It's not really a punked-up cover the way a lot of bands would do it. It has that Joey Ramone sound and electric energy, but otherwise it's actually a pretty straightforward interpretation. There's no cynicism, no irony or anger to take away from the lyrics. Obviously those things have their place in punk rock music, but not this time. In this song, Joey Ramone tells me it's a wonderful world, and I believe him, at least for the few minutes that the song lasts.
The music video for this one tells a little story, where two young lovers get together to play the DVD of Joey singing this song. It's a charming and innocent little story, not much like the mood of a lot of punk- but it works in the context of this particular song. Recorded, as the song was, so near the end of his life, it makes me happy to think that this Joey Ramone's final commentary on the life he lived.
