Category: Wannadies

Once upon a time, many many many years ago during that short-lived period when long-form blogs such as the one you’re visiting today were all the rage, there was a fabulous place called Pretending Life Is Like A Song. Named after a line in a tune by The Wannadies, it was wonderfully curated by Adam F (not to be confused with Adam T aka Swiss Adam, whose Bagging Area continues to delight, inform, move and entertain in so many ways each and every single day.

Adam F called a halt to his blogging activities quite some time ago – probably around 2012 or early 2013 as I’m sure he stopped prior to the original Vinyl Villain site being unceremoniously destroyed by blogger in July 2013. Out of the blue, he dropped me an e-mail last week:-

“Hi guys – I’m guessing this is JC on the email but looking at the blog you never can tell.
I was trying to find something I once upon a time wrote for Matthew at SongByToad, browsing through the wayback machine and failing, but when I tried to find it more directly I found your new place instead.

I have been quietly playing with myself in the corner since Christmas, if you see what I mean…

(I read Garry Mulholland’s books again at christmas and just thought ‘youknow, I’d quite like to do that again’ – I thought I’d try to write about a hundred songs with a url called ‘century’ but then wordpress gave me ‘century199’ as a url so it became 199 songs. I honestly don’t know what I’ll do when I get there – I thought i’d be finished and gone within a week.)

Anyway. Hi.

take care

Adam

x”

Adam was one of many early inspirations for, and supporter of, The Vinyl Villain, and it really is great to see he’s writing again. The blog is called 199 Songs and here’s what you’ll find if you click on the about section:-

“I don’t know how I’m going to do this – I don’t know how often, or if there’s any kind of order, or how many might be throwaway and how many might be core. I had an idea to write about a hundred songs without any plan about what those hundred songs might be but WordPress has given me a URL numbered ‘199’ so… we’ll see.”

He started things off on 25 December 2024 with She Loves You by The Beatles. He’s been prolific, and is just about halfway to through the task he set himself. It’s proving to be a very eclectic choice of songs, and without any question, there truly is something for everyone. Adam’s style of writing is rather lovely, and I’m incredibly jealous of his wonderful self-discipline which enables him to summarise things so deftly and so eloquently.

There’s a link going up in the sidebar of TVV. In the meantime, click on http://www.century199.wordpress.com and immerse yourself in some wonderful writing.

mp3: The Wannadies – Might Be Stars

For old times sake.

JC

A Guest Posting by Chat GPT

JC writes………………………………

Another ICA inspired by SWC’s recent series on the Best ‘W’.

I’ve tried, on at least four and possibly five occasions, to come up with an ICA for The Wannadies, only to give up as all the pieces failed to fit.  There’s loads of tracks I want to lift from their two best-selling albums, Be A Girl (1994) and Bagsy Me (1997), but I’m also very fond of 2002’s Before and After.   Having said that, there are also decent tunes on Yeah (1999), while any ICA worth its salt would also have to consider the pre-fame (in the UK) material as well as the blistering b-sides they issued, many of them highly impressive cover versions.  I just couldn’t ever narrow it down to 10 songs without torturing myself.

And so…..I’ve decided to adopt the David Glickmann method.  You may recall that back in February 2023, he did the first ever Chat GPT ICA, applying it to The Joy Formidable.  I began by mimicking the question he posed.

“Write an article about the ten best songs by The Wannadies in the style of an imaginary compilation album from The (new) Vinyl Villain blog”

I wasn’t sure what to expect…..but here’s the reply, word for word.

The Wannadies: 10 Essential Tracks – A Vinyl Villain Compilation

Welcome, music aficionados, to another exclusive compilation album from The Vinyl Villain blog. Today, we delve into the vibrant and infectious world of The Wannadies, a Swedish band whose melodic prowess and energetic sound have left an indelible mark on the alternative rock scene. From their early days to their chart-topping hits, this compilation celebrates the best of The Wannadies’ discography, showcasing ten essential tracks that define their unique musical identity.

“You and Me Song”

A timeless anthem of love and devotion, “You and Me Song” is perhaps The Wannadies’ most iconic track. With its catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics, this song has become a staple at weddings, parties, and romantic moments around the world.

