Wishing on a Star

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by Rose Royce
from the album Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom
Released	1978
Format	12-inch single, CD, Vinyl
Genre	Soul
Length	4:52 (album version) 3:57 (single version)
Label	Whitfield
Writer(s)	Billie Rae Calvin
Producer(s)	Norman Whitfield
Rose Royce singles chronology
"Ooh Boy" (1977) "Wishing on a Star" (1978) "It Makes You Feel Like Dancin'" (1978)

"Wishing on a Star" is a 1978 hit single by Rose Royce for Whitfield Records.

Included on their second album, Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom, "Wishing on a Star" is a slow ballad written by Billie Rae Calvin and produced by Norman Whitfield. The lyrics concern a woman longing for the return of an ex-lover so that they can resume their relationship. The original version of "Wishing on a Star" was not a big hit, peaking at number 52 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. However, the song was a big chart hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number three in March 1978. The parent album, In Full Bloom, was also successful as a whole. The single was re-released as the X Factor's charity single for 2011. The single features JLS & One Direction.

The song was rerecorded by Miriam Stockley and used as the theme tune to the US TV series "The 10th Kingdom" released in 2000.^[1]

Charts

Charts (1978)	Peak position
Belgian VRT Top 30	14
Dutch Top 40	15
UK Singles Chart	3
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles	1
US Hot Black Singles[2]	52

The Cover Girls version

The Cover Girls recorded a hit cover of the song. The band's version surpassed the success of the original, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the original had failed to chart, and became the 49th best selling single of 1992 in America.^[3] It was also a hit in the UK, peaking at No. 38.^[4] The Cover Girls also recorded a Spanish version of the song. The original version of the song featured Michelle Valentine on lead vocals but the Spanish version featured both Valentine and Evelyn Escalera sharing lead vocals.

Charts

End of year chart (1992)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	49

Single track list

CD

1. "Wishing On A Star (Radio Edit)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (Spanish Version)"

CD MAXI

1. "Wishing On A Star (7" Version)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (12" Mix)"
3. "Wishing On A Star (Magic Sessions Dub 1)"
4. "Wishing On A Star (Magic Sessions Vocal Dub)"
5. "Wishing On A Star (Jeep 12") "

Vinyl

A-Side

1. "Wishing On A Star (12" Mix)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (Jeep 12")"
3. "Wishing On A Star (Magic Sessions Dub 1)"

B-Side

1. "Wishing On A Star (TNT Dub)"
2. "ishing On A Star (Amigo Dub)"
3. "Wishing On A Star (Acapella)"

Jay-Z version

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Gwen Dickey
from the album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (UK Edition)
Released	March 11, 1998
Format	CD
Genre	East Coast hip hop, soul
Length	5:54
Label	Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Writer(s)	Shawn Carter, Billie Ray Calvin
Producer(s)	Trackmasters
Jay-Z chronology "The City Is Mine" (1998) "Wishing on a Star" (1998) "Money Ain't a Thang" (1998) Gwen Dickey chronology "One Too Many Heartaches" (1996) "Wishing on a Star" (1998)

"Wishing on a Star" was covered by rapper Jay-Z featuring Gwen Dickey of Rose Royce in 1998. It can be found on the United Kingdom release of In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 and Greatest Hits and the D'Influence remix can be found on Chapter One: Greatest Hits and Bring It On: The Best of Jay-Z. The track is produced by the Trackmasters, who also produced a remix of this track.

A music video for the song was also released, showing a child actor portraying Jay-Z growing up in Marcy Houses. Jay-Z himself does not appear in the video.^[5]

Single track list

CD

1. "Wishing on a Star (Radio Edit)"
2. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Remix)"
3. "Wishing on a Star (D Influence Remix)"
4. "Brooklyn's Finest"
5. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Acappella)"

Vinyl

A-Side

1. "Wishing on a Star (D Influence Remix)"
2. "Wishing on a Star (Radio Edit)"

B-Side

1. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Remix)"
2. "Imaginary Players"
3. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Acappella)"

Charts

Chart (1998)	Position
Germany (Media Control Charts)	56[6]
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)	13[4]

