Wind Beneath My Wings

"Wind Beneath My Wings"
Song

"Wind Beneath My Wings" is a U.S. number-one single performed by Bette Midler from the soundtrack of the film Beaches. Written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar, it was named Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1990.

Written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar, the song was first offered to Kenny Rogers who turned it down (but later recorded a version on his "Love Songs" album in 1997). Incidentally, it was Rogers who presented Midler's Grammy for the song.

About the Song

Track listing

7": USA (Atlantic 7-88972) 7": UK (Atlantic A8972) 7": Japan (Atlantic PRS-2048) 3": Japan (Atlantic 09P3-6159)

1. "Wind Beneath My Wings"
2. "Oh Industry"

12": UK (Atlantic A8972T) 3": UK (Atlantic A8972CD)

1. "Wind Beneath My Wings"
2. "Oh Industry"
3. "I Think It's Going To Rain Today"

CDM: USA (Atlantic PR2615-2) Promo

1. "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Edit)
2. "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Album Version)

CDM: Germany (Atlantic 756785481-2)

1. "Wind Beneath My Wings"
2. "From A Distance"
3. "In My Life"
4. "To Deserve You"

Note: Released in 1996

Trivia

• One of the earliest recorded versions of the song was Colleen Hewett's, which was released six years before Bette Midler's No. 1 hit version and already on the Australian charts before Gary Morris's country hit single was released in May 1983. Although the song was made famous by Bette Midler, origins of the phrase 'Wind beneath my wings' is roughly translated from an ancient Korean good luck phrase.

• In a 2002 U.K. poll, "Wind Beneath My Wings" was found to be the most-played song at British funerals.

• The song appears at 269 in the Songs of the Century list compiled by the RIAA.

• The song is often featured in the top five feel-good and film-theme countdowns on such channels as MTV, TMF, and the Music Factory.

• In mid-2001, the song was covered by Finnish Power metal band Sonata Arctica and released on its EP Orientation (available only in Japan).

• It was deemed Britain's favourite North American ballad by Channel 4 (2004).

In Popular Culture

• Midler performed the song at a 9/11 benefit on September 23, 2001 at Yankee Stadium.

• Midler also serenaded Johnny Carson with the song on his final episode of The Tonight Show in 1992.

• The song was mentioned during The Understudy, an episode of Seinfeld. During a softball game, George who is at catcher, taunts Midler (guest-starring as herself) who is batting for the team of the Broadway production of Rochelle Rochelle: "I happened to catch Beaches the other night. 'Wind Beneath My Wings'? Give me a break."

• In the television sitcom Boy Meets World the characters Morgan and Cory Matthews sing the song in an episode; Morgan for a talent competition and Cory for his father. [1]

• In Code Lyoko, Aelita Hopper mentions this song while flirting with Jeremie Belpois in the second Season 4 episode.

• Wind Beneath My Wings was the name of an episode of Commander in Chief, Geena Davis's short-lived political drama; Midler and Davis are good friends.

• In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai Gilmore sings a portion of the song to daughter Rory Gilmore in an episode upon discovering Rory was the cause of a fight between her present and ex-boyfriends where they destroyed a house at a party.

• It was mentioned in the US television series Desperate Housewives that Teri Hatcher's character Susan Delfino had re-written the song as a tribute to Eva Longoria's character Gabriella Solis, but was not performed.

• It was used in a video tribute to Larry Bird when he retired.

• It was made a playable song on the video song Karaoke Revolution.

• It is featured on the Shark Tale movie soundtrack.

• In an episode of Roseanne, Terms of Estrangement part 2, sisters Darlene and Becky allude to this song with Darlene stating:Did you ever know that your my hero? And Becky replying back; You are the wind beneath my wings.

• After the explosion in the Number 2 gun turret aboard USS Iowa (BB-61), a modified version of the song was played by radio stations in Hampton Roads, VA as a tribute to the 47 men that died in the accident.

Other Versions

The song has also been recorded by Lou Rawls, Sheena Easton, B.J. Thomas, Perry Como, Gary Morris, Michael Ball, Lee Greenwood, Willie Nelson, Kiki Carter, Nana Mouskouri, Sonata Arctica, Judy Collins, Colleen Hewett, Kris Shay, Patti Labelle and many others. It was performed by Peggy Lee in Atlantic City as early as 1984.

It was performed on season two of the Fox television show American Idol by semi-finalist Clay Aiken, in season three by semi-finalist Marque Lynche, and again on season five by finalist Paris Bennett, who was criticized for the choice by judge Simon Cowell as "sounding too old for [her] age". It was also performed by Nicola Roberts during Popstars: The Rivals, and sung by actor Will Ferrell to actress and long-time Midler fan Megan Mullally.

Although the song has become primarily associated with Bette Midler, other versions of the song were released to the public years before Midler's. Sheena Easton (on her album Madness, Money and Music) and Roger Whittaker both released versions of the song in 1982, though neither had a hit with it. The song entered various U.S. charts the following year in versions by Gary Morris, Gladys Knight & the Pips (their version was released under the title "Hero"), and Lou Rawls (whose version was a top ten Adult Contemporary hit). Because of the songs soaring imagery and the extreme earnestness of Midler's iconic performance, the song has become ripe for parody.

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Hot AC	2
UK UK Singles Chart	5

Chart (2008)	Peak position
UK UK Singles Chart	70