Wonderful Life (Black song)

"Wonderful Life" is a song by British singer Black, from his 1987 debut eponymous album. The song was released twice as a single and was successful the second time, becoming a top-10 hit in Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Black, who wrote the song while broke, commented: "I was really being ironic... Most people took it at face value."^[1]

"Wonderful Life"
Single by Black
from the album Wonderful Life
B-side	"Life Calls"
Released	September 1986
Studio	Powerplant (Willesden, London)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:49
Label	Ugly Man (1986) A&M (1987)
Songwriter(s)	Colin Vearncombe
Producer(s)	Dave "Dix" Dickie
Black singles chronology
"More Than the Sun" (1984) "Wonderful Life" (1987) "Everything's Coming Up Roses" (1986)
"Sweetest Smile" (1987) "Wonderful Life" (1987) "I'm Not Afraid" (1987)
Music video
Black - Wonderful Life (Official Video) on YouTube

Single release

First released in September 1986 by Ugly Man Records,^[2] "Wonderful Life" initially peaked at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3] The label and Vearncombe then decided to re-release the song with a new record company, A&M Records after the success of "Sweetest Smile". Re-issued on 14 August 1987,^[4] the single reached a higher peak of number eight on the chart in August 1987.^[5]

Critical reception

In a contemporary review in Smash Hits, Vici McDonald called it a "wonderful record – sentimental without being slushy". She went on: "It's heartening to see someone who a) isn't particularly handsome, b) has a spook-name (i.e. Colin Vearncombe), c) has no discernible 'image' and d) writes slightly odd lyrics, get into the charts purely on the strength of their music, which in this case is very strong indeed."^[6] The song was described by AllMusic as a "seductive, bittersweet ballad".^[7] The Daily Telegraph said: "Its oddly uplifting lyrics... combined with Black's melancholy croon created, as one critic observed, 'luxuriantly melodic pop that sounds something like a male version of Sade'."^[8] Lesley O'Toole of Record Mirror praised the song, describing it "a beeeautiful [sic] balmy antidote to today's 99 per cent inconsequential output. A smooth coating of non-drip vocal gloss glides over a melody which seduces you with its eyes shut... Simplicity and perfection itself".^[9]

Music video

The music video, shot in black and white, was filmed around the English seaside resort of Southport, Merseyside, as well as Wallasey near Black's hometown of Liverpool, and features New Brighton Lighthouse and promenade. The video includes the Looping Star rollercoaster, a ride at Pleasureland at the time, as well as The Galleon fairground ride, the shrimping boat, local shops and residents.^[10] It was directed by Gerard de Thame, husband of television presenter Rachel de Thame, and won an award at the New York Film Festival in 1988.^[11]

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the single's liner notes and AllMusic.^[12][13]

Studios

• Recorded at Powerplant Studios (London), Square One Studio (Bury) and Pink Studio (Liverpool).

Personnel

• Colin Vearncombe – vocals
• Roy Corkill – fretless bass
• Jimmy Hughes – drums
• Martin Green – saxophone
• Dave "Dix" Dickie – keyboards, programming
• The Creamy Whirls (Tina Labrinski, Sara Lamarra), Doreen Edwards – backing vocals
• Jimmy Sangster – fretted bass
• The Sidwell Brothers – brass section

Formats and track listings

7-inch single

1. "Wonderful Life" – 4:49
2. "Life Calls" – 3:51

12-inch maxi single

1. "Wonderful Life" – 4:49
2. "Life Calls" – 3:51
3. "Had Enough" – 4:58
4. "All We Need Is the Money" – 4:23

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Wonderful Life" Chart (1986) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[3] 72 Chart (1987–1988) Peak position Australia (Australian Music Report)[14] 7 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[17] 5 France (SNEP)[18] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 7 Italy (Musica e dischi)[20] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 10 Portugal (UNEVA)[23] 2 Spain (AFYVE)[24] 7 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[5] 8 West Germany (GfK)[2] 2 Chart (1994) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[19] 30 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 42 Chart (2013) Peak position Slovenia (SloTop50)[27] 26

Year-end charts 1987 year-end chart performance for "Wonderful Life" Chart (1987) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28] 36 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[29] 92 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 93 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 96 West Germany (Official German Charts)[32] 69 1988 year-end chart performance for "Wonderful Life" Chart (1988) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 8 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[34] 30 France (SNEP)[35] 11 West Germany (Official German Charts)[36] 50

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Wonderful Life"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[37]	Gold	500,000*
Germany (BVMI)[38]	Gold	500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	Silver	200,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Mathilde Santing version

"Wonderful Life"
Single by Mathilde Santing
from the album To Others to One
Released	1999
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Colin Vearncombe
Producer(s)	John Tilly
Mathilde Santing singles chronology
"Inspiratie" (1997) "Wonderful Life" (1999) "Come to Me" (2005)

Dutch singer Mathilde Santing recorded her own cover version of "Wonderful Life" on her 1999 album To Others to One. It was released as a maxi single and was used in a television advertisement for Interpolis, a Dutch insurance company, in 2005.^[40] In addition to the album To Others to One, it is also on the albums 20 jaar hits 1981–2001 (Muziek 20 Daagse 2001) and 100 Love Songs [2008].

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Mathilde Santing's cover

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41]	6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42]	5

Year-end charts

1999 year-end chart performance for Mathilde Santing's cover

Chart (1999)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[43]	44
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44]	43

Tina Cousins version

"Wonderful Life"
Single by Tina Cousins
from the album Mastermind
Released	30 May 2005 (2005-05-30)
Studio	Charlton Farm (Bath, England)
Length	3:53
Label	All Around the World Big
Songwriter(s)	Colin Vearncombe
Producer(s)	Louie Nicastro Tom Maddicott
Tina Cousins singles chronology
"Hymn" (2005) "Wonderful Life" (2005) "Come to Me" (2005)
Audio
"Wonderful Life" on YouTube

British singer Tina Cousins covered "Wonderful" for her second studio album, Mastermind (2005). She recorded it at Charlton Farm Studios in Bath, England. This version, produced by Louie Nicastro and Tom Maddicott, was released in Australia on 30 May 2005 and reached number 17 on the country's ARIA Singles Chart the following month. In the United Kingdom, following a digital release in late November 2005, the cover debuted and peaked at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart on 4 December 2005. The song also charted in Finland, reaching number 17 on the Finnish Singles Chart.

Track listings

UK CD single^[45]

1. "Wonderful Life" (dance radio edit)
2. "Wonderful Life" (ballad version)
3. "Wonderful Life" (extended mix)
4. "Wonderful Life" (Kenny Hayes Sunshine Funk remix)
5. "Wonderful Life" (Lee S remix)
6. "Wonderful Life" (Low Frequency Occupation club mix)

UK digital download^[46]

1. "Wonderful Life" (dance radio edit) – 3:53
2. "Wonderful Life" (extended mix) – 8:18
3. "Wonderful Life" (Kenny Hayes Sunshine Funk remix) – 6:25
4. "Wonderful Life" (Lee S remix) – 6:20
5. "Wonderful Life" (ballad version) – 3:20
6. "Wonderful Life" (Low Frequency Occupation club mix) – 7:18

Australian and New Zealand maxi-CD single^[47]

1. "Wonderful Life" (dance version) – 3:53
2. "Wonderful Life" (ballad version) – 3:20
3. "Wonderful Life" (Low Frequency Occupation radio edit) – 3:50
4. "Wonderful Life" (Low Frequency Occupation club mix) – 7:18
5. "Wonderful Life" (Methods of Flow club mix) – 6:12
6. "Wonderful Life" (Low Frequency Occupation Dubful Life) – 6:36

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.^[45]

Studio

• Recorded at Charlton Farm Studios (Bath, Somerset, England)

Personnel

• Colin Vearncombe – writing
• Louie Nicastro, Tom Maddicott – production
• Sil Wilcox – worldwide representation
• PixelFrame.com.au – cover design

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Tina Cousins' cover Chart (2005) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[48] 17 Australian Dance (ARIA)[49] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[50] 17 Scotland (OCC)[51] 32 UK Singles (OCC)[52] 58 UK Dance (OCC)[53] 30

Year-end charts 2005 year-end chart performance for Tina Cousins' cover Chart (2005) Position Australian Dance (ARIA)[54] 15

Release history

Release dates for Tina Cousins' cover

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Australia	30 May 2005 (2005-05-30)	Maxi-CD	Big	[55]
United Kingdom	28 November 2005 (2005-11-28)	Digital download	All Around the World	[46]
		CD		[56]

Other cover versions

A dance version by TJ Davis reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 13 on the UK Dance Singles Chart in December 2001.^{[citation needed]}

Swedish band Ace of Base covered the song on their 2002 album Da Capo.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007 Italian musician Zucchero released the EP "Wonderful life", which includes his cover version of the song. A music video for the version was released on 2009.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011 the song featured on the Christmas album Funny Looking Angels by Smith & Burrows, a collaboration between Tom Smith (Editors) and Andy Burrows (We Are Scientists and ex-Razorlight).^[57]

Use in the media

• The song was used in TV advertisements for Fleury Michon meat products in France in the 2000s,^[58] but was not sung by Black.
• In 2008/2009 it was used by Emirates Airlines to promote air travel to Dubai.^[59]
• In 2015 a cover by Katie Melua was used for Premier Inn's £25 million TV advertising campaign.^[60]