. - 1993

🔵 YouTube Playlist: In 1993, American rock band Mr. Big released a cover of “Wild World“ on their third album Bump Ahead. The single charted at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 33 on the Top 40 Mainstream and No. 12 on the Mainstream Top 40. In Europe, it was very successful, peaking at No. 4 in Denmark, No. 7 in Austria and Switzerland, at No. 10 in Norway, Sweden and Netherlands and No. 13 in Iceland. Larry Flick from Billboard described it as “a relatively faithful cover“. He added, “Pleasing lead vocals and tightly knit harmonies weave around cowboy-like acoustic strumming and nimble-but-subtle electric doodling. Warmly familiar, easy-going track“. Troy J. Augusto from Cashbox commented, “Back to ballad-land again with a credible cover of the Cat Stevens classic.“ Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report called it a “soulful, sensitive approach with a slight rock edge.“ He noted further that lead singer Eric Martin “is powerful without overpowering the song.“ Another editor, Kent Zimmerman complimented its “decidedly wooden, unplugged flavor“. Alan Jones from Music Week said it is “rendered in the low key intimate rock ballad style recently deployed by the likes of Metallica, Extreme and Little Angels. Mr. Big carry it of very well and can expect a modest hit.“ John Kilgo from The Network Forty noted that it “sounds remarkably similar to the 1971 original“, adding that it “will sound like a fresh, new song to the younger demographics.“