Wishing Well (Juice Wrld song)

"Wishing Well"
Single by Juice Wrld
from the album Legends Never Die
ReleasedJuly 28, 2020 (2020-07-28)
Genre
Length3:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Juice Wrld singles chronology
"Come & Go"
(2020) 		"Wishing Well"
(2020) 		"Smile"
(2020)
Music video
"Wishing Well" on YouTube

"Wishing Well" is a song by American rapper Juice Wrld, from his posthumous third studio album Legends Never Die. Written alongside producers Dr. Luke and Chopsquad DJ, it was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio as the album's fifth single on July 28, 2020.[2] An animated music video was released on July 13, 2020. An uplifting song reflecting on fame, depression and drug use, the song received positive reviews from critics who regarded it as a standout, with Billboard ranking it as the best song on the album. It debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, simultaneously charting in the top 10 with four other songs from the album.

Background and composition

The song first leaked under the title "Lauryn Hill",[3] due to the line "Drugs killing me softly, Lauryn Hill".[4] The track starts off with a guitar intro,[5] and consists of a Robotech sample.[1] Deemed a haunting,[4] yet "uplifting" track, it finds Juice singing about how he is going to be ok, although it may not always be the case, because, in the end, he wants to keep his fans and family happy.[3] Felson Sajonas of Hypebeast noted "Wishing Well" for being a metaphor for Juice's "deep desire to be free from his demons and the constant cycle of drugs and depression".[6] In the chorus, the line "Perky got me itching like a anthill", references Percocet, a drug that led to his death. Genius' Chris Mench described the line as "a grim prediction" of Juice's passing.[7]

Critical reception

Billboard ranked the song as the best on Legends Never Die, with the magazine's Michael Saponara regarding it as "a bonafide stand-out cut with Juice putting his gifts on display".[3] Rolling Stone's Danny Schwartz called it a "soaring standout", comparing it to Blink-182.[8] Alex Zidel of HotNewHipHop said the song stands out "because of the troubling story that Juice tells".[9] Aaron Williams of Uproxx praised it as the album's centerpiece, stating that the track "is a real heartbreaker and leads to some of the emotional high points of the album", while pointing out Juice Wrld's awareness of his drug problem, citing the lyrics "If it wasn't for the pills, I wouldn't be here / But if I keep taking these pills, I won't be here".[1] Variety's Jem Aswad named it one of the top songs of the week, noting its "unintentionally timely" opening line: "I can't breathe". However, the magazine misattributed the line to a different Juice Wrld song, "Conversations".[10]

Music video

An official animated video was released on July 13, 2020. The KDC Visions-created visual opens with Juice throwing his feelings out of a cardboard box into an actual wishing well.[11] As with the song's lyrics, it further shows Juice reflecting on how he copes with fame and drug use. A variety of emojis acts as his emotions, while scenes cut to an army of ants, Juice gazing into the stars on top of his convertible, and living an extravagant lifestyle at his mansion.[12] He is also seen seeking help through phone calls and talking to a psychiatrist, portrayed by himself.[6]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[43] Platinum 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[45] Gold 200,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[47] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[48] Platinum 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[50] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c Williams, Aaron (July 14, 2020). "Juice WRLD Offers Fans A Fond Farewell With 'Legends Never Die'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Crossover Radio Music". All Access. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Saponara, Michael (July 10, 2020). "Ranking Every Song From Juice WRLD's Posthumous 'Legends Never Die' Album: Critic's Pick". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Zidel, Alex (July 10, 2020). "Juice WRLD Knew His Drug Use Was A Problem On "Wishing Well"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Amorosi, A.D. (July 10, 2020). "Juice WRLD's 'Legends Never Die': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Sajonas, Felson (July 14, 2020). "Juice WRLD's Animated "Wishing Well" Video Reflects Hardships of Fame and Drug Use.It has 100,000,000 mil views". Hypebeast. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Mench, Chris (Genius news editor) (July 15, 2020). "Here Are The 'Legends Never Die' Songs Most Likely To Break Out According To Genius Data". Genius. Retrieved July 16, 2020. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Schwartz, Danny (July 15, 2020). "Juice WRLD's 'Legends Never Die' Solidifies His Legacy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Zidel, Alex (July 13, 2020). "Juice WRLD's "Wishing Well" Video Is Here". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Aswad, Jem (July 10, 2020). "Summer Walker, Juice WRLD, 'F— 2020' and More in the Top Songs of the Week". Variety. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  11. ^ Lavin, Will (July 13, 2020). "Watch Juice WRLD's animated video for new single 'Wishing Well'". NME. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Duong, Paul (July 13, 2020). "New Video: Juice Wrld "Wishing Well"". Rap Radar. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  13. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  14. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 29. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  19. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". Tracklisten. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  21. ^ "Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 29 2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  22. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  23. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  24. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  25. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. July 17, 2020. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  26. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  27. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  28. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". VG-lista. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  29. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  30. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 29. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  31. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  32. ^ "Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  34. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  35. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  36. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  37. ^ "Top 100 Songs, July 10, 2020 - July 16, 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  38. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  39. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  40. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  41. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  42. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  43. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Juice Wrld – Wishing Well" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  44. ^ "Danish single certifications – Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  45. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Juice Wrld; 'Wishing Well')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  46. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Wishing Well in the "Search:" field.
  47. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 5, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Wishing Well in the search box.
  48. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Juice Wrld – Wishing Well" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  49. ^ "British single certifications – Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  50. ^ "American single certifications – Juice Wrld – Wishing Well". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 1, 2021.