Beyoncé version

"Wishing on a Star"
2010 digital release cover
Single by Beyoncé
from the album Roll Bounce
B-side	"Naïve"
Released	September 2005
Format	Digital download
Genre	R&B
Length	4:08
Label	Music World Music Inc.
Writer(s)	Billie Rae Calvin
Beyoncé singles chronology
"The Closer I Get to You" (2004) "Wishing on a Star" (2005) "Check on It" (2006)

"Wishing on a Star" was covered by American R&B singer Beyoncé in 2004, for the CD of her live album Live at Wembley.^[7] It was also used to promote the fragrance True Star endorsed by American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger in 2004.^[8] An a capella version of the song was recorded by Knowles for a television campaign.^[8] An extended play (EP) album was also released in 2004 to promote the fragrance compromising of two songs – "Wishing on a Star" and "Naïve". Produced by Knowles and Tommy Hilfiger, it was solely available with limited edition purchases of True Star.^[9] In 2005, the song was included on the soundtrack of the film Roll Bounce.^[10] It was later released for radio airplay as one of three singles from the soundtrack,^[11] becoming the second most-added single at urban adult contemporary radio following its release^[12] and later peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.^[11]

A writer of the website Allmusic described Knowles' cover version of "Wishing on a Star" as "sexy".^[7] For the 48th Grammy Awards, Knowles' version was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.^[13] Knowles released the song as a digital single on August 17, 2010.^[14]

Formats and track listings

• True Star – A Private Performance^[15]

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:07
2. "Naïve" – 3:45

• Digital download^[14][16]

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:08

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
US Billboard Adult R&B Airplay[11]	28
US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles[17]	1

Seal version

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by Seal
from the album Soul 2
Released	November 8, 2012
Format	Digital download
Genre	R&B, Soul
Length	4:13
Label	Reprise, Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Billie Rae Calvin
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn
Seal singles chronology
"Let's Stay Together" (2011) "Wishing on a Star" (2011)

In 2011, "Wishing on a Star" was covered by Nigerian-British soul singer Seal. It was released as the first UK single taken from his album Soul 2 on November 20, 2011. This interpretation of "Wishing on a Star" was produced by previous collaborator, Trevor Horn.

Seal's version of the song was premiered on Ken Bruce's BBC Radio 2 show on October 13, 2011.^[18] The single later peaked on the Radio 2 B-list.^[19]

Critical reception

In her review for Soul 2, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian expressed, "His voice and interpretive skills are such, though, that most tracks fit him like a glove, to the point where, on Rose Royce's Wishing on a Star, his oak-aged vocal seems a better fit for the remorseful lyric than original singer Gwen Dickey's. He grew up with these 1970s hits, and evidently reveres them, but isn't cowed by them".^[20] In his review, Mike Diver of the BBC expressed that "Seal has a voice that can melt icecaps has never been doubted by his detractors – the problems with his material post-Seal (II) went deeper, to a basic songwriting level. Here, freed of the weight of his own emotions, he soars on a sublime Wishing on a Star (which manages to borrow its smoky backing from Sade’s Smooth Operator).^[21]

Live performances

Seal is due to perform "Wishing on a Star" on Daybreak on November 25, 2011.^[22]

Formats and track listings

Digital download^[23]

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:13

Fresh 4 single

The British DJ and production group, Fresh 4, and released their recording in September 1989. It was produced by Smith & Mighty and featured Lizz E, and became the group's only UK hit single. It peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart.^[24]

The group's debut album that would have featured this song was never released, as a result of disagreements with the record label.^[25]

The X Factor UK 2011 finalists version

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by The X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS and One Direction[26]
Released	November 27, 2011
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	Brighton, England (Biffco Studios) London, England (Metropolis Studios and Rokstone Studios)
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	3:23
Label	Syco, Sony
Writer(s)	Billie Rae Calvin
Producer(s)	Richard "Biff" Stannard, Ash Howes, Steve Mac
The X Factor finalists chronology
"Heroes" (2010) "Wishing on a Star" (2011)
JLS chronology "Take a Chance on Me" (2011) "Wishing on a Star" (2011) "Do You Feel What I Feel?" (2012) One Direction chronology "Gotta Be You" (2011) "Wishing on a Star" (2011) "One Thing" (2012)

