Wonderful Life

Album: The Sweet Escape (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This inspiration for this song was one of Gwen Stefani's real-life high-school romances. During an interview for the December 6, 2006 issue of Australian music magazine Inpress, she said it's one of her favorite songs, and explained: It was written for my... I guess he was my first kissing-love who I had in ninth grade - I guess I can say his name, Matt Ellej. He actually passed away and I wanted to write a song for him, and I wrote the song 'Wonderful Life.' The thing that's really crazy about the whole thing is - because obviously I hadn't seen him for a really long time, and I loved him and he changed my life so much - he's the one that turned me onto groups like The Cure and Depeche Mode. He was really into it; I mean he was Robert Smith - he had the whole big hair and everything. He was super into Depeche Mode, and so when Martin Gore played on the record I told him about Matt and how much he loved them. I mean, if he knew that... I mean, how beautiful is that? To have a song I wrote for him, and then to have his idol play on it - it was quite a meaningful experience for me." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Vitor - Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • Stefani wrote this song with Linda Perry, who has also written with Christina Aguilera, Pink and The Dixie Chicks.
  • Stefani had this ready for her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., in 2004, but it didn't make the cut so she included it on her next one, The Sweet Escape, in 2006.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.