When You Wish Upon a Star - wikipedia When You Wish Upon a Star This article is about the song. For the album by Bill Frisell, see When You Wish Upon a Star ( album ). `` When You Wish Upon a Star '' Single by Cliff Edwards from the album Pinocchio ( Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ) Released 1940 ( 1940 ) Recorded 1939 Genre Soundtrack Length 3 : 17 Label Victor, EMI Songwriter ( s ) Leigh Harline, Ned Washington `` When You Wish Upon a Star '' is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney 's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. The original version was sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, and is heard over the opening credits and in the final scene of the film. The song has since become the representative song of The Walt Disney Company. The recording by Cliff Edwards and Chorus was released by Victor Records as catalogue number 261546 and 26477A ( in the US ) and by EMI on the His Master 's Voice Label as catalogue number BD 821. Edwards recorded another version in 1940 for an American Decca Records `` cover version '' of the score of Pinocchio, conducted by Victor Young and featuring soprano Julietta Novis and The King 's Men. It was first released on a 4 - record 78 - RPM album set, and years later as one side of an LP, backed by selections in grayscale and black and white and technicolor from The Wizard of Oz. A recording with Christian Rub ( with Mister Geppetto 's voice ), Cliff Edwards and Chorus was released by Victor Records as catalogue number 26479B ( in the US ) and by EMI on the His Master 's Voice label as catalogue number BD 823. It won the 1940 Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was also the first Disney song to win an Oscar. Contents 1 Influence 2 Disney icon 3 Jazz 4 Family Guy parody and lawsuit 5 References 6 External links Influence The American Film Institute ranked `` When You Wish Upon a Star '' seventh in their 100 Greatest Songs in Film History, the highest ranked Disney animated film song, and also one of only four Disney animated film songs to appear on the list, the others being `` Someday My Prince Will Come '' from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ranked at No. 19, `` Beauty and the Beast '' from Beauty and the Beast ranked at No. 62, and `` Hakuna Matata '' from The Lion King, ranked at No. 99. The song reached the top five in Billboard 's Record Buying Guide, a predecessor of the retail sales chart. Popular versions in 1940 were by Glenn Miller ( vocal by Ray Eberle ), Guy Lombardo ( vocal by Carmen Lombardo ), Horace Heidt and Cliff Edwards. It has been recorded by many other artists since then. In Japan, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark, the song has become a Christmas song, often referring to the Star of Bethlehem. The Swedish language version is called `` Ser du stjärnan i det blå '', roughly translated : `` Do you see the star in the blue '', and the Danish title is `` Når du ser et stjerneskud '', which translates as `` When you see a shooting star ''. In Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway the song is played on television every Christmas Eve in the traditional Disney one - hour Christmas cabaret From All of Us to All of You, and the gathering of the entire family to watch this is considered a Scandinavian tradition. The Library Of Congress deemed the song `` culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant '' and preserved it into the National Recording Registry in 2009. Brian Wilson has said that the melody of the Beach Boys hit song, `` Surfer Girl '', which has the same AABA form, is loosely based on the Dion and the Belmonts version of `` When You Wish Upon a Star ''. Disney icon `` When You Wish Upon a Star '', along with Mickey Mouse, has become an icon of The Walt Disney Company. In the 1950s and 1960s, Walt Disney used the song in the opening sequences of all the editions of the Walt Disney anthology television series. It has also been used to accompany the Walt Disney Pictures opening logos -- including the present - day logo -- since the 1980s. The ships of the Disney Cruise Line use the first seven notes of the song 's melody as their horn signals. Additionally, many productions at Disney theme parks -- particularly fireworks shows and parades -- employ the