I Wish (Skee-Lo song)

"I Wish" is a single by Skee-Lo released by Scotti Bros. as his only single. In the United States, the track peaked at number 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 number 15 in the UK, and number 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.

"I Wish"
Single by Skee-Lo
from the album I Wish
ReleasedJune 27, 1995
FormatCD single, CD maxi single, cassette single, 12"
Recorded1994
GenreHip hop
Length4:10
LabelScotti Bros.
Songwriter(s)Skee-Lo
Producer(s)Walter "Kandor" Kahn, Skee-Lo
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"I Wish" on YouTube

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 number 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. Additionally, the song references Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" in the lyrics "Hey, you, what's that sound?/ Everybody look what's going down".

Critical reception

Manila Standard called the song "a true rarity — a rap song that dares to express vulnerable sentiments while retaining a funky edge."[5] Will Ashon from Muzik described it as "a ludicrous, dayglo, superfly wish-list from the self-depreciating and immediately likeable Skee-Lo."[6] James Hunter from Vibe wrote in his review, "Dreaming of girls, cars, and height, his "I Wish" is a most excellent pop-rap hit. Prom-night celebrity, that's his aspiration, and nobody's articulated it better in years. Skee-Lo wins because he doesn't try to sound like anything he's not."[7]

In other media

Track listing
CD single, UK (1995)
No.TitleLength
1."I Wish" (Radio Edit)4:08
2."I Wish" (Street Mix)4:42
3."I Wish" (Old School Dub)4:52
4."I Wish" (Concrete Jungle Mix)4:30
5."I Wish" (Mama's Dub)4:42
6."I Wish" (Acappella)5:35

Charts

References
  1. "American certifications – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. "Best-Selling Records of 1995". Billboard. BPI Communications. 108 (3): 56. January 20, 1996. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  3. "Blender Magazine Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  4. Billboard Music Video Awards Nominations Confirmation - Billboard Magazine November 4, 1995 page 20
  5. "Skee-lo debuts with 'I Wish'". Manila Standard. June 30, 1997. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  6. "Hip hop: Singles" (PDF). Muzik. June 1, 1995. p. 76. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  7. "Single File". Vibe. November 1, 1995. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  8. https://genius.com/Mc-lars-white-kids-arent-hyphy-lyrics
  9. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 11 Aug 1996". ARIA. Retrieved April 18, 2020 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The HP column displays the highest position reached.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  12. "HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  13. "Top Singles - Volume 62, No. 12, October 23, 1995". RPM. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  14. Danish Singles Chart 23 February 1996
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  16. "Skee-Lo: I Wish" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Les classement single.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Skee-Lo – I Wish". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  19. "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 160: Vikuna 9.3. - 15.3. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. 1996-03-09. p. 50. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  20. "Irish Singles Chart, database". Irishcharts. Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Skee-Lo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. "Charts.nz – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Top 40 Singles.
  24. "Norwegiancharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". VG-lista.
  25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Singles Top 100.
  27. "Swisscharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. ""I Wish", Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  29. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  30. "Skee-Lo, Billboard charts". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  31. "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  32. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  33. "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  34. "Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  35. "American single certifications – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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