"Wonderful Life" | ||||
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Single by Black | ||||
from the album Wonderful Life | ||||
B-side | "Life Calls" | |||
Released |
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Studio | Powerplant Studios, Willesden, London | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:49 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Colin Vearncombe | |||
Producer(s) | Dave "Dix" Dickie | |||
Black singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
Black - Wonderful Life (Official Video) on YouTube |
"Wonderful Life" is a song by English singer Black from his 1987 debut album,Wonderful Life. 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]
First released in 1986 by Ugly Man Records,it initially peaked at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart. [2] 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" and the single reached a higher peak of number eight on the chart in August 1987. [3]
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." [4] The song was described by AllMusic as a "seductive,bittersweet ballad". [5] 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'." [6] 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". [7]
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. [8] 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. [9]
Credits are lifted from the single's liner notes and AllMusic. [10] [11]
Studios
Personnel
7-inch single
12-inch maxi single
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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France (SNEP) [36] | Gold | 500,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [37] | Gold | 500,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [38] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
"Wonderful Life" | ||||
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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 | ||||
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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. [39] 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].
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [40] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [41] | 5 |
Chart (1999) | Position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [42] | 44 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [43] | 43 |
"Wonderful Life" | ||||
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Single by Tina Cousins | ||||
from the album Mastermind | ||||
Released | 30 May 2005 | |||
Studio | Charlton Farm (Bath, England) | |||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Colin Vearncombe | |||
Producer(s) |
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Tina Cousins singles chronology | ||||
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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.
UK CD single [44]
UK digital download [45]
Australian and New Zealand maxi-CD single [46]
Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes. [44]
Studio
Personnel
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 30 May 2005 | Maxi-CD | Big | [54] |
United Kingdom | 28 November 2005 | Digital download | All Around the World | [45] |
CD | [55] |
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.
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). [56]
"Let's Get It Started" is a song recorded by American group the Black Eyed Peas. It is a clean version of "Let's Get Retarded" from their third studio album, Elephunk (2003). The album version was originally only reworked for its use in promotion for the 2004 NBA playoffs on ABC in April 2004; however, the new version was so well received that it was released as the fourth and final single from Elephunk on June 1, 2004, by A&M Records and Interscope Records, also appearing on a reissue of the album.
"Let Me Love You" is a song by American singer Mario, released as a single on October 4, 2004, from his second studio album, Turning Point (2004). The song was written by Ne-Yo, Kameron Houff, and Scott Storch, while the production was handled by Storch. The song garnered Mario a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2006 and became a top-10 hit worldwide, reaching number one in the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" is a song by American pop music duo Boy Meets Girl in 1988, written by the duo's members, Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill. They wrote the song after witnessing a falling star at a Whitney Houston concert and originally offered the song to Houston, but Arista Records CEO Clive Davis rejected it. American singer Belinda Carlisle then recorded a demo of the song but denied its inclusion on her 1987 album Heaven on Earth, so Rubicam and Merrill decided to record and release the song themselves.
Tina Patricia Cousins is an English singer, songwriter and former model. She has had five singles in the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others, including "Mysterious Times" with Sash!, which reached number 2 in the UK in 1998. She has also achieved popularity in several other countries, including four top 30 hits in Sweden, six top 30 hits in Australia and seven top 20 hits in Finland. Her other hit singles include "Pray" (1998), "Killin' Time" (1999), "Forever" (1999), "Just Around the Hill" with Sash! (2000) and "Wonderful Life" (2005).
"Galvanize" is a song by British electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers featuring vocals by American rapper Q-Tip. It was released on 22 November 2004 as the first single from their fifth studio album, Push the Button (2005).
"Don't Lie" is a song performed by American recording group the Black Eyed Peas, taken from their fourth studio album, Monkey Business (2005). It was released as the second single from the album on June 29, 2005, after the successful "Don't Phunk with My Heart".
"Lonely No More" is the first single from Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas' debut studio album, ...Something to Be (2005). It was released on February 14, 2005, and became his biggest solo hit. The song peaked at number one in Hungary, number three in Australia, number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Larger than Life" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys from their third studio album, Millennium. It was released on September 7, 1999, as the second single from the album. It was written by band member Brian Littrell with Max Martin and Kristian Lundin, who also produced the song along with Rami Yacoub. The song is a "thank you" for their fans' encouragement and devotion. Music critics praised its memorable melody, singalong lyrics and the band's vocal performance. It was also on Blender's list of the 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.
