Wishing on a Star

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by Rose Royce
from the album Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom
B-side "Love, More Love"
Released 1978
Format

Genre Soul, R&B
Length
  • 4:52 (album version)
  • 3:57 (single version)
Label Whitfield
Songwriter(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)

"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 former Undisputed Truth member 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 in the US, peaking at number 52 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, despite this, the song was played every Saturday at 12 Noon on Kiss 108 in Boston for over two decades, with playing ceasing around 2004. 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 and One Direction.

The song was rerecorded by Miriam Stockley and used as the theme tune to the US television mini-series The 10th Kingdom, released in 2000.

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[1] 52

Fresh 4 version

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 notable UK hit. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

The group's debut studio album that would have featured this song was never released, as a result of disagreements with the record label.[3]

Charts

Charts (1989) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart 22
UK Singles Chart 10

The Cover Girls version

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by The Cover Girls
from the album Here It Is
Released May 1992
Format CD single, 7", 12", cassette
Genre Soul, ballad
Length 4:05 (single edit), 4:44 (album version)
Label Epic Records
Songwriter(s) Billie Rae Calvin
Producer(s) Tony Moran, Andy Marvel
The Cover Girls singles chronology
"Funk Boutique"
(1991)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(1992)		 "Thank You'"
(1992)

"Funk Boutique"
(1991)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(1992)		 "Thank You'"
(1992)

The Cover Girls recorded a hit cover of the song in 1992 off their third album Here It Is. It was the first single featuring new lead singer Michelle Valentine. 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 biggest single of 1992 in America.[4] While the group had had success in America up to that point, the single was their first single to become a hit when it was released in Europe, peaking at #6 in the Netherlands and at #38 in the UK.[5]

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

Charts (1992) Peak
position
Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 26
Dutch Top 40 6
German Singles Chart 76
UK Singles Chart 38
US Billboard Hot 100 9
US Hot Dance Club Play 7
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay 24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 19
US Hot 100 Airplay 2
End of year chart (1992) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 49

Formats and track listings

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. "Wishing On A Star (Amigo Dub)"
  3. "Wishing On A Star (Acapella)"

Randy Crawford version

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by Randy Crawford
from the album Every Kind of Mood: Raandy, Randi, Randee
Released September 1998
Format CD single
Genre House, soul
Length 3:59 (single edit), 4:50 (album version)
Label WEA
Songwriter(s) Billie Rae Calvin
Producer(s) Mousse T.
Randy Crawford singles chronology
"Silence"
(1998)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(1998)		 "The Captain of Her Heart"
(1998)

"Silence"
(1998)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(1998)		 "The Captain of Her Heart"
(1998)

American artist Randy Crawford recorded a cover of the song for her 1998 album Every Kind of Mood: Randy, Randi, Randee. The song, produced by Mousse T. like most of the album, was given an uptempo house makeover. Released as the third single off the album in September 1998, it proved to be the most successful, achieving minor chart placings in Europe and becoming a top 20 dance hit in the USA.

Charts

Charts (1998) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 83
UK Singles Chart 90
US Hot Dance Club Play 14

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
Length 5:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Trackmasters
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Be Alone No More"
(1998) Be Alone No More1998		 "Wishing on a Star"
(1998) Wishing on a Star1998		 "Money Ain't a Thang"
(1998) Money Ain't a Thang1998
Gwen Dickey singles chronology
"One Too Many Heartaches"
(1996) One Too Many Heartaches1996		 "Wishing on a Star"
(1998) Wishing on a Star1998

"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.[6]

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[7]
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company) 13[5]

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.
Songwriter(s) Billie Rae Calvin
Beyoncé singles chronology
"The Closer I Get to You"
(2004)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2005)		 "Check on It"
(2005)

"The Closer I Get to You"
(2004)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2005)		 "Check on It"
(2005)

"Wishing on a Star" was covered by American singer Beyoncé in 2004, for the CD of her live album Live at Wembley.[8] It was also used to promote the fragrance True Star endorsed by American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger in 2004.[9] An a cappella version of the song was recorded by Knowles for a television campaign.[9] 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.[10] In 2005, the song was included on the soundtrack of the film Roll Bounce.[11] It was later released for radio airplay as one of three singles from the soundtrack,[12] becoming the second most-added single at urban adult contemporary radio following its release[13] and later peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.[12]

A writer of the website AllMusic described Knowles' cover version of "Wishing on a Star" as "sexy".[8] For the 48th Grammy Awards, Knowles' version was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.[14] Knowles released the song as a digital single on August 17, 2010.

