I Wish (Stevie Wonder song)
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| “I Wish” | |||||
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| Single by Stevie Wonder from the album Songs in the Key of Life |
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| B-side | "You and I" | ||||
| Released | 1976 | ||||
| Genre | Funk R&B | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | ||||
| Label | Motown | ||||
| Writer(s) | Stevie Wonder | ||||
| Producer | Stevie Wonder | ||||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | |||||
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| Songs in the Key of Life track listing | |||||
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"I Wish" (1976) is a hit funk song by Stevie Wonder. It was released 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 #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the United World Chart.
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.
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 on the soundtrack to 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. 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".
[edit] Song structure
The song evolves around an 8 note bass line, 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 Eb 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 notes on a keyboard) is repeated and adds depth to the song. This piece has a syncopated horn section, as well.
In the TV 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.
| 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 R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single January 15 - February 12, 1977 |
Succeeded by "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston |
| Preceded by "Money, Money, Money" by ABBA |
United World Chart number one single February 5, 1977 – February 12, 1977 |
Succeeded by "Car Wash" by Rose Royce |