The song was covered by the finalists of the eighth series of The X Factor, also featuring previous contestants JLS and One Direction. Their version was released on November 27, 2011 via digital download, and released as a physical single the following day. All proceeds from the single went to the children's charity organization Together for Short Lives.^[27] Finalist Frankie Cocozza does not appear on the radio edit of the song or in the music video, after he was removed from The X Factor prior to the sixth live show. Cocozza's vocals were recorded prior to his exit and only appeared on the single version.^[28] The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 98,932 copies.^[29]

Track listing

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 3:23
2. "Wishing on a Star (Instrumental)" – 3:23

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[30]	1
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[31]	1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	November 27, 2011[33]	Digital download	Syco Music, Sony Music
	November 28, 2011[34]	CD single

Other cover versions

• Raekwon- On his mixtape, We Wanna Thank You (2014)
• Alessandra Castronovo - YouTube
• Angelita Li – Caminhos Cruzados
• Annie Haslam on her 1989 self-titled album
• Austin Drage - The X Factor (UK series 5)
• Bic Runga – Live in Concert: with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
• 88 3 Ft. Lisa May
• Catman Cohen (How I Want to Die—the Catman Chronicles 1 album)
• Elaine Paige on her 1986 album Christmas
• Fresh Four Ft. Liz E
• Irene Grandi
• Jaared on his 2002 album Hangtime^[35][36]
• Jordin Sparks
• Junior Walker
• Marion Meadows on his 2004 album Player's Club^[37]
• MFSB on the MFSB: The Gamble & Huff Orchestra album.
• Miriam Stockley – The 10th Kingdom
• Ning Baizura on her 2001 album Natural Woman
• Paul Hardcastle on his 1997 album Cover to Cover^[38]
• Paul Weller – Studio 150
• Randy Crawford on her album Every Kind of Mood
• Reflection Eternal on The RE:Union mixtape
• Queen Latifah – 2nd Annual BET Honor Awards Live
• Sweet Suspense - The X Factor (U.S. season 3)
• Sy Smith – Sy Smith Live: Worship at the Temple
• Teena Marie on a compilation album New York Undercover: A Night at Natalie's
• Will Downing
• Tamera Foster - The X Factor (UK series 10)

Later samples

• Soul II Soul A Dream's a Dream

See also

• List of Jay-Z songs

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Rose Royce Gwen Dickey Kenny Copeland Kenji Brown Lequeint "Duke" Jobe Victor Nix Henry Garner Freddie Dunn Michael Moore Terry Santiel Michael Nash Studio albums Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom Rose Royce III: Strikes Again! Rose Royce IV: Rainbow Connection Soundtrack albums Car Wash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Compilation albums Greatest Hits Singles "Car Wash" "I Wanna Get Next to You" "I'm Going Down" "Wishing on a Star" "Ooh Boy" "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" Related articles Norman Whitfield Whitfield Records

Junior Walker Albums Road Runner Live Singles "Shotgun" "(I'm a) Road Runner" "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" "Money (That's What I Want)" "Come See About Me" "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" "These Eyes" "Holly Holy" "Wishing on a Star" Related topics Motown Whitfield Records "Urgent" Tapeheads Book:Junior Walker

