"Wonderwall": I Don't Get It

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actually, that might not be true. there was the bloodhound gang and len since then.

scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:01 (eighteen years ago) link

I was going to play Country House to make sure that it sounds nothing like Girls, but it's so crappy that I apparently deleted it off my ibook and my ipod. That album just... eh. Someone needed to slap Damon and remind him how to write songs.

On the other hand, I pulled up Wonderwall and Champage Supernova, and I kind of hear more similiarities between Morning Glory and Wonderwall.

lyra (lyra), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Would you believe - they were playing some best of Blur album in the pub a couple of weeks ago, and without the clip, it was evident that 'COuntry House' was the only really good song Blur ever wrote!

As for 'Wonderwall' - he's obviously singing to his own hard-on, as usual. All Oasis lyrics are a man addressing his own organ.

moley, Monday, 4 July 2005 21:11 (eighteen years ago) link

http://www.mikeflowerspops.com/disco/wonder.jpg

is one reason why this song has subconsciously shifted from "hit single by band" to "iconic important age-defining monster track" in most people's minds, IMHO.

- they don't do parody versions of any old song, so it must have been an important song

- the easy/lounge version was actually pretty decent, so it must have been a good song

(just brainstorming here, trying to answer your "Why the universal praise for this song" question)

StanM (StanM), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:31 (eighteen years ago) link

to be fair, Liam is the only singer I can think of whose live singing style resembles that of a hogtied man being forced to perform oral sex on a basketball player, so that's gotta count for something.

http://www.undercover.com.au/pics/oasisliamros2002.jpg

Gear! (Ill Cajun Gunsmith) (Gear!), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:41 (eighteen years ago) link

Have we done a "Wonderwall" vs "Angels" thread yet? And, also, how do reactions to this song vary from the board's British posters, where these songs are IMPORTANT CULTURAL ARTEFACTS, to US posters, where they're minor hits by insignificant acts?

"Wonderwall"= laddism finally admits it has a soft side. See also: Labour winning the 1997 elections.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:46 (eighteen years ago) link

'Wonderwall' was one of Oasis's better songs. It was fucking dreadful.

The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 4 July 2005 21:57 (eighteen years ago) link

Has anyone heard Paul Anka's version of "Wonderwall" yet? If not, you should ...

Chris O., Monday, 4 July 2005 22:37 (eighteen years ago) link

He's done it whose way, then?

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 4 July 2005 22:40 (eighteen years ago) link

Honestly, when Noel sings it, its way better...

Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Monday, 4 July 2005 23:30 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, I do think it's about time someone asked the question: "Liam, what the hell is up with your onstage singing style anyway?" Also, I do not understand that shirt(?) he is wearing in that pic above.

The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 00:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Dom- Champagne Supernova was pretty much inescapable for a year when it was released here. I don't think it was a minor hit- so it wasn't an IMPORTANT CULTURAL ARTIFACT but it was a very big hit.

lyra (lyra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 00:51 (eighteen years ago) link

I admit it - I hate Oasis but I kinda like this song. But the reason I like Wonderwall is purely because of the bridge section before each chorus, the bit that goes "and all the roads that lead us there are winding" etc etc; theres something rather uplifting about the rhythm guitar in that bit that makes up for the shit chorus and singing in general. I can like a part of a song and excuse the rest, somehow ;)

Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 00:57 (eighteen years ago) link

That's, like, 1/8th of the song!
Even if i thought that was the best bridge ever I would still not be able to cope with the rest of it. I share Aarons confusion about the popularity of this song.

Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 01:28 (eighteen years ago) link

It's not hard to fall
When you float like a wonderwall

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 01:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Everything that Oasis did up to this point was good. I especially liked their B-sides but it didn’t last.

BeeOK (boo radley), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 02:07 (eighteen years ago) link

yeah, this song was the final straw for me.

shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 02:23 (eighteen years ago) link

i don't understand why it was such a big hit. For a ballad it isn't very touching. did anyone stand in the rain with a boombox over their head playing this to their girlfriend?

keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 02:33 (eighteen years ago) link

did oasis sing at live 8 ?

wankernerd, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 02:42 (eighteen years ago) link

their greatest songs is "let's all make beleive" the bside of "go let it out"

elise, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 02:42 (eighteen years ago) link

if you need an explanation of this song's impact and legend, just get 8 or 9 american males between the ages of 19-23 totally wasted and let them loose on a room at a karaoke place (preferrably in koreatown) and all the mysteries of the universe will be revealed.

derfymcderfles, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 02:53 (eighteen years ago) link

Would you believe - they were playing some best of Blur album in the pub a couple of weeks ago, and without the clip, it was evident that 'COuntry House' was the only really good song Blur ever wrote!

