I Wish (Stevie Wonder song)
| "I Wish" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Stevie Wonder | ||||||||||
| from the album Songs in the Key of Life | ||||||||||
| B-side | "You and I" | |||||||||
| Released | November 1976 | |||||||||
| Format | 7" | |||||||||
| Genre | Funk, Soul | |||||||||
| Length |
3:37 (single edit) 4:12 (album version) |
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| Label | Motown | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Stevie Wonder | |||||||||
| Producer | Stevie Wonder | |||||||||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood. The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and soul singles chart.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Song structure
The song evolves around an 8 note bassline, which is repeated throughout the whole song (although the specific octave of the bass line does change). The key of the piece, like several other of Wonder's hits, is E♭ Minor, although the bridge of the piece is slightly different. The keyboard part consists of two chords during the chorus and verse: E-flat minor 7th (third inversion) and A-flat 7 (first inversion). Stevie Wonder also created a multi-layered monophonic synthesizer part which runs through the song's entirety. Throughout the chorus and verse, this varied Minor pentatonic scale (which can be played using just the black keys on a keyboard) is repeated and adds depth to the song. This piece has a syncopated horn section, as well.
For the television series Classic Albums, Wonder recreated a small section from the song to demonstrate how he composed and arranged it. He played the keyboards and drums himself, and used most of the musicians that appeared on the original recording. Wonder revisited the making of the album, Songs in the Key of Life, with all the original core members except one, in a documentary in 1997, bringing together the musicians who worked on the album for the first time in 20 years, demonstrating how each of the songs were written and recorded. Again, Wonder took both the keyboards and the drum seat in a re-enactment of the recording of the song.[2]
[edit] Cover versions
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009) |
In 1996, the song was covered by Serbian alternative rock band Du Du A, with Serbian language lyrics, entitled "San" ("A Dream").
In 1995, saxophonist Najee covered the song from his Stevie Wonder tribute album "Songs from the Key of Life."[3]
In 1999, Will Smith recorded "Wild Wild West", a hip-hop song that sampled the instrumental track from "I Wish". Wonder also appeared in the music video of the song, which was featured on the soundtrack to the 1999 film, Wild Wild West.
In 1999, on the night of the Hey Hey It's Saturday finale, the song was covered by an all-star cast including Marcia Hines, Wendy Matthews, Jo Beth Taylor, Merrill Bainbridge, Tania Doko, Vanessa Amorosi, Lisa Edwards and more.
This song was also covered by the a cappella group Vox One, on their album Pure Imagination.
Another cover of the song was done by Randy Coven, Al Pitrelli and John O'Reilly for their 1992 album C.P.R., with a young Zakk Wylde on vocals. Céline Dion also performs this song in her Las Vegas show "A New Day...".
The song is covered by Patti LaBelle, Fantasia and Yolanda Adams for the Warner Bros. animated movie Happy Feet released on October 31, 2006, although a small piece of the original song can be heard during a brief dance sequence. This recording appeared on the soundtrack album "Happy Feet: Music from the Motion Picture".
It has also been covered by Donny Osmond on a DVD of a concert he performed in London, as well as by Widespread Panic on its 2004 live release Night of Joy. The song was also covered by Melanie C in 2003 at her Shepherd's Bush performance and included as a B-side on her single "Yeh Yeh Yeh".
In 2006, the song was performed by Westlife on their Face to Face Tour.
Fingerstyle jazz guitarist Tuck Andress recorded a solo guitar arrangement. Guitarist Greg Howe has also recorded his own version.
The Janet Jackson song Nasty features Janet singing the phrase "you nasty boy" in a direct mimic of the way Stevie delivers the same line in "I Wish".
Pop group S Club 7 used part of the song as an instrumental outro to their hit Bring It All Back during their first tour.
Australian soul artist Guy Sebastian recorded a cover of the song on his Beautiful Life album.
Dutch guitarist Harry Sacksioni created an all-guitar version of the song playing bass, rhythm and melody parts simultaneously.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 636.
- ^ Wonder, Stevie; Beus de Jung, Nick de Grunwald (1977). "Documentary: The Making of Songs in the Key of Life pt. 8". Video documentary of the making of Songs in the Key of Life. Isis Production. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvAbPmCJEaU&feature=related. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Songs from the Key of Life overview". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r228875.
| Preceded by "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" by Leo Sayer |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single January 22, 1977 |
Succeeded by "Car Wash" by Rose Royce |
| Preceded by "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" by The O'Jays |
Billboard's Hot Soul Singles number one single January 15 - February 12, 1977 |
Succeeded by "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston |
