Wonderwall
"Wonderwall" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by lead guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher. The song was produced by Gallagher and Owen Morris for the band's second studio album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, released in 1995. According to Gallagher, "Wonderwall" describes "an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself".[5]
For other uses, see Wonderwall (disambiguation)."Wonderwall"
- "Round Are Way"
- "The Swamp Song"
- "The Masterplan"
30 October 1995
May 1995
- 4:19 (album version)
- 3:48 (radio edit)
- Owen Morris
- Noel Gallagher
The song was released by Creation Records as the fourth single from the album on 30 October 1995. "Wonderwall" topped the charts in Australia and New Zealand and reached the top 10 in 13 other countries, including Canada and the United States at No. 5 and No. 8, respectively, as well as No. 2 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart. The single was certified septuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and 11-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Its music video was directed by Nigel Dick and won British Video of the Year at the 1996 Brit Awards.
"Wonderwall" remains one of the band's most popular songs. In Australia, it was voted No. 1 on the alternative music radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 1995 and "20 Years of the Hottest 100" in 2013.[6][7] Many artists have also covered the song, such as Ryan Adams, Cat Power, and Brad Mehldau.[8] In October 2020, it became the first song from the 1990s to reach one billion streams on Spotify.[9]
Production history[edit]
The song was originally titled "Wishing Stone". Gallagher told NME in 1996 that "Wonderwall" was written for Meg Mathews, his then-girlfriend and later wife.[10][11] However, after Gallagher and Mathews divorced in 2001,[12] he said the song was not about her: "The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it, and 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."[5] The song's final title was inspired by George Harrison's solo album Wonderwall Music.[13]
The song was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, during a two-week recording of the Morning Glory album in May 1995. Morris produced the song in a half-day along with Gallagher, using a technique known as "brickwalling" to intensify the sound of the song.[3] Liam Gallagher served as lead singer on the song after Noel had given him a choice between "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger", another single from the album, with Noel singing lead vocals on the latter.[11] All of the band's members except bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan contributed to the recording, with Noel playing bass instead of McGuigan. This decision displeased Liam, who told Morris, "That's not Oasis."[14]
"Wonderwall" is written in the key of F♯ minor and is set in common time with a moderate dance groove. Gallagher's voice ranges from an E3 to an F♯4 in the song.[15]
Critical reception[edit]
Steve Baltin from Cash Box named "Wonderwall" Pick of the Week, describing the song as "a perfect example of melodic pop." He added, "Following the more uptempo riff of "Morning Glory", this single will remind listeners of the anthemic single "Live Forever", a track that generated massive airplay on multiple formats last year. Look for the same results for this lovely near ballad. A simple, sweet song, it shows why Oasis is rapidly becoming one of music's great singles bands."[16] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times declared it as a "genuine Oasis gem", "with its aching string arrangements and evocative vocals".[17] Michael Bonner from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week, praising it as "a mesmeric declaration of love — haunting, beautiful and effortlessly simple — and, unless you've been locked in a coal cellar for the last two months, you should know it forwards, backwards and sideways by now."[18] Another Melody Maker editor, David Stubbs, said, "'Wonderwall', with its explicit George Harrison reference, doesn't bother to conceal another nod at The Beatles, but the real problem here is that Liam doesn't seem capable of modulating his voice to suit the pensively orchestrated backdrop — a bit of a subtlety deficiency."[19]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "A swirling rock song that slowly builds to epic proportions. Nicely chiming acoustic guitars and psyched-up strings support Liam Gallagher's trademark declamatory and plaintive vocals. Not the easiest song for EHR, but a sure grower."[20] John Robinson from NME commented, "'Wonderwall' instead turns out to be the best example of Liam's indispensability to Noel as we are plunged into the depths of a doomed urban romance. Fires have gone out, wills to live have departed, yet we still witness Liam questioning whether Maybe you could be the one to save me. And yet the entirely twisted delivery turns it from a slightly sappy idea into a fantastically bleak song, adding an all-consuming anger to the sense of desperation."[21] In a separate review, Robinson felt it "is one of Oasis' best records because it manages to be immensely robust while still being one of Noel's most lyrically personal songs".[22]
Music video[edit]
The original music video to the song conceived by Johanna Bautista was filmed by British music video and film director Nigel Dick at Unit 217B in Woolwich, London, on 30 September 1995.[23] The filming of the promotional video took place during the brief period when bassist Guigsy quit the band due to nervous exhaustion, and was replaced by Scott McLeod, who appears in the video along with the four other members of the band.[24] The song won British Video of the Year at the 1996 Brit Awards.
A second video depicts the band sitting down throughout the video with some getting up and leaving before returning. The video ends with Noel, Alan White and Scott McLeod leaving their seats, leaving Liam and Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs in their seats.
Cover art[edit]
The sleeve artwork was inspired by the paintings of the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, and was shot on Primrose Hill in London by Michael Spencer Jones. The hand holding the frame is that of art director Brian Cannon. The original idea was to have Liam in the frame before Noel vetoed that idea whilst the shoot was taking place.[25] Instead, a female figure was deemed necessary, so Creation Records employee Anita Heryet was asked to stand in as cover star for the shot.[26]
Chart and sales performance[edit]
"Wonderwall" reached the No. 2 spot in both Ireland and the United Kingdom in October and November 1995.[27][28] In the UK, the song was held off the top spot by "I Believe" by Robson & Jerome. "Wonderwall" finished at No. 10 on the year-end chart for 1995[29] and at No. 26 on the 1990s decade-end in the UK. The track has sold 3.6 million copies in the UK as of April 2022, certifying the song septuple platinum and making it Oasis' biggest-selling song in their homeland.[30][31]
In the United States, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart for a then-unprecedented ten weeks and reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1996, becoming their only top-10 hit on the latter chart.[32][33] "Wonderwall" also proved to be a major hit in Australia and New Zealand, claiming the No. 1 spot in both countries.[34][35] In Canada, the song reached No. 5 on the RPM 100 chart and topped the RPM Alternative 30 ranking.[36][37]
"Wonderwall"
In popular culture[edit]
"Wonderwall" is the team song of Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer, sung after every home victory. The overarching fan organisation is MNWonderwall.[134] "Wonderwall" is also played after all Manchester City F.C. home games.[135] "Wonderwall" is the pre-match song for Australian A-League Men side Adelaide United.[136]
On April 7, 2011, Mr. 305 artist Jamie Drastik released the song "Save Me" which heavily samples "Wonderwall". It is the lead single from Jamie's mixtape Champagne and Cocaine. The song also features a verse from Jamie's mentor and Mr. 305 boss Pitbull. Jamie performed "Save Me" all around the world, including on the Planet Pit World Tour. The song achieved major radio success all across the US. It is currently the most popular song from Champagne and Cocaine.[137]