I Wish (Stevie Wonder song)

"I Wish" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder. It was released in late 1976 as the lead single from his eighteenth album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood from the 1950s into the early 1960s about how he wished he could go back and relive it. The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and soul singles chart.[3] At the 19th Grammy Awards, Stevie Wonder won the Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for this song.

"I Wish"
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Songs in the Key of Life
B-side"You and I"
ReleasedNovember 1976
Genre
Length
  • 3:55 (single version)
  • 4:14 (album version)
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Boogie On Reggae Woman"
(1974)		 "I Wish"
(1976)		 "Sir Duke"
(1977)
Official audio
"I Wish" on YouTube

For the television 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 recorded the original.[4]

Reception

Cash Box said that the song was chosen as the lead single from Songs in the Key of Life after "radio stations spent weeks determining which... cut the public wanted most" and "'I Wish' came out on top in terms of popularity and editability."[5]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Arnold, Chuck (28 September 2016). "Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life: Ranking the songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. McFerrin, John. "Stevie Wonder- Songs In The Key Of Life". Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 636.
  4. Wonder, Stevie; Beus de Jung; Nick de Grunwald (1977). "Documentary: The Making of Songs in the Key of Life pt. 8". Video documentary of the making of Songs in the Key of Life. Isis Production. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  5. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 11, 1976. p. 17. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  6. "Stevie Wonder - I Wish - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  7. "Top 100 1977-01-29". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  8. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  9. "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  10. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1977". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  11. "British single certifications – Stevie Wonder – I Wish". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 8, 2021.


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