Some love it; some hate it; but “Wonderwall’s” status as an iconic song is set in stone. As a centrepiece of Oasis’ highly acclaimed studio album ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’, “Wonderwall” grew out to be one of the most popular songs of the 1990s. The song was written by Oasis’ primary songwriter Noel Gallagher, with lead vocals by his brother Liam. But what’s the meaning behind the song? And why is it titled “Wonderwall”? In this article, we will dive into the meaning, story, and legacy behind Oasis’ classic tune.
The Meaning of the Song
“Wonderwall” is a song about the intense feelings someone experiences during infatuation. The term “Wonderwall” is used metaphorically to represent the person one constantly thinks about. The lyrics describe the emotional rollercoaster of having a crush, from the excitement of thinking about them, to the missed opportunities to open up emotionally because of the fear of rejection.
In 1996, Noel Gallagher stated he wrote the song for his girlfriend Meg Mathews to cheer her up when she was out of work. But later, after the pair broke up, he denied this. “The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it,” he told BBC. “And 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.”
We’ll never know the true intention behind the song, but changing your mind about a love song after a relationship is over seems to be a common occurrence in the music industry. Other examples are “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, and “Something” by The Beatles.
Wishing Stone
Initially, “Wonderwall’s” title was “Wishing Stone”. The title was inspired by a fan interaction Noel Gallagher had after an Oasis gig at the Cathouse in Glasgow.
“A fan one night earnestly put this thing into my hand, and she closed it and said, ‘That’s your wishing stone,” Noel recalled. “And I was like, ‘alright’. She said, ‘You should write a song about that’. And I wrote this song [that would become ‘Wonderwall’]. For a long time, it was called ‘Wishing Stone.”
Wonderwall Music
Eventually, Noel decided to title the song “Wonderwall”. The name was inspired by The Beatles’ George Harrison’s first solo album Wonderwall Music, which was the soundtrack of the 1968 movie Wonderwall.
The connection with the song’s title goes back to the Gallagher brothers’ youth, when they were forced to share a bedroom together. They used to write notes and thoughts on the bedroom wall and called it their wonderwall.
Lead Vocals
The distinctive lead vocals of the song are sung by Liam Gallagher. Given the acoustic nature of the song, Noel Gallagher initially wanted to sing the song himself. After giving away the lead vocal to Liam, Noel decided he would sing Oasis’ other classic “Don’t Look Back In Anger”.
“I’d written these two songs for the LP, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ and ‘Wonderwall,” Noel said. “I wanted to sing ‘Wonderwall’ because the guitars are acoustic, but our kid [Liam] insisted that he wanted to sing it. So I said, alright, but I’m gonna do ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ then, and it’s going to be a single at Christmas, and you won’t be singing on it.”
Despite wanting the sing the song himself, Noel praised Liam for his lead vocals on the song. “Liam does a sterling job. People ask me, ‘Do you find it frustrating not singing your own songs?’ [But] Can you imagine being him, having to sing my songs? He delivers my songs spot-on. He knows. It’s harder for him than it is for me. And he deals with it alright.”
Release and Legacy
“Wonderwall” was first released on Oasis’ second studio album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? on October 2, 1995. On October 30, 1995, the song was released as the album’s fourth single. It became a worldwide top 10 hit and peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles chart. In Australia and New Zealand, “Wonderwall” topped the charts.
Despite the success of the song, Liam and Noel Gallagher aren’t fans of the song. Especially not of the fact that it grew out to be Oasis’ most popular song. “Why that song took hold on the planet the way that it did is crazy,” Noel reflected. “There’s no rhythm or reason for it. It just is. It’s mad when you think of it and I try not to think of it. It’s just one of my songs.”