Formats and track listings

  1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:07
  2. "Naïve" – 3:45
  1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:08

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard Adult R&B Airplay[12] 28
US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles[15] 1

Seal version

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

"Let's Stay Together"
(2011)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2011)

In 2011, "Wishing on a Star" was covered by Nigerian-British 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.[16] The single later peaked on the Radio 2 B-list.[17]

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".[18] 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).[19]

Live performances

Seal performed "Wishing on a Star" on Daybreak on November 25, 2011.[20]

Formats and track listings

Digital download[21]
  1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:13

The X Factor UK 2011 finalists version

"Wishing on a Star"
Single by The X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS and One Direction[22]
Released November 27, 2011
Format
Recorded
Genre
Length 3:23
Label
Songwriter(s) Billie Rae Calvin
Producer(s)
The X Factor finalists singles chronology
"Heroes"
(2010)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2011)

"Heroes"
(2010)		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2011)
JLS singles chronology
"Take a Chance on Me"
(2011) Take a Chance on Me2011		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2011) Wishing on a Star2011		 "Do You Feel What I Feel?"
(2012) Do You Feel What I Feel?2012
One Direction singles chronology
"Gotta Be You"
(2011) Gotta Be You2011		 "Wishing on a Star"
(2011) Wishing on a Star2011		 "One Thing"
(2012) One Thing2012

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.[23] 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.[24] The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 98,932 copies.[25]

Track listing

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

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[26] 1
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[27] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] 1

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom November 27, 2011[29] Digital download
November 28, 2011[30] CD single

Other cover versions

See also

References

  1. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 501.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ Discogs.com - Fresh 4
  4. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  5. 1 2 UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts Archived 2007-07-18 at WebCite. everyHit.com (March 16, 2000).
  6. ↑ Jay-Z Jay Z Wishing on a star on YouTube.
  7. ↑
  8. 1 2 "Live at Wembley". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Hilfiger believes Beyonce is a True Star". Cosmetics Design. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  10. ↑ "True Star: A Private Performance: Beyonce Knowles: Music". Amazon.com (US). Amazon Inc. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Roll Bounce – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 George, Raphael (November 12, 2005). Soundtrack Has Radio 'Bounce'. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Most Added" (PDF). Radio & Records: 40. September 9, 2005. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Complete list of Grammy Award nominations". USA Today. February 8, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week Ending July 17, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. March 17, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  16. ↑ "BBC – Radio 2 – Playlist – Record of the Week". BBC Radio 2. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011.
  17. ↑ "BBC – Radio 2 – Playlist". BBC Radio 2. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011.
  18. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (November 19, 2011). "Seal: Soul 2 – review". The Guardian. London.
  19. ↑ "BBC – Music – Review of Seal – Soul 2". BBC. November 16, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Daybreak". Radio Times. November 25, 2011. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Wishing on a Star: Seal: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. November 19, 2011.
  22. ↑ "One Direction, JLS join 'X Factor' charity single". Digital Spy (November 5, 2011).
  23. ↑ X Factor hopefuls Wishing on a Star for charity. Evening Standard (October 12, 2011).
  24. ↑ Robertson, Colin. "X Factor Frankie Cocozza's off Christmas single". The Sun.
  25. ↑ Jones, Alan (December 5, 2011). "Official Singles Chart analysis: X-Factor Finalists sell just shy of 100k". Music Week. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 48, 2011". Irish Singles Chart.
  27. ↑ "Archive Chart: December 10, 2011". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  28. ↑ "10, 2011/ Archive Chart: December 10, 2011" UK Singles Chart.
  29. ↑ Wishing On A Star: The X Factor Finalists 2011 feat. JLS & One Direction: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads. Amazon.co.uk.
  30. ↑ Wishing on a Star: Amazon.co.uk: Music. Amazon.co.uk.
  31. ↑ "Cover to Cover overview". AllMusic.com.
  32. ↑ "Hangtime overview". AllMusic.com.
  33. ↑ "Jazz – Jaared". AllMusic.com.
  34. ↑ "Player's Club overview". AllMusic.com.
  35. ↑ "How I Want to Die: the Catman Chronicles 1". AllMusic.
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