Wishing on a Star

"Wishing on a Star" is a 1978 hit single by Rose Royce for Whitfield Records. Included on their second album, "Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom", "Wishing on a Star" is a slow ballad written by Billie Rae Calvin (formerly of Whitfield Records act The Undisputed Truth) and produced by Norman Whitfield. The lyrics concern a woman longing for the return of an ex-lover so that they can resume their relationship.

The original version of "Wishing on a Star" was not a big hit, peaking at number fifty-two on the Billboard R&B charts in the United States. The "Full Bloom" album, however, was successful as a whole. It got renewed exposure when it was featured in the 2001 John Singleton film, "Baby Boy".

"Wishing on a Star" has frequently been covered by other singers, including notable versions by:

#Teena Marie
#Junior Walker, in 1979 [cite web|url=http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/jwalker.htm |title=Soulful Kinda Music - Junior Walker|accessdate=2007-06-10]
#early British rave act Fresh Four (featuring future drum-and-bass star Krust)
#The Cover Girls in 1992 (this version reached #9 on Billboard's Hot 100)
#Paul Weller on his 2004 album Studio 150. It was released as a single reaching #11.
#Miriam Stockley for the film soundtrack of "The 10th Kingdom"
# Beyoncé for her Live DVD, and later, the 2005 feature film "Roll Bounce" (which was nominated for "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" in 2006)
# New Zealand born singer-songwriter Bic Runga on her album "Live in Concert: with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra"
#Jordin Sparks sang the song during the Top 3 week on the sixth season of American Idol.The song was also used for the introduction of The Tenth Kingdom

The song was used in season 4, week 3 of, "So You Think You Can Dance" by performers Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian.

References