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"Wonderwall"
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	Spring/Summer, 1995
Genre	Britpop
Length	4:18
Label	Creation Records
Writer	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 and subsequent single by British rock band Oasis, from their second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. The song was written by Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.

Released in October 1995, the "Wonderwall" single peaked at #2 in the UK Singles Charts and proved to be their American breakthrough, giving Oasis their only US top 10 hit thus far and peaking at #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks for an unprecedented fourteen weeks (this amount was later eclipsed in 1998 by Marcy Playground). "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]}

Contents 1 Background 2 Covers 3 Awards and accolades 4 Trivia 5 Track listings 6 Notes

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 in 1997, but 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."^[2] 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".^[3]

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.^[4]

The sleeve artwork was inspired by the paintings of the Belgian surrealist René Magritte, and was shot on Primrose Hill in northwest London. The hand holding the frame is that of art director Brian Cannon; the girl 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.^[5]

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

"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.^[6]

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 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."

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 since employed. These include Travis's "Writing To Reach You" (which contains the lyric "what's a Wonderwall anyway?"), "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 "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."^[7]

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.

Matthew Newton sang a swing version of Wonderwall during his controversial appearance on The Big Night In with John Foreman on New Year's Eve 2006.

British cover band Ten Masked Men have recorded a Death Metal rendition of the song.

American band The Fray added the chorus towards the end of its song Look After You in their live performances.

In the ABC television series Lost, British character Charlie Pace, portrayed by Dominic Monaghan, performs an acoustic sampling of "Wonderwall" in two episodes, notably the third season episode "Greatest Hits".

Australian Idol 2007 contestant Ben McKenzie performed a version mixing the Oasis original and Ryan Adams cover on Britpop night.

Bronson Arroyo covered this song and it can be seen on you tube

Noteworthy, an all-women a cappella group from the University of Georgia sang an arrangement based on Ryan Adams' cover on their album 99 Problems But A Pitch Ain't One. It was selected for the Best of College A Cappella 2007 compilation.

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. ^[8]

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". ^[9]

In 2006, U2's guitarist The Edge named Wonderwall one of the songs he most wishes he'd written.^[10]

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

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Wonderwall" at number 27 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.^[11]

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

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.
• 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. This is similar to the tape print-through that can be heard on such songs as the Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere."
• The original title of "Wonderwall" was "Wishing Stone".^[12]
• In an interview conducted in Australia around the time of the release of Be Here Now, when asked which three songs he would like to be remembered for, Noel immediately responded with "Live Forever", "Magic Pie", and "Wonderwall", and then proceeded to list several others, including "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Look Back in Anger".
• At the very end of the song, the intro to "Supersonic" can be faintly heard being played on acoustic guitar.
• The Chord Progression to Wonderwall is actually the progression of "A Day In The Life," By The Beatles, in reverse.

• 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 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.

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
Liam Gallagher · Noel Gallagher · Gem Archer · Andy Bell · Zak Starkey Tony McCarroll · Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs · Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan · Alan White
Studio albums	Definitely Maybe · (What's the Story) Morning Glory? · Be Here Now · Standing on the Shoulder of Giants · Heathen Chemistry · Don't Believe the Truth · Oasis' seventh studio album
Demos	Live Demonstration
Singles	"Supersonic" · "Shakermaker" · "Live Forever" · "Cigarettes & Alcohol" · "Whatever" · "Some Might Say" · "Roll With It" · "Morning Glory" · "Wonderwall" · "Don't Look Back in Anger" · "Champagne Supernova" · "D'You Know What I Mean?" · "Stand By Me" · "All Around the World" · "Don't Go Away" · "Go Let It Out" · "Who Feels Love?" · "Sunday Morning Call" · "The Hindu Times" · "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" · "Little By Little "/" She Is Love" · "Songbird" · "Lyla" · "The Importance of Being Idle" · "Let There Be Love" · "Lord Don't Slow Me Down"
EPs	Stop the Clocks
DVDs	Live by the Sea · …There and Then · Familiar to Millions · Definitely Maybe – The DVD · Lord Don't Slow Me Down
Compilations	The Masterplan · Stop the Clocks
Films	Lord Don't Slow Me Down
Related articles	Discography · The Rain · Britpop · The Battle of Britpop · Owen Morris · Creation Records · Big Brother · Awards and nominations · Wibbling Rivalry

v • d • e UK Christmas number-two singles in the 1990s
1990 - "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice* • 1991 - "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" - Diana Ross • 1992 - "Heal the World" - Michael Jackson • 1993 - "Babe" - Take That* • 1994 - "All I Want for Christmas Is You" - Mariah Carey • 1995 - "Wonderwall" - The Mike Flowers Pops • 1996 - "No Woman, No Cry" - Fugees • 1997 - "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!" - Teletubbies* • 1998 - "Chocolate Salty Balls" - Chef* • 1999 - "Millennium Prayer" - Cliff Richard*
Complete list | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s * topped charts either in the run-up to or shortly after Christmas