Wonderman (Tinie Tempah song)
Encyclopedia
"Wonderman" is the sixth single by English rapper Tinie Tempah
. It features vocals by English singer Ellie Goulding
, and is the fifth official single from Tinie's debut album Disc-Overy
, being the second song to be released as a single following the release of the album - the first being Invincible
. The song was produced by long-time collaborator Labrinth
.who has also worked with Tinie Tempah on "Pass Out" and "Frisky
", and mixed by James F Reynolds, who mixed the entire Disc-Overy
album. The single released on March 7, 2011. The single has peaked at number twelve on the UK Singles Chart
.
provides guest vocals on this track, which lays Tempah's rap over a dreamy electro pop beat. She told the BBC program Newsbeat
: "He's one of these people I believe in, and not just because of his music, but because he's a lovely person. [The track is] about not having all that much when you're little and then working very hard and then having a lot more than you used to have and being very grateful. So I can relate to it - it's really cool." Tempah told The Sun how he hooked up with the electro-pop singer: "We met properly earlier this year at the Dingwalls venue in Camden
, North London
, when we were on the same bill and just hit it off. She's just a really cool chick. She's come to watch a few of my shows and vice versa. We continued to stay in touch. The media kept saying. 'When are you guys going to work together?' So I was like 'You know what? Let's do it for the album.'"
gave the song a positive review, giving it four out of five stars and stating: "A typically savvy Labrinth production, 'Wonderman' blends elements of rap, rock, electronica and dance into a parcel as glossily tempting as all the best pop - and then ribbons it with the inimitable quivery vocals of Ellie Goulding, sounding suitably celestial as she sings about "the chosen one" calling his name. And Tinie himself? Well, to his credit, he's still eking juice out of this well-squeezed theme - or maybe we're just suckers for a rapper who namechecks Kestral Lager and Benidorm in a song whose subject matter touches on the fatalistic, the supernatural and the biblical?"
official launch ceremony in January 2011. Tempah and Goulding also performed the track at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival
in April 2011.
They also performed the track together at the 2011 Radio 1's Big Weekend.
the week after Disc-Overy
released on October 17, 2010 at number 45, then the next week it slipped to number 66. "Wonderman" then made it's first appearance in the Top 40 on January 30, 2011 at number 40. The next week it climbed 26 places to number 14 and currently lies at 12.
, with Tinie starring as 'The Wonderman' aided by his assistant, Ellie Goulding in their mission to save the world." The full official video was released on January 19, 2011 by Tempah's VEVO
on YouTube
. The video ends with the text "TO BE CONTINUED" with Tempah as the background.
UK Promo CD Single
Limited Edition Record Store Day 7" Single
Tinie Tempah
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...
. It features vocals by English singer Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding
Elena Jane "Ellie" Goulding is an English singer-songwriter. In 2010 she became only the second artist to both top the BBC's annual Sound of... poll, and win the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards in the same year, following Adele's win of both in 2008...
, and is the fifth official single from Tinie's debut album Disc-Overy
Disc-Overy
Upon its release, Disc-Overy received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".-Track...
, being the second song to be released as a single following the release of the album - the first being Invincible
Invincible (Tinie Tempah song)
"Invincible" is a song by English rapper Tinie Tempah. Written by Tempah, co-written and produced by iShi, the song features guest vocals from American recording artist, Kelly Rowland. It was released on 26 December 2010, serving as the fourth official single from Tempah's debut album, Disc-Overy...
. The song was produced by long-time collaborator Labrinth
Labrinth
Timothy McKenzie , better known by his stage name Labrinth, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. McKenzie is signed to Simon Cowell's record label Syco, becoming the first non-talent show signing in six years...
.who has also worked with Tinie Tempah on "Pass Out" and "Frisky
Frisky (song)
"Frisky" is the second single by English rapper, Tinie Tempah and features the English long-time collaborator, producer and writer Labrinth. It was released on June 7, 2010 via Parlophone records. It was released exclusively on iTunes...
