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Wind of Change (Scorpions song)

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"Wind of Change"
Song

"Wind of Change" is a 1990 power ballad written by Klaus Meine, vocalist of the Scorpions. It appeared on their 1990 album Crazy World, but did not become a worldwide hit single until 1991, when it topped the charts in Germany and across Europe, and hit #4 in the United States and #2 in the United Kingdom. It later appeared on the 1995 live album Live Bites, on their 2000 album Moment of Glory, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and on their 2001 unplugged album Acoustica.

The band also recorded a Russian-language version of the song, under the title Ветер Перемен (Veter Peremen) and a Spanish version called Vientos de Cambio.

Background and writing

The lyrics celebrate the political changes in Eastern Europe at that time – such as the Polish Round Table Agreement and fall of the Berlin Wall, the increasing freedom in the communist bloc (which would soon lead to the fall of the USSR), and the clearly imminent end of the Cold War.

Many listeners of the song who are not acquainted with Moscow are often confused by the meaning of the opening lines of the song, which are:

I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind
of change

The Moskva is the name of the river that runs through Moscow, and Gorky Park is the name of an amusement park in Moscow. The Scorpions were inspired to write this song on a visit to Moscow in 1989, and therefore included references to the aforementioned landmarks.

Legacy

In 2005 the viewers of the German television network ZDF chose this song as the song of the century. It is the highest ever selling song in Germany[citation needed] and is frequently played on television shows presenting video footage of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It is widely known in Germany as the song of German reunification (and fall of communism in Eastern Europe generally), even though it only rose to popularity two years later.

Uses of the song

Popular uses
  • Popular UK soccer show Soccer AM uses "Wind of Change" as its tribute to UK troops overseas.
  • It also features in the video game SingStar Rocks!.
  • At the end of the German movie "Manta Manta" it is played as the movie's final song.
  • The song was used in an episode of Insomniac with Dave Attell when he sees them live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Coca Cola used "Wind of Change" in the 1990s for commercials in Australia. The commercial used children playing in snow as the theme.
  • In the spoof news show Brass Eye, Ted Maul is seen talking about the "winds of change", and walks offscreen slowly while whistling along to the song - the viewer is then informed that after this sequence he hasn't actually been found since.
  • In a Top Gear episode where James May is driving the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing introduction to Wind of Change is played.
  • In the independent film In Search of a Midnight Kiss (distributed by IFC in summer 2008), writer/director Alex Holdridge has characters in the film sing an impromptu version of "Wind of Change" as the movie concludes in celebration of the main character's changing fortune, and as the credits start to roll, Austin, Texas-based rock band Sybil performs a cover of the song.
Military uses

The song has been in use for a number of years by the British Army, upon completing phase 1 training, new solders to the Royal Signals see this song, with a re-done video, to show the true realities of war to new soldiers. This includes a number of graphic deaths of civilians. This video is also shown at the ADSC Glencorse.

Track listings

Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Austria[1] Platinum November 7, 1991 30,000
France[2] Gold 1991 250,000
Germany[3] Platinum 1991 300,000
UK[4] Silver October 1, 1991 200,000
U.S.[5] Gold April 9, 1991 500,000

Charts

Preceded by French SNEP number-one single
March 9, 1991 - April 20, 1991 (7 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Norwegian VG-Lista number-one single
21/1991 (1 week)
23/1991 (1 week) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Swedish number-one single
May 8, 1991 - June 19, 1991 (7 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Swiss number-one single
May 26, 1991 (1 week)
June 9, 1991 (1 week)
July 7, 1991 - July 14, 1991 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German number-one single
May 31, 1991 - August 9, 1991 (11 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Summer Dreaming (Bacardi Feeling)"
by Kate Yanai
Preceded by Austrian number-one single
July 7, 1991 - September 1, 1991 (9 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Summer Dreaming (Bacardi Feeling)"
by Kate Yanai

See also

References

  1. ^ Austrian certifications ifpi.at (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
  2. ^ French certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
  3. ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
  4. ^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved August 8, 2008)
  5. ^ U.S. certifications riaa.com (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Wind of Change", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  7. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  8. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  9. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  10. ^ a b Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 8, 2008)
  11. ^ 1991 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
  12. ^ 1991 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
  13. ^ 1991 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
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