III Wishes (song) explained

III Wishes
Cover:	Terrorvision III Wishes 1999 single cover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Terrorvision
Album:	Shaving Peaches
Released:	1999
Label:	EMI Total Vegas Recordings
Producer:	John Cornfield
Prev Title:	Tequila
Prev Year:	1999
Next Title:	D'Ya Wanna Go Faster
Next Year:	2001

"III Wishes" is a song by English rock band Terrorvision, which was released in 1999 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album Shaving Peaches. The song was written by Terrorvision and produced by John Cornfield. "III Wishes" reached No. 42 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for two weeks.^[1]

Background

"III Wishes" failed to live up to the expectations of EMI after the band's success with the UK No. 2 hit "Tequila" earlier in the year. When "III Wishes" stalled at No. 42 in the UK Singles Chart, EMI dropped the band.^[2]

According to vocalist Tony Wright, distribution and stock issues hindered the song's success. He told Metal Express Radio in 2013, "When people say 'Tequila' was a bit of luck, it wasn't. It was 15 years of hard graft and given to a numpty at the label who couldn't even get the follow-up single into the shops and we lost all that momentum because of that."^[3]

A music video was filmed to promote the single. The band also performed the song on The Pepsi Chart Show, which was broadcast on Channel 5 on 13 May 1999.^[4]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Ian Hyland of the Sunday Mirror picked "III Wishes" as one of the "singles of the week" and gave it an 8 out of 10 rating. He wrote, "Not as catchy as 'Tequila' but just as easy to remember after you've had a few. Grin and swear it."^[5] The Evening Standard wrote, "A lovely crunchy bassline, meaty, spirited, roaring, and a song which seems to be made up entirely of its chorus". They added, "Nothing like as annoyingly naff as 'Tequila', their last hit."^[6]

Track listing

Cassette single^[7]

1. "III Wishes" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
2. "Tequila" (Mint Royale Shot) – 4:09
3. "Moonage Daydream" – 4:11

CD single (UK #1)^[8]

1. "III Wishes" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
2. "Tequila" (Mint Royale Shot) – 4:09
3. "If That's What It Takes" – 2:41

CD single (UK #2)^[9]

1. "III Wishes" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
2. "III Wishes" (Scuba Z Remix) – 3:37
3. "100 Things" – 2:47

CD single (UK promo #1)^[10]

1. "III Wishes" (Radio Edit) – 3:31

CD single (UK promo #2)^[11]

1. "III Wishes" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
2. "III Wishes" (Scuba Z Remix) – 3:37
3. "III Wishes" (Arthur Baker Remix) – 3:37

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD1 and CD2 liner notes and the Shaving Peaches booklet.^{[8] [9] [12]}

Terrorvision

• Tony Wright – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Mark Yates – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Leigh Marklew – bass
• Ian "Shutty" Shuttleworth – drums, percussion

Production

• John Cornfield – producer and mixing on "III Wishes"
• Terrorvision – producers and mixing on "Moonage Daydream" and "100 Things", producers on "If That's What It Takes"
• Pat Grogan – producer and mixing on "Moonage Daydream" and "100 Things"
• Edwyn Collins – producer on "Tequila"
• Scuba Z, Arthur Baker – remixes of "III Wishes"

Other

• AP;D – design
• Rob White – photography

Notes and References

1. Web site: TERRORVISION; full Official Chart History . Official Charts Company . 3 July 2021.
2. Web site: BBC Online - A Question of Pop - Interviews - Tony Wright from Terrorvision . . 3 July 2021.
3. Web site: Interview with Tony Wright (Terrorvision) . Burgess . Mick . 12 July 2013 . Metal Express Radio . 3 July 2021.
4. News: 13 May 1999. Television Today: Channel 5. The Press and Journal. 4.
5. News: Hyland. Ian. 2 May 1999. Reviews: Singles of the week. Sunday Mirror. 56.
6. News: Hyland. Ian. 30 April 1999. Rock & Pop - CD Review: Singles. Evening Standard. 51.
7. III Wishes. Terrorvision. 1999. UK cassette single sleeve. EMI Records, Total Vegas Recordings. 7243 8 87029 4 2.
8. III Wishes. Terrorvision. 1999. UK CD1 liner notes. EMI Records, Total Vegas Recordings. 7243 8 87030 2 4, CD VEGASS 17.
9. III Wishes. Terrorvision. 1999. UK CD2 liner notes. EMI Records, Total Vegas Recordings. 7243 8 87029 2 8, CD VEGAS 17.
10. III Wishes. Terrorvision. 1999. UK promo CD liner notes. EMI Records, Total Vegas Recordings. CD VEGADJ 17.
11. III Wishes. Terrorvision. 1999. UK promo CD liner notes. EMI Records, Total Vegas Recordings. CD VEGDJS 17.
12. Shaving Peaches. Shaving Peaches. Terrorvision. 1998. UK album booklet. EMI Records, Total Vegas Recordings. 7243 4 96132 2 5.