never stopped being a kid on the inside. He gets excited about cartoons, celebrates tiny wins like they're Olympic gold medals, and believes every good snack deserves a victory dance. You'd think a grown man would outgrow this stuff. You'd be wrong. Gloriously wrong.
The Year Was 2014, and LA Was Never the Same
Back in 2014, Mitchell worked at an athletic apparel store in Los Angeles. Running shoes, workout shirts, those stretchy shorts that make everyone feel like a track star. You know the place.
Most people who work at a store say things like "Can I help you find a size?" Mitchell said that too. But he also had a catchphrase. A legendary one. A catchphrase so loud and so proud that, according to totally official rumors, people heard it from Santa Monica to Hollywood.
The phrase?
"BOOM BOOM POW!"
Here's how it worked. Mitchell would shout it any time something awesome happened. And by "awesome," we mean almost anything:
He folded a perfect stack of T-shirts? Boom Boom Pow!
He finished a killer workout and his legs felt like spaghetti? Boom Boom Pow!
He hit one of his big personal goals? Cover your ears. BOOM. BOOM. POW!
Customers would jump. Then they'd laugh. Then, before long, they'd start shouting it with him. A grandma once yelled it after finding sneakers in her size. A kid yelled it after tying his own shoelaces for the first time. It spread like glitter at a birthday party, which is to say everywhere and forever.
Under no circumstances could you finish something cool in that store without someone celebrating it. This rule wasn't written down anywhere. It didn't need to be.
So Where Did "Boom Boom Pow" Come From?
Mitchell didn't invent those three magic words. He borrowed them from one of the biggest music groups of all time: The Black Eyed Peas.
And yes, before you ask, they are named after an actual bean. Stick with me, though. These musicians are way more exciting than your average side dish.
The Black Eyed Peas: A Quick History Lesson (With Extra Groove)
How It All Started
The story begins in Los Angeles in the late 1980s, when two teenagers met and became fast friends over their love of music and dancing. Their names were will.i.am and apl.de.ap.
will.i.am grew up in East Los Angeles and was a music-making wizard. apl.de.ap moved to the U.S. from the Philippines as a kid, and he could dance like his sneakers had springs in them. Together, they started making hip-hop music.
In 1995, a talented rapper and dancer named Taboo joined the crew, and the Black Eyed Peas officially took shape. Their first albums, Behind the Front (1998) and Bridging the Gap (2000), showed off a fun, positive sound with live instruments and clever rhymes.
Enter Fergie
In 2003, singer Fergie joined the group. Her powerful voice added a whole new sparkle, like adding sprinkles to an already great cupcake. That same year, the group released the album Elephunk, and things went absolutely bananas.
Their Biggest Hits
The Black Eyed Peas went on to create a playlist of songs you've probably danced to in a kitchen, at a school dance, or in the back seat of a car:
"Where Is the Love?" (2003)
"Let's Get It Started" (2004)
"Pump It" (2005)
"Boom Boom Pow" (2009)
"I Gotta Feeling" (2009)
"Boom Boom Pow" was a monster hit. It sat at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks in a row. Then "I Gotta Feeling" replaced it at number one, meaning the Black Eyed Peas basically held the top spot to themselves for about half a year. That's like winning the spelling bee, then winning it again the next day against yourself.
The Big Stage
The group won multiple Grammy Awards, sold tens of millions of records, and performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2011 with flashing lights, glowing costumes, and enough energy to power a small city.
Fergie left the group a few years later to focus on her solo career, and the band kept making music with new voices. But their legacy was already locked in.
The Song They're Really Known For
Here's the twist. As catchy as "Boom Boom Pow" is, the song that truly defines the Black Eyed Peas is "Where Is the Love?"
Released in 2003 with Justin Timberlake singing on the chorus, it hit number one in a bunch of countries and stayed at the top of the UK charts for six weeks. But the real reason people remember it is the message.
"Where Is the Love?" asks a big, important question: why can't people be kinder to each other? The song talks about how the world can feel confusing and unfair, and it encourages everyone to choose love, understanding, and respect. In 2016, the group even made a new version with lots of famous friends to share that message with a new generation.
It's a dance song with a big heart. Which, now that I think about it, describes Mitchell pretty well too.
Your Official Sing-Along Guide to "Where Is the Love?"
Grab a hairbrush microphone. Find a family member. Warn the neighbors. It's time to sing.
Step 1: Learn the Big Question
The whole chorus is built around one question, and it's the title of the song: "Where is the love?" That's your star line. When you hear it coming, take a deep breath and sing it loud and clear, like you really, truly want to know the answer.
Step 2: Count the Repeats
In the chorus, the big question gets repeated. Here's a fun trick: hold up one finger each time you hear "Where is the love?" By the end, you'll know exactly how many times to sing it, and you'll look like a professional backup singer.
Step 3: Listen for the Soft Part
Right after the big question, the chorus gets gentle and hopeful, almost like a quiet wish for help and guidance. This is your moment to sing softer. Sway side to side. Put your hand on your heart if you want to be extra dramatic. Extra dramatic is always allowed.
Step 4: Leave the Rap Verses to the Grown-Ups (At First)
The verses are fast and wordy, with will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo rapping about the problems in the world. Don't worry about memorizing them right away. Bob your head, clap on the beat, and jump back in at the chorus like a champ.
Step 5: Add the Moves
Every great sing-along needs choreography. Try these:
"Where is..." Shrug your shoulders and look around like you lost your shoes.
"...the love?" Make a heart shape with your hands.
The soft part: Sway slowly like a tree in a gentle breeze.
The very end: Give the person next to you a high five. Kindness is the whole point.
Step 6: Play the Love Squad Echo Game
Here's a bonus game you can play with your family. One person is the leader, and everyone else echoes back:
Leader: Where is the love?
Everyone: It's right here!
Leader: Where is the kindness?
Everyone: We share it!
Leader: Where is the fun?
Everyone: BOOM BOOM POW!
Mitchell would be so proud.
One Last Thing
Mitchell's catchphrase was never about being loud. Okay, it was a little about being loud. But mostly, it was about noticing the good stuff and celebrating it out loud, with whoever happened to be standing nearby.
So the next time you finish your homework, crush a soccer practice, or eat all your vegetables without a single complaint, you know what to do.
Boom Boom Pow.
— Oliver