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Foundation - Walk For Wish es Event I nformation on GetSetAZ
Foundation - Walk For Wishes Event Information on GetSetAZ
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 Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan - Wedding Bell Wish es
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan - Wedding Bell Wishes
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"I Wish"
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Songs in the Key of Life
B-side "You and I"
Released November 1976
Format 7"
Genre Funk, R&B
Length 3:37 (single edit) 4:12 (album version)
Label Motown
Writer(s) Stevie Wonder
Producer Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Boogie On Reggae Woman"
(1974)
"I Wish"
(1976)
"Sir Duke"
(1977)
Songs in the Key of Life track listing
"Sir Duke"
(5)
"I Wish"
(6)
"Knocks Me Off My Feet"
(7)

"I Wish" is a hit funk song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 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 number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and soul singles chart.[1]

Contents

[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 E♭ 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.

[edit] Cover versions

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.

This song was also covered by the a Capella group, Vox One, on their album, Pure Imagination.

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 for 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. This recording appeared on the soundtrack album "Happy Feet: Music from the Motion Picture".

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".

Fingerstyle jazz guitarist Tuck Andress recorded a solo guitar arrangement, as has guitarist Greg Howe.

The Janet Jackson song Nasty features Janet singing the phrase "you nasty boy" in a direct mimic of the way Stevie delivers the same line in "I Wish".

[edit] References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 636. 

[edit] See also

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 Soul Singles number one single
January 15 - February 12, 1977
Succeeded by
"Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston



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