"Wonderful Life" is a song by British singer Black from his 1987 debut album, Wonderful Life. The song was released twice as a single and was successful the second time, becoming a top-10 hit in Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Black, who wrote the song while broke, commented: "I was really being ironic... Most people took it at face value."

Single release

First released in 1986 by Ugly Man Records, it initially peaked at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart. The label and Vearncombe then decided to re-release the song with a new record company, A&M Records after the success of "Sweetest Smile" and the single reached a higher peak of number eight on the chart in August 1987.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review in Smash Hits, Vici McDonald called it a "wonderful record – sentimental without being slushy". She went on: "It's heartening to see someone who a) isn't particularly handsome, b) has a spook-name (i.e. Colin Vearncombe), c) has no discernible 'image' and d) writes slightly odd lyrics, get into the charts purely on the strength of their music, which in this case is very strong indeed." The song was described by AllMusic as a "seductive, bittersweet ballad". The Daily Telegraph said: "Its oddly uplifting lyrics... combined with Black's melancholy croon created, as one critic observed, 'luxuriantly melodic pop that sounds something like a male version of Sade'." Lesley O'Toole of Record Mirror praised the song, describing it "a beeeautiful [sic] balmy antidote to today's 99 per cent inconsequential output. A smooth coating of non-drip vocal gloss glides over a melody which seduces you with its eyes shut... Simplicity and perfection itself".

Music video

The music video, shot in black and white, was filmed around the English seaside resort of Southport, Merseyside, as well as Wallasey near Black's hometown of Liverpool, and features New Brighton Lighthouse and promenade. The video includes the Looping Star rollercoaster, a ride at Pleasureland at the time, as well as The Galleon fairground ride, the shrimping boat, local shops and residents. It was directed by Gerard de Thame, husband of television presenter Rachel de Thame, and won an award at the New York Film Festival in 1988.

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the single's liner notes and AllMusic. Studios Personnel

Formats and track listings

7-inch single 12-inch maxi single

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Mathilde Santing version

Dutch singer Mathilde Santing recorded her own cover version of "Wonderful Life" on her 1999 album To Others to One. It was released as a maxi single and was used in a television advertisement for Interpolis, a Dutch insurance company, in 2005. In addition to the album To Others to One, it is also on the albums 20 jaar hits 1981–2001 (Muziek 20 Daagse 2001) and 100 Love Songs [2008].

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Tina Cousins version

British singer Tina Cousins covered "Wonderful" for her second studio album, Mastermind (2005). She recorded it at Charlton Farm Studios in Bath, England. This version, produced by Louie Nicastro and Tom Maddicott, was released in Australia on 30 May 2005 and reached number 17 on the country's ARIA Singles Chart the following month. In the United Kingdom, following a digital release in late November 2005, the cover debuted and peaked at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart on 4 December 2005. The song also charted in Finland, reaching number 17 on the Finnish Singles Chart.

Track listings

UK CD single UK digital download Australian and New Zealand maxi-CD single

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes. Studio Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Other cover versions

A dance version by TJ Davis reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 13 on the UK Dance Singles Chart in December 2001. In 2011, the song featured on the Christmas album Funny Looking Angels by Smith & Burrows, a collaboration between Tom Smith (Editors) and Andy Burrows (We Are Scientists and ex-Razorlight).

Use in the media