Dust in the Wind

This article is about the 1977 song by Kansas. For the 1986 movie by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, see Dust in the Wind (film).

"Dust in the Wind"
Song

"Dust in the Wind" is a hit single released by the American progressive rock band Kansas in 1977. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single. Written by Kerry Livgren, it was one of the band's first acoustic tracks; its slow melody and melancholy lyrics differ from their other hits, such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "The Wall". The song's instrumental bridge contains a distinctive and highly memorable melodic line for solo viola played by Robby Steinhardt.

Kansas also released a live version of the song on their album Two for the Show.

References in popular culture

• It was featured in the 2003 movie Old School where it was sung by Will Ferrell's character at Blue's funeral, and at the end of the movie Blue sang the song while playing a piano in the sky.
• For a Harvard Commencement Speech, Will Ferrell performed part of the song; and because he just realized it was a "terrible graduation song", he proceeded to change the lyrics, to make it less of " a downer".
• It was used during the second season episodes of Highlander: The Series, including "The Darkness", after Duncan MacLeod's mortal girlfriend Tessa Noël dies, and "Unholy Alliance".
• "Dust in the Wind" is featured in an episode of The Simpsons in which Bart realizes he is not a child anymore.
• It made an appearance as well in an episode of Desperate Housewives called "Your Fault" (Season 1).
• "Dust in the Wind" is referenced in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, when Ted tells Socrates that 'All we are is dust in the wind, dude.'
• It was used in a commercial for the Subaru Tribeca SUV, driving by other vehicles that turned into dust.
• It was featured in an episode of Recess, where Gus (on being proclaimed the "New Kid") shook his head and said "All we are is dust in the wind...".
• It is referenced in an episode of Jimmy Neutron where Jimmy's clone/alter ego has depression.
• It was played at the beginning of the Freaks and Geeks episode named "We've Got Spirit" as Nick asks Lindsay if she thinks about "heavy stuff ... like death and the meaning of life."
• It was shown as number 5 on VH1's 40 Greatest Softsational Soft Rock Songs of All Time.
• The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Party.
• The song appears during a segment of the season premiere of the 8th season of American Idol.
• The song appears in the episode of Family Guy, The Juice Is Loose, when Peter takes a contemplative walk around Quahog to consider whether or not he should play a round of golf with O.J. Simpson.
• The song is referenced in the TV show Bones, as a soundtrack on a CD for Ange after she breaks up with Roxie.
• The song is referenced by Kid Rock in his song "Cowboy".

Cover versions

• The Buddy Miles Regiment covered "Dust In The Wind" on their 1981 Double LP Sneak Attack.
• Soprano and Broadway star Sarah Brightman covered this song on her 1998 album Eden.
• The American R&B and Neo-soul singer Eric Benét covered "Dust In The Wind" on his 1999 album A Day in the Life.
• An electronic dance version was released by Interface in 1999.
• The Scorpions included a live version of "Dust In The Wind" on their 2001 CD Acoustica.
• Metalium included the song as the bonus track on the Live-CD packaged with their 2001 DVD/Video release titled Metalian Attack.
• The American trip hop group Daughter Darling included a cover on their debut album Sweet Shadows, released in 2002.
• Former New York Yankee center fielder Bernie Williams plays a jazz guitar version on his album titled The Journey Within released in 2003.
• Female vocalist Chantal Richard included a cover of this song on her 2004 album Ashes to Water.
• William Joseph covers the song on his 2004 album Within, featuring Garou as the lead singer.
• Two time Best American DJ award winning duo Gabriel & Dresden covered "Dust In The Wind" in their 2006 self-titled album Gabriel & Dresden, featuring Molly Bancroft as the lead singer.
• The Sasha & Shawna album Siren includes a cover of the song. This album, produced by Peter Asher, was released in 2007.
• The version by Spanish heavy metal band Mägo de Oz is called "Pensando en ti" (Thinking about you). It was performed only live and can be heard on their live album Fölktergeist and on the Live DVD A Costa da Rock. A studio version for this song was also included in the El Que Quiera Entender Que Entienda single.
• The Chilean punk rock band Los Mox! has recorded a Spanish-language cover called "Polvo en el viento".
• Korean singer J covers the song on her album Blue.
• A parody version of "Dust in the Wind" was released by J.B.O..
• Another parody version was released by Zack Sauce, a racially-prolific soft rock parody band.
• Brazilian Country Duo Christian e Ralf recorded a Portuguese Version of the Song,named "Poeira no Vento"
• Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps from Jacksonville, Alabama will feature the song in the ballad of their 2009 production, "Live... In Concert - The Music of Kansas."
• A parody titled "Dust Up His Nose" (a song about a PCP addict), was sung by Larry Rand in 1978 and played often on the Dr. Demento Radio Show.

Trivia

The song's guitar accompaniment, commonly believed to be a single twelve-string guitar, is actually two six-string guitars played in unison, with one guitar in Nashville tuning.

The 45-rpm single was certified gold for sales of one million units by the RIAA shortly after the height of its popularity as a hit single. More than 25 years later, the RIAA certified gold the digital download format of the song, Kansas's only single so certified as of September 17, 2008.

See also

• Kansas
• Progressive rock
• Point of Know Return

External links

• Official Site
• Official Site of Kerry Livgren
• SongFacts
• 40 Dust in the Wind covers