Wish | 5ive Songs

1. Juice WRLD, “Wishing Well”

💿 Legends Never Die • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

🎙 Dr. Luke and 🎙 Chopsquad DJ stitch up banging production 🎙 Juice WRLD on 🎵 “Wishing Well,” one of the very, very best songs on 💿 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 🎵 “Robbery”, at least in regard to genre bending. The chorus is one of the very best of the album, latching instantly, as Juice is “…Waiting for the exhale / Toss my pain with my wishes in a wishing well.” Once more, he bears his soul, fighting depression with pills, knowing “Drugs killing me softly, Lauryn Hill” and admitting, “But if I keep taking these pills, I won’t be here.”

2. Conan Gray, “Wish You Were Sober”

💿 Kid Krow • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

“This party’s shit, wish we could dip / Go anywhere but here…” 🎵 “Wish You Were Sober” is an early stand out on 💿 Kid Krow, the debut album by 🎙 Conan Gray. “Wish You Were Sober” is backed by electrifying synth-pop production by 🎙 Dan Nigro, which definitely gives Gray fuel for his fire. He delivers a more assertive performance – more so than “Comfort Crowd,” the preceding record from Kid Krow.  He never overreaches, but he digs in more, in addition to showing off a ripe falsetto.  The best moment – the catchy, epic chorus of course!

3. 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?, 🎙 Billie Eilish takes a low-key approach to singing, yet still manages to pack a sizable punch. 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.

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

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

On 🎵 “Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy),” which appears on 💿 Notes on a Conditional Form, the lengthy fourth studio album by 🎙 The 1975, matters of the heart are full force.  Honestly, you don’t need to look further beyond the title to understand that.  But, just in case it wasn’t clear, on the chorus, front man 🎙 Matthew 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!

5. 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 (SAVAGE).

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!