“Hit”

Bursting with infectious energy and irresistible melodies, “Hit” is a standout track from The Wannadies’ debut album. Its buoyant rhythms and memorable chorus make it a must-listen for any fan of feel-good indie rock.

“Someone Somewhere”

Dreamy and ethereal, “Someone Somewhere” showcases The Wannadies’ ability to craft lush, atmospheric soundscapes. With its shimmering guitars and haunting vocals, this track transports listeners to another world entirely.

“Might Be Stars”

A driving bassline and propulsive rhythm set the stage for “Might Be Stars,” a dynamic and exhilarating track that perfectly encapsulates The Wannadies’ signature sound. Its infectious energy is impossible to resist.

“How Does It Feel?”

Brooding and introspective, “How Does It Feel?” sees The Wannadies exploring darker territory with haunting melodies and evocative lyrics. It’s a poignant reminder of the band’s versatility and depth.

“Shorty”

Quirky and irreverent, “Shorty” is a playful romp through The Wannadies’ musical universe. Its off-kilter charm and catchy hooks make it a standout track that never fails to bring a smile to listeners’ faces.

“You & Me Song (Svenska)”

A Swedish-language version of their classic hit, “You & Me Song (Svenska)” offers a fresh take on the beloved original. Sung with passion and sincerity, this rendition highlights the universality of The Wannadies’ music.

“Disko”

Funky and danceable, “Disko” is a high-energy track that begs to be played at full volume. Its infectious groove and infectious chorus make it a standout moment in The Wannadies’ discography.

“Big Fan”

Anthemic and uplifting, “Big Fan” is a celebration of music, fandom, and the power of rock ‘n’ roll. With its soaring melodies and infectious enthusiasm, this track is sure to resonate with listeners of all ages.

“Yeah”

Closing out our compilation is “Yeah,” a feel-good anthem that leaves listeners wanting more. Its catchy hooks and infectious energy make it the perfect ending to a truly unforgettable musical journey.

So there you have it, folks – ten essential tracks from The Wannadies that showcase the depth, diversity, and sheer brilliance of this iconic band. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering their music for the first time, this compilation is guaranteed to leave you craving more from The Wannadies. So grab your headphones, drop the needle, and immerse yourself in the infectious world of The Wannadies – you won’t be disappointed.

——-

JC adds…..

It’s, not unexpectedly, singles-heavy, but all-in-all, it’s more than decent.  I’m not convinced, however, that Chat GT has provided the blog something fully reflective of the style of most ICAs, whether they’re my work or a wonderful contribution from a guest.

In terms of where the songs have been picked from – the older material doesn’t feature at all, with the earliest being three singles lifted from 1994’s Be A Girl, and likewise with Bagsy Me (1996). Two songs from Yeah (1999) make the cut, with just the one from the final studio album, Before and After (2002).

Here’s the thing.  I’ve 83 songs on the hard drive.  Not one of them is the Swedish version of You and Me Song, so I’ve had to replace it with one of my own choice.  And I’ve gone for one from Before and After.  I hope you enjoy it, and I’ve tried to replicate the GPT style in describing it.

“Singalong Son”

A tune with which the band slow things down to great effect.  “Singalong Son” is a reflective pop song, ruminating that the best friends in life are those who always want to put a smile on your face. (‘Son is a common ending to the majority of surnames in Sweden).

I’ve a couple of other bands I’m going to give the GPT treatment to….one on the basis that while I know a fair bit about them, I don’t have a huge amount of tunes to select from on the hard drive, while the other is a band where I have plenty of tunes, but nothing like the full back catalogue, and Chat GPT might offer up some tunes I don’t know.

Watch this space!!

JC via Artificial Intelligence

Might Be Stars, released in November 1995 was the third single to be lifted from Be A Girl, itself the third album by The Wannadies, without question the greatest pop band ever to emergr out of Sweden.  As you can see from the above image, the single was released across two different CDs – very much the standard practice of the day – which usually meant one of, or a combination of, three things.

1. Loads of different songs as b-sides across the 2 x CDs
2. Loads of different remixes of the single across at least one of the CDs
3. Live tracks to pad things out across one or both CDs

CD1 of Might Be Stars followed option 1.

mp3: The Wannadies – Might Be Stars (edited)
mp3: The Wannadies – Cherry Man
mp3: The Wannadies – Lee Remick
mp3: The Wannadies – Love Is Dead

The difference between the edited version of the song and the album version is barely noticeable, consisting of ten seconds of music at the start being seamlessly removed to enable the main vocal to lick in a bit earlier. The three other songs consist of two more than decent Wannadies songs and a cover of the debut single by The Go-Betweens.

