14 Enjoyable & Remarkable Wish Songs | Playlist 🎧

14 Enjoyable & Remarkable Wish Songs features songs courtesy of Billie Eilish, Conan Gray, Kehlani, Sophie B. Hawkins & The Temptations.  

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id you know that “A dream is a WISH your heart makes / When you’re fast asleep?” Well, if you didn’t, you know now. How did I learn that wisdom? Why from Disney’s Cinderella.  Okay, silliness aside, this list is no silly, laughing matter! This list is all about wishes! Every song that graces 🎧 14 Enjoyable & Remarkable Wish Songs has some form of the word WISH in its song title.

 

🎧 14 Enjoyable & Remarkable Wish Songs features songs courtesy of 🎙 Billie Eilish, 🎙 Conan Gray, 🎙 Kehlani, 🎙 Sophie B. Hawkins, and 🎙 The Temptations among others. Keeping things eclectic, there are musicians from all walks of life as well as various musical genres.  I promise you won’t be bored with this 62^nd musical compendium published in the year of our Lord, 2022. So, “Get ready, get ready, GET READY!”

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1. Kehlani, “wish I never”

💿 blue water road • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2022 

“Never got into your Lambo / Let you shoot it up like Rambo / Now you made me an example / Caught me slippin’, I’m so over this / I wish I never.” Woo, 🎙 Kehlani! 🎛 Pop Wansel and 🎛  Rogét Chahayed produce one of the hottest tracks off of 💿 blue water road (that beat is straight 🔥, YOOO).  Sadly, the 2022 album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B standout ended up being ‘under the radar’ and debuted modestly at no. 13 on the Billboard 200.  Regardless, it’s an enjoyable LP and the song at hand, 🎵 “wish I never,” is a surefire bop.

One of the reasons “wish I never” shines is the energy that Kehlani brings.  She not only sings beautifully and expressively but the rhythmic, tuneful melody carries ample weight.  Furthermore, she brings that attitude – plenty of personality to the table.  The verses and the pre-chorus are great, but it’s the lengthy, infectious chorus that puts “wish I never” over the top.  Couple that with those hip-hop soul vibes that remind you of, say, the 1990s or early 00s 🎙 Mary J. Blige, and “wish I never” is a bop you won’t be able to stop spinning repeatedly.

“…Had to take it back to play in my favor

It’s all love when I see you and your bitch smilin’

Put the gas on it, but I kept the mileage

Seen the bullet comin’, but I didn’t dodge it quick enough

I wish I never did it

From the bathroom to the kitchen

Wish I woulda kept it pimpin’

Shoulda never took that mission…”

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2. The Kid LAROI, “I Wish”

💿 F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2020

“Damn, I wish there was a way I could tell you everything / But I can’t, I wish I could, this shit affects me every day.”🎵 “I Wish” serves as a highlight by 🎙 The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard) on his 2020 debut commercial mixtape, 💿 F*CK LOVE 3: OVER YOU.

Listeners are treated to a sleek backdrop, courtesy of 🎙 WizzleGotBeats and 🎙 Rio Leyva. Most importantly, the listener gets to hear those bright, youthful, and incredibly assertive vocals by Charlton.  Even on a short number like this one, the potential shown by The Kid is incredibly notable. He’ll definitely have us wishing for more!

Appears in 🔻:

• WISH: 5ive Songs No. 76 (2020)

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3. Claud, “Wish You Were Gay”

🎵 “Wish You Were Gay” • 🏷 Claud • 📅 2019

Sometimes, when a high profile, major label artist releases a song, you assume every song by other artists that follow it is a cover.  🎙 Claud (Claudia Mintz) released their single, 🎵 “Wish You Were Gay” after 🎙 Billie Eilish released her own 🎵 “Wish You Were Gay” from her 🏆 Grammy-winning album, 💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.  Clearly, these are two different songs from two very different artists, even if they share the same title.

Claud tackles a prevalent issue in the LGBTQ+ community – falling in love with someone who is not gay.  Here, Claud longs for her love but knows that it’s a long shot.  “Hoping that I’m a better replacement / For the guys that you’re always out chasing,” they sing in the first verse, continuing, “Or should I accept things I can’t change? / Hate it that I wish you were [gay].” The chorus of this awesome 🎼✍ Mintz and 🎼✍ Doug Schadt penned track sums things up perfectly:

“I wish you were gay so you could just hold me

Call me your babe instead of your homie

Don’t know what to say

But I wish you were gay

I wish you were gay so it would be easy

For me to say that I’m catching feelings

And I know you’re straight

But I wish you were gay.”

Appears in 🔻:

• 15 Utterly Thrilling, GAY Songs

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4. The Temptations, “I Wish It Would Rain”

💿 I Wish It Would Rain • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1967 

“Sunshine, blue skies, please go away / My girl has found another and gone away.” That’s a bummer for sure, 🎙 David Ruffin! Ruffin sings lead on 🎙 The Temptations’ top-five pop hit (peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100), 🎵 “I Wish It Would Rain.” He continues singing grittily on the disheartened verse, “With her went my future, my life is filled with gloom / So, day after day I stay locked up in my room / I know to you, it might sound strange / But I wish it would rain.”

“I Wish It Would Rain” finds The Temptations at their best. 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Norman Whitfield and 🎼 ✍ Barrett Strong cook up a surefire classic, with Whitfield also locking down the production.  This is 60s soul gold with its exceptional backdrop, high-flying lead, and supporting vocals.  You can feel the love pain that Ruffin is experiencing with this dynamic performance.  Furthermore, the lyrics just put it out there:

“‘Cause raindrops will hide my teardrops

And no one will ever know that I’m crying (Crying, crying, crying)

Crying when I go outside

To the world outside my tears, I refuse to explain.”

Men cry too.

Appears in 🔻:

• The Temptations, “I Wish It Would Rain”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 53 (2022)

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5. Conan Gray, “Wish You Were Sober”

💿 Kid Krow • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020 

“This party’s shit, wish we could dip / Go anywhere but here / Don’t take a hit, don’t kiss my lips / And please don’t drink more beer.” Woo!  🎵 “Wish You Were Sober” marks an early standout on 💿 Kid Krow, the debut album by 🎙 Conan Gray. “Wish You Were Sober” is backed by electrifying synthpop production by 🎙 Dan Nigro, which definitely gives Gray fuel for his fire.

In the context of Kid Krow, Gray delivers a more assertive performance compared to the preceding track,  🎵 “Comfort Crowd”.  He never overreaches, but he digs in more, in addition to showing off a ripe falsetto.  The best moment of “Comfort Crowd” should come as no surprise.  Drum roll, please… it’s the catchy, epic chorus, of course!

“Nineteen, but you act twenty-five now

Knees weak, but you talk pretty fly, wow

Ripped jeans and a cup that you just downed

Take me where the music ain’t too loud

Trade drinks, but you don’t even know her

Save me ‘til the party is over

Kiss me in the seat of your Rover

Real sweet, but I wish you were sober.”

Appears in 🔻:

• WISH: 5ive Songs No. 76 (2020)

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6. Angie Stone, “Wish I Didn’t Miss You”

💿 Mahogany Soul • 🏷 J • 📅 2001

🎙 Angie Stone excels with an old-school sample fueling her fire.  In the case of 🎵 “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” from 💿 Mahogany Soul (2001), the neo-soul chanteuse’s fire was fueled by 🎙 The O’Jays.  Any number of O’Jays records could’ve put Stone on top with her own hit but she opts for the very top of their musical collection: 🎵 “Back Stabbers”.  To quote country musician 🎙 Gretchen Wilson from the aughts, “Let me get a big hell yeah”!

So, what fuels Angie’s fire? Love.  It’s always love, right (rhetorical)?  Over the smooth background established by the sample, Stone expresses her issues with this man yet, she’s still attached.  Among my favorite lyrics appears at the end of the first verse: “Isn’t it ironic? All you wanna do is smoke chronic / Boy, you forgot when you were down who was around.” Oh, snap! The chorus says it all regarding her emotional state:

“I can’t eat, I can’t sleep anymore

Waiting for love to walk through the door

I wish I didn’t miss you anymore.”

Hey, we all know love can be a five-letter word that rhymes with pitch.

Appears in 🔻:

• 15 Intriguing Miss or Missing Songs

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7. Carl Thomas, “I Wish”

💿 Emotional • 🏷 Bad Boy • 🗓 2000

🎙 Carl Thomas carved out success without being the torchbearer of R&B, per se.  His debut album, 💿 Emotional (2000), his most successful, spent 49 weeks on the Billboard 200, debuting (and peaking) at no. 9.  Ultimately, it’s his sole platinum album. 🎵 “I Wish” is easily my favorite song from the album, and the most successful single of Thomas’ career.  It peaked at no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and ultimately topped the Adult R&B Airplay chart for 10 weeks.  Why? It’s a vibe!

“I Wish” is a solid, contemporary R&B record, period. Thomas penned it alongside producer 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Mike City. City gives Thomas a chill, lush, and soulful backdrop to paint his superb vocals upon. The groove is laid-back, perfect fuel for Carl’s fire.  Basically, Thomas has a love situation on his hands, summed up perfectly by the centerpiece of the song, the chorus:

“And I wish I never met her at all

Even though, I love her so

She got love for me

But she still belongs to someone else.”

