I Wish (Skee-Lo song)

"I Wish"
Single by Skee-Lo
from the album I Wish
Released	June 27, 1995
Recorded	1994
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:10
Label	Scotti Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Skee-Lo
Producer(s)	Walter "Kandor" Kahn, Skee-Lo
Audio sample
	file; help;
Music video
	"I Wish" on YouTube

"I Wish" is a single by Skee-Lo released by Scotti Brothers Records. 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,[3] 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 number 359 on its list of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[4] 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".[5]

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".

The video begins with Skee-Lo sitting on a bench like Forrest Gump. The video includes scenes reenacting the story of the lyrics, such as driving around in his beat-up old car, and being picked on during a game of basketball.[6]

Critical reception

Manila Standard called the song "a true rarity — a rap song that dares to express vulnerable sentiments while retaining a funky edge."[7] Will Ashon from Muzik described it as "a ludicrous, dayglo, superfly wish-list from the self-depreciating and immediately likeable Skee-Lo."[8] 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."[9]

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".
Rapper MC Lars parodied the chorus of this song on his 2007 track "White Kids Aren't Hyphy"[10]
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 featured in The Simpsons episode "22 for 30."
The song was featured in Lizzie McGuire Season 2, Episode 25 “A Gordo Story”
The song was featured in the trailer for the 2019 film Honey Boy starring Shia LaBeouf.
The song was featured in Fresh Off the Boat, Season 5, Episode 20, "Nerd Watching".

Track listing

CD single, UK (1995)
No.	Title	Length
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

Weekly charts

Chart (1995/96)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[11]	74
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12]	22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13]	21
Canada Singles (The Record)[14]	20
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15]	76
Denmark (IFPI)[16]	12
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17]	17
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18]	5
France (SNEP)[19]	24
Germany (Official German Charts)[20]	14
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[21]	14
Ireland (IRMA)[22]	17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24]	6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25]	14
Norway (VG-lista)[26]	4
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[27]	34
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28]	4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29]	10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[30]	15
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[31]	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[32]	13
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[32]	22
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs[32]	33

End of year charts

Chart (1995-1996)	Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33]	70
Germany (Official German Charts)[34]	98
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35]	59
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[36]	58

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[37]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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 30, 2015.
Omari White (May 10, 2018). "RESPECT. Interview: Skee-Lo Reminisces on Classic Hit Song, Gives NBA Playoffs Predictions". Respect-mag.com. Archived from the original|archive-url= requires |url= (help) on 2018-05-10. Missing or empty |url= (help)
"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
Sorcinelli, Gino (3 September 2019). ""I Saw a Vision to Make it Into a Hit Song": The Making of Skee-Lo's "I Wish"". Medium.com.
"Skee-lo debuts with 'I Wish'". Manila Standard. June 30, 1997. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
"Hip hop: Singles" (PDF). Muzik. June 1, 1995. p. 76. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
"Single File". Vibe. November 1, 1995. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
https://genius.com/Mc-lars-white-kids-arent-hyphy-lyrics
"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.
"Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
"Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Ultratop 50.
"HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. 16 December 1995. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
"Top Singles - Volume 62, No. 12, October 23, 1995". RPM. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
Danish Singles Chart 23 February 1996
"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.
"Offiziellecharts.de – Skee-Lo – I Wish". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
"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", Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
"Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
"Skee-Lo, Billboard charts". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
"1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
"Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
"Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
"Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
"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.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[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] Omari White (May 10, 2018). "RESPECT. Interview: Skee-Lo Reminisces on Classic Hit Song, Gives NBA Playoffs Predictions". Respect-mag.com. Archived from the original|archive-url= requires |url= (help) on 2018-05-10. Missing or empty |url= (help)

[4] "Blender Magazine Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2008.

[5] Billboard Music Video Awards Nominations Confirmation - Billboard Magazine November 4, 1995 page 20

[6] Sorcinelli, Gino (3 September 2019). ""I Saw a Vision to Make it Into a Hit Song": The Making of Skee-Lo's "I Wish"". Medium.com.

[7] "Skee-lo debuts with 'I Wish'". Manila Standard. June 30, 1997. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

[8] "Hip hop: Singles" (PDF). Muzik. June 1, 1995. p. 76. Retrieved April 3, 2020.

[9] "Single File". Vibe. November 1, 1995. Retrieved March 2, 2020.

[10] ttps://genius.com/Mc-lars-white-kids-arent-hyphy-lyrics

[11] "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.

[sc_Flanders_Skee-Lo-12] "Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Wallonia_Skee-Lo-13] "Ultratop.be – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Ultratop 50.

[14] "HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. 16 December 1995. Retrieved 2018-12-29.

[15] "Top Singles - Volume 62, No. 12, October 23, 1995". RPM. Retrieved 2012-11-11.

[16] Danish Singles Chart 23 February 1996

[17] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-06-24.

[sc_Finland_Skee-Lo-18] "Skee-Lo: I Wish" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.

[sc_France_Skee-Lo-19] "Lescharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in French). Les classement single.

[sc_Germany_Skee-Lo-20] "Offiziellecharts.de – Skee-Lo – I Wish". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.

[21] "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 160: Vikuna 9.3. - 15.3. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. 1996-03-09. p. 50. Retrieved 2018-04-04.

[22] "Irish Singles Chart, database". Irishcharts. Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-11-16.

[sc_Dutch40_Skee-Lo-23] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Skee-Lo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_Skee-Lo-24] "Dutchcharts.nl – Skee-Lo – I Wish" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_Skee-Lo-25] "Charts.nz – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Skee-Lo-26] "Norwegiancharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". VG-lista.

[27] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-06-09.

[sc_Sweden_Skee-Lo-28] "Swedishcharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Swiss_Skee-Lo-29] "Swisscharts.com – Skee-Lo – I Wish". Swiss Singles Chart.

[30] ""I Wish", Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-11-16.

[31] "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.

[Billboard-32] "Skee-Lo, Billboard charts". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-16.

[33] "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2019-12-19.

[34] "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2015-08-07.

[35] "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2019-11-25.

[36] "Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2010-08-27.

[riaa-37] "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.