What A Wonderful World: The Story Behind The Song
What A Wonderful World is a song that celebrates the beauty and diversity of life on Earth. It was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, and first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967. The song has become a timeless classic, and has been covered by many artists over the years. But what is the story behind this song? How did it come to be, and what does it mean to us today?
What A Wonderful World
The Inspiration
Bob Thiele was a music producer who worked with many jazz legends, including Louis Armstrong. He was also a songwriter who used the pseudonym George Douglas. George David Weiss was a composer and arranger who had written hits for Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and others. The two met in 1967, and decided to collaborate on a song for Armstrong.
Thiele was inspired by Armstrong's personality and charisma, as well as his ability to bring people of different races and backgrounds together through his music. He wanted to write a song that reflected Armstrong's optimistic outlook on life, and his appreciation for the simple things that make it wonderful. Weiss agreed, and they came up with the lyrics and melody for What A Wonderful World.
The Recording
Armstrong was performing at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, so Thiele and Weiss flew there to present him the song. Armstrong liked it, and agreed to record it at a nearby studio. The session took place in the early hours of the morning, after Armstrong's midnight show. The orchestra was conducted by Artie Butler, who had arranged the song.
The recording session was not without challenges. A freight train whistle interrupted the music twice, forcing them to start over. Larry Newton, the president of ABC Records, showed up and tried to stop the session, because he disliked the song and thought it was too slow and sentimental for Armstrong. He wanted him to record a more upbeat and commercial song, like Hello, Dolly!, which had been a big hit for him in 1964. Thiele had to physically remove Newton from the studio, and lock him out.
Despite these difficulties, Armstrong delivered a heartfelt and soulful performance of the song, with his distinctive gravelly voice and warm trumpet tone. He sang the lyrics with sincerity and emotion, expressing his gratitude for the wonders of the world. He also added some improvisations, such as humming along with the orchestra, and saying "Oh yeah" at the end.
The Reception
The song was released as a single in September 1967, with Cabaret as the B-side. It was intended to be Armstrong's farewell to music, as he was planning to retire soon due to health problems.
However, the song did not do well in the United States, where it only reached number 116 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was partly because Newton refused to promote it, and partly because it did not fit with the musical trends of the time, such as rock and roll, soul, and psychedelic pop.
But in other parts of the world, the song was a huge success. It topped the charts in the United Kingdom in April 1968, where it sold over a million copies. It also reached number one in Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, and West Germany. It became one of the most popular songs of all time, and one of Armstrong's signature songs.
The Legacy
The song has been covered by many artists over the years, such as Eva Cassidy,[11] Israel KamakawiwoÊole,[12] Joey Ramone,[13] Rod Stewart,[14] Celine Dion,[15] Tony Bennett,[16] K.D. Lang,[17] LeAnn Rimes,[18] Anne Murray,[19] Willie Nelson,[20] Sam Cooke,[21] Ray Charles,[22] Sarah Brightman,[23] Michael BublÃ,[24] Jackie Evancho,[25] Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans (1954) Louis Armstrong, an American Original (1989) James Lincoln Collier What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years (2011) Ricky Riccardi and many more. It has also been featured in many films, such as Good Morning, Vietnam,[26] Madagascar,[27] Finding Dory,[28] and The Boss Baby.[29] It has also been used in many commercials, such as for Coca-Cola,[30] IBM,[31] and Apple.[32]
The song has become a symbol of hope, peace, and harmony, especially in times of trouble and turmoil. It has been played at many events, such as the 1996 Summer Olympics,[33] the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony,[34] the 2005 Live 8 concert,[35] the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama,[36] and the 2015 Paris attacks.[37]
The song has also been recognized by many awards and honors, such as the Grammy Hall of Fame,[38] the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,[39] the Library of Congress National Recording Registry,[40] and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[41]
The song has also inspired many other works of art, such as books,[42] paintings,[43] sculptures,[44] and musicals.[45]
The Conclusion
What A Wonderful World is a song that transcends time, place, and genre. It is a song that speaks to the human spirit, and reminds us of the beauty and joy that surround us every day. It is a song that expresses the vision and voice of Louis Armstrong, one of the greatest musicians and ambassadors of all time. It is a song that makes us think to ourselves, what a wonderful world.
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