Little Wonder
Encyclopedia
"Little Wonder" is a song and single
by David Bowie
, from the 1997 album Earthling
. It was the album's biggest hit, reaching number 14 in The United Kingdom and topping the charts in Japan.
in the lyrics. The sampled spoken line "If it's good to ya, it's gotta be good for ya" during the instrumental break, comes from the spoken intro of a live Steely Dan
song called "Bodhisattva" from the Citizen Steely Dan box.
An additional 3 promo singles was also released.
Musicians
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, from the 1997 album Earthling
Earthling (album)
Earthling is an album by David Bowie released in February 1997 via BMG. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the Industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s.-Album background and development:...
. It was the album's biggest hit, reaching number 14 in The United Kingdom and topping the charts in Japan.
Background
Bowie uses the names of all Seven DwarfsSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
in the lyrics. The sampled spoken line "If it's good to ya, it's gotta be good for ya" during the instrumental break, comes from the spoken intro of a live Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
song called "Bodhisattva" from the Citizen Steely Dan box.
UK CD version 1
- Little Wonder (edit) - 3:40
- Little Wonder (Ambient Junior Mix) - 9:55
- Little Wonder (Club Dub Junior Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (4/4 Junior Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (Juniors 7" mix) - 8:10
UK CD version 2 (limited edition)
- Little Wonder (edit) - 3:40
- Telling LiesTelling Lies"Telling Lies" is a single by David Bowie written in 1996 and in 1997 released for the album Earthling.Three versions of "Telling Lies" were released on beginning September 11, 1996 — one version was released for each of three weeks — constituting the first ever downloadable single by a major artist...
(Adam F Mix) - 3:58 - Jump They SayJump They Say"Jump They Say" is a song by David Bowie from his album Black Tie White Noise. It was released as a first single from the album in March 1993....
(Leftfield 12" Vocal Mix) - 7:40 - Little Wonder (Danny SaberDanny SaberDanny Saber is a Los Angeles, California musician, audio engineer, record producer, and remixer. A former member of Black Grape and Agent Provocateur, Saber plays guitar, bass, organ, and keyboards, and is also a prominent Los Angeles DJ....
Mix) - 3:06
US CD version
- Little Wonder (Album version) - 6:02
- Little Wonder (Ambient Junior Mix) - 9:55
- Little Wonder (Club Dub Junior Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (Danny Saber Dance Mix) - 5:30
European CD version 1
- Little Wonder (Album version) - 6:02
- Little Wonder (Ambient Junior Mix) - 9:55
- Little Wonder (Danny Saber Mix) - 3:06
- Little Wonder (Club Dub Junior Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (4/4 Junior Mix) - 8:10
European CD version 2
- Little Wonder (edit) - 3:40
- Little Wonder (Junior Club Mix) - 8:10
- Telling LiesTelling Lies"Telling Lies" is a single by David Bowie written in 1996 and in 1997 released for the album Earthling.Three versions of "Telling Lies" were released on beginning September 11, 1996 — one version was released for each of three weeks — constituting the first ever downloadable single by a major artist...
(Adam F Mix) - 3:58
Japanese CD version
- Little Wonder (edit) - 3:40
- Little Wonder (Junior Club Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (Danny Saber Mix) - 3:06
- Little Wonder (Club Dub Junior Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (4/4 Junior Mix) - 8:10
UK 12" version
- Little Wonder (Junior Club Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (Danny Saber Mix) - 5:30
- Telling LiesTelling Lies"Telling Lies" is a single by David Bowie written in 1996 and in 1997 released for the album Earthling.Three versions of "Telling Lies" were released on beginning September 11, 1996 — one version was released for each of three weeks — constituting the first ever downloadable single by a major artist...
(Adam F Mix) - 3:58
European 12" version
- Little Wonder (Junior Club Mix) - 8:10
- Little Wonder (Danny Saber Mix) - 5:30
An additional 3 promo singles was also released.
Production credits
Producer- David Bowie
- Mark PlatiMark PlatiMark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
(co-producer) - Reeves GabrelsReeves GabrelsReeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
(co-producer)
Musicians
- David Bowie: Vocals, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, SampleSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
s, KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Reeves GabrelsReeves GabrelsReeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
: ProgrammingComputer programmingComputer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
, SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, Real and sampledSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, Vocals - Mark PlatiMark PlatiMark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
: ProgrammingComputer programmingComputer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
, LoopMusic loopIn electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
s, SampleSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
s, KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Gail Ann DorseyGail Ann DorseyGail Ann Dorsey is an American musician considered one of the premier bass guitarists and vocalists within the alternative rock scene. With a distinguished career as a session musician, it has been most notably her long association performing in David Bowie's band, from 1995 to the present day,...
: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals - Zachary Alford: Drum loopsMusic loopIn electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
, Acoustic drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, Electronic percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Mike GarsonMike GarsonMike Garson is an American pianist, most notable for his work with David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Billy Corgan, Free Flight, and The Smashing Pumpkins.- Early career :...
: KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Live versions
- Bowie played this song live (along with Scary MonstersScary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (song)"Scary Monsters " is the title track from David Bowie's 1980 album Scary Monsters . It was also issued as the third single from that album in January 1981...
) on the 8 February 1997 episode of Saturday Night Live. - Bowie played the song at GQ Awards in New York City, 15 October 1997. This was later released on the live album LiveAndWell.comLiveAndWell.comLiveandwell.com is a 1999 limited edition live album by David Bowie. It is not available commercially and could only be acquired by being subscribed to BowieNet at the time....
in 2000. - A version recorded at BBC Radio Theatre, London, 27 June 2000 was released on the live bonus disc following the first releases of Bowie at the BeebBowie at the BeebBowie at the Beeb is a compilation album by David Bowie, first released in 2000. Originally, it came in a three CD set, the third, bonus CD being a recording on at the Portland BBC Radio Theatre...
.
Other releases
- The "Danny Saber remix" appeared on the soundtrack for the movies The SaintThe Saint (film)The Saint is a 1997 film based on the character of Simon Templar created by Leslie Charteris in 1928 for a series of books published as "The Saint." The film stars Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue and Rade Šerbedžija...
as well as the second soundtrack for the movie HackersHackers (film)Hackers is a 1995 American thriller film directed by Iain Softley and starring Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Renoly Santiago, Matthew Lillard, Lorraine Bracco and Fisher Stevens...
. This remix also appeared on the 4 track bonus disc that followed the live album LiveAndWell.comLiveAndWell.comLiveandwell.com is a 1999 limited edition live album by David Bowie. It is not available commercially and could only be acquired by being subscribed to BowieNet at the time....
in 2000. - A video edit was released on a JukeboxJukeboxA jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
7" release of the single "Dead Man WalkingDead Man Walking (song)"Dead Man Walking" is a song written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels and released as single from the 1997 album Earthling. It was a number 32 hit in the UK....
" in 1997. - Three remixes, "Censored Video Edit", "Junior Vasquez Club Mix" and "Danny Saber Dance Mix", also appeared on the bonus disc of the Digibook Expanded Edition of EarthlingEarthling (album)Earthling is an album by David Bowie released in February 1997 via BMG. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the Industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s.-Album background and development:...
from 2004.