Wonderful | 5ive Songs

1. Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World”

💿 What a Wonderful World • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 1968

“I see trees of green, red roses too / I see them bloom for me and you / And I think to myself / What wonderful world.” ICONIC!  Some of the most iconic lyrics EVER! Hands down 🎵 “What a Wonderful World” is one of the greatest songs ever written. As a musician with music composition degree, I wish I’d written this song. Of course, I wasn’t alive in 1968, so, there’s that.

Anyways, beloved jazz legend 🎙 Louis Armstrong made this 🎼✍ George David Weiss and 🎼✍ Bob Thiele-penned number a timeless, unforgettable classic.  A hopeful, uplifting song, the smooth “What a Wonderful World” plays the same role it did back in the 60s – assuaging pain as much as a recording itself can do.  Armstrong’s distinct vocals are perfectly suited to capture the moving, poetic lyrics.  Only select songs are perfect, but “What a Wonderful World” is surely one of them.

“The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, ‘How do you do?’
They’re really saying, ‘I love you’.”

2. Elton John, “Wonderful Crazy Night”

💿 Wonderful Crazy Night • 🏷 Mercury • 📅 2016

“Ice cubes on the back of your neck / Warm wind blowing through the parking lot / We’d remember and never forget / What a wonderful crazy night it was.”  What a killer opening line, 🎙 Elton John! Of course, kudos are owed to John’s longtime lyricist, 🎙 Bernie Taupin.  The lyrics hail from the amazing 🎵 “Wonderful Crazy Night,” which serves as the title track for John’s 2016 album (his 33^rd studio album!).   

After highlighting one of the best lyrics from “Wonderful Crazy Night,” it’s also worth highlighting the music.  Elton John remains a beast on the keys, not to mention his superb, expressive vocals.  His backing band are on-point as well, making this a high-energy gem.  This “Wonderful Crazy Night” is filled with driving rhythms and a soulful-rock sound with a dash of gospel flavoring – hallelujah! There’s also “Loose clothes and cool, cool drink / [and a] Greasy breeze from the chicken stand.”  Rock on, methinks!

3. Bring Me The Horizon, “Wonderful Life”

💿 amo • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2019

🎵 “Wonderful Life”, the fifth track from 💿 amo, the sixth studio album by 🎙 Bring Me the Horizon, is a great blend of rock and pop, with crossover appeal. Following the intro, the intensity ratchets up.  The record ends up being aggressive, set in a minor key, with an electrifying groove, bass line, and sick guitars.  Front man 🎙 Oli Sykes performs the first and second verses. On the first, he references infamous serial killer Ed Gein: “Looked on the bright side, got keratitis / And you can’t sit there unless you’re righteous / I wear a happy face like I’m Ed Gein / I feel all numb now, is that a feeling?”

He follows up with a rather ‘tortured’, incredibly energetic chorus:

“‘Lone, getting high on Saturday night
I’m on the edge of a knife
Nobody cares if I’m dead or alive
Oh, what a wonderful life.”

Sykes’ is joined by 🎙 Dani Filth (🎙 Cradle of Filth) on the third verse.  Verse three is captivating lyrically, featuring a mix of chanted and sung vocals (“I got a Type 2 kinda thirstiness / A far-out other-worldliness / And one day this might hurt me less / But everybody knows I’m still down”). “Wonderful Life” runs long, but features great production, and an aggressive, kick ass performance.

4. The Killers, “Wonderful Wonderful”

💿 Wonderful Wonderful • 🏷 Island • 📅 2017

🎵 “Wonderful Wonderful” serves as the opener on 💿 Wonderful Wonderful, the fifth studio album by 🎙 The Killers.  It sets the tone, building intrigue.  Initially mysterious with a sense of unpredictability, the listener is stimulated by a more experimental approach.  Once things settle in, unpredictability wears off, but it’s a pro that the band doesn’t show their cards initially.  Another pro? Stunning production comprised of gritty guitars, pummeling drums, and strings.  WONDERFUL WONDERFUL!

It’s ambitious, which is both a pro and a con. Given lofty ambition and long length, arguably the title track’s a bit much.  Of course, that’s nitpicking.  There are more than enough bright spots, including the outgoing, dramatic bridge.  All in all, “Wonderful Wonderful” is wonderfully wonderful. 🎙 Brandon Flowers and company shine!

5. Eric Clapton, “Wonderful Tonight”

💿 Slowhand • 🏷 Polydor • 📅 1977

“And then she asks me, ‘Do I look all right?’ / And I say, ‘Yes, you look wonderful tonight.’” 🎵 “Wonderful Tonight” (💿 Slowhand) is a classic by iconic musician, 🎙 Eric Clapton.  Better yet, this is THE classic by Clapton, which is saying something considering the gems he’s released over the years.

What makes “Wonderful Tonight” so wonderful? The vocals are authentic, expressive, and incredibly nuanced – Clapton at his best. His guitar playing is incredibly warm and lush – beautiful, melodic lead lines.  Also, add soulful organ, robust bass, and drums to the mix, and the production is filled out sweetly. The final component? The lyrics, which are simple, yet incredibly effective and timeless.

“I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don’t realize how much I love you.”

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