King of Wishful Thinking

"King of Wishful Thinking" (titled "The King of Wishful Thinking" on Chrysalis releases[1]) is a song by British pop duo Go West, written by Peter Cox, Richard Drummie and Martin Page. It was featured in the film Pretty Woman and appeared on its soundtrack.[2] It was later featured on Go West's third studio album, Indian Summer, in 1992.

"King of Wishful Thinking"
Single by Go West
from the album Indian Summer and Pretty Woman soundtrack
B-side"Tears Too Late"
Released1990
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Peter Wolf
Go West singles chronology
"Let's Build a Boat"
(1987)		 "King of Wishful Thinking"
(1990)		 "Faithful"
(1992)

In terms of the group's discography, "King of Wishful Thinking" has become their best known song.[3] The track reached number three in Canada, number six in Australia, number eight in the United States, and number 18 in the United Kingdom. At the 1991 Brit Awards the song was nominated for the Brit Award for British Video of the Year.[4]

Critical reception

Music journalist Hannah Dailey of the U.S. publication Billboard has labeled the song as "one of the crown jewels of ’90s classic hits".[3]

Music video

The song's official music video is known for featuring various absurdist elements alongside the pop duo as they act on a solid white stage.[5] In 2018, actor Paul Rudd and late-night host Jimmy Fallon made a shot-for-shot recreation of the music video for The Tonight Show. Some elements such as a dancing Pope, zebras, and a trained circus elephant, present in the original video, were not reproduced in the remake.[6] American band the Roots made a cameo appearance.[5]

Track listings

UK 7-inch and cassette single[1][7]

  1. "The King of Wishful Thinking" – 4:00
  2. "Tears Too Late" – 4:25

UK CD single[8]

  1. "The King of Wishful Thinking" – 4:00
  2. "The King of Wishful Thinking" (Jon Gass US 12-inch) – 5:49
  3. "Tears Too Late" – 4:25
  4. "The King of Wishful Thinking" (acapella) – 2:45
  • The UK 12-inch single switches tracks one and two.[9]

US and Canadian cassette single[10]

  1. "King of Wishful Thinking" (LP version)
  2. "King of Wishful Thinking" (power mix)

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. The King of Wishful Thinking (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Go West. Chrysalis Records. 1990. GOW 8, 3235597.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. How King of Wishful Thinking got on the Pretty Woman soundtrack
  3. Dailey, Hannah (4 May 2022). "Kelly Clarkson is the Queen of 'Wishful Thinking' with Her Latest Cover: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. "History - BRITS Awards". Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  5. Kreps, Daniel (10 February 2018). "See Paul Rudd, Jimmy Fallon Remake Go West's 'King of Wishful Thinking'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  6. Dessem, Matthew (11 February 2018). "How Long Can You Compare Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd's Recreation of "King of Wishful Thinking" With the Original?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  7. The King of Wishful Thinking (UK cassette single sleeve). Go West. Chrysalis Records. 1990. GOWMC8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. The King of Wishful Thinking (UK CD single disc notes). Go West. Chrysalis Records. 1990. GOWCD 8, 3235592.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. The King of Wishful Thinking (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Go West. Chrysalis Records. 1990. GOWX 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. King of Wishful Thinking (US & Canadian cassette single sleeve). Go West. EMI USA. 1990. 4JM-50307.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. "Go West – The King of Wishful Thinking". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1327." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1328." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 37. 15 September 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  15. "Go West – The King of Wishful Thinking" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – King of Wishful Thinking". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  17. "Go West – The King of Wishful Thinking". Top 40 Singles.
  18. "Go West – The King of Wishful Thinking". Singles Top 100.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  20. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 11 August 1990. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  21. "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 1 September 1990. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  22. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)". ARIA. Retrieved 10 October 2016 – via Imgur.
  23. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 14 May 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  24. "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 14 May 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  25. "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  26. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1990 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  27. "British single certifications – Go West – The King of Wishful Thinking". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
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