"Only U" is a song by American singer Ashanti from her third studio album, Concrete Rose (2004). The song's introduction uses a sample of Club Nouveau's 1986 song "Why You Treat Me So Bad". "Only U" is a rock-tinged song, that finds Ashanti in love and willing to do anything to be with the one she loves, no matter the cost.
"The Glamorous Life" is a song written by Prince, recorded by American percussionist Sheila E. and produced by both. The song has lyrics which reflect a cynicism for the decadence and materialism of the song's protagonist, referred to in the third person, who "wants to lead a glamorous life", although she is aware that "without love, it ain't much".
"Where the Party At" is a song by American R&B group Jagged Edge featuring guest vocals from Nelly. The song spent three weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart. It was the group's highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending five weeks at number three in September 15, 2001. The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002, a brand new category at the time. It lost to Eve and Gwen Stefani's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".
"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind that was popularised by Irish boyband Boyzone in 1998 when they recorded it to tie in with the show's first UK production. The song was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman, while Lloyd Webber, Steinman and Nigel Wright produced the track, with additional production by Franglen & Lupino. The song was also featured on the US edition of the soundtrack to the 1999 film Notting Hill, and was released to American radio on 10 May 1999.
"Thank ABBA for the Music" is a medley of songs originally released by pop group ABBA, performed by Steps, Tina Cousins, Cleopatra, B*Witched and Billie. The medley consists of "Take a Chance on Me", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia", and "Thank You for the Music". It was originally performed during the 1999 Brit Awards, which occurred on 16 February, and its release coincided with the debut of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!. The medley peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart in April 1999 and reached the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden.
"Wonderful" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on September 27, 2004, as the lead single from his sixth studio album, R.U.L.E. (2004), through Island Def Jam and Irv Gotti's The Inc. Records. The song features American pop-R&B singers R. Kelly and Ashanti. "Wonderful" topped the UK Singles Chart, reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaked at number six in both Australia and New Zealand, and became a top-20 hit in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Wonderful Life is the debut album by English singer Black. Released in 1987, it peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart in September of that year. Three of the songs were co-written with Vearncombe's friend and musical collaborator, keyboardist Dave "Dix" Dickie.
"What's Luv?" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe, released through Atlantic Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions as the second single from his fourth studio album, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) (2001). The song features additional vocals from singer Ashanti and from rapper Ja Rule on the remix and album version on the song. "What's Luv" was produced by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana. The lyrics of the song's chorus are based in part on the title refrain of the 1984 Tina Turner hit "What's Love Got to Do with It". The song additionally includes a lyric that references the 1998 song "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun. Fat Joe, Ja Rule, and the song's two producers are credited as the writers of "What's Luv", as are Big Pun and the lyricist of "What's Love Got to Do with It", Terry Britten.
"The X-Files" is an instrumental written and produced by American film and television composer Mark Snow. On its parent album, The Truth and the Light: Music from the X-Files, the track is titled "Materia Primoris". It is a remixed version of the original theme Snow composed for the science fiction television series The X-Files in 1993. The composition was released as a single in 1996 and achieved chart success, particularly in France, where it reached number one on the SNEP Singles Chart. The composition has since been covered by many artists, including DJ Dado and Triple X; DJ Dado's version was a major hit in Europe while Triple X's version reached number two in Australia.
"Sweetest Smile" is a song by English singer Black, released in June 1987 as the third single from his debut album Wonderful Life. It became his first UK top ten hit, peaking at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. On the back of its success, "Wonderful Life" was re-released, becoming an international hit.
"Paradise" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released in 1988 as the fifth and final single from his debut studio album Wonderful Life. The song was written by Black and Dave "Dix" Dickie, and produced by Dix. "Paradise" reached number 38 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for four weeks.
"I'm Not Afraid" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released in 1987 as the fourth single from his debut studio album Wonderful Life. The song was written by Black and Dave "Dix" Dickie, and produced by Robin Millar. "I'm Not Afraid" reached number 78 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.
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