Wonderwall (song) - Notable Cover Versions

Notable Cover Versions

"Wonderwall" has been one of the most-frequently covered songs in recent history. The most famous cover version was an easy listening arrangement by The Mike Flowers Pops, which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, just as the Oasis original had done two months earlier. Gallagher mentioned that when BBC Radio 1 premiered the song, they jokingly claimed that they had found "the original version of Wonderwall". Gallagher, who had been in America at the time, was surprised to be asked by one of his record company's executives if he had actually written the song. The Mike Flowers Pops cover was used in the 1997 film The Jackal, and also in the 1999 film Superstar.

Ryan Adams' version, first performed in 2001, and later released in 2003 on Love Is Hell pt. 1 EP, was well received by Noel Gallagher. Adams's version was also featured in episodes of Smallville, Cold Case, The O.C., and more recently on Brothers & Sisters and Lie to Me. On 3 October 2009, his version was used in Hollyoaks Later when Zoe was arrested after being framed for Sarah's murder. On 6 October appeared on Holby City on BBC1 just before the end credits. On 17 November 2009, his version appeared on 90210. His version also appears on the 2006 compilation album The Acoustic Album and the 2008 video game Guitar Hero World Tour as a downloadable extra.

Other artists who have covered the song include American indie singer Cat Power, Richard Cheese, Great Big Sea, Paul Anka's swing-jazz style arrangement, the Brad Mehldau Trio, the Beastie Boys punk rock cover that has been performed at concerts, but never released as a single, and a cover on the compilation Punk Goes 90's by the pop-punk band Cartel. The Harvard Independent compiled a list of the five most ironic versions of "Wonderwall".

In 2003, the song was covered by independent Canadian singer-songwriter Melissa Rebronja, released on her debut album Embrace Yourself. Her version became a popular digital download, reaching the top 50 of the most downloaded songs on CD Baby in 2005.

The song was also covered by fellow British rock group Radiohead as a joke in the late 1990s; Thom Yorke sings many incorrect lyrics and cuts out mid-chorus when a background voice says: "Is this abysmal or what? It's always good to make fun of Oasis, they don't mind".

The song was also covered on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge by Neighbours star Alan Fletcher on 30 November 2007.

During a heated rivalry between Oasis and Robbie Williams, which came about due to Noel and Liam's constantly referring to Robbie as "the fat dancer from Take That", he performed "Wonderwall" at his Slane Castle concert live on pay-per-view TV.

The verse to "Wonderwall" is built on a i-III-VII-IV progression which several other songs have used. These include "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day, U2's "Electrical Storm", Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" and Oasis's first single from Be Here Now, "D'You Know What I Mean?".

"Wonderwall" was featured in the popular mashup "Boulevard of Broken Songs" mixed by Party Ben in late 2004, which also contained parts of both Travis's "Writing to Reach You" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". In late 2006, Gallagher accused Green Day of 'ripping off' "Wonderwall", saying "If you listen, you'll find it is exactly the same arrangement as Wonderwall. They should have the decency to wait until I am dead . I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy." .

The 2003 Girls Aloud single "Life Got Cold" was slated by critics, claiming that the chorus melody ripped off "Wonderwall". The similarities were noticeable, even though Girls Aloud dismissed the claims. Noel Gallagher also reacted indifferently to the suggestion, commenting instead that; "We've been compared to The Beatles pretty often. Progression is going forwards. Going backwards is regression. Going sideways is just 'gression'." When Girls Aloud performed "Life Got Cold" at a university gig in 2007, the crowd started to chant the lyrics to "Wonderwall". The girl group simply laughed.

The Australian comedy group Tripod covered "Wonderwall" for a segment on Triple J with Andrew Denton. The band began by singing the first verse with the following lyrics: "today is going to be the day that we're gonna throw it back to you. We just noticed that all the chords in your songs are the same, did you? I don't believe that anyone could get away with this but you have. And all the catchy melodies are winding. Around the same progression and we're finding. That you released three singles but you could have managed one, good luck to you." They then proceeded to sing 2 other Oasis singles (Don't Look Back in Anger and Whatever) to the same chord progression used in "Wonderwall".

The song was covered by The Nat Sanderson Sound in the second short film, A Soft Touch, within the movie The Acid House written by Irvine Welsh and directed by Paul McGuigan.

At the beginning of his set at Glastonbury 2008, Jay-Z performed a cover of "Wonderwall". Noel Gallagher had previously been critical of Jay-Z's booking as a star performer at the festival, so it is probable that his cover was intended to be ironic. Jay-Z's mock performance boosted the song's sales, making it a challenger for the top 100. The original album had a 200% increase in sales and the compilation album had a 140% increase. Jay-Z references the above event and sings part of "Wonderwall" on his song "Jockin Jay-Z", which was cut from his 2009 album The Blueprint 3.

The song was performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony by Beady Eye.

A list of various other artists who have covered "Wonderwall"

• Paul Anka performed a swing cover of the song on his Rock Swings covers album.
• Death metal group Ten Masked Men, known for covering pop songs in a heavy style, covered the song on their self-titled debut album.
• Jason Mraz sings the first verse of "Wonderwall" in the middle of his song "The Remedy" when he performs it live.
• Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, performed "Wonderwall" at V-Festival 2009, after Oasis had pulled out of performing at the festival.
• Rihanna covered a medley version of "Wonderwall" in 2010 during her Last Girl on Earth Tour.
• Straight No Chaser recorded an a capella cover of "Wonderwall" in their album, With a Twist.
• Cat Power recorded a version of "Wonderwall" in a cover session broadcast by BBC Radio 1.
• In a season three episode of Lost, "Flashes Before Your Eyes", Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) is seen playing "Wonderwall" in the streets of England with Desmond Hume, (Henry Ian Cusick) watching.
• Indie singer-songwriter Skott Freedman recorded a banjo version of "Wonderwall" which was posted on YouTube in February 2012.
• One Direction released a cover version in August 2012. It was recorded while on set for another music video and it received mixed reviews.
• Anastacia covered the song for her fifth studio album It's a Man's World in 2012.