I Wish (4:12)

“I Wish” (1976) is a hit funk song by Stevie Wonder. It was released 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 #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the United World Chart.

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.

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 on the soundtrack to 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. 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 has also recorded a solo guitar arrangement.