Wonderwall (song)

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“Wonderwall”
“Wonderwall” cover
Single by Oasis
from the album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
B-side "Round Are Way", "The Swamp Song", "The Masterplan"
Released October 30, 1995
Format CD, cassette, 7", 12"
Recorded May 1995
Genre Britpop
Length 4:18
Label Creation Records
Writer(s) Noel Gallagher
Producer Owen Morris & Noel Gallagher
Oasis singles chronology
"Morning Glory" (Australia only)
(1995)		 "Wonderwall"
(1995)		 "Don't Look Back in Anger"
(1996)
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? track listing
"Roll with It"
(2)		 "Wonderwall"
(3)		 "Don't Look Back in Anger"
(4)
Stop the Clocks track listing
"The Importance of Being Idle"
(5)		 "Wonderwall"
(6)		 "Slide Away"
(7)

"Wonderwall" is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the band's guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher. Released as the third single from (What's the Story) Morning Glory? in October 1995, "Wonderwall" peaked at number two in the UK Singles Charts and proved to be their American breakthrough, reaching number eight on the Hot 100 and giving them their only top-ten hit in the US thus far. "Wonderwall" is perhaps their most popular song, despite the fact that British TV stars Robson & Jerome's "I Believe"/"Up on the Roof" kept it out of the top slot. "Wonderwall" continues to have enduring popularity in Oasis' canon; as of 2005, it was 99th in the UK's list of best-selling singles, and has now sold over a million copies in single and download sales in the UK,[citation needed] where it went platinum.[1]

The song is included on Oasis' compilation album Stop the Clocks.

Contents

[edit] Background

The song takes its name from the 1968 album Wonderwall Music by George Harrison, at the time still a member of the Beatles.[2] Harrison's album was in fact a soundtrack to the film Wonderwall, but the film has remained unknown by the general public. The original title of the track was "Wishing Stone".[3]

It is often claimed that "Wonderwall" was written for Gallagher's then-girlfriend, Meg Mathews. Noel married Mathews in 1997, but the couple divorced four years later. Gallagher now claims that the song was not about Mathews at all, but he felt he had to go along with the rumour, saying "The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it. How do you tell your missus it's not about her once she's read it is? It's a song about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself."[4]

[edit] Recording

The song was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, during a two-week recording of the 'Morning Glory' album in May 1995. According to producer Owen Morris, the song was completed in 6-8 hours.

Morris claimed that Gallagher had presented an alternative arrangement of the song,,, "which had some extra complicated pre-bridge bits that didn't have singing or melody - but just had some chord changes - which seemed completely unnecessary", the night before it was recorded. This idea was quickly shelved.[citation needed]

Noel initially wanted to sing this song on (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, but he gave his brother Liam Gallagher the choice, and Noel ended up singing "Don't Look Back in Anger".[5]

[edit] Live performances

Noel debuted the song on UK TV, backstage at Glastonbury and broadcast on Channel 4 on June 24, 1995. The song wasn't performed by the band during their headline performance the night before.

In August 2002, Noel changed the arrangement of his live performances of the song to a style admittedly heavily-influenced by Ryan Adams' cover version of the song. This arrangement has continued to his most recent live performances of the song. When the full band perform the song live, with electric guitars, it's still in the original style as presented on the record.

[edit] Video

The music video to the song was filmed in the relatively brief period when bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan quit the band due to nervous exhaustion; Scott McLeod came in to replace him.[6]

An alternative version, possibly a bootleg recording, exists and is viewable online. It features a single fixed camera shot, the same as is seen in the more common video, of the five band members miming to the song.

[edit] Cover art

The sleeve artwork was inspired by the paintings of the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, and was shot on Primrose Hill in north London. The hand holding the frame is that of art director Brian Cannon; the woman is Anita Heryet, a Creation Records employee. The original idea was to have Liam in the frame before Noel vetoed that idea whilst the shoot was taking place.[7]

[edit] Chart history

It reached No.2 in the UK charts.

In the US it also peaked at #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart for an unprecedented ten weeks (this amount was later eclipsed in 1998 by Marcy Playground, later by Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1999, and again in 2007 by Foo Fighters.), and reached #8 on the Hot 100.

[edit] Awards and accolades

In 1995, "Wonderwall" came in at number one in the national Australian music poll, the Triple J Hottest 100.

The promo video for "Wonderwall", directed by Nigel Dick, won the Best British Video award at the 1996 BRIT Awards.

In the Grammy Awards of 1997 the band received a nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Noel Gallagher picked another nomination for Best Rock Song, winning none[8] .

In 2003, VH1 ranked the song at number 95 in its countdown of the "100 Greatest Songs Of The Past 25 Years."

In May 2005, "Wonderwall" was voted the best British song of all time, in a poll of over 8,500 listeners conducted by Virgin Radio. [9]

In August 2006, Wonderwall was named the second-greatest song of all time in a poll conducted by Q Magazine, finishing behind another Oasis song, "Live Forever". [10]

In 2006, U2's guitarist The Edge named Wonderwall one of the songs he most wishes he'd written.[11]

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Wonderwall" at number 27 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.[12]

In December 2007, it came in number 35 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's countdown.

