Wunderkind - Alanis Morissette Archives


 

Wunderkind is a song recorded by Alanis Morissette for the soundtrack to the Walt Disney & Walten Media film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, based off the book of the same name.

Written by Alanis and Harry Gregson-Williams, the song is the fifteenth track on that album. Despite being released as a promotional single for the film’s soundtrack, Wunderkind has not been included on any of Alanis’s studio albums, nor has it made any appearances on her various live recordings.

Quick Facts

  • Release date: December 13, 2005
  • Recorded: 2005
  • Genre: Pop rock
  • Length: 5:19
  • Label: Walt Disney Records
  • Producer: Mike Elizondo

Development & Production

Alanis Morissette was inspired to write the song after previewing a rough cut of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe. According to her, the song seemed to flow from her, as she wrote it on a Friday, recorded it on Saturday, and submitted it on Sunday.

Wunderkind was written from the point of view of the character of Lucy Pevensie. In the song’s lyrics, she describes herself as a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment, a wunderkind and a princess on the way to her throne. during the chorus. Harry Gregson-Williams, who was the movie’s composer, was in charge of the string accompaniment for the film.

Release & Reception

Ahead of its December release, AOL Music previewed the song on November 18, 2005. Wunderkind mostly received praise from critics, with IGN Music calling it a captivating, piano driven lament that was one of the best things Alanis had done in a long time. Sci-Fi Weekly also called the song captivating, writing that Alanis delivered it with a depth of feeling.

After the release of the song, Alanis would enlist producer Mike Elizondo to co-produce her tenth album. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2006 Golden Globes. It was subsequently released as a radio single in some parts of Asia in early 2006.

On February 28, 2010, Morissette performed the song at the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Afterward, the song charted at #4 on iTunes Canada.