song. Jazz The piece has become a jazz standard. It has been performed by artists including Louis Armstrong, June Christy, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Glenn Miller, Shakatak, Harry James, Joe Pass, the Keith Jarrett Trio, the Manhattan Transfer, Sun Ra, Jason Becker, Leon Redbone, Wynton Marsalis, Gregory Porter, Bill Evans and Shirley Bassey. Family Guy parody and lawsuit The owner of the rights to the song, Bourne Co. Music Publishers, sued Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Fox Broadcasting Company, Fuzzy Door Productions, Cartoon Network, Walter Murphy and Seth MacFarlane to try to stop distribution of a 2003 Family Guy episode entitled `` When You Wish Upon a Weinstein '' that parodies the song in a version called `` I Need a Jew ''. A federal judge ruled against Bourne Co, stating that a parody of the song did not infringe on the company 's copyright. References ^ Jump up to : Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 134. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1986 ). Joel Whitburn 's Pop Memories 1890 - 1954. Wisconsin, USA : Record Research Inc. p. 609. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 083 - 0. Jump up ^ Philip Lambert, Inside The Music Of Brian Wilson : The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys ' Founding Genius ( Continuum, 2007 ) : 28. Jump up ^ Brian Wilson, in @ BrianWilsonLive, February 16, 2011 : `` We 're doin ' `` When You Wish Upon A Star '' for the new album. It kinda inspired `` Surfer Girl. '' -- Brian ``. Jump up ^ Philip Lambert, Inside the Music of Brian Wilson : The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys ' Founding Genius ( Continuum, 2007 ) : 27. Jump up ^ Jim Fusilli, Pet Sounds, Volume 19 of 33 1 / 3 ( Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005 ) : 23. Jump up ^ Domenic Priore, Smile : The Story of Brian Wilson 's Lost Masterpiece ( Sanctuary, 2005 ) : 32. Jump up ^ `` When You Wish Upon A Star ''. Jazz Standards.com. Retrieved 2 March 2012. Jump up ^ Owner of Wish Upon A Star Son Loses Lawsuit Yahoo News, March 16, 2009 External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Dion and the Belmonts Angelo D'Aleo Fred Milano Carlo Mastrangelo Dion DiMucci Songs `` Mairzy Doats '' `` I Wonder Why '' `` No One Knows '' `` A Teenager in Love '' `` Where or When '' `` That 's My Desire '' `` When You Wish upon a Star '' `` In the Still of the Night '' Related The Belmonts Academy Award for Best Original Song 1934 -- 1940 `` The Continental '' Music : Con Conrad Lyrics : Herb Magidson ( 1934 ) `` Lullaby of Broadway '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Al Dubin ( 1935 ) `` The Way You Look Tonight '' Music : Jerome Kern Lyrics : Dorothy Fields ( 1936 ) `` Sweet Leilani '' Music and lyrics : Harry Owens ( 1937 ) `` Thanks for the Memory '' Music : Ralph Rainger Lyrics : Leo Robin ( 1938 ) `` Over the Rainbow '' Music : Harold Arlen Lyrics : E.Y. Harburg ( 1939 ) `` When You Wish Upon a Star '' Music : Leigh Harline Lyrics : Ned Washington ( 1940 ) 1941 -- 1950 `` The Last Time I Saw Paris '' Music : Jerome Kern Lyrics : Oscar Hammerstein II ( 1941 ) `` White Christmas '' Music and lyrics : Irving Berlin ( 1942 ) `` You 'll Never Know '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Mack Gordon ( 1943 ) `` Swinging on a Star '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Johnny Burke ( 1944 ) `` It Might as Well Be Spring '' Music : Richard Rodgers Lyrics : Oscar Hammerstein II ( 1945 ) `` On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1946 ) `` Zip - a-Dee - Doo - Dah '' Music : Allie Wrubel Lyrics : Ray Gilbert ( 1947 ) `` Buttons and Bows '' Music : Jay Livingston Lyrics : Ray Evans ( 1948 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' Music and lyrics : Frank Loesser ( 1949 ) `` Mona Lisa '' Music and lyrics : Ray Evans and Jay Livingston ( 1950 ) 1951 -- 1960 `` In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening '' Music : Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1951 ) `` High Noon ( Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin ' ) '' Music : Dimitri Tiomkin Lyrics : Ned Washington ( 1952 ) `` Secret Love '' Music : Sammy Fain Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1953 ) `` Three Coins in the Fountain '' Music : Jule