In early 2007, Wonderwall's drumming, provided by Alan White, was voted 90th best drumming track ever in Modern Drummer magazine.

[edit] Notable cover versions

"Wonderwall" has been one of the most-frequently covered songs in recent history; the most famous of which was an easy listening arrangement by The Mike Flowers Pops, which reached #2 in the UK Singles Charts, just as the Oasis original had done two months earlier. Gallagher mentioned that when BBC Radio 1 premiered the song, they ironically claimed that they had found "the original version of Wonderwall." Gallagher, who had been in America at the time, was surprised to be asked by one of his record company's executives if he had actually written the song.[13]

Ryan Adams's version, first performed in 2001, and later released in 2004, was well-received by Noel Gallagher; Noel continues to perform the song in the same style as Ryan's version.[citation needed]

Other artists who have covered the song include American indie singer Cat Power, Richard Cheese, Great Big Sea, Paul Anka's swing-jazz style arrangement, the Brad Mehldau Trio, the Beastie Boys punk rock cover that has been performed at concerts, but never released as a single, and a cover on the compilation Punk Goes 90's by the pop-punk band Cartel. The Harvard Independent compiled a list of the five most ironic versions of "Wonderwall".

The song was also covered by fellow British rock group Radiohead as a joke in the late 1990s; Thom Yorke sings many incorrect lyrics and cuts out mid-chorus when a background voice says, "Is this abysmal or what? It's always good to make fun of Oasis."

The song was also covered on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge by Neighbours star Alan Fletcher on the 30th of November 2007.[14]

During a heated rivalry between Oasis and Robbie Williams, which came about due to Noel and Liam's constantly referring to Robbie as "the fat dancer from Take That", he performed "Wonderwall" at his Slane Castle concert live on pay-per-view TV.

The verse to "Wonderwall" is built on a four-chord progression which several other songs have employed. These include "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day, Justin Timberlake's What Goes Around...Comes Around and Oasis' first single from Be Here Now, "D'You Know What I Mean?". "Wonderwall" was later featured in the popular mash up "Boulevard of Broken Songs", which also contained parts of both Travis's "Writing to Reach You" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". In late 2006, Gallagher accused Green Day of "ripping off" "Wonderwall", saying "If you listen, you'll find it is exactly the same arrangement as Wonderwall. They should have the decency to wait until I am dead [before stealing my songs]. I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy."[15] However, the same chord progression was previously used in "Alive" by Pearl Jam and "Man in the Box" by Alice In Chains.[16] The chord progression can be found in Mahler's 8th symphony as well.

The 2003 Girls Aloud single "Life Got Cold" was slated by critics, who alluded that the riff of the chorus ripped off "Wonderwall". The similarities were noticeable, even though Girls Aloud dismissed the claims. Noel Gallagher also reacted indifferently to the suggestion, commenting instead that; "We've been compared to The Beatles pretty often. Progression is going forwards. Going backwards is regression. Going sideways is just 'gression'." When Girls Aloud performed "Life Got Cold" at a university gig in 2007, the crowd started to chant the lyrics to "Wonderwall". The girl group simply laughed.

The comedy group Tripod covered Wonderwall for a segment on Triple J with Andrew Denton. The band began by singing the first verse with the following lyrics: "today is going to be the day that we're gonna throw it back to you. We just noticed that all the chords in your songs are the same, did you? I don't believe that anyone could get away with this but you have, well you did, didn't you. And all the catchy melodies are winding. Around the same progression and we're finding. That you released three singles but you could have managed one, good luck to you." They then proceeded to sing 5 other Oasis songs to the same chord progression used in Wonderwall.

  • The song was also covered by American Alternative rock group, Cartel on the Punk Goes 90's Compliation.

[edit] Popular culture

  • "Wonderwall" was featured in its entirety in the season 4 of FX's tv series Nip/Tuck. In episode "Monica Wilder", Monica tells Sean her favorite song is "Wonderwall". When Sean ask what's a wonderwall, Monica tells him it's somebody you can always lean on - no matter what you need, they're there for you.
  • On several episodes of the ABC drama Lost, fictional character Charlie Pace (played by actor Dominic Monaghan) can be seen playing "Wonderwall" while busking on the streets of London.
  • The title of Wonderwall is referenced by two songs on Travis's 1999 album The Man Who: Writing to Reach You ("The radio is playing all the usual, and what's a wonderwall anyway?") and Slide Show ("'Cause there is no design for life, there's no devil's haircut in my mind, there is not a wonderwall to climb, or step around").
  • The song was also covered by American Alternative rock group, Cartel on the Punk Goes 90's compliation.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • The song's distinctive cello line was played on a Mellotron tape-playback keyboard[1], although the video features an anonymous cellist miming the part. There is also a saw played as a fiddle in the video.
  • When the song is played at live shows, Noel's acoustic guitar part is played on a Fender Telecaster. This is among the rare occasions that Noel plays a Fender guitar rather than a Gibson.
  • The opening track of (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, "Hello", starts off with the opening riff of "Wonderwall" playing extremely quietly; this stops once the guitar noise comes in. Producer Owen Morris has said that this is a recording of Noel, outside Rockfield Studios, playing the song whilst sat on a wall, in a clear reference to the songs' title."[17]
  • The original title of "Wonderwall" was "Wishing Stone".[18]
  • At the very end of the song, the intro to "Supersonic" can be faintly heard being played on acoustic guitar.
  • The song was made available as a downloadable track for the music video game Rock Band, along with two other Oasis hit songs, "Don't Look Back in Anger" and "Live Forever".
  • The 1997 song "Superman's Dead" by Canadian post-grunge band Our Lady Peace has a beginning riff similar to that of "Wonderwall".