Basically, he’s in love with someone else’s girl.  She loves him too, but, as the first verse tells it, “She dropped the bomb on me / When she said that she / Was unhappily married with children.” As the saying goes, ain’t that some sh—? Thomas goes on to say that this woman wants him, but she can’t abandon her family.  Still, he selfishly, though understandably asks, “But what about me?” In the bridge, he characterizes this situation as a 📚 Catch-22, but hopes, “Maybe in another life / Things could be the way we both desired.” It’s a crappy situation in 🎵 “I Wish” but at least Thomas makes the best of it with his awesome vocal performance and this marvelous song.

Appears in 🔻:

• Carl Thomas, “I Wish”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 49 (2022)

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8. The 1975, “Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy)”

💿 Notes on a Conditional Form • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

“And I told her‚ ‘Some things have their time / How can I be yours if you’re not mine?’” The 1975 frontman 🎙 Matthew Healy sings on the pre-chorus of 🎵 “Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy).” HE adds on the 💿 Notes on a Conditional Form record, “She said, ‘They should take this pain / And give it a name’.” Umm, okay, I suppose…

Throughout the lengthy fourth studio album by The 1975, matters of the heart are in full force.  Honestly, you don’t need to look further beyond the title of “Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy)” to understand that.  But, just in case it wasn’t clear, in the chorus, Healy provides clarity:

“And tonight, I wish I was your boy

(Run away from me, run away from me)

… Tonight, I think I fucked it royally.”

Crystal clear! Worth mentioning is the use of an unexpected 🎙 The Temptations sample (“Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”).  It’s definitely an interesting result!

Appears in 🔻:

• WISH: 5ive Songs No. 76 (2020)

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9. DJ Khaled, “Wish Wish” (Ft. Cardi B & 21 Savage)

💿 Father of Asahd • 🏷 We The Best / Epic • 📅 2022

On his 💿 Father of Asahd highlight, 🎵 “Wish Wish,” 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 DJ Khaled enlists assists from fellow 🏆 Grammy recipients 🎙 Cardi B and 🎙 21 Savage.  Both rappers are in rare form, fueled by the hard-nosed production of 🎛 Tay Keith. “Tay Keith, fuck these niggas up!” Indeed, indeed!

“They say my time is almost up, tell them bitches, ‘Wish, wish’ / All these hoes lookin’ cold, all these bitches fish sticks.” WOO! Cardi B handles the chorus, before bringing the heat in the first verse:

“These bitches wack, these bitches garb, they diss me, I disregard

Bet you if you had a dick, these bitches couldn’t get it hard.”

That’s a #BURN, y’all! As for 21 Savage, he’s as unapologetic as ever, asserting himself as “The greatest rapper [who] came out the South,” not to mention limiting his sexual endeavors: “She keep tryin’ to fuck, I told her top me for now (On God).” Oh 21, never change!

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10. Billie Eilish, “wish you were gay”

💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? • 🏷 Darkroom / Interscope • 📅 2019

“Don’t say I’m not your type / Just say that I’m not your preferred sexual orientation / I’m so selfish.” Yeah, it’s not particularly surprising that 🎵 “Wish You Were Gay” ended up being controversial, thanks to how it references homosexuality . Like the songs that precedes it on 💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, 🏆 Grammy winning alternative pop standout 🎙 Billie Eilish takes a low-key approach to singing, yet still manages to pack a sizable punch.

On “wish you were gay,” she opts for balladry and is ultimately successful as she portrays the relatable topic of heartbreak.  In many respects, she checks off boxes. But the big issue with the song is the perceived homophobia.  The narrative is that a guy that she liked dumps her, and she hopes it’s because of his sexual preference and not because of her.  A bit sus, right 😬?

Appears in 🔻:

• WISH: 5ive Songs No. 76 (2020)
• Gay: 3BOPS No. 22 (2021)
• 15 Utterly Thrilling, GAY Songs

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11.Juice WRLD, “Wishing Well”

💿 Legends Never Die • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

🎙 Dr. Luke and 🎙 Chopsquad DJ stitch up banging production for 🎙 Juice WRLD on 🎵 “Wishing Well.” “Wishing Well” marks one of the very best songs from his first posthumous album, 💿 Legends Never Die.  Everything feels right about “Wishing Well.” While it’s melodic hip-hop, there’s ample pop crossover written all over it.  In some ways, it’s reminiscent of his hit, 🎵 “Robbery” (💿 Death Race for Love), at least in regard to genre-bending.

The chorus is one of the very best of the album.  It catches on instantly, as Juice is “…Waiting for the exhale / Toss my pain with my wishes in a wishing well.” Once more, the late emo/melodic rapper bears his soul, fighting depression with pills. He’s well aware that “drugs killing me softly, Lauryn Hill” and admits, “But if I keep taking these pills, I won’t be here.”

