The Best Cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’

Few classic rock songs from the 1990s had an impact comparable to Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” Although the tune has been covered by numerous artists from numerous genres, only one of those artists managed to give us a version that is comparable to the original in terms of quality. Here’s a look at the origin of that cover.

1 cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ brings out the insecurity in the original song

The 1990s gave us many rock songs that are still inescapable, such as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Santana’s “Smooth,” and Rob Zombie’s “Dragula.” However, few of those songs became standards. “Wonderwall” was the biggest exception. The tune has been covered by an eclectic range of artists, including Jay-Z, The Mike Flower Pops, Cat Power, Paul Anka, and Brad Mehldau.

The most famous of these was Ryan Adams’ “Wonderwall.” His version gives the track a lonesome, melancholy feel that brings out some of the original tune’s insecurities. While Oasis’ tune could have been on The White Album, Adams’ redux sounds like the soundtrack to a good indie drama that gets you to ball your eyes out. Both are indispensable in their own way.

Ryan Adams tried in vain to get his lover to like Oasis

During a 2016 interview with Relix, Adams discussed why he added “Wonderwall” to one of his albums. “I recorded ‘Wonderwall’ for Love Is Hell because it fit into the interpersonal dialogue of that record,” he recalled. “That record was very quietly about the time I lived in London. 

“I was seeing someone who was English and, in England, you either like Blur or Oasis,” he continued. “They were like English football teams. The person I was dating was very much into Blur. When I ended up recording ‘Wonderwall’ and making it much sadder and much more morose, it was because, as time went on, that reminded me of saying, ‘I’m telling you this is a really great song — you just have to listen to it completely broken down on an acoustic guitar.’

“Of course, by the time I recorded it, it was me lamenting that funny exchange that I had,” he added. “It was futile trying to convince someone who doesn’t like Oasis to like them. It’s like trying to convince someone who doesn’t like the Grateful Dead to listen to the Grateful Dead.” Adams said he couldn’t convince his lover to appreciate Oasis’ music.

How the world reacted to the 2 versions of ‘Wonderwall’

Oasis’ “Wonderwall” became the band’s only top 40 single in the United States. There, it reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks in total. The tune appeared on the classic album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? That record reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 78 weeks. It was Oasis’ longest-charting record in the U.S.

Adams’ “Wonderwall” missed the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, the cover’s parent EP, Love Is Hell pt. 1, became a modest hit. The EP peaked at No. 78 on the Billboard 200 for a single week. That didn’t stop Adams’ “Wonderwall” from becoming one of the most famous covers of this century thus far.

“Wonderwall” is one of the greatest songs of all time and Adams gave us a memorable version of it.