Go West – King Of Wishful Thinking (Official Music Video)

“King of Wishful Thinking” is a song by British pop band Go West, released in 1990. It was released as the lead single from Go West’s third studio album, Bangs and Crashes, with its chorus being one of the catchiest and most memorable choruses of all time.

The song is about a man trying to pretend everything is okay in his life, even though he knows it’s not.

Fun Facts:

• “King of Wishful Thinking” topped the charts in the United States, reaching the #1 spot on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

• Go West is made up of two members—Peter Cox on lead vocals and Richard Drummie on background vocals and rhythm guitar. The group formed in 1982 and is still active today.

• The song was also a commercial success in other countries, reaching the top 10 in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

• “King of Wishful Thinking” included music from Martin Page. Page co-wrote other classics, such as “These Dreams” by Heart and “We Built This City” by Starship.

• Other artists, including Boyz II Men and Whitney Houston, have covered the song.

• The music video features the band in a dream-like setting with surreal imagery, including a giant puppet and a parade of people in odd costumes.

• “King of Wishful Thinking” was awarded a BMI Award for being one of the most played songs in the United States.

• The song is featured in Pretty Woman and is often considered the film’s theme song, despite not actually being written for the film.

• Billboard music journalist Hannah Dailey dubbed the song “one of the crown jewels of the ’90s.”

• In 1991, “King of Wishful Thinking” was nominated for a Brit Award for British Video of the Year.

• The song’s b-side is “Tears Too Late.”

Lyrics

I don’t need to fall at your feet

Just ’cause you cut me to the bone

And I won’t miss the way that you kiss me

We were never carved in stone

If I don’t listen to the talk of the town

Then maybe I can fool myself

I’ll get over you, I know I will

I’ll pretend my ship’s not sinking

And I’ll tell myself I’m over you

‘Cause I’m the king of wishful thinking

(King of wishful thinking)

I am the king of wishful thinking

I refuse to give in to my blues

That’s not how it’s gonna be

And I deny the tears in my eyes

I don’t wanna let you see, no

That you have made a hole in my heart

And now I’ve got to fool myself

I’ll get over you, I know I will

I’ll pretend my ship’s not sinking

And I’ll tell myself I’m over you

‘Cause I’m the king of wishful thinking (I’ll get over you, I know I will)

I’ll pretend my ship’s not sinking

And I’ll tell myself I’m over you

‘Cause I’m the king of wishful thinking, yeah (king of wishful thinking)

Oh no, I will never, never shed a tear for you

I’ll get over you (I know I will)

If I don’t listen to the talk of the town

Then maybe I can fool myself

I’ll get over you, I know I will

I’ll pretend my ship’s not sinking

And I’ll tell myself I’m over you

‘Cause I’m the king of wishful thinking (king of wishful thinking)

I’m the king of wishful thinking

I’ll get over you, I know I will

You made a hole in my heart

But I won’t shed a tear for you

I’ll be the king of wishful thinking

I’ll get over you (I know I will)

I’ll pretend my heart’s still beating

‘Cause I’ve got no more tears for you

I’m the king of wishful thinking

I’ll get over you (I know I will)

You made a hole in my heart

And I’ll tell myself I’m over you

‘Cause I’m the king of wishful thinking