Music Review: Adam Ant "Wonderful"
Adam Ant
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Wonderful
Album: Wonderful
Year: 1995
Adam Ant crosses the line, causing his girlfriend to leave him in the regretful ballad "Wonderful."
A blue acoustic guitar and Ant's "do's" open the single, setting a grim tone. In the first verse, he can't remember what caused him to lose his temper. He repeatedly yelled at his girlfriend at her. He told her that he didn't want to be touched and that he wouldn't cry if she left him. It was said out of spite and he didn't mean a word.
In the pre-chorus, he had raised his arm to strike her face. But when he saw cowering and the fear in her eyes, he collapsed into the chair. She grabbed her things and left, frightened by him. He knew she wouldn't be back. He had taken something she said the wrong way and it triggered him. The manner and phrase reminded him of how his father would mock him. He hid his resentment and hatred of his father around her and never let her know. He didn't allow her to know him in an emotionally intimate way.
In the chorus, he says he blew it with an understanding woman. He bemoans his mistake and apologizes for behavior. She didn't deserve his wrath.
In the second verse, he thinks of her shy smile. When she tried to find out what was wrong, he shouted that he was all right. However, he's upset by what he did to her.
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
Over a triumphant electric guitar, he exclaims that she is a terrific person.
In the bridge, he says he will live with the fact he once had someone who loved him completely. He's numb and just there. He doesn't aspire to do much or to try anymore. She was a fantastic girlfriend, who he can't believe he had in his life. It also ruins him, knowing he's without her and he won't have the chance again.
He repeats over the electric guitar that she's a terrific person.
In the second chorus, he adds he took her for her granted.
In the final lyric, he asks her if she knows how much he meant to her.
Ant lost his temper frequently and took whatever problems he was having out on her. She walked on eggshells around him. She often bit her tongue and changed the subject if she heard his voice rise the slightest. Ant, though, didn't think he was a potential abuser. Punching his girlfriend was something he thought he was incapable of doing. Neither of them saw it coming. He's ashamed of himself for even trying to do it. He does not want to become his father.
His guilty, conscience-stricken vocals make an otherwise villainous boyfriend sympathetic. He realizes he has an emotional problem and it needs to be fixed. He wants nothing more than go back to that night and change things.
The pitying acoustic arrangement stacks layer after layer of sadness onto the single. It's indulgent and heavy handed. It strikes the chord then beats the listener over the head with it a couple extra times just in case.
The lackluster "Wonderful" on paper, seems to work. Ant's vocals match the lyrics. The lyrics mesh with the music. But something's missing. It's the spark that made his earlier singles irresistible.
Album: Wonderful
Year: 1995
Adam Ant crosses the line, causing his girlfriend to leave him in the regretful ballad "Wonderful."
A blue acoustic guitar and Ant's "do's" open the single, setting a grim tone. In the first verse, he can't remember what caused him to lose his temper. He repeatedly yelled at his girlfriend at her. He told her that he didn't want to be touched and that he wouldn't cry if she left him. It was said out of spite and he didn't mean a word.
"Did I tell you how much I miss/Your sweet kiss?/Did I tell you I didn't cry?/Well I lied/I lie lie lied."
In the pre-chorus, he had raised his arm to strike her face. But when he saw cowering and the fear in her eyes, he collapsed into the chair. She grabbed her things and left, frightened by him. He knew she wouldn't be back. He had taken something she said the wrong way and it triggered him. The manner and phrase reminded him of how his father would mock him. He hid his resentment and hatred of his father around her and never let her know. He didn't allow her to know him in an emotionally intimate way.
"Over real over/When I nearly hit the face I loved/So tired of packaging the anger/Always pushing you away."
In the chorus, he says he blew it with an understanding woman. He bemoans his mistake and apologizes for behavior. She didn't deserve his wrath.
"Did I tell you you're wonderful?/I miss you, yes I do/Did I tell you that I was wrong?/I was wrong/'Cause you're wonderful yeah."
In the second verse, he thinks of her shy smile. When she tried to find out what was wrong, he shouted that he was all right. However, he's upset by what he did to her.
"Did I tell you how much I miss/Your smile?/Did I tell you I was okay?/Well no way/No way way way."
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
Over a triumphant electric guitar, he exclaims that she is a terrific person.
"You're wonderful yeah."
In the bridge, he says he will live with the fact he once had someone who loved him completely. He's numb and just there. He doesn't aspire to do much or to try anymore. She was a fantastic girlfriend, who he can't believe he had in his life. It also ruins him, knowing he's without her and he won't have the chance again.
"Now now now each and every day/I realize the price I have to pay/You, you're wonderful/And now for your information/I'm walking around like an arm decoration/You you're wonderful/So high I can't get over it/So deep I can't get under it/You're wonderful yeah."
He repeats over the electric guitar that she's a terrific person.
"You're wonderful yeah yeah/You're wonderful yeah yeah/You're wonderful yeah yeah/Wonderful."
In the second chorus, he adds he took her for her granted.
"Did I tell you you're wonderful?... For so long long long/Did I tell you you're wonderful?/I miss you, yes I do/For so long long long."
In the final lyric, he asks her if she knows how much he meant to her.
"Did I tell you you're wonderful?"
Ant lost his temper frequently and took whatever problems he was having out on her. She walked on eggshells around him. She often bit her tongue and changed the subject if she heard his voice rise the slightest. Ant, though, didn't think he was a potential abuser. Punching his girlfriend was something he thought he was incapable of doing. Neither of them saw it coming. He's ashamed of himself for even trying to do it. He does not want to become his father.
His guilty, conscience-stricken vocals make an otherwise villainous boyfriend sympathetic. He realizes he has an emotional problem and it needs to be fixed. He wants nothing more than go back to that night and change things.
The pitying acoustic arrangement stacks layer after layer of sadness onto the single. It's indulgent and heavy handed. It strikes the chord then beats the listener over the head with it a couple extra times just in case.
The lackluster "Wonderful" on paper, seems to work. Ant's vocals match the lyrics. The lyrics mesh with the music. But something's missing. It's the spark that made his earlier singles irresistible.