Wonderman (Right Said Fred song)
| "Wonderman" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Right Said Fred | ||||
| from the album Sex and Travel | ||||
| Released | 7 March 1994[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1993 | |||
| Genre | Dance | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Right Said Fred | |||
| Right Said Fred singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The single version of Wonderman is a pop song about Sonic the Hedgehog by English band Right Said Fred. It was released in March 1994 by EMI as the third and final single from their second studio album, Sex and Travel (1993).
The single differs significantly from the album version, having been re-worked for use by Sega Europe to promote the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Its lyrics and accompanying music video contain numerous explicit references to the video game, ending with a woman commenting, "He's just a flippin' hedgehog, okay?" Actor Steven O'Donnell, at that time the advertising face of Sega Europe, also features prominently in the music video.[2]
Wonderman made number 55 on the UK Singles Chart. It was featured on the compilation album Now 27, making it one of the lowest charting songs to appear on a Now album.
Critical reception
[edit]Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song two out of five, saying, "Looking to regain some of the ground they have lost recently, Right Said Fred have come up with a rather cheap-sounding and gimmicky song. This doesn't sound like the way back for the boys, although the much-publicised tie-in with Sonic 3 will generate some interest from games buyers."[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Muscled like a Roman gladiator, Richard Fairbrass always has the strongest punch line of 'em all. DJs who like to crack a joke should play this far funnier single."[4]
Track listing
[edit]- UK CD single
- "Wonderman" (7" version)
- "Wonderman" (12" edit)
- "Wonderman" (Acapella)
- "Wonderman" (12" backing track, unedited)
- "Wonderman" (7" alternative lead vocal)
In popular culture
[edit]- "Wonderman" was featured in the 1994 Disney film Blank Check.
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 50 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 55 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Right Said Fred – Wonderman (1994, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ "Wonderman". Sonic Retro. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- ^ Jones, Alan (12 March 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 16. 16 April 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Right Said Fred – Wonderman" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