", and mixed by James F Reynolds, who mixed the entire Disc-Overy
Disc-Overy
Upon its release, Disc-Overy received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".-Track...
album. The single released on March 7, 2011. The single has peaked at number twelve on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Background
Ellie GouldingEllie Goulding
Elena Jane "Ellie" Goulding is an English singer-songwriter. In 2010 she became only the second artist to both top the BBC's annual Sound of... poll, and win the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards in the same year, following Adele's win of both in 2008...
provides guest vocals on this track, which lays Tempah's rap over a dreamy electro pop beat. She told the BBC program Newsbeat
Newsbeat
Newsbeat is the flagship news programme on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. Newsbeat is produced by BBC News but differs from the BBC's other news programmes in its remit to provide news tailored for a specifically younger audience....
: "He's one of these people I believe in, and not just because of his music, but because he's a lovely person. [The track is] about not having all that much when you're little and then working very hard and then having a lot more than you used to have and being very grateful. So I can relate to it - it's really cool." Tempah told The Sun how he hooked up with the electro-pop singer: "We met properly earlier this year at the Dingwalls venue in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, when we were on the same bill and just hit it off. She's just a really cool chick. She's come to watch a few of my shows and vice versa. We continued to stay in touch. The media kept saying. 'When are you guys going to work together?' So I was like 'You know what? Let's do it for the album.'"
Critical reception
Nick Levine of Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
gave the song a positive review, giving it four out of five stars and stating: "A typically savvy Labrinth production, 'Wonderman' blends elements of rap, rock, electronica and dance into a parcel as glossily tempting as all the best pop - and then ribbons it with the inimitable quivery vocals of Ellie Goulding, sounding suitably celestial as she sings about "the chosen one" calling his name. And Tinie himself? Well, to his credit, he's still eking juice out of this well-squeezed theme - or maybe we're just suckers for a rapper who namechecks Kestral Lager and Benidorm in a song whose subject matter touches on the fatalistic, the supernatural and the biblical?"
Live performances
Tempah and Goulding performed the track for the first time on live television at the 2011 BRIT Awards2011 BRIT Awards
The 2011 BRIT Awards was held on Tuesday 15 February 2011.It was the 31st edition of the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The award ceremony was held at The O2 Arena...
official launch ceremony in January 2011. Tempah and Goulding also performed the track at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
in April 2011.
They also performed the track together at the 2011 Radio 1's Big Weekend.
Chart performance
It entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
the week after Disc-Overy
Disc-Overy
Upon its release, Disc-Overy received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".-Track...
released on October 17, 2010 at number 45, then the next week it slipped to number 66. "Wonderman" then made it's first appearance in the Top 40 on January 30, 2011 at number 40. The next week it climbed 26 places to number 14 and currently lies at 12.
Music video
The music video was directed by Robert Hale. A press release stated that the music video is a "fun-filled homage to seventies classic The Six Million Dollar ManThe Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
, with Tinie starring as 'The Wonderman' aided by his assistant, Ellie Goulding in their mission to save the world." The full official video was released on January 19, 2011 by Tempah's VEVO
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The video ends with the text "TO BE CONTINUED" with Tempah as the background.
Track listing
UK Digital Download- "Wonderman" – 3:41
- "Wonderman" (Instrumental) – 3:36
- "Wonderman" (BareNoize Remix) – 4:14
- "Wonderman" (Jacob Plant Remix) – 4:47
- "Wonderman" (All About She Remix) – 3:46
- "Wonderman" (Dirty Duvall Remix) – 4:17
UK Promo CD Single
- "Wonderman" – 3:41
- "Wonderman" (Instrumental) – 3:36
Limited Edition Record Store Day 7" Single
- "Wonderman" - 3:41
- "Simply Unstoppable" (Edit) - 3:05
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|