I think this is nonsense and I don't even like Blur.

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 04:05 (eighteen years ago) link

it's far from their best.

That One Guy (That One Guy), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 04:08 (eighteen years ago) link

The Great Escape is a really dire album overall- and I say this as someone who adores Blur. The Universal is sorta half decent, still but not much worth listening to.

if you need an explanation of this song's impact and legend, just get 8 or 9 american males between the ages of 19-23 totally wasted and let them loose on a room at a karaoke place (preferrably in koreatown) and all the mysteries of the universe will be revealed.

There's apparently a Beastie Boys cover of Wonderwall floating around on the interweb. I tried downloading a copy of it, but it wouldn't play in iTunes for me.

lyra (lyra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 04:17 (eighteen years ago) link

Blur have plenty of great songs, and I like "Wonderwall." Neither band's music has ever particularly bothered me, but I haven't had the urge to listen to either band in a while, with the exception of Oasis's new record, which I only listened through twice out of curiosity. Normally if I'm in the mood for that kind of music, I would much rather listen to Pulp or Supergrass or Ash, but perhaps that's just me.

billstevejim (billstevejim), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 04:18 (eighteen years ago) link

Dunno if Beasties proper ever did Wonderwall, but I saw them soundcheck it on the Quasar tour of Australia in 1997 (but with the non-Quasar set-up of (I think) Adrock on vocals, AWOL on bass, Yauch on guitar and Mike D on drums). They did encore it at another show that got bootlegged on video...

kit brash (kit brash), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 06:46 (eighteen years ago) link

I think wonderwall is pretty fucking horrible.

Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:47 (eighteen years ago) link

Something I've always noticed about loud indie bands, when they deliver an acoustic guitar version of one of their noisy songs, the fans suddenly sit down, become all serious and marvel at the (apparent) sheer ... despite the fact it has just been transformed into the kind of music they'd never otherwise touch with a barge pole.

The same goes for loud bands that release a ballad as a (typically the 3rd) single ... hence the Wonderwall problem. For a start, imagine the melody with out the backing...

Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:47 (eighteen years ago) link

Sure - as Mike Flowers showed, the production on this song could really tilt it in any direction - it could almost be a Stock Aitken and Waterman tune from 1986 with the right production, ie trebly drum pattern, disco bass and ticky-tick hihats.

moley, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:50 (eighteen years ago) link

"wonderwall" is just oasis's "beth," really.

J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:50 (eighteen years ago) link

It could even be remixed by DJ Sammy. The perfect follow up to 'Boys of Summer'.

Miss Kitten could do it. Or The Pogues.

moley, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 10:55 (eighteen years ago) link

a-bing-bing-bing-mm-darr...

N_RQ, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 11:09 (eighteen years ago) link

A question here:

Why does Blur come up everytime someone mentions Oasis? I don't see the connection.

peepee (peepee), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 12:40 (eighteen years ago) link

Wiki to the rescue...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roll_With_It

Roll With It was released as a single on 14 August 1995, and received a great deal of attention when Food Records, the label of chief Britpop rivals Blur, moved the original release date the single "Country House" to clash with it, sparking what came to be known as "The Battle of Britpop". The British media had already reported an intense rivalry between the two bands and this clash of releases was seen as a battle for the number one spot. The media sensation was spurred on by verbal attacks from the respective camps (in particular Noel and Liam Gallagher, Damon Albarn and Alex James), that extended beyond the music industry to the point where the two bands were regularly mentioned on the evening news. In particular, public imagination was sparked by the contrast between the gritty, working class Oasis and the artsy, middle class Blur. In the end, Blur's "Country House" single sold 274,000 copies to Oasis' 216,000 copies of "Roll with It". The singles charted at number 1 and number 2 respectively. However, in the long run, Morning Glory went platinum 13 times, while Blur's album The Great Escape only managed to go platinum 3 times.

lyra (lyra), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 12:56 (eighteen years ago) link

gritty?
artsy?

peepee (peepee), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 12:58 (eighteen years ago) link

"Wonderwall" is actually one of the only Oasis songs I like, largely because of that soaring chorus. Also someone already did a DJ Sammy to it and did a trance remix with the original vocals; I wish I still had my copy of that because it fucking killed.

