I Wish

This week on This American Life, their introduction focused on the "I Wish" number in musicals and movies. This is the song, usually sung by the main character, early in the show that tells about what the character wants. It's a kind of "thesis statement" for the character. Host Ira Glass lists off several examples from "I Wish" from Into the Woods, to "Wouldn't it Be Lovely" in My Fair Lady, to Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid, and the classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" before jumping into his own "Wish" tune for the rest of the radio show. The segment is quite amusing and definitely worth a listen for the smile or the chuckle it will provide.