WORKLIFEDESIGN

The I Wish Song

My favouritest radio show/podcast in the world, This American Life, did one of the most amazing introductions I’ve ever heard in this week’s (replayed) episode, Promised Land.

The host, Ira Glass, recounts how upon watching the 1937 Disney classic Snow White recently, he noticed how it has almost an operatic feeling with each of the main characters entering the story with a song. When he mentions this to his sister (who works for Disney) she informs him that what he’s seeing is the “I Wish” song in action. It’s a common storytelling technique that’s used in musicals where the character declares exactly what they want in that first song.

As Ira lists through all the musicals (classic and contemporary) that have I Wish Songs, I’m gobsmacked to hear how common it is. Think, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” starts off The Wizard of Oz, or, the Britney Spears’ film Crossroads which begins with her singing Madonna’s “Open Your Heart”. The Little Mermaid. Fiddler on the Roof. Funny Girl. All begin with the main character’s I Wish song.

What makes this intro so brilliant though is what happens next. If all these cascading aha’s weren’t enough, Ira then launches into his own I Wish song for the episode. It’s adorable and clever and unexpected (oops, maybe not for you now).

The triply brilliant thing about this is that it illustrates, in such a beautiful and creative way, what we know about successful change (and all the characters in these stories are about to go through pretty significant change). We need to set our intention, say what we want, or as Stephen Covey puts it, “Begin with the end in mind”.

And I wondered, seeing as this is my first Brilliant! post, what would my I Wish song be? What tune would carry the hopes and dreams of a little blog that could?

So here it is. Cue the orchestra. Put on your 3D glasses …

To the tune of the “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” (the ‘joy’ opener from Oklahoma), here is my Brilliant! I Wish song:

(Here’s the original music if you’d like to sing along!)

The Brilliant! I Wish Song

There are brilliant ideas all around us
There are brilliant ideas all around us
But they seem to be hidden from everyone’s eye
An’ if we could just see them then we would all fly

chorus:
Oh what a beautiful idea
Oh what a beautiful way
I’ve got a wonderful feeling
This will so brighten your day

All the people are following like sheep
All the people are following like sheep
They don’t allow their ideas to see light
But this time I think they may just, they might.

Repeat chorus

All the brilliant ideas will inspire you
All the brilliant ideas will inspire you
When you find your own it will set you free
And in no time at all you’ll be laughin’ with me

What’s your I Wish song? What film’s I Wish song do you particularly love??

Go listen to the inspiration now

This American Life. Episode 259: Promised Land

And while you’re there, subscribe to their weekly downloads. They are brilliant.

Would you like to receive a monthly roundup of Brilliant! ideas for work and life? You can subscribe to the Brilliant! newsletter here