Jay Z songs Reasonable Doubt "Dead Presidents" "Ain't No Nigga" "Can't Knock the Hustle" "Feelin' It" In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 "(Always Be My) Sunshine" "Wishing on a Star" "The City Is Mine" Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life "Can I Get A..." "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" "Money, Cash, Hoes" "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter "Jigga My Nigga" "Girl's Best Friend" "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" "Things That U Do" "Big Pimpin'" The Dynasty: Roc La Familia "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" "Change the Game" "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" The Blueprint "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" "Girls, Girls, Girls" "Jigga That Nigga" "Song Cry" The Best of Both Worlds "Honey" The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" "Hovi Baby" "Excuse Me Miss" The Black Album "Change Clothes" "Dirt off Your Shoulder" "99 Problems" Unfinished Business "Big Chips" Collision Course "Numb/Encore" Kingdom Come "Show Me What You Got" "Lost One" "30 Something" "Hollywood" American Gangster "Blue Magic" "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." "I Know" The Blueprint 3 "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" "Run This Town" "Empire State of Mind" "On to the Next One" "Young Forever" "A Star Is Born" Watch the Throne "H•A•M" "Otis" "Lift Off" "Niggas in Paris" "Why I Love You" "Gotta Have It" "No Church in the Wild" Magna Carta Holy Grail "Holy Grail" "Tom Ford" "Part II (On the Run)" Featured singles "Show & Prove" "I'll Be" "Be Alone No More" (Remix) "Money Ain't a Thang" "Heartbreaker" "Best of Me Part II" "Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)" "Do My..." "Fiesta" (Remix) "Welcome to New York City" "Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)" "Back in the Day" "Frontin'" "Crazy in Love" "Storm" "Dear Summer" "Go Crazy" "Get Throwed" "Déjà Vu" "Umbrella" "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" "Lost+" "Hot Tottie" "XXXO" (Remix) "Monster" "I Do" "Talk That Talk" "Suit & Tie" "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (Remix) "Pound Cake" "Know Bout Me" "Drunk in Love" "The Devil Is a Lie" "They Don't Love You No More" "Seen It All" Promotional singles "Shake It Off" (Remix) "Upgrade U" "Rehab" (Remix) "Mr. Carter" "Put On" (Remix) "Bye Bye" (Remix) "Brooklyn Go Hard" Other singles "In My Lifetime" "Who You Wit" "It's Alright" "Anything" "Hey Papi" "Swagga like Us" "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)" "Clique" "Glory" Other songs "Renegade" "Takeover" "Encore" "My 1st Song" "What More Can I Say" "Lost+" "Money Goes, Honey Stay" (When the Money Goes Remix) "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" "Power" (Remix) "So Appalled" "Who Gon Stop Me" "Made in America" "Picasso Baby" "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" "Oceans" "Heaven" Book:Jay-Z Category:Jay Z songs Portal:Hip hop

Beyoncé songs Discography Dangerously in Love "Crazy in Love" "Naughty Girl" "Baby Boy" "Me, Myself and I" "The Closer I Get to You" "Dangerously in Love 2" "Daddy" Live at Wembley "Wishing on a Star" B'Day "Déjà Vu" "Get Me Bodied" "Suga Mama" "Upgrade U" "Ring the Alarm" "Kitty Kat" "Freakum Dress" "Green Light" "Irreplaceable" "Resentment" "Check on It" "Beautiful Liar" "Welcome to Hollywood" "Flaws and All" "Still in Love (Kissing You)" "Listen" Irreemplazable "Amor Gitano" "Oye" "Irreemplazable" "Bello Embustero" I Am... Sasha Fierce "If I Were a Boy" "Halo" "Broken-Hearted Girl" "Ave Maria" "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" "Radio" "Diva" "Sweet Dreams" "Video Phone" "Ego" "Honesty" The Bonus Tracks "Video Phone (Extended Remix)" "Why Don't You Love Me" "Poison" Above and Beyoncé: Dance Mixes "Ego (Remix)" 4 "1+1" "I Care" "I Miss You" "Best Thing I Never Had" "Party" "Rather Die Young" "Start Over" "Love on Top" "Countdown" "End of Time" "I Was Here" "Run the World (Girls)" "Lay Up Under Me" "Schoolin' Life" "Dance for You" Beyoncé "Pretty Hurts" "Haunted" "Drunk in Love" "Blow" "No Angel" "Partition" "Jealous" "Rocket" "Mine" "XO" "Flawless" "Superpower" More "7/11" "Flawless Remix" "Drunk in Love Remix" "Ring Off" "Blow Remix" As featured artist "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" "Feeling Myself" "Fighting Temptation" "Hollywood" "I Got That" "Just Stand Up!" "Lift Off" "Love a Woman" "Love in This Club Part II" "Part II (On the Run)" "Put It in a Love Song" "Say Yes" "See Me Now" "Telephone" "Until the End of Time" "What More Can I Give" Other songs "A Woman Like Me" "All I Could Do Was Cry" "At Last" "Back to Black" "Fever" "God Bless the USA" "I'd Rather Go Blind" "In da Club (Sexy Lil Thug)" "One Night Only" "Summertime" "Work It Out"

