🌙 About the Song
Released in 1995, Wonderwall is Oasis’s defining anthem — melancholy, mysterious, and instantly recognisable from those opening chords.
Noel Gallagher wrote it for then-girlfriend Meg Mathews, though later he claimed it was “about an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself.”
Classic Noel — heartfelt, then evasive.
It’s Britpop’s crown jewel: part love song, part existential shrug. The name “Wonderwall” itself came from a 1968 George Harrison album — a nod to The Beatles obsession running through Oasis’s veins.
Liam’s vocal is rough and yearning, the rhythm is hypnotic, and the lyrics — half nonsense, half genius — somehow hit you right in the chest.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords:Em – G – D – A7sus4 – Cadd9.
- Verses: Em – G – D – A7sus4,
- Chorus: Cadd9 – D – Em – G,
- Bridge: Cadd9 – D – Em – A7sus4 – Cadd9 – D – G.
- Strumming pattern: Classic Britpop groove — Down–Down–Up–Up–Down-Up (a lazy 4/4 at ~87 bpm).
- Tone: Keep your wrist loose and your strum percussive — let the upstrokes snap.
- Dynamics: Start gentle for the verse, punch the chorus.
- Optional intro: Pick the first few chords lightly (Em → G → D → A7sus4) — it mimics the acoustic guitar riff perfectly.
- Sing tip: Channel Liam — nasal, confident, slightly disinterested. Works every time.
- Key: Em (original in F#m, easier in Em for uke) Use a capo on the 2nd fret to play in the original key.
🧠 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Wonderwall became Oasis’s biggest hit, reaching #2 in the UK and #8 in the U.S.
- The word “Wonderwall” comes from George Harrison’s Wonderwall Music (1968) — a psychedelic film soundtrack.
- Noel originally wanted to sing it himself, but Liam insisted — and the rest is Britpop history.
- Spotify once listed it among the Top 20 most streamed songs of all time. (Yes, that many people still can’t resist playing it.)
🌈 Final Word
Play Wonderwall with swagger and a bit of self-awareness — you’re part of musical folklore now.
Keep it steady, keep it heartfelt, and don’t you dare apologise for playing it.
Everyone pretends to roll their eyes, but secretly? They love it.
