Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)

A Flock of Seagulls

About Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)

"Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" is a 1982 song by A Flock of Seagulls, the opening song and only hit single from their second album Listen. The song exemplifies "synth-pop's spaced-out loneliness" and yearning for imagined, absent lovers, and is noted for its Wall of Sound-styled layer of synthesizer padding – a "multi-layered, hypnotic song", according to AllMusic. Unlike the band's 1982 hit "I Ran (So Far Away)", largely a United States and Australian hit, "Wishing" performed strongly in the band's home country the United Kingdom and reached the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart; in the US it reached the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the middle of 1983. In South Africa, it was enormously popular, reaching #8. 


Year:
2007
4:55
61 

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It's not the way you look
It's not the way that you smile 
Although there's something to them
It's not the way you have your hair
It's not that certain smile
It could be that with you

If I had a photograph of you
It's something to remind me
I wouldn't spend my life just wishing

It's not the make up and
It's not the way that you dance
It's not the evening sky
It's more the way your eyes are laughing as they glance
Across the great divide

If I had a photograph of you
It's something to remind me
I wouldn't spend my life just wishing

It's not the things you say
It's not the things you do
It must be something more
And if I feel this way for so long
Tell me is it all for nothing
Just don't walk out the door

If I had a photograph of you
It's something to remind me
I wouldn't spend my life just wishing

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A Flock of Seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls (also known as Flock of Seagulls) are an English New Wave band originally formed in Liverpool by brothers Michael "Mike" Score (keyboards, vocals) and Alister "Ali" James Score (drums), with Francis Lee (Frank) Maudsley (bass) and Paul Reynolds (guitar). more »

1 fan

Written by: Frank Maudsley, Paul Reynolds, Ali Score, Mike Score

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Release Date
"Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" by A Flock of Seagulls was released in 1982, making it an iconic song of the 80s era.
Chart Performance
Despite its relative obscurity today, it was the band's highest-charting single in the United States where it reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
UK Success
In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart, making it their only UK top ten hit.
Music Genre
This song is categorized under the New Wave and Synthpop genre, typical of the early 80s music scene.
Album Information
"Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" is one of the band's most admired songs and is taken from their second album titled “Listen”.
Song Concept
The song’s title and lyrics hint at longing and lost love, with the motif of a photograph representing a keepsake or memory of someone absent or departed.
Notable Instruments
The song features the band's signature heavy use of synthesizers, which were a significant element of the new wave genre that the band was part of.
Band Composition
The band itself was made up of four members - Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds. Their dramatic style and emphasis on electronic music set them apart from their contemporaries.
Music Video
The music video for "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" featured the band playing in a blue-domed, futuristic setting with an omnipotent screen showing images of a woman - presumably the one the song is about.
Legacy
Despite A Flock of Seagulls not maintaining their initial mainstream success, their music, including "Wishing", has found cult popularity among fans of the New Wave genre and 80s music enthusiasts.
Cover Versions
Over the decades, "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" has been covered by several artists, demonstrating its enduring appeal.
Best Of Compilation
This track is frequently included on "best of" compilations for both the band and 80s music collections overall, reinforcing its standing as a significant song for its era.
Live Performances
The song remains a staple in A Flock of Seagull's live performances, indicating its popularity with fans.

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    Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1983

    Billboard #26


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