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 13:13 (eighteen years ago) link

It could even be remixed by DJ Sammy. The perfect follow up to 'Boys of Summer'.

Ah, so you've never danced on a podium at Love Muscle to Jackie O's version then?

(I once did this, a couple of hours after returning from "seeing" Oasis at Knebworth. This single moment was better than the entire 6-7 hours at Knebworth put together, as I explained to everyone within earshot. Ah me, the follies of middle youth.)

mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 13:17 (eighteen years ago) link

Wonderwall

the pinefox, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 13:24 (eighteen years ago) link

i think Kelefa Sanneh finally hit it right in writing on the MSG in the Times (2 weeks ago?) by pointing out that the thing about oasis's lyrics and liams sining is that its completely distant. the lyrics are uselessly obvious and the vocals make it sound as though they mean nothing by the words at all. at the same time, it sounds pretty ace, ... i'll try and find the article now

b b, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:31 (eighteen years ago) link

heres the quote:

"Oasis is a band that finds ways to sing love songs without enacting them. When Liam Gallagher asks listeners to ''love one another,'' part of the fun is hearing the lyrics tug against the persona. And at Wednesday's concert, part of the fun was watching Liam and Noel Gallagher avoid physical and even eye contact. Theirs is, not coincidentally, a very Oasis sort of love: unrequited, unexpressed and possibly even unfelt. "

heres the full thing:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E5D81F3BF937A15755C0A9639C8B63

b b, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:33 (eighteen years ago) link

the song has more affecting sentiments than Oasis tracks usually do, amidst the standard beatles rips and incoherency:

Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now

Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk along are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
I don't know how

Because maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me?
And after all
You're my wonderwall


I really like the gratuitous incorporation of "backbeat."

miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Their songs rarely sound like they're singing to a specific person.

miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:39 (eighteen years ago) link

And, also, how do reactions to this song vary from the board's British posters, where these songs are IMPORTANT CULTURAL ARTEFACTS, to US posters, where they're minor hits by insignificant acts?

While obviously bigger in Britain, The album went multiplatinum (one of the best selling albums of the year) and "Wonderwall" went top ten here.

miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:43 (eighteen years ago) link

"Angels" was a flop though, thank fucking god. I think Jessica Simpsons or somebody tried to cover it but that failed too.

miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:44 (eighteen years ago) link

some recent "lets throw darts at oasis" thread had me thinking that i just kind of hate them..but then i pulled out an old tape and was happy with it. im thankful that they never do try and sing to anyone or anything...they really only work with the sort of anthemic distance...theres more than enough indie and rock trying to get into mychest in terrible ways...lets just have it big, glitery, and far from home.

b b, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:45 (eighteen years ago) link

That's because "Angels" is fucking dreadful from beginning to end.

The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:46 (eighteen years ago) link

I'd agree if they weren't so damn sluggish. The British Pearl Jam, really.

x-post I agree wholeheartedly, Dan.

miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:46 (eighteen years ago) link

yeah, oasis are definitely going to be remembered as an "american classic" by a certain segment of the population who were around at the time. they were pretty inescapable on rock radio from their first album right up through the end of the 90s. "champagne supernova" and "wonderwall" were school dance anthems at the time and i'm sure for a fair few years afterwards too.

strng hlkngtn, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:49 (eighteen years ago) link

haha the irony of course being that you can't even slow dance to them.

strng hlkngtn, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:50 (eighteen years ago) link

the song has more affecting sentiments than Oasis tracks usually do

I find it emotionally incoherent. I have no idea where it's supposed to be taking me. The only bit I find at all affecting is the "There aare many things that I would like to say to you, but I don't know how" line.

I like lots of other Oasis songs, including the supposedly mawkish 'Don't Look Back In Anger'. 'Wonderwall' remains a mystery to me.

Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 14:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Hey Turrican, sent you a follow-up email.

mod, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 18:47 (six years ago) link

I can't access it, I'm afraid.

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 18:56 (six years ago) link

Oh, so you didn't see either of them?

mod, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:02 (six years ago) link

Nope, haven't seen either of 'em.

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:05 (six years ago) link

Original email was a warning that you were getting close to 51 and to maybe dial it back a bit. Second was a mea culpa because you are significantly less close to 51 than I thought: a number of your FPs had been from older than 6 months ago and needed to be deleted. The suggestion to dial it back a bit still seems like reasonable advice to me though. I'm not going to weigh in on whatever's going on in this thread because I don't want to accidentally learn the chords to Wonderwall.

mod, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:16 (six years ago) link

mod what's yr take on pedal points?

The Desus & Mero Chain (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:18 (six years ago) link

x-post:

Hahahahaha, fair enough! :)

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:19 (six years ago) link

(xp) pedal notes.

Buff Jeckley (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:37 (six years ago) link

("Pedal point" and "pedal tone" are equally acceptable terminology tbf.)

No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:48 (six years ago) link

Mea culpa #2

Buff Jeckley (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:52 (six years ago) link

... withdrawal #2

Buff Jeckley (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 19:53 (six years ago) link

(xp) pedal notes.

― Buff Jeckley (Tom D.), Wednesday, April 4, 2018 2:37 PM (twenty-two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Tom sorry I should have been more upfront I'm John Petrucci of Dream Theater, in the Theater we always say "pedal points"

The Desus & Mero Chain (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 20:02 (six years ago) link

I'd like to toast points

thots and players (rip van wanko), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 20:03 (six years ago) link

lmao ums

flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 20:05 (six years ago) link

The hell, this thread exploded.

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 20:10 (six years ago) link

A lot of contentious points/tones/notes came up.

Buff Jeckley (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 20:14 (six years ago) link

Mostly chordial.

nashwan, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 20:58 (six years ago) link

Pedal pedantry was a delightful new thing for me

startled macropod (MatthewK), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 21:21 (six years ago) link

Did anyone ever make effects pedals which were also bike pedals and which you could only use while simultaneously pedaling a stationary bike and going ham on a guitar, because if not I will file my patent now and build one for u.

Orbital Ribbonbopper, Inventor of Flying and Popcorn (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 22:11 (six years ago) link

It's been mentioned here before but yes, all this song has going for is a few details like the way the second verse starts with cello/vocals then drums then bass. That really works. Also, the melody of the pre-chorus is kinda nice. It is in the chorus when things really go wrong. So lazy and anti-climatic! Perhaps they wanted to break the pattern of full-blown anthemic choruses for a change, but it really doesn't work. Although it clearly must work for some people.

daavid, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 22:34 (six years ago) link

wish I'd made a $2 bet that a pedal geek fight would erupt on a thread about "wonderwall"

thots and players (rip van wanko), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 23:34 (six years ago) link

I mean, "Soon", sure, I get that

thots and players (rip van wanko), Wednesday, 4 April 2018 23:35 (six years ago) link

Pedals are for lames, real shredders use racks

brimstead, Wednesday, 4 April 2018 23:35 (six years ago) link

Backbeat, word is on the street / That the fire in this thread is out

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Thursday, 5 April 2018 00:03 (six years ago) link

Pedal point geeks i need u

Rudy’s Mood For Dub (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 5 April 2018 04:41 (six years ago) link

Wild thread

flappy bird, Thursday, 5 April 2018 05:10 (six years ago) link

gallagheresque

NBA YoungBoy named Rocky Raccoon (m bison), Thursday, 5 April 2018 05:16 (six years ago) link

utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=042018britishsong

chilis=lyrics...hypocrits (sic), Sunday, 15 April 2018 18:25 (six years ago) link

three weeks pass...

lmaooo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFvREW50hFk

frogbs, Monday, 7 May 2018 17:56 (five years ago) link

Ha. catching up: UMS and Vancouver Jim brought some serious wisdom upthread.

NO REGERTS (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 7 May 2018 18:14 (five years ago) link

namaste

( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉) (jim in vancouver), Monday, 7 May 2018 18:43 (five years ago) link


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