CD2of Might Be Stars also followed option 1.

mp3: The Wannadies – Might Be Stars
mp3: The Wannadies – New Life
mp3: The Wannadies – So Happy Now
mp3: The Wannadies – Things That I Would Love To Have Undone

The album version is offered up on CD2. The three other songs consist of two more than decent Wannadies songs and a cover of the first hit single by Depeche Mode.

Might Be Stars enjoyed a two-week stay in the singles chart, entering at #51 on 18 November 1995, dropping to #71 the following week before falling out altogether.

JC

It was back in January 2015 that I did a reasonably lengthy piece on The Wannadies, and as a way of introduction to this follow-up piece, there’s going to be a cut’n’paste (and with apologies to those of you who know all the background already):-

The Wannadies formed in Skellefteå, in northern Sweden in the late 80s and released a fair bit of material in their native land before becoming more widely known, especially here in the UK. Indeed, it wasn’t until after the 1994 release of their third album – Be A Girl – that the band even played a gig here in the UK. But having been on the go for a few years, and having already benefitted from extensive touring across Scandinavia as well as having recorded some 50 songs, they usually stole the show from whatever Britpop outfit they had been taken on to open for.

All the hard work slowly paid off with a couple of near hit singles in 1995 followed by a Top 20 smash with the re-release of You And Me Song in April 1996. This paved the way for their fourth studio LP, Bagsy Me, to go Top 10 , but instead of kicking on, the band encountered some personnel problems and then had a raging argument with their record labels in Sweden and the UK, and so all the momentum was lost. The band did make two further albums either side of the turn of the century and continued to tour extensively across Europe. I was present at a cracking show they played at King Tut’s in Glasgow in late 2003 but not long after they just disappeared entirely off the radar although it would be another six years before the break-up was officially announced – it seems that efforts were made to record a seventh album but to no avail.

The January 2015 post ended with six songs, one from each of their studio albums, but I didn’t feature the breakthrough hit, something which greatly pleased The Robster judging by this comment:-

“Really good band, and glad you didn’t post *that* song. Shame they’ll only be remembered for a single track when they had so many really good ones.”

The thing is, *that* song is very good, which is why I’m featuring it today. It also, quite incredibly, allows me to have a look at ten consistently excellent b-sides from the various times it was released or pressed-up as a single.

It was first released in Sweden in mid-1994:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – You and Me Song
mp3 : The Wannadies – Lets Go Oh Oh

This came out on Soap Records, a label that had begun life in 1992 as Snap Records, with the owners supporting emerging Swedish bands that played pop with sweet melodies, lots of guitars and an independent attitude. The label had to change its name in 1994 after the German disco band, Snap, threatened legal action.

Here in the UK, it was the newly formed Indolent Records that snapped up (sic) The Wannadies with the first action being to give a UK release to You and Me Song and its parent album Be A Girl.

The 7” single, which is now fetching £30-£40 on the second-hand market, had a cover version of a Violent Femmes song as its b-side:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – Blister In The Sun

The CD version had a third track, this time an original by the band

mp3 : The Wannadies – Lift Me Up (Don’t Let Me Down)

This particular b-side had earlier been made available in the UK as one of two tracks on the flexi disc given away with issue #25 of Sound Affects magazine. It has since become a sought after artefact, mainly as the other track was Sad Song (Fade Out) by Oasis……

There was some consternation when the single flopped but all that was forgotten in 1996 when, thanks to it being included on the soundtrack of the smash hit adaptation of Romeo + Juliet, directed by Baz Luhrmann, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the title roles, it found a new lease of life.

Indolent Records went for a re-release, and in doing so changed the title to You & Me Song. Once again there was a limited 7” vinyl version made available, and once again the Violent Femmes cover was put on the b-side, but this time with the addition of a previously unreleased Wannadies effort:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – Everybody Loves Me

This version of the single is also going for £30-£40 on the second-hand market. I only picked up the CD release, now worth a whopping 79 pence, but as consolation I got a different b-side as well as remake of the single:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – I Like You A Lalalala Lot
mp3 : The Wannadies – You & Me Song (Lounge Version)

This time, it went all the way to #18 in the charts.

