Wonderful (Everclear song)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

"Wonderful"
Lars Fox
  • Neal Avron
  • Everclear singles chronology
    "The Boys Are Back in Town"
    (1999)
    "Wonderful"
    (2000)
    "AM Radio"
    (2000)
    Music video
    "Wonderful" on
    YouTube

    "Wonderful" is a song by American rock band

    Top 30 Rock Report
    .

    Meaning

    The song tells the story of a divorce as perceived by a child. Each verse of the song corresponds to a different stage of the divorce. The first verse describes the child hearing their parents fight as they try to block it out, remembering what it was like before their parents began to fight. The second verse describes the child going to school and pretending to their friends that everything is all right at home, despite what is heard in the first verse. The bridge describes the child lashing out at their parents, not wanting to comprehend that their parents have begun to grow apart and date other people.

    In an October 2003 interview with Songfacts, Alexakis said about "Wonderful":

    I was a child of a broken marriage, my daughter was the child of a broken marriage, and it was hard to watch it happen to her. (This song) was me trying to make sense of it. ... It's one of those songs where I take my experiences as a kid, some experiences of some friends of mine, and kind of put myself into this kid's place. It's not really autobiographical but it's coming from a place that I understand very well. My characters tend to have aspects of my personality. It wouldn't be real if it didn't have a part of my reality.[1]

    Music video

    The music video, directed by Alexakis,[2] follows two children's stories interlaced with the band singing. The children are shown happy initially but as time passes their parents fight and eventually break up. At school the kids act normal, mirroring the song. The video ends with kids jumping and happy while the band plays, sometimes in the middle of the kids. The two kids the video is about are split into two people, with each one going a different directions assumingly toward each divorced parent. The kids leave school with a smile. Alexakis can also be seen wiping a tear from his eye near the end of the video.

    Track listings

    Charts

    Release history

    Region Date Format Label Ref(s).
    United States May 22–23, 2000
    • alternative radio
    Capitol [27][28]
    June 26, 2000
    • modern adult contemporary
      radio
    [29][30]
    June 27, 2000 Contemporary hit radio
    United Kingdom October 2, 2000 CD [31][32]

    Appearances in media

    The song has been featured in several TV series, including the Scrubs episode "My Fifteen Minutes", the Cold Case episode "Dog Day Afternoons", the Jericho episode "Why We Fight", the Daria episode "Sappy Anniversary", and the episode "Wonderful" from Mysterious Ways. It has also been featured in the movies Pay It Forward, 40 Days and 40 Nights, Cheats, and Saving Silverman.[33][34]

    References

    1. ^ "Art Alexakis of Everclear". Songfacts. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
    2. ^ "Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 28. July 8, 2000. p. 78. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
    3. ^ Wonderful (US CD single liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 2000. C2 7243 8 58870 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    4. ^ Wonderful (UK CD single liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 2000. 7243 8 89299 0 5, CDCLS 824.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    5. ^ Wonderful (US 7-inch jukebox vinyl disc). Everclear. Capitol Records. 2000. 72438-58856-7-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    6. ^ Wonderful (European & Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Everclear. Capitol Records. 2000. 7243 8 88831 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    7. ^ "Everclear – Wonderful". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7188." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    9. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7102." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
    10. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9957." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    11. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (31.9–6.10 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). October 6, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
    12. ^ "Everclear – Wonderful". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    15. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    16. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    17. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    18. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    19. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    20. ^ "Everclear Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
    21. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
    22. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
    23. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-99.
    24. Airplay Monitor
      . Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54.
    25. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-88.
    26. ^ "The Best of 2000: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 44.
    27. ^ Flick, Larry (July 22, 2000). "Everelear's Capitol Release Gets 'Wonderful' Response" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 30. p. 12. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
    28. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1351. May 18, 2000. pp. 100, 104, 114.
    29. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1356. June 23, 2000. pp. 46, 90.
    30. ^ "Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2309. June 16, 2000. pp. 10, 34.
    31. ^ Stavenes Dove, Siri (August 19, 2000). "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 34. p. 26. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
    32. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting October 2, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 30, 2000. p. 27. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    33. ^ "Everclear". IMDb. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
    34. ^ "Pay It Forward – Trailer". Warner Movies on Demand. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2018 – via YouTube.