Remember 2013? It was a weird, transitional year for pop music. Miley Cyrus was licking sledgehammers, Lorde was making us feel "Royals," and a spunky British girl from The X Factor was trying to pivot from teen sensation to serious contender. That girl was Cher Lloyd. She dropped Cher Lloyd I Wish as the lead single for her second album, and honestly, it’s one of the most misunderstood tracks of that era.
If you were online then, you probably remember the buzz. Cher had already conquered the UK with "Swagger Jagger" and made a massive dent in the US with "Want U Back." But "I Wish" was different. It wasn't just a bubblegum bop; it was a vulnerable, slightly insecure, and surprisingly funky collaboration with T.I. that signaled a shift in her career.
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The Story Behind Cher Lloyd I Wish
So, what was actually going on when this song hit the airwaves? Cher was coming off the high of her debut album, Sticks and Stones. She was living in the States, working with big-name producers like Shellback and Ilya, and trying to find her "grown-up" voice. She told Billboard at the time that the upcoming album, Sorry I'm Late, was named that because it had been a long time since she’d shown people who she really was.
"I Wish" was the opening statement for that era. Released in September 2013, it was produced by the Swedish powerhouse trio of Shellback, Ilya Salmanzadeh, and OZGO. These are the same guys who have worked with everyone from Taylor Swift to Ariana Grande. You can hear that polish in the brassy, horn-heavy production. It’s got a bit of a retro vibe, but with that sharp, 2010s pop edge.
The Lyrics: Vulnerability or Just Catchy?
The song is basically a checklist of insecurities. Cher sings about wishing she was taller, wishing she had more money, and—in the line everyone still remembers—wishing she "woke up with a butt and a rack." It’s brutally honest. Most pop stars at the time were singing about how perfect they were, but Cher went the other way.
She later explained in a YouTube "Meaning Behind the Song" video that it was about being an "average girl" and feeling like you aren't enough for the person you like. It’s relatable stuff. We’ve all been there, scrolling through Instagram (which was still relatively new back then!) and feeling like we don't measure up to the five-foot-ten models on the screen.
That T.I. Feature: A Risky Move?
Adding T.I. to the track was a specific choice. He was the "King of the South," and having him jump on a pop track by a British X Factor alum was a flex. His verse is classic Tip—confident, slightly arrogant, and full of luxury references. He talks about Aston Martins and "solitaire iced out" jewelry.
It creates a weirdly effective contrast. You have Cher singing about her Nikes and feeling small, and then T.I. swoops in with the high-life energy. Critics were split. Some, like the folks at Digital Spy, called it "undeniably fun," while others felt it was a bit of a "sensory overload." But that was Cher’s brand. She was always a bit too much for some people, and she leaned into it.
The Music Video Vibes
The video, directed by Gil Green, really drives the message home. Cher plays a waitress in a club, watching T.I. walk in with a group of "perfect" girls. She’s trying to catch his eye, feeling like she doesn't fit in. It’s a classic "underdog" narrative.
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By the end, she realizes she doesn't need the flash or the fake persona. T.I. leaves the "groupies" and walks out with her. It’s a bit of a fairytale ending, but for a pop video in 2013, it worked. It currently has over 60 million views on YouTube, which isn't nothing.
Where Does Cher Lloyd I Wish Stand Now?
Looking back, "I Wish" was a bit of a turning point that didn't quite turn the way Epic Records wanted. While it hit the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand, it didn't ignite the US charts like "Want U Back" did.
The album it led, Sorry I'm Late, was eventually pushed back to 2014. Cher later revealed in interviews that this period was incredibly stressful. She felt like she was being "chewed up" by the industry. She even mentioned in a 2020 interview with The Guardian that she had to do "damage control" for her image for years.
Still, the song has a cult following. On platforms like Reddit's r/popheads, fans still talk about it as an underrated gem. It represents a specific moment in pop history when the genre was trying to figure out how to be "real" while still being glossy.
Why You Should Revisit the Track
- The Production: The horns still sound great. It doesn't feel as dated as some other 2013 tracks.
- The Honesty: Pop music has become much more "sad-girl" lately, and you can see the seeds of that in Cher’s lyrics.
- The Nostalgia: It’s a reminder of a time before TikTok, when "breaking" a song required a massive radio push and a high-budget video.
If you’re looking to dive back into the Cher Lloyd discography, don't stop at the singles. Tracks from that same era like "Sirens" (which is actually a much better song, let’s be real) and "Dirty Love" show a lot more range.
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Next Steps for Pop Fans:
Go find the acoustic version of "I Wish" on YouTube. It strips away the T.I. verse and the heavy production, leaving just Cher’s voice. It’s in those moments where you realize she was always a much better singer than the "Swagger Jagger" headlines let her be. Check out her later independent releases like "None of My Business" to see how she finally found her footing away from the major label machine.