Wish I Was Here

Album: Wish I Was Here (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title song of the Zach Braff-directed movie, Wish I Was Here, this wistful piano-driven track features American singer-songwriter Chan 'Cat Power' Marshall collaborating with British band Coldplay.
  • Braff told NPR that after giving an early version of the film to Chris Martin, the Coldplay lead singer got the band together to work on the song before having the brainwave to feature a female vocal. "Chris had the idea that it would be sung by a woman," he said. "I thought that was a genius idea, because one of the things the film is about is a strong woman (Kate Hudson's character) becoming the matriarch of her family. When Chris and I were talking, we both kind of simultaneously said, 'Cat Power.'"

    "I reached out to Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) and she and I met and really clicked," Braff added. "I set her up to watch the film in her apartment. The whole time she was watching she kept texting me all the different parts she was loving. She said yes the instant it was over."
  • "Wish I Was Here" plays in a Kia commercial that aired during the Super Bowl in 2024. In the spot, a young figure skater performs in an arena, then drives to her homebound grandfather's house and skates for him on his pond.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.