Wunderkind (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Wunderkind” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Alanis Morissette from the album The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe |
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| Released | Early 2006 (Asia) | ||||
| Format | Radio single | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 5:19 | ||||
| Label | Walt Disney | ||||
| Writer(s) | Alanis Morissette | ||||
| Producer | Mike Elizondo | ||||
| Alanis Morissette singles chronology | |||||
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"Wunderkind" is a song written and recorded by Alanis Morissette, and produced by Mike Elizondo for the soundtrack of the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (see 2005 in music).
Morissette was inspired to write the song after watching a rough cut of the film; according to her, the song seemed to flow from her and "really touches me deeply". She wrote it on a Friday, recorded it on Saturday, and handed it in on Sunday.[1] After the release of "Wunderkind", Morissette enlisted producer Mike Elizondo to co-produce her tenth album.[2] The protagonist of the song, which is written from the point of view of the character of Lucy Pevensie,[3] describes herself as "a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment", "a wunderkind" and "a princess on the way to [her] throne" during the chorus.
[edit] Release and reception
IGN Music wrote that it was "equally captivating" as Imogen Heap's soundtrack contribution "Can't Take It In", with Morissette "letting her warble drip delicately over a piano driven lament. It's one of the best things she's done in a long time."[4] Sci Fi Weekly also described it as "captivating", writing "Morissette delivers [it] with a depth of feeling that makes one sit up and take notice."[5] Movie Music UK called the song "wholly unremarkable ... it doesn't help that Alanis Morissette can't pronounce the word 'wunderkind' properly - it comes out as "wander" (as in walk around aimlessly) and "kind" (as in being nice to someone)."[6] Similarly, Filmtracks.com wrote "wait until you hear Alanis Morissette belt out her classless pronunciation of '[w]underkind'", and compared it to Annie Lennox's "Into the West", a song on the soundtrack of the 2003 film The Return of the King.[7]
"Wunderkind" was nominated for the 2006 Golden Globe for "Best Original Song" (see 63rd Golden Globe Awards nominees). After the nominations were announced, Morissette's home was inundated with phone calls, leading her to assume that "something must be wrong, somebody must be hurt"; she later said she was "excited that some light is being shown on [the song]."[1] Morissette lost the award to lyricist Bernie Taupin for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old", recorded by Emmylou Harris for the soundtrack of the film Brokeback Mountain (see 63rd Golden Globe Awards).[8]
The song was premiered on AOL Music on November 18, 2005 (see 2005 in music),[9] ahead of the December release of the film and of the soundtrack album The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, on which it is featured. It was subsequently released as a radio single in some parts of Asia in early 2006 (see 2006 in music). In Japan it entered the Tokio Hot 100 radio chart in late February 2006, peaking at number thirty-five in mid-March; it remained on the chart for five weeks.[10] The single reached the top five on the playlist of the radio station Jam 88.3 in the Philippines.[11]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Reactions to Golden Globe nominations". Associated Press via USA Today. December 13, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ Baltin, Steve. "Alanis Writing Memoir, Album". Rolling Stone. January 13, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ Brennan, Mike. "Exclusive - The Chronicles of Narnia - First Listen". SoundtrackNet. November 14, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ D., Spence. "The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Orignal Soundtrack". IGN Music. December 23, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ Sirois, A.L. "The Chronicles of Narnia Soundtrack". Sci Fi Weekly. January 18, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Movie Music UK. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Filmtracks.com. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "Playback - Bernie Taupin Wins Golden Globe". ASCAP. 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "Hear Alanis Morissette's 'Wunderkind' on AOL". NarniaWeb.com. November 18, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette". MARIAH-Charts.com. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "On The Charts". Jam 88.3. February 3 – February 10, 2006. Retrieved from the Internet Archive. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
