Sam Cooke was ranked the fourth greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, after Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Elvis Presley. He began his career with legendary gospel group the Soul Stirrers in 1950. His solo career lasted only seven years, from 1957 - 1964, but during that time he had 29 songs in the Billboard Top 40. His voice was smooth and soulful, and navigated a world of emotions.
In Wonderful World, we meet a 'student' who doesn't know much about many subjects. History, biology, French, geometry, trigonometry, and algebra are all mysteries to him. Additionally, he has a science book of some sort and a slide rule, but he doesn't know much about them either. Too bad it was 1960, he couldn't go out and get a computer and an internet connection. Regardless, he wants love, and he tells a girl that in spite of his lack of knowledge, he is going to try to be a better student and then maybe she will fall for him and make his world wonderful.
The music is light guitar and drums, providing a serene accompaniment. The backup singers are respectful and encouraging, helping Sam remember all the subjects he knows nothing about after he saunters off into la ta ta ta land at 1:37.
Wonderful World features prominently in two great films: Animal House and Witness. In Animal House, John Belushi saunters down the cafeteria line, filling his tray with food until it spills over, occasionally stuffing his face with burgers and jello (and whatever that one frickin nasty thing is he eats once he sits down). In addition to being an underachieving student (and not even remotely trying to be an A student), he is also a disgusting slob. It makes the song's hopeful outcome even more unlikely, although we can't help but love his uninhibited nonconformity.
In Witness, streetwise cop Harrison Ford dances with sheltered Amish girl Kelly McGillis as the song plays, its power of seduction walking hand in hand with its innocent charm. These two characters from completely opposite worlds are not immune to its universal magic, and it's only the weight of reality that keeps them apart.
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