The following year, the record label decided to have yet another re-release of You & Me Song, this time aimed at the European market. It was pressed up on 7” vinyl, with a Depeche Mode cover:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – Just Can’t Get Enough

The CD pulled together three tracks from The Wannadies back catalogue:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – Love In June
mp3 : The Wannadies – How Does It Feel?
mp3 : The Wannadies – Love Is Dead

Copies of the single did get into various shops, but there was no sales push made and indeed Indolent (which is a sub label of Sony) withdrew it on the back of the death of Princess Diana, on the basis that the name of the band would mean no DJ would play them and the fact that sinister things could be read into the names of the tracks…especially one of the b-sides.

The scariest thing about all of this? I’m gobsmacked that You and Me Song is now more than 25 years old. It’s become something of a timeless classic in Villain Towers, one that neither myself nor Mrs V have never tired of.

Happy Valentine’s Day one and all.

JC

The Wannadies released many a great single in the 90s and the early part of the 20th Century. They were a hugely entertaining live act as well with one particular show some 15 years or so ago at King Tut’s in Glasgow being a particular stand out.

They are probably best remembered for You And Me Song which was a bit of a flop when first released in 1994 but which soared to #18 some two years later after it featured in the soundtrack to the hit movie Romeo + Juliet – the updated one directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Despite their singles being infectiously catchy and radio-friendly, The Wannadies only enjoyed chart success on two further occasions – the aptly named Hit in 1997 reaching #20 and today’s offering for your ears, which was the follow-up to the re-released You And Me Song:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – Someone Somewhere (single version)
mp3 : The Wannadies – Why
mp3 : The Wannadies – Goodbye

A paltry #38. The UK CD-single buying public were too busy looking out for the next great Britpop act to pay attention at that time to the great stuff coming out of Scandinavia. Fools.

Here’s the LP version which tags on another minute of music at the end:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – Someone Somewhere

Enjoy.

Following on from yesterday’s posting, I thought I’d have a look back today at one of my favourite bands to have come out of Sweden.

The Wannadies formed in the late 80s and, like The Hives, released a fair bit of material in their native land before becoming more widely known, especially here in the UK.  Indeed, it wasn’t until after the 1994 release of their third album – Be A Girl – that the band even played a gig here in the UK but it didn’t take long for the infectious, hook-laden pop music to be lumped in alongside the many indie-type bands who were emerging in the wake of Britpop.

The band however, had already been going for the best part of a decade, not only recording the best part of 50 songs by this time but honing their talents and skills with countless live shows across Scandinavia. As such, they were more than a cut above many of their contemporaries which showed whenever they toured as a support act and inevitably stole the show from those above them on the bill.

All the hard work slowly paid off as a couple of near hit singles were followed by a Top 20 hit with the re-release of You And Me Song in April 1996 which was soon followed by their fourth album – Bagsy Me – hitting the Top 10.  But instead of kicking on, the band encountered some personnel problems and then had a raging argument with their record labels in Sweden and the UK, and so all the momentum was lost.  The band did make two further albums either side of the turn of the century and continued to tour extensively across Europe.  I was present at a cracking show they played at King Tut’s in Glasgow in late 2003 but not long after they just disappeared entirely off the radar although it would be another six years before the break-up was officially announced – it seems that efforts were made to record a seventh album but to no avail.

Their recording legacy therfore stands at six studio LPs, three EPs and 18 singles with a hardly duff track among them.  And to show how decent they were througout their recording career, here’s one song from each of their six LPs:-

mp3 : The Wannadies – My Home Town (from the 1990 LP The Wannadies)
mp3 : The Wannadies – Love Is Dead  (from the 1992 LP Aquanautic)
mp3 : The Wannadies – Might Be Stars (from the 1992 LP Be A Girl)
mp3 : The Wannadies – Shorty (from the 1994 LP Bagsy Me)
mp3 : The Wannadies – Yeah (from the 2000 LP Yeah)
mp3 : The Wannadies – Skin (from the 2002 LP Before & After)

Enjoy