It is the song that launched a billion buskers. You know the one. That opening strum of an acoustic guitar—specifically an E minor7—that instantly signals everyone in a three-mile radius to prepare for a singalong. Honestly, it’s hard to remember a time when this track didn't exist as a permanent part of the atmosphere. But for those asking exactly when was wonderwall released, the calendar points back to a very specific, frantic window in the mid-90s.
October 30, 1995.
That was the Monday the world changed for Oasis. While their debut album Definitely Maybe had already made them the biggest thing in Britain, "Wonderwall" was the moment they stopped being a band and started being a religion. It wasn't just a single; it was the second punch in the promotional cycle for their sophomore masterpiece, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?.
The Chaos Behind the October Release
The release wasn't some slow burn. It was a 1990s-style tactical strike. In the UK, the song landed via Creation Records on CD, 7-inch vinyl, and even cassette. Remember cassettes? People were literally sprinting to HMV and Woolworths to grab a copy. It wasn't just about the lead track, either. Oasis fans back then were obsessed with the B-sides. When you bought "Wonderwall" in late '95, you also got "The Masterplan" and "Round Are Way." In any other era, those would have been number-one hits on their own.
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But here is a weird bit of trivia: while the UK was already drowning in "Wonderwall" by Halloween, America was a little late to the party. The US didn't really see the song start its massive ascent until January 1996. It eventually peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, which is wild when you realize it’s basically the only Oasis song most Americans can name today.
A Half-Day of Magic
You’d think a song that has been streamed billions of times took months to perfect. Nope. It was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales during a blurry two-week session in May 1995. Producer Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher basically knocked it out in about six to eight hours.
There’s a famous story—well, famous if you're a nerd about Britpop—about the choice of singer. Noel originally wanted to sing it himself. He gave Liam a choice: "You sing 'Wonderwall' or you sing 'Don't Look Back in Anger.' You’re not doing both." Liam chose the former, and Noel ended up with the big anthem. Noel later joked that he only used "Wonderwall" as a bargaining chip because he actually wanted to sing "Don't Look Back in Anger" all along.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Meaning
For years, everyone "knew" who the song was about. It was for Meg Mathews, Noel’s girlfriend at the time. He even said so in the press. But then, they got divorced in 2001. Suddenly, the story shifted. Noel started telling everyone the media had basically forced that narrative on him and he just went along with it because it was easier than explaining the truth to his wife.
He now claims it’s about an "imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself." Kinda bleak, right? But also much more relatable than a specific love song for a specific person. It gives the lyrics room to breathe.
The Lars Ulrich Connection
It isn't just indie kids who love it. Even Metallica’s Lars Ulrich is a superfan. He once wrote a whole piece for The Guardian about how Oasis was the "soundtrack to his life." He actually saw them in some "god-forsaken hole in the wall" in New Jersey back in '94 and ended up running the light board for them because they didn't have a crew guy. When "Wonderwall" finally came out a year later, it even won over the metalheads.
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Why It Still Dominates the Charts (And Your Ears)
If you walk into a pub in Manchester or a college dorm in Ohio today, you are still going to hear this song. It’s unavoidable. It was the first 90s song to hit one billion streams on Spotify.
Why? Because it’s deceptively simple. Lars Ulrich hit the nail on the head when he said the hardest thing in the world is to write a simple song. It’s just a few chords and a melody that feels like it’s always existed.
- The Title: Stolen (or "inspired by") George Harrison’s 1968 solo album Wonderwall Music.
- The Visuals: The music video, directed by Nigel Dick, won a Brit Award. It’s all sepia tones and round glasses, perfectly capturing that 1995 "cool Britannia" vibe.
- The Competition: It actually only reached number two in the UK. It was kept off the top spot by a novelty cover of "Wonderwall" by The Mike Flowers Pops. The 90s were a weird time.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the Oasis catalog now that the reunion is actually happening, don't stop at the hits. Go back and listen to the B-sides from that October 1995 release. "The Masterplan" is arguably a better song than "Wonderwall" itself.
Check out the original 1995 studio version versus the 2014 remastered edition. You can really hear how Owen Morris used a technique called "brickwalling" to make the sound feel massive and loud, even on cheap radio speakers. It’s a masterclass in 90s production.
Next Steps for the Oasis Fan:
Go listen to the Wonderwall EP in its original order. Pay close attention to the transition into "The Swamp Song." It gives you a much better sense of the band's raw energy than just hearing the radio edit of the title track for the ten-thousandth time.