"Show Me the Wonder" is a song by Welsh

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band

Manic Street Preachers Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh Rock music, rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Blackwood in 1986. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Sean Moore (musician ...

. It was released as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, ''

Rewind the Film ''Rewind the Film'' is the eleventh studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was recorded in 2013 and released on 16 September 2013 by record label Columbia. The sound is very different from previous records and is ...

'', on 9 September 2013.

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews. Jamie Milton of

This Is Fake DIY ''DIY'' is a United Kingdom-based music publication, in print and online. Its free print edition is released monthly with a physical circulation of 40,000 in UK venues, clubs and shops. DIY Magazine ''DIY'' was launched in 2002 by then-editor ...

called the song "a triumphant, brass-led addition to the record." David Owens of '' Western Mail'' described the song as "a brass-infused

soul pop Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describes a ...

standard recalling

Dexys Midnight Runners Dexys Midnight Runners (currently officially Dexys, their former nickname, styled without an apostrophe) are an English pop rock band from Birmingham, with soul influences, who achieved major commercial success in the early to mid-1980s. They a ...

and the heady days of

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

," while inferring that "the new album sees the band utilising a more reflective, stripped-back sound." ''

Fact A fact is a datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance, which, if accepted as true and proven true, allows a logical conclusion to be reached on a true–false evaluation. Standard reference works are often used to check facts. Scient ...

'' magazine wrote: "notably more buoyant than ‘Rewind The Film’, the song features some chirpy horn backing and a turn on the trumpet from Manics drummer Sean Moore." Michelle Geslani of

Consequence of Sound ''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...

also noted the brass section, further commenting that "the band seeks inspiration and a little awe out of life."

Contactmusic.com Contactmusic.com is an online magazine of cultural criticism based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, and ...

stated that "the song is an upbeat, positive pop song but with questioning lyrics," while further elaborating that "the soaring horns and a joyous chorus makes it a stand out track on what is otherwise a delicate record."

Notes

The song's lyrics appear to be at least partially derived from the Manics' 2001 single "Found That Soul," which begins with the words "Show me a wonder."

Music video

The music video for the song features

Craig Roberts Craig Haydn Roberts (born 21 January 1991) is a Welsh actor and director. He is best known for lead roles as Oliver Tate in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film '' Submarine'' (2010) and David Meyers in the series ''Red Oaks'' (2014–2017), and ...

of '' Skins'' and new actress Tori Lyons from South Wales. It was released on 29 July 2013. It features the band performing live "in an old-fashioned pub." It was filmed at the Pioneer Workingmen's Club in Porth, Rhondda Valleys in South Wales. The video, directed

Kieran Evans Kieran John Evans (born 8 February 1969) is a Welsh film director and screenwriter whose work includes music videos, film and documentaries. His 2012 film '' Kelly + Victor'', produced by Janine Marmot, saw Evans awarded the BAFTA Award for Ou ...

, won the award for 'Best Video' at the 2013 Q Awards.

Track listing

Personnel

; Manic Street Preachers *

James Dean Bradfield James Dean Bradfield (born 21 February 1969) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. He is known for being the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. Biography Early life B ...

– lead vocals,

lead Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...

and

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...

Nicky Wire Nicholas Allen Jones (born 20 January 1969), known as Nicky Wire, is a Welsh musician and songwriter, best known as lyricist, bassist and secondary vocalist of the Welsh alternative rock band, Manic Street Preachers. Prior to the group, Wire s ...

– bass guitar * Sean Moore – drums ;Other personnel *

Gavin Fitzjohn Adequate Seven were a Welsh band who blended music styles such as hip hop, hardcore, punk, and funk. They formed in 2000 and split in December 2006. History Adequate Seven formed in November 2000 and played their first gig only four weeks lat ...

- horn arrangement, baritone and tenor saxophone, trumpet * John Rey - piano * Alex Silva - production * Loz Williams - production

Charts

References

External links

* {{Authority control 2013 singles 2013 songs Manic Street Preachers songs Columbia Records singles Songs written by James Dean Bradfield Songs written by Nicky Wire Songs written by Sean Moore (musician)