Thursday, October 10, 2013

‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton


A few days ago, I was watching an episode of Friends in which Monica proposes to Chandler and then Chandler proposes to Monica and then the two lovebirds hold each other and gently rock in the candlelit room as only the music of Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight plays in the background. That’s when I rediscovered this beautiful song, actually a ballad, though I wouldn't know the difference between the two. It forms part of Clapton’s 1977 album Slowhand.

According to an article at Wikipedia, Clapton wrote the song about Pattie Boyd, a model, photographer, and author, while waiting for her to get ready to attend a party hosted by Paul and Linda McCartney.

 “For years it tore at me. To have inspired Eric, and George before him, to write such music was so flattering. Wonderful Tonight was the most poignant reminder of all that was good in our relationship, and when things went wrong it was torture to hear it,” said Boyd, who was first married to George Harrison and then to Eric Clapton.
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10 comments:

  1. w10 October 2013 at 05:37

    Interesting story and one I've never read. I love the song and I'm a Eric Clapton fan in general. I've been known to look up the story behind some iconic songs too and it's always interesting to read the inspiration behind them. Thanks for sharing Prashant!

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    1. Prashant C. Trikannad13 October 2013 at 01:57

      Keishon, you're welcome. I haven't heard many songs by Eric Clapton and one of the earliest songs that I did listen to was "Cocaine" which, I believe, was a big hit.

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  2. YA Sleuth10 October 2013 at 07:01

    Hadn't heard the story, but love the song. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Prashant C. Trikannad13 October 2013 at 01:59

      Fleur, you're welcome. I thought Pattie Boyd's quote would lend a nice touch to this little post on Clapton.

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  3. Charles Gramlich10 October 2013 at 09:26

    Although I like hard rock music, I actually really like this song too. Not quite sore why but it's a very good one.

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    1. Prashant C. Trikannad13 October 2013 at 02:00

      Charles, the above clip is one of Clapton's more recent versions. The music and chorus is quite different in some of the early versions of the song.

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  4. Ron Scheer12 October 2013 at 07:18

    Funny how love songs last longer than love itself. A rock irony: Clapton's moving version of Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." I also like his album with B.B. King.

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    1. Prashant C. Trikannad13 October 2013 at 02:23

      Ron, I have been listening to some old songs, including love songs, a nice change from the kind of songs one hears nowadays. I didn't know Clapton had sung for Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps" — I'm checking it out.

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    2. Ron Scheer19 October 2013 at 13:03

      I know it from the Concert for George. Available at youtube.

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    3. Prashant C. Trikannad19 October 2013 at 22:31

      Thank you, Ron.

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