Wonderwall (song)

Wonderwall is a single by the rock band Oasis. It was written by Noel Gallagher. Wonderwall comes from (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis's second album. The song also appears on Stop the Clocks and Time Flies... 1994-2009. It was the only song that reached the top 10 in America on the Hot 100 for Oasis. It also reached number 1 in four countries and reached the top 10 in 10 countries.

"Wonderwall"
Single by Oasis
from the album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
B-side	"Round Are Way" "The Swamp Song" "The Masterplan"
Released	30 October 1995 (1995-10-30)
Recorded	May 1995
Studio	Rockfield (Rockfield, Wales)
Genre	Alternative rock[1][2] Britpop[3] pop rock[4]
Length	4:19 (album version) 3:48 (radio edit)
Label	Creation
Songwriter(s)	Noel Gallagher
Producer(s)	Owen Morris Noel Gallagher
Oasis singles chronology
"Morning Glory" (1995) "Wonderwall" (1995) "Don't Look Back in Anger" (1996)
Music video
"Wonderwall" on YouTube
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? track listing
12 tracks "Hello" "Roll with It" "Wonderwall" "Don't Look Back in Anger" "Hey Now!" Untitled "Some Might Say" "Cast No Shadow" "She's Electric" "Morning Glory" Untitled "Champagne Supernova"

Background

Noel Gallagher says the song was written about a girl he met at a concert when he was touring with Oasis. It is said that "Wonderwall" was written for Gallagher's then-girlfriend, Meg Mathews. Gallagher now says the song was not about her, but he did say "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."^[5]

In 2008 Liam Gallagher said this about the song: "I can't fucking stand that fucking song! Every time I have to sing it I want to gag. Problem is, it was a big, big tune for us."^[6] Noel said that Liam, "...thought we had gone too dance when I wrote 'Wonderwall' because the drums didn't go boom-boom bap, boom-boom bap." ^[7]

Recording

The song was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales in May of 1995. According to producer Owen Morris, the song was done in 6 to 8 hours.

In the beginning, 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". He later said he had only ever wanted to sing "Don't Look Back in Anger", and had used "Wonderwall" as a bargaining tool.^[8]

Music video

The music video to the song was filmed in the short period when bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan quit the band due to nervous exhaustion; Scott McLeod came in to replace him.^[9]

The song won Best British Video at the 1996 BRIT Awards.

Awards and recognition

• In January 1996, the song was voted #1 in the Australian Triple J Hottest 100 1995, the world's largest music poll.
• In the Grammy Awards of 1997 "Wonderwall" and Oasis were nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rock Song. They did not win either.^[10]
• In May 2005, "Wonderwall" was voted the best British song of all time in a poll conducted by Virgin Radio.^[11]
• 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".^[12]
• In 2006, U2's guitarist The Edge named "Wonderwall" one of the songs he wishes he had written.^[13]
• In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Wonderwall" at number 27 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.^[14]
• In 20 December 2007, VH1 placed "Wonderwall" at number 35 in its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s.^[15]
• In July 2009, "Wonderwall" was voted at number #12 in the Hottest 100 of all time countdown poll, conducted by Triple J. More than half a million votes were cast.^[16]

Track listings

All songs written and composed by Noel Gallagher, except where noted. 

UK single
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Wonderwall"	4:18
2.	"Round Are Way"	5:42
3.	"The Swamp Song"	4:19
4.	"The Masterplan"	5:23
Total length:		19:52

US single
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Wonderwall"	4:14
2.	"Round Are Way"	5:41
3.	"Talk Tonight"	4:11
4.	"Rockin' Chair"	4:33
5.	"I Am the Walrus (Live Glasgow Cathouse June 1994)" (Written by Lennon–McCartney)	8:14
Total length:		26:53

Personnel

• Liam Gallagher – vocals, tambourine
• Noel Gallagher – backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass,^[17] piano
• Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs – mellotron^[18]
• Alan White – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 7 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 5 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[24] 1 Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[26] 8 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] 11 France (SNEP)[28] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 17 Hungary (Mahasz)[30] 8 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[31] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[32] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[36] 5 Scotland (OCC)[37] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 17 UK Singles (OCC)[40] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[41] 8 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[42] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[43] 36 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 30 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[45] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[46] 17 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[47] 9 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 10 US Cash Box Top 100[49] 6 Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[50] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[51] 28 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[52] 82 UK Singles (OCC)[53] 10 Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA)[54] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[55] 37 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[56] 38 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[57] 26 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[58] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[59] 31 Germany (Official German Charts)[60] 80 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[61] 52 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[62] 98 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[63] 29 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[64] 90 UK Singles (OCC)[65][66] 51 US Billboard Hot 100[67] 56 Chart (2018) Position Portugal (AFP)[68] 168 Chart (2019) Position Portugal (AFP)[69] 177 Chart (2021) Position UK Singles (OCC)[70] 76 Chart (2022) Position UK Singles (OCC)[71] 80 Chart (2023) Position UK Singles (OCC)[72] 78 Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position UK Singles (OCC)[73] 78

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[74]	11× Platinum	770,000
Germany (BVMI)[75]	3× Gold	750,000
Italy (FIMI)[76] sales since 2009	4× Platinum	280,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[77]	Gold	30,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78]	Gold	5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[79]	Gold
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[80]	2× Platinum	120,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[81]	7× Platinum	4,200,000
United States (RIAA)[82]	Gold	500,000*
*sales figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United Kingdom	30 October 1995	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Creation	[83][84]
	6 November 1995	12-inch vinyl		[85]
United States	14 November 1995	Contemporary hit radio	Epic	[86]
Japan	23 November 1995	CD		[87]