Styne Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1954 ) `` Love Is a Many Splendored Thing '' Music : Sammy Fain Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1955 ) `` Que Sera, Sera ( Whatever Will Be, Will Be ) '' Music and lyrics : Jay Livingston and Ray Evans ( 1956 ) `` All the Way '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1957 ) `` Gigi '' Music : Frederick Loewe Lyrics : Alan Jay Lerner ( 1958 ) `` High Hopes '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1959 ) `` Never on Sunday '' Music and lyrics : Manos Hatzidakis ( 1960 ) 1961 -- 1970 `` Moon River '' Music : Henry Mancini Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1961 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' Music : Henry Mancini Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1962 ) `` Call Me Irresponsible '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1963 ) `` Chim Chim Cher - ee '' Music and lyrics : Richard M. 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Rahman Lyrics : Gulzar ( 2008 ) `` The Weary Kind '' Music and lyrics : Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett ( 2009 ) `` We Belong Together '' Music and lyrics : Randy Newman ( 2010 ) 2011 -- present `` Man or Muppet '' Music and lyrics : Bret McKenzie ( 2011 ) `` Skyfall '' Music and lyrics : Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth ( 2012 ) `` Let It Go '' Music and lyrics : Kristen Anderson - Lopez and Robert Lopez ( 2013 ) `` Glory '' Music and lyrics : John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn ( 2014 ) `` Writing 's on the Wall '' Music and lyrics : James Napier and Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` City of Stars '' Music : Justin Hurwitz Lyrics : Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ( 2016 ) `` Remember Me '' Music and lyrics : Kristen Anderson - Lopez and Robert Lopez ( 2017 ) Carlo Collodi 's The Adventures of Pinocchio Characters Pinocchio Candlewick The Coachman The Fairy with Turquoise Hair Figaro The Fox and the Cat Mister Geppetto The Green Fisherman Mangiafuoco Talking Cricket ( Jiminy Cricket ) The Terrible Dogfish Films The Adventures of Pinocchio ( 1936 ) Pinocchio ( 1940 ) Pinocchio in Outer Space ( 1965 ) Pinocchio ( 1968 ) Pinocchio ( 1972 ) The Adventures of Buratino ( 1976 ) Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night ( 1987 ) Pinocchio ( 1992 ) Pinocchio 's Revenge ( 1996 ) The Adventures of Pinocchio ( 1996 ) The New Adventures of Pinocchio ( 1999 ) Geppetto ( 2000 ) A.I. Artificial Intelligence ( 2001 ) A Tree of Palme ( 2002 ) Pinocchio ( 2002 ) Pinocchio 3000 ( 2004 ) Hinokio ( 2005 ) Pistachio -- The Little Boy That Wood n't ( 2010 ) Pinocchio ( 2012 ) Pinocchio II ( 2019 ) Television Pinocchio ( 1957 TV musical ) The New Adventures of Pinocchio ( 1960 ) Pinocchio : The Series ( 1972 anime series ) The Adventures of Pinocchio ( 1972 miniseries ) Pinocchio ( 1976 TV musical ) Piccolino no Bōken ( 1976 ) Pinocchio 's Christmas ( 1980 ) Pinocchio ( 2008 TV film ) Once Upon a Time ( 2011 -- present ) Pinocchio ( 2014 TV series ) Other media The Golden Key, or the Adventures of Buratino ( novel ) Pinocchio 's Daring Journey ( attraction ) Disney 's Pinocchio ( video game ) Pinocchio ( Fables comics ) Disney songs Music soundtrack `` When You Wish upon a Star '' `` I 've Got No Strings '' Stage The Adventures of Pinocchio ( Dove opera ) Disney 's My Son Pinocchio : Geppetto 's Musical Tale ( musical ) Pinocchio ( 2017 play ) Pinocchio ( Boesmans opera ) Related Land of Toys Pinocchio paradox Fontana a Pinocchio Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=When_You_Wish_Upon_a_Star&oldid=853218362 '' Categories : 1940 songs Disney songs Best Original Song Academy Award - winning songs Pop ballads Songs with lyrics by Ned Washington Songs with music by Leigh Harline United States National Recording Registry recordings Pinocchio ( 1940 film ) Music published by Bourne Co. Music Publishers 1940s jazz standards Gene Simmons songs Compositions in E major Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Italiano Bahasa Melayu 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 6 more Edit links This page was last edited on 3 August 2018, at 06 : 12 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote when you wish upon a star
Answer: Leigh Harline