Wishing on a Star

Fresh 4 version

The British DJ and production group, Fresh 4, and released their recording in September 1989. It was produced by Smith & Mighty and featured Lizz E, and became the group's only notable UK hit. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

The group's debut studio album that would have featured this song was never released, as a result of disagreements with the record label.

The Cover Girls version

The Cover Girls recorded a hit cover of the song in 1992 off their third album Here It Is. It was the first single featuring new lead singer Michelle Valentine. The band's version surpassed the success of the original, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the original had failed to chart, and became the 49th biggest single of 1992 in America. While the group had had success in America up to that point, the single was their first single to become a hit when it was released in Europe, peaking at #6 in the Netherlands and at #38 in the UK.

The Cover Girls also recorded a Spanish version of the song. The original version of the song featured Michelle Valentine on lead vocals but the Spanish version featured both Valentine and Evelyn Escalera sharing lead vocals.

CD

1. "Wishing On A Star (Radio Edit)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (Spanish Version)"

CD MAXI

1. "Wishing On A Star (7" Version)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (12" Mix)"
3. "Wishing On A Star (Magic Sessions Dub 1)"
4. "Wishing On A Star (Magic Sessions Vocal Dub)"
5. "Wishing On A Star (Jeep 12")"

Vinyl

1. "Wishing On A Star (12" Mix)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (Jeep 12")"
3. "Wishing On A Star (Magic Sessions Dub 1)"

1. "Wishing On A Star (TNT Dub)"
2. "Wishing On A Star (Amigo Dub)"
3. "Wishing On A Star (Acapella)"

Randy Crawford version

American artist Randy Crawford recorded a cover of the song for her 1998 album Every Kind of Mood: Randy, Randi, Randee. The song, produced by Mousse T. like most of the album, was given an uptempo house makeover. Released as the third single off the album in September 1998, it proved to be the most successful, achieving minor chart placings in Europe and becoming a top 20 dance hit in the USA.

Jay Z version

"Wishing on a Star" was covered by rapper Jay Z featuring Gwen Dickey of Rose Royce in 1998. It can be found on the United Kingdom release of In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 and Greatest Hits and the D'Influence remix can be found on Chapter One: Greatest Hits and Bring It On: The Best of Jay Z. The track is produced by the Trackmasters, who also produced a remix of this track.

A music video for the song was also released, showing a child actor portraying Jay Z growing up in Marcy Houses. Jay Z himself does not appear in the video.

CD

1. "Wishing on a Star (Radio Edit)"
2. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Remix)"
3. "Wishing on a Star (D Influence Remix)"
4. "Brooklyn's Finest"
5. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Acappella)"

Vinyl

1. "Wishing on a Star (D Influence Remix)"
2. "Wishing on a Star (Radio Edit)"

1. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Remix)"
2. "Imaginary Players"
3. "Wishing on a Star (Trackmasters Acappella)"

Beyoncé version

"Wishing on a Star" was covered by American singer Beyoncé in 2004, for the CD of her live album Live at Wembley. It was also used to promote the fragrance True Star endorsed by American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger in 2004. An a cappella version of the song was recorded by Knowles for a television campaign. An extended play (EP) album was also released in 2004 to promote the fragrance compromising of two songs – "Wishing on a Star" and "Naïve". Produced by Knowles and Tommy Hilfiger, it was solely available with limited edition purchases of True Star. In 2005, the song was included on the soundtrack of the film Roll Bounce. It was later released for radio airplay as one of three singles from the soundtrack, becoming the second most-added single at urban adult contemporary radio following its release and later peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.

A writer of the website AllMusic described Knowles' cover version of "Wishing on a Star" as "sexy". For the 48th Grammy Awards, Knowles' version was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Knowles released the song as a digital single on August 17, 2010.

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:07
2. "Naïve" – 3:45

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:08

Seal version

In 2011, "Wishing on a Star" was covered by Nigerian-British singer Seal. It was released as the first UK single taken from his album Soul 2 on November 20, 2011. This interpretation of "Wishing on a Star" was produced by previous collaborator, Trevor Horn.

Seal's version of the song was premiered on Ken Bruce's BBC Radio 2 show on October 13, 2011. The single later peaked on the Radio 2 B-list.

Critical reception

In her review for Soul 2, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian expressed, "His voice and interpretive skills are such, though, that most tracks fit him like a glove, to the point where, on Rose Royce's Wishing on a Star, his oak-aged vocal seems a better fit for the remorseful lyric than original singer Gwen Dickey's. He grew up with these 1970s hits, and evidently reveres them, but isn't cowed by them". In his review, Mike Diver of the BBC expressed that "Seal has a voice that can melt icecaps has never been doubted by his detractors – the problems with his material post-Seal (II) went deeper, to a basic songwriting level. Here, freed of the weight of his own emotions, he soars on a sublime Wishing on a Star (which manages to borrow its smoky backing from Sade’s Smooth Operator).

Live performances

Seal performed "Wishing on a Star" on Daybreak on November 25, 2011.

Formats and track listings

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 4:13

The X Factor UK 2011 finalists version

The song was covered by the finalists of the eighth series of The X Factor, also featuring previous contestants JLS and One Direction. Their version was released on November 27, 2011 via digital download, and released as a physical single the following day. All proceeds from the single went to the children's charity organization Together for Short Lives. Finalist Frankie Cocozza does not appear on the radio edit of the song or in the music video, after he was removed from The X Factor prior to the sixth live show. Cocozza's vocals were recorded prior to his exit and only appeared on the single version. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 98,932 copies.

Track listing

1. "Wishing on a Star" – 3:23
2. "Wishing on a Star (Instrumental)" – 3:23

Other cover versions