"Wonderwall" is a single by British rock group Oasis taken from their second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. It was written by Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.
| "Wonderwall" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Round Are Way, The Swamp Song, The Masterplan" |
| Stop The Clocks Album Listing | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Importance Of Being Idle (Track 5) |
Wonderwall (Track 6) |
Slide Away (Track 7) |
Released in October 1995, it peaked at #2 in the UK charts and proved to be their American breakthrough, giving Oasis their only US Top 10 hit 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" has had enduring popularity in Oasis' canon. As of 2005 it was number 99 in the UK's list of best-selling singles and frequently appears in "best-of" single polls.
The song takes its name from the 1968 album Wonderwall Music by George Harrison, at the time still a member of the Beatles.[1] Harrison's album was in fact a soundtrack to the film Wonderwall, but the film has remained unknown by the general public.
It is often claimed that "Wonderwall" was written for Gallagher's then-girlfriend, Meg Mathews. Noel married Mathews, but they were divorced in 2001. 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 Mrs 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." [2] Initially Noel wanted to sing this song, but he gave his brother Liam Gallagher the choice, and Noel ended up singing "Don't Look Back In Anger".[3]
The music video to the song is also notable as having been 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.[4]
The sleeve artwork was inspired by the paintings of the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, and was shot on Primrose Hill in north west London. The hand holding the frame is of art director Brian Cannon and the girl is Anita Heryeta, a Creation Records employee. The original idea was to have Liam Gallagher 'in the frame' before Noel Gallagher vetoed that idea whilst the shoot was taking place. [5]
The song is to be included on Oasis' 'best-of' album "Stop The Clocks".
Covers and Influence
"Wonderwall" has been one of the most frequently covered songs of the last ten years. Covers include an easy listening arrangement by The Mike Flowers Pops, indie music songwriter Ryan Adams's 2004 version, American Indie Songstress Cat Power, Paul Anka's swing-jazz style arrangement, 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.
Several songs use chords similar to Wonderwall's, including Travis's "Writing To Reach You" (which contains the lyric "what's a Wonderwall anyway?"), "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day, 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 "Writing to Reach You" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". It is a rumor that Hilary Duff will cover this song for her November 2006 album.[citation needed]
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Awards and accolades
The promo video for Wonderwall, directed by Nigel Dick, won the Best British Video award at the 1996 Brit Awards.
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. [1]
In August 2006, Wonderwall was named the 2nd greatest song of all time in a poll conducted by Q Magazine, finshing behind another Oasis song, Live Forever. [2]
Miscellanea
The opening track of (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, "Hello", starts off with the opening riff of "Wonderwall" playing extremely quietly (you would have to turn up your speakers very high to hear it). However, it stops once the guitar noise comes in. (This is similar to the tape print-through that can be heard on such songs as the Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere.")
Track listings
- UK CD CRESCD 215
- "Wonderwall" - 4:19
- "Round Are Way" - 5:42
- "The Swamp Song" - 4:19
- "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 harmonica is supplied by Paul Weller.
- "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.
- USA CD 49K 78204
- "Wonderwall" - 4:15
- "Round Are Way" - 5:41
- "Talk Tonight" - 4:11
- "Rockin' Chair" - 4:33
- "I Am The Walrus" (Live) - 8:14
- Talk Tonight is slightly different to 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 to the original version released on the "Roll With It" single and on "The Masterplan". Instead of a gradual fade-in, the songs 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.
Notes
- ^ Noel Gallagher, interviewed for "MTV Uncut"; 1997
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 interview, October 2002". Retrieved August 8.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Soccer AM Interview 2004". Soccer AM. Retrieved June 3.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Not Here Now". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Q Special Edition - Oasis: Ten Years Of Rock 'n' Roll Mayhem (EMAP Metro)