Wonderwall

What makes Wonderwall so special, beyond being a song many want to learn to play, is the story behind its creation and its impact. Noel Gallagher, the main songwriter, described it as a song about an imaginary friend who would come to save us from ourselves. Interestingly, the title was inspired by George Harrison’s solo album, Wonderwall Music. Originally, it was planned to record it outdoors, near Rockfield Studios, but the idea was scrapped in favor of a studio recording. The song was released on October 30, 1995, as the fourth single from Oasis’ second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?.

The recording of Wonderwall, along with the rest of the album, took place in May 1995. Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher worked on the production, using a technique called “brickwalling” to enhance the sound. It was a quick process, with Liam Gallagher’s vocals recorded in half a day. Interestingly, all band members except bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan participated in the recording, with Noel taking over the bass in his place. This detail did not go unnoticed by Liam. The album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, released on October 2, 1995, marked a turning point for Oasis, taking them from an indie band to a global phenomenon. The song became a commercial success, reaching the top 10 in 15 countries, topping the charts in Australia and New Zealand, and peaking at number 2 in the UK and Ireland. In North America, it charted in the top 10 in both Canada and the US, becoming their biggest hit in the latter. The song has been certified multi-platinum in the UK and Australia. Its music video, directed by Nigel Dick, was recognized at the 1996 Brit Awards. Over the years, Wonderwall has maintained steady popularity, being voted the best alternative song in Australia in 1995 and in a special 2013 list. In 2008, it was the 76th best-selling single in the UK, surpassing one million copies. In 2020, it became the first 90s song to reach one billion streams on Spotify. Despite its success, Liam Gallagher has occasionally expressed his weariness with the song, though he acknowledges its importance to the band.