Little Mix Discography Awards and nominations Studio albums and singles DNA (2012) "Wings" "DNA" "Change Your Life" "How Ya Doin'?" Salute (2013) "Move" "Little Me" "Salute" Other singles "Cannonball" "Wishing on a Star" "Word Up!" Concert tours DNA Tour The Salute Tour Related articles The X Factor series 8 finalists Book Category

JLS JB Gill Marvin Humes Aston Merrygold Oritsé Williams Studio albums and singles JLS (2009) "Beat Again" "Everybody in Love" "One Shot" Outta This World (2010) "The Club Is Alive" "Love You More" "Eyes Wide Shut" Jukebox (2011) "She Makes Me Wanna" "Take a Chance on Me" "Do You Feel What I Feel?" Evolution (2012) "Hottest Girl in the World" "Hold Me Down / Give Me Life" Goodbye – The Greatest Hits (2013) "Proud" "Billion Lights" Featured singles "Hero" "Everybody Hurts" "Wishing on a Star" Tours JLS Tour 4th Dimensions Tour Related articles The X Factor series 5 finalists Discography

One Direction Niall Horan Liam Payne Harry Styles Louis Tomlinson Zayn Malik Discography Awards and nominations Members Songs Studio albums and singles Up All Night (2011) "What Makes You Beautiful" "Gotta Be You" "One Thing" "More than This" Take Me Home (2012) "Live While We're Young" "Little Things" "Kiss You" Midnight Memories (2013) "Best Song Ever" "Story of My Life" "Midnight Memories" "You & I" Four (2014) "Steal My Girl" "Night Changes" Extended plays iTunes Festival: London 2012 Video albums Up All Night: The Live Tour Other singles "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" Promotional singles "Diana" "Strong" "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" "Ready to Run" "18" Featured singles "Heroes" "Wishing on a Star" "God Only Knows" "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Other songs "Moments" "Rock Me" "Happily" Concert tours Headlining Up All Night Tour Take Me Home Tour Where We Are Tour On the Road Again Tour Supporting act X Factor Tour 2011 Better with U Tour TV and film The X Factor series 7 finalists This Is Us Where We Are - The Concert Film Merchandise Our Moment Related articles Syco Music Columbia Records Simon Cowell Fifth Harmony Directioner Category Commons

Marcus Collins Studio albums Marcus Collins Singles "Seven Nation Army" Featured singles "Wishing on a Star" Related articles The X Factor series 8 finalists

Amelia Lily Singles "You Bring Me Joy" "Shut Up (and Give Me Whatever You Got)" "Party Over" "California" Featured singles "Wishing on a Star" Related articles The X Factor series 8 finalists

Misha B Singles "Home Run" "Do You Think of Me" "Here's to Everything (Ooh La La)" Featured singles "Wishing on a Star" Related articles The X Factor series 8 finalists

The X Factor (UK) Discography Controversy and criticism Series Main 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Celebrity Battle of the Stars Presenters Current Caroline Flack Olly Murs Former Kate Thornton Dermot O'Leary Judges Current Louis Walsh Simon Cowell Cheryl Fernandez-Versini Mel B Former Sharon Osbourne Brian Friedman Dannii Minogue Gary Barlow Tulisa Contostavlos Kelly Rowland Nicole Scherzinger Guest Paula Abdul Geri Halliwell Natalie Imbruglia Katy Perry Pixie Lott Nicole Scherzinger Alexandra Burke Leona Lewis Rita Ora Mel B Anastacia Tulisa Contostavlos Winners Main series Steve Brookstein Shayne Ward Leona Lewis Leon Jackson Alexandra Burke Joe McElderry Matt Cardle Little Mix James Arthur Sam Bailey Ben Haenow Celebrity series Lucy Benjamin Finalists Series 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Singles Winners singles "Against All Odds" "That's My Goal" "A Moment Like This" "When You Believe" "Hallelujah" "The Climb" "When We Collide" "Cannonball" "Impossible" "Skyscraper" "Something I Need" Charity singles "Hero" "You Are Not Alone" "Heroes" "Wishing on a Star" The Xtra Factor Presenters Sarah-Jane Crawford Former presenters Ben Shephard Fearne Cotton Holly Willoughby Konnie Huq Caroline Flack Olly Murs Matt Richardson Related articles I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical X Factor Around the World