Stevie Wonder - I Wish (Bass Cover)

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- Bass: Nathan Watts
- Alto Sax: Hank Redd
- Tenor Sax: Trevor Laurence
- Trumpet: Raymond Maldonado
- Trumpet: Steve Madaio
- Vocals, Fender Rhodes, ARP 2600 Synthesizer, Drums: STEVIE WONDER

“This song finds Stevie chronicling his younger days from the 1950s onto the early '60s when he was a "nappy-headed boy" growing up in difficult circumstances. Despite living in poverty, he looks fondly on those days and wishes they could come back once more. It was a simple time when his only worry was "for Christmas what would be my toy."

Wonder wrote the song after attending a Motown company picnic in 1976 where he participated in contests and games; an afternoon in which he felt that he rekindled his childhood. "I had such a good time at the picnic that I went to Crystal Recording Studio right afterward and the vibe came right to my mind," he said.

The voice that says "You nasty boy!" is Wonder's sister, Renee Hardaway.

Nathan Watts' infectious 8-note bassline is one reason why "I Wish" is one of Stevie Wonder's most sampled songs. The best example is Will Smith's 1999 chart-topper "Wild Wild West," which was the theme song to the film by the same name starring Smith and Kevin Kline.

Stevie Wonder told ABC Audio during a virtual press conference that he always writes the music and melody first to let the words become their own. He cited this song as an example, explaining it was originally going to be about "The Wheel of 84" and other Eastern religious spiritual teachings. "But then it was one time we were in the studio," he added, "just talking about things that happened when we were kids... back in the day... So it turned into 'I Wish.'"

www.songfacts.com