I Wish (Skee-Lo song)
| "I Wish" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Skee-Lo | |
| from the album I Wish | |
| Released | March 27, 1995 |
| Format | CD single, CD maxi single, cassette single, 12" |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Length | 4:10 |
| Label | Scotti Bros. |
| Songwriter(s) | Anne Dudley, Al Flythe, Trevor Horn, Malcolm McLaren, Skee-Lo |
| Producer(s) | Walter "Kandor" Kahn, Skee-Lo |
"I Wish" is a single by Skee-Lo released by Scotti Bros. as his only single. In the United States, the track peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified Gold by the RIAA and sold 600,000 copies domestically.[1][2] Internationally, "I Wish" reached #15 in the UK and #4 in Sweden and Norway. Most of the song's instruments are sampled from "Spinnin'" by Bernard Wright, and the song features a vocal sample of people shouting from the track "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren.
The song was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards but lost to "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio. Blender listed "I Wish" as #359 on its list of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[3] The music video, directed by Marty Thomas, was nominated for three Billboard Music Video Awards including "Best New Artist Music Video" and "Maximum Vision Clip of the Year".[4]
Overview
The song's lyrics are self-deprecating, with Skee-Lo lamenting a variety of personal shortcomings that he says are to blame for his unsuccessful love life. He wishes he were of taller stature ("like 6'9") and a basketball player ("a baller"). He wishes for a better car, specifically a '64 Impala, instead of his 1974 Ford Pinto with "an 8-Track and a spare tire in the backseat, but that's flat!" The lyrics also mention the Los Angeles neighborhood of Crenshaw, and a signpost featuring the street name appears in the background of the music video.
In other media
- The Secret Handshake did a cover of this song on Punk Goes Crunk.
- In As Heard on Radio Soulwax, Pt. 2, 2manydjs superimposed the vocals of "I Wish" over Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger", then The Breeders' "Cannonball" .
- Far East Movement did a cover of this song for the 2008 film Ping Pong Playa.
- "I Wish" is also featured as one of the lyrical tracks from Girl Talk's album All Day, on the track "Jump on Stage".
- Skee-Lo appeared with Cher Lloyd on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in November 2013, performing portions of "I Wish" along with her single "I Wish".
- Kevin Hart and Ice Cube released a remix of this song with NBA players Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Andre Iguodala, and Kobe Bryant appearing in the video to advertise Hart and Cube's movie Ride Along. It appeared on the NBA on ESPN and ABC during their Christmas Day coverage.
- Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake did a cover of this song in the History of Rap 5 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
- The song was featured on an episode "All I Want for Christmas is You" of Hindsight.
- The song was used in commercials for the Toyota RAV4 during 2013 featuring a "RAV4 Genie", played by Kaley Cuoco, who granted wishes to a family owning a RAV4.[5]
- The song was featured in The Simpsons episode "22 for 30."
- The song was also featured on an episode "A Gordo Story" of the Disney Channel show Lizzie Mcguire
Charts
Peak positions
| Chart (1995/96) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | 74 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 22 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] | 21 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] | 76 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] | 17 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] | 5 |
| France (SNEP)[12] | 24 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 14 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[14] | 14 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[15] | 17 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] | 10 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] | 6 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] | 14 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[19] | 4 |
| Scotland (Official Charts Company)[20] | 34 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] | 4 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 10 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] | 15 |
| UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[24] | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[25] | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[25] | 22 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs[25] | 33 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| Germany (Official German Charts)[26] | 98 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[27] | 58 |
References
- ↑ "American certifications – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1995". Billboard. BPI Communications. 108 (3): 56. January 20, 1996. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ "Blender Magazine Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ↑ Billboard Music Video Awards Nominations Confirmation - Billboard Magazine November 4, 1995 page 20
- ↑ TOYOTA RAV4 Superbowl Commercial "Wish Granted" Starring Penny from Big Bang Theory
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 62, No. 12, October 23, 1995". RPM. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ↑ "Skee-Lo: I Wish" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Les classement single.
- ↑ "Musicline.de – Skee-Lo Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
- ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 160: Vikuna 9.3. - 15.3. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. 1996-03-09. p. 50. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
- ↑ "Irish Singles Chart, database". Irishcharts. Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Skee-Lo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Charts.nz – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". VG-lista.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ↑ ""I Wish", UK Singles Chart". Chartstats. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- ↑ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
- 1 2 3 "Skee-Lo, Billboard charts". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2010-08-27.