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. 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.
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". 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".

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 and a basketball player. 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." Will Ashon from Muzik described it as "a ludicrous, dayglo, superfly wish-list from the self-depreciating and immediately likeable Skee-Lo." 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."

In other media

Charts

Weekly charts

End of year charts

Certifications