THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

233-Rose Royce-Wishing on a Star.

1978-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 1.47. The ancient Greeks believed that Greek deities would look down on you, and as they did stars would sometimes slip down to the earth. If you were to make a wish at that moment it would ensure that the deities would watch over you, and therefore hear your requests.

In 1975 the legendary songwriter, record producer, and arranger Norman Whitfield (1940-2008) (see also best songs 911-569-533-480 and 346) left Motown Records, following it’s move from Detroit, setting up his own record label ‘Whitfield Records,’ among the labels first signings were the ex Motown acts The Undisputed Truth, and Yvonne Fair (see also best songs 480.) It was Edwin Starr, (1942-2003) (see also best songs 429) another ex Motown artist who recommended his touring backing band then called ‘Total Concept Unlimited’ to Whitfield, who signed them, and renamed them ‘Rose Royce’ (see also best songs 533.) It was Joe Harris of The Undisputed Truth who during a trip to Miami, had heard Gwen Dickey singing, and it was on his recommendation that she auditioned for Whitfield, who changed her stage name to Rose Norwait, and made her the lead singer of Rose Royce for the recording of the soundtrack to the film ‘Carwash’ in 1976.

The original line up of what was to become Rose Royce were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1973, there have been 10 members come and go over the years, and at the time of writing they remain active. They have released 11 studio Albums between 1976-1989, there is also rumoured to be an unreleased Album in the vaults recorded in 1985. They have achieved four top 40 singles on Billboard in America, including their debut single ‘Carwash,’ which made Number 1. In the UK, seven of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ charting the highest when reaching Number 2 in 1978.

‘Wishing on a Star’ was the fourth and final single released from Rose Royce’s second studio Album ‘In Full Bloom’ from 1977, although reaching Number 3 in the UK, it failed to make the Billboard Hot 100 chart at all. The song was written by Billy Rae Calvin, and produced by Norman Whitfield. Calvin who had been a forming member of The Undisputed Truth in 1970, had originally been hired by Motown Records to sing backing vocals. One of the notable songs she can be heard on is ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ (see also best songs 28) which reached Number 1 on Billboard, and Number 6 in the UK for Diana Ross in 1970.

Although ‘Wishing on a Star’ was not a hit for Rose Royce in America, the song did reach Number 9 on Billboard (Number 38 in the UK) in 1992 when recorded by ‘The Cover Girls.’ In the UK, in 1998 the American rapper Jay-Z (see also best songs 636-477 and 23) took his version to Number 13, with re-recorded vocals from Gwen Dickie, and in 2004 a version by Paul Weller (see also best songs 670-94 and 59) made Number 11. The song saw it’s greatest success when recorded by ‘The X Factor Contestants 2011,’ which included One Direction, and JLS. The song was a charity single for ‘Together for Short Lives,’ and reached Number 1 in November 2011.

‘I feel it’s time we should make up baby, I feel it’s time for us to get back together, and make the best of things, oh, baby when we’re together, whether or never.’