Appears in 🔻:

• WISH: 5ive Songs No. 76 (2020)

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12. Sophie B. Hawkins, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover”

💿 Tongues and Tails • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1992

Seven words: “DAMN, I wish I was your lover.” Woo! Say that 🎙 Sophie B. Hawkins! In 1992, Hawkins saw 🎵 “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” do something surprising – reach no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.  You might be asking yourself, why is it surprising when a marvelous record tops the chart? Well, when that marvelous song is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ catalog – the ‘L,’ lesbian to be precise – it is surprising for the early 1990s.

Keep in mind, that America was still in this conservative, religious era – Daddy Bush was in his final year as president 😏.  Televangelists 🤮 were big. Gay songs, well, not so much 👎! Hawkins changed that real quick with this lesbian love song which is considered one of the key entries into the LGBTQ+ catalog. She’s got what this woman deserves and needs, unlike “That old dog [that] has chained you up all right.” Yeah! “This monkey can’t stand to see you black and blue,” she sings in the second verse, continuing, “I give you something sweet each time you / Come inside my jungle book.” Woo, chillddd! The centerpiece and the big claim to fame besides the ‘jungle book’ line is the chorus in all its DAMN glory!

“Damn I wish I was your lover

I’ll rock you till the daylight comes

Make sure you are smiling and warm

I am everything

Tonight, I’ll be your mother

I’ll do such things to ease your pain

Free your mind and you won’t feel ashamed.”

Appears in 🔻:

• Sophie B. Hawkins, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 22 (2022)

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13. Stevie Wonder, “I Wish”

💿 Songs in the Key of Life • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1976 

“Looking back on when I was a little nappy-headed boy.” That iconic 🎙 Stevie Wonder lyric hails from one of his very best songs, 🎵 “I Wish”. “I Wish” is in elite company in the 🏆 award-winning musician’s catalog; it is one of his no. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.  That’s right, this reflective joint spent one week atop the pop charts, showing Mr. Wonder flexing those crossover muscles – something he’s done throughout his career.  Furthermore, it appears on arguably the best and most important album in his discography, 💿 Songs in the Key of Life (1976). The entertaining first verse continues, “then my only worry was Christmas, what would be my toy / Even though we sometimes would not get a thing / We were happy with the joy the day would bring.”

There are more compelling lines besides those excerpted from the first verse.  In the second verse, Stevie sings, “Brother said he’s telling ‘bout you playin’ doctor with that girl.” Ooh, wee! There’s also, “Smokin’ cigarettes and writing something nasty on the wall / Teacher sends you to the principal’s office down the hall.” The verses are awesome, but we all know the biggest claim to fame is the timeless chorus:

“I wish those days could come back once more

Why did those days ever have to go?

I wish those days could come back once more

Why did those days ever have to go?

‘Cause I love them so.”

Beyond the chorus, there’s no way you can mention “I Wish” and not compliment the funkiness of the production.  Those electric keys! That drum groove! The harmonic progression! Let’s just be honest here, Stevie Wonder kicks ass and takes names – NO CAP!

Appears in 🔻:

• Stevie Wonder, “I Wish”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 54 (2022)

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14. Cliff Edwards & Disney Studio Chorus, “When You Wish Upon a Star”

💿 Pinocchio • 🏷 The Walt Disney Company • 📅 1992

“When you wish upon a star / Makes no difference who you are / Anything your heart desires / Will come to you.”  Sigh, Jiminy Cricket (aka 🎙 Cliff Edwards), those lyrics will NEVER grow old. 🎵 “When You Wish Upon a Star” has a strong argument as the greatest Disney song of all time.  The 🏆 Academy Award-winning gem hails from one of Disney’s most important animated classics, 💿 Pinocchio, but has long transcended the film.  🎼 ✍ Leigh Harline and 🎼 ✍ Ned Washington composed a song that generation after generation have come to know and love.  It’s Disney’s theme song!

The lyrics are pitch-perfect; incredibly memorable and hearken back to simpler, seemingly more innocent times. The melody is one of the most tuneful your ears will ever be privy to.  That even includes the bridge section, performed by 🎙 Disney Studio Chorus:

“Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing.”

As another great, though less heralded Disney song put it, 🎵 “Perfect Isn’t Easy”.  Nope, but Harline and Washington got it perfect with “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

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14 Enjoyable & Remarkable Wish Songs [📷: Atlantic, Bad Boy, Brent Faulkner, Claud, Columbia, Darkroom, Epic, Interscope, J, Kampus Production, Motown, The Musical Hype, Republic, Sony Music Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, We The Best]

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