[edit] Track listings

  • UK CD CRESCD 215
    1. "Wonderwall" - 4:19
    2. "Round Are Way" - 5:42
    3. "The Swamp Song" - 4:15
    4. "The Masterplan" - 5:23
    • "The Swamp Song" was originally a warm-up exercise for the recording sessions of (What's The Story) Morning Glory?. The electric guitar and harmonica is supplied by Paul Weller.
    • "Round Are Way" was featured in the film A Life Less Ordinary.
    • "The Masterplan" is considered by many to be Oasis' best B-side, and one of their greatest songs. Noel Gallagher feels it marks the highpoint of his creative output. Allegedly, Liam was so impressed with the song that he became abusive with Noel for not having written it in time for the album and refused to sing on it. However, in the inlay to The Masterplan it is stated that this is the only song Liam wishes he had sung instead of Noel.
  • UK 7" CRE 215
    1. "Wonderwall" - 4:19
    2. "Round Are Way" - 5:42
  • UK cassette CRECS 215
    1. "Wonderwall" - 4:19
    2. "Round Are Way" - 5:42
  • UK 12" CRE 215T
    1. "Wonderwall" - 4:19
    2. "Round Are Way" - 5:42
    3. "The Swamp Song" - 4:19
  • USA CD 49K 78204
    1. "Wonderwall" - 4:15
    2. "Round Are Way" - 5:41
    3. "Talk Tonight" - 4:11
    4. "Rockin' Chair" - 4:33
    5. "I Am the Walrus" (Live) - 8:14
  • USA cassette EPIC 78216
    1. "Wonderwall" - 4:15
    2. "Round Are Way" - 5:41
    3. "Talk Tonight" - 4:11
    • "Talk Tonight" is slightly different from the original version released on the "Some Might Say" single and on "The Masterplan". At the end of the song, instead of a gradual silence (apart from gentle taps on the body of the acoustic guitar), Noel chips in with "Yer got any batteries?"
    • "Rockin' Chair" is also slightly different from the original version released on the "Roll With It" single and on "The Masterplan". Instead of a gradual fade-in, the song starts abruptly at full volume.
    • "I Am the Walrus" was recorded live at a soundcheck ahead of Oasis' gig at Gleneagles on February 6, 1994.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=20875 BPI website
  2. ^ Noel Gallagher, interviewed for "MTV Uncut"; 1997
  3. ^ UNCUT - November 2006 - Noel Gallagher interview
  4. ^ BBC Radio 2 interview, October 2002. Retrieved on August 8, 2006.
  5. ^ Soccer AM Interview 2004. Soccer AM. Retrieved on June 3, 2006.
  6. ^ Not Here Now. The Guardian. Retrieved on January 25, 2006.
  7. ^ Q Special Edition - Oasis: Ten Years Of Rock 'n' Roll Mayhem (EMAP Metro)
  8. ^ Rock On The Net: 39th Annual Grammy Awards - 1997
  9. ^ Oasis hit is named 'best UK song'
  10. ^ The greatest song in the history of the world. Maybe
  11. ^ Q Magazine November 2006 - U2 Q+A
  12. ^ 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever
  13. ^ From the promotional documentary for "Stop the Clocks," entitled "Lock the Box."
  14. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Jo Whiley
  15. ^ Gallagher attacks Green Day for 'ripping off' Wonderwall, Ireland Online, 14 December, 2006.
  16. ^ Rolling Stone : Noel Gallagher Turns Loathing of Green Day Into Personal Pastime
  17. ^ Owen Morris - Classic Singles - BBC Radio 2, 2004
  18. ^ UNCUT - November 2006 - Noel Gallagher interview
Preceded by
"Let's Groove" by CdB		 RIANZ (New Zealand) number one single
8 March 1996		 Succeeded by
"Mysterious Girl" by Peter Andre
Preceded by
The Cranberries
Zombie		 Triple J Hottest 100 #1s
1995		 Succeeded by
Spiderbait
Buy Me a Pony
Preceded by
"Glycerine" by Bush		 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single
December 30, 1995 - February 24, 1996		 Succeeded by
"1979" by The Smashing Pumpkins
Preceded by
"1979" by The Smashing Pumpkins		 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single
March 9, 1996		 Succeeded by
"Ironic" by Alanis Morissette
v • d • e
Oasis
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