"Wonderful Shadow" is a song by British singer-songwriter

Tanita Tikaram Tanita Tikaram (born 12 August 1969) is a British Pop music, pop/folk music, folk singer-songwriter. She achieved chart success with the singles "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, ''Ancient Heart''. Backgrou ...

, which was released in 1995 as the second single from her fifth studio album '' Lovers in the City''. The song was solely written and produced by Tikaram. "Wonderful Shadow" reached No. 198 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1995.

Background

Speaking to the ''

Evening Herald ''The Herald'' is a nationwide mid-market tabloid newspaper headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and published by Independent News & Media who are a subsidiary of Mediahuis. It is published Monday–Saturday. The newspaper was known as the ''Ev ...

'' in 1995, Tikaram said of the song: "It's about somebody who sees love in everything. They're absolutely abandoned. I have a sneaking desire to be that person. I know more people who are like that and I'm attracted to them, because I'm amazed at people who follow their own desire."

Critical reception

Upon its release, ''

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'' wrote: "It might be hip to say Tanita is over, but it's not fair. Without being unfaithful to her roots she's steadily innovating her fragile music. The rhythm track underneath brings out the best in her." ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

'' considered it a "brooding track" which is "accompanie ya subtle dance beat" but added that it "somehow lacks the dynamism to make it a hit single". In a review of ''Lovers in the City'', Paul Robicheau of ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'' noted the song was "set to a lazy dance beat". He also commented on the contrast between "I Might Be Crying" and "Wonderful Shadow", as they "explore both sides of romance". ''

Out Out or OUT may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films *Out (1957 film), ''Out'' (1957 film), a documentary short about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 *Out (1982 film), ''Out'' (1982 film), an American film directed by Eli Hollander *O ...

'' described the song as "sweet" and "well worth chasing ''Lovers in the City'' down or. Oliver P. Sweeney of ''

Hot Press ''Hot Press'' is a monthly music and politics magazine based in Dublin, Ireland, founded in June 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. History ''Hot Press'' was founded in June 1977 by Niall Stokes, who cont ...

'' noted the song's "shuffly percussion". The ''

Gavin Report The ''Gavin Report'' was a San Francisco-based radio industry trade publication. The publication was founded by radio performer Bill Gavin in 1958. Its Top 40 listings were used for many years by programmers to decide content of programs. The ...

'' considered the song to be the album's "centerpiece".

Track listing

CD single (Europe and UK release) # "Wonderful Shadow" – 6:10 # "Have You Lost Your Way?" – 13:15 # "Good Tradition" – 2:50 CD single (German #2 release) # "Wonderful Shadow" – 6:10 # "Wonderful Shadow" (Reconstruction Version) – 6:27 # "Out on the Town" – 2:50 CD single (German promo) # "Wonderful Shadow" (Edit) – 3:32 # "Wonderful Shadow" (Original Version) – 6:10 # "Have You Lost Your Way?" – 13:15 # "Good Tradition" – 2:50

Personnel

Wonderful Shadow *

– vocals * Mark Creswell, Adam Kirk – guitar * Stevie Williams – bass, percussion, drum programming *

The London Session Orchestra The London Session Orchestra was a film, TV, and pop orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1993 and led by Gavyn Wright and is known for its work on movies such as ''Run Lola Run'' (1998) ''V for Vendetta'' (2005), and '' Mission: Impossibl ...

– strings *

Gavyn Wright Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra. He is best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions (including Elton John, Simply Red, Bush, Mecano, ...

– string arrangement, conductor Production * Tanita Tikaram – producer of "Wonderful Shadow", "Have You Lost Your Way?" and "Out on the Town" *

Peter Van Hooke Peter Van Hooke (born 6 April 1950) is an English rock drummer and producer with over 350 credits to his name. He was the drummer for the English band Mike + The Mechanics (from 1985 to 1995) and also drummed for Van Morrison's band, Headston ...

Rod Argent Rodney Terence Argent (born 14 June 1945) is an English musician. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Argent came to prominence in the mid-1960s as the keyboardist, founder and leader of the rock band the Zombies, and went on to form the ba ...

– producers of "Good Tradition" * Steve Williams – producer of "Wonderful Shadow" (Reconstruction Version) * Steve Price – engineer and mixing on "Wonderful Shadow" * Tim Young – mastering on "Wonderful Shadow" Other * Farrington Associates – design *

Jean-Baptiste Mondino Jean-Baptiste Mondino (born Aubervilliers, France on 21 July 1949) is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna (entertainer), Madonna, David Bowie, Sting (musician), Sting, Björk, Don Henley, ...

– photography

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1995 songs 1995 singles Tanita Tikaram songs Songs written by Tanita Tikaram East West Records singles Music videos directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino