"Wishlist" | |||||||||||||||||
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Single by Pearl Jam | |||||||||||||||||
from the album Yield | |||||||||||||||||
B-side | "U" / "Brain of J." (live) | ||||||||||||||||
Released | May 5, 1998 | ||||||||||||||||
Format | CD single, vinyl | ||||||||||||||||
Recorded | February–September 1997 | ||||||||||||||||
Length | 3:26 | ||||||||||||||||
Label | Epic | ||||||||||||||||
Writer(s) | Eddie Vedder | ||||||||||||||||
Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam | ||||||||||||||||
Pearl Jam singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||
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"Wishlist" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Wishlist" was released on May 5, 1998 as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Yield (1998). The song peaked at number six on both the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Billboard charts. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).
"Wishlist" was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. Vedder used an EBow for his guitar solo on the song. Vedder about the song:
It was a stream-of-consciousness exercise. [Mike] McCready booked studio time in a tiny studio here with our friend Stu behind the board and another friend playing drums. We don't have the discipline to sit down and teach each other parts, so you're writing simple chord changes that someone else can follow without having to take breaks to learn them. It was probably eight minutes long originally. I listened to the tape and picked out the better wishes.
"Wishlist" is about Vedder seeking fulfillment of wishes desired, but he resolves his wishlist with the line "I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me." When asked about the song, Vedder stated, "I thought I'd lighten up." The line "I wish I was the full moon shining off your Camaro's hood" references the car that belonged to Beth Liebling, Vedder's wife at the time. When played live, the song mirrors its roots as an improv, with Vedder changing the lyrics depending on his mood.
"Wishlist" was released as a single in 1998 with a previously unreleased B-side titled "U", of which an alternate version can also be found on the compilation album, Lost Dogs (2003). The song peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts.