I Wish

When it comes to songs about Los Angeles, it would be hard to exclude I Wish by Skee-Lo. Released in 1995, this song perfectly captures the essence of LA – the glamour, the glitz, and the dreamers who come here chasing their aspirations. With its infectious beat and Skee-Lo’s smooth vocals, this song is a must-listen for anyone who loves LA! Its lyrics are about how he wishes he were a little bit taller and that girls would notice him, but I think we can all understand that feeling!

In the United States, the single peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 600,000 copies domestically. Internationally, the song reached number 4 in Sweden and Norway, number 5 in Finland, number 6 in the Netherlands, number 10 in Switzerland, number 14 in Germany and New Zealand, number 15 in the UK, and made it to the Top 25 in Belgium and France. The song was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards but lost to Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise". Blender listed "I Wish" as number 359 on its list of "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".

• Released: 1995
• Songwriter: Antoine Roundtree