About The Song
The composition titled “What a Wonderful World” was penned by Bob Thiele (credited as “George Douglas”) and George David Weiss. Louis Armstrong recorded the song initially in 1967, released it as a single, and secured the top spot on the UK pop chart in April 1968. However, in the United States, the song faced a setback as Larry Newton, the president of ABC Records, disliked it and declined to promote it.
The song gained a new lease on life when it featured in the film Good Morning, Vietnam. In 1988, it was reissued as a single and climbed to number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. Recognizing its significance, Armstrong’s recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Regarding its creation, Thiele, the producer, initially used the pseudonym George Douglas, but later, his real name was credited from the 1988 reissue onward. Legend has it that the song was intended for Tony Bennett, but disputes exist about this claim. George Weiss, one of the songwriters, mentioned that he crafted the song with Louis Armstrong in mind, inspired by Armstrong’s ability to unite people of different races.
The recording session faced challenges, including ABC president Larry Newton’s disapproval of the slow-paced song and his attempt to halt the session. Newton’s disruption resulted in him being removed from the studio. Additionally, interruptions from nearby train whistles caused the orchestra to restart twice. Despite these obstacles, Armstrong maintained composure, and the session concluded around 6 am, exceeding the expected duration.
Newton’s refusal to promote the song led to limited initial sales in the US, with fewer than 1,000 copies sold. However, it achieved significant success in the United Kingdom, reaching number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it peaked at number 116 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Chart.
The enduring success of “What a Wonderful World” is evident in its status as a pop standard. It found a place in various media, including The Muppet Show, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and the film Good Morning, Vietnam. Notably, it became the theme song for the 1989 sitcom Family Matters but was later replaced.
Over the years, the song’s popularity endured, with Joey Ramone releasing a version in 2001. In 2021, it earned the 171st spot on Rolling Stone’s “Top 500 Best Songs of All Time.” Louis Armstrong’s 1967 recording continued to resonate digitally, accumulating over 2,173,000 downloads in the United States by April 2004.
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Lyrics
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful worldI see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful worldThe colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you”I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll never know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful worldYes, I think to myself
What a wonderful worldOh yeah