Wild Is the Wind (song)

"Wild Is the Wind"
"Wild Is the Wind"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Changestwobowie
B-side	"Golden Years"
Released	November 1981
Recorded	September–November 1975
Studio	Cherokee, Los Angeles
Genre	R&B
Length	3:34 (Music video); 5:58 (album version)
Label	RCA; BOW 10
Songwriter(s)	Dimitri Tiomkin; Ned Washington;
Producer(s)	David Bowie; Harry Maslin;
David Bowie singles chronology

"Wild is the Wind"
"Wild is the Wind"
Single by Johnny Mathis
B-side	"No Love (But Your Love)"
Released	November 11, 1957
Recorded	1957
Studio	Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City
Genre	Pop
Length	2:22
Label	Columbia
Composer(s)	Dimitri Tiomkin
Lyricist(s)	Ned Washington
Johnny Mathis singles chronology

"Wild Is the Wind" is a song written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington for the 1957 film Wild Is the Wind. Johnny Mathis recorded the song for the film and released it as a single in November 1957. Mathis' version reached No. 22 on the Billboard chart. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1958, but lost to "All the Way" by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn from The Joker is Wild.^[1]

The song has been recorded many times, by many performers. The best known versions are by Nina Simone in 1966, and by David Bowie released in 1976/1981 as a tribute to Simone.^[2]

Johnny Mathis[]

Mathis recorded the song with a flexible sense of meter, rushing some words as if they were speech.^[3] At the 30th Academy Awards in 1958 (where it was nominated for Best Song), Mathis performed the song live.

Nina Simone[]

Nina Simone first recorded "Wild Is the Wind" live in 1959; this version appearing on the album Nina Simone at Town Hall. Her most famous interpretation of the song was a studio recording released on the compilation album Wild Is the Wind (1966), made of songs recorded for two earlier album projects. Simone reworked the song with slow, sparse instrumentation, stretching the vocal delivery to express soulful, hopeless loss.^[4]^[5] Simone's 1966 version appeared on the trailer for the 2008 movie Revolutionary Road. In November 2013 (54 years later after the first release of Simone's version), the song reached number 6 on Billboard's Digital Jazz chart.^[6]

David Bowie[]

David Bowie recorded a version of "Wild Is the Wind" for his 1976 album Station to Station. Bowie was an admirer of Simone’s style, and after meeting her in Los Angeles in 1975, he was inspired to record the song for his album. Bowie later said that Simone's version "really affected me... I recorded it as an hommage to Nina."^[2]

Bowie took special care with the contemporary rock arrangement and production of "Wild Is the Wind", committing to an emotional and romantic vocal performance, the words drawn out more slowly and with a greater sense of loss, following the 1966 Simone version rather than the Mathis original.^[3]

Promotional video[]

To promote the 1981 compilation album Changestwobowie, a black and white promotional video was made, directed by David Mallet. It featured Bowie and four musicians miming to the studio recording, including Tony Visconti (double bass), (guitar), Mel Gaynor (drums), and Andy Hamilton (saxophone). The black backdrop and stark lighting reproduced the style of Bowie's Isolar – 1976 Tour.^[7]

1976 production credits[]

Musicians

David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, production
Carlos Alomar or Earl Slick – electric guitar
George Murray – bass guitar
Dennis Davis – drums

Producers

Harry Maslin
David Bowie

Bowie live[]

Bowie performed the song during his June 2000 Mini Tour. A live recording from the BBC Radio Theatre, London, on June 27, 2000, was released on a bonus disc accompanying the first release of Bowie at the Beeb in 2000. A performance on June 23, 2000 was recorded for Channel 4's TFI Friday. Bowie's performance of the song, as his opening number, at the Glastonbury Festival on June 25, 2000, was released in 2018 on Glastonbury 2000.

Bowie also performed the song with Mike Garson on piano for the Black Ball charity concert in New York in November 2006; the concert was Bowie's final stage performance before his death in 2016.^[8]

References[]

^ "The 30th Academy Awards | 1958". Oscars.org. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Pegg 2011, p. 278.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b James E. Perone (2007). The Words and Music of David Bowie. Greenwood. pp. 54–55. ISBN 9780275992453.
^ "Review: 'Nina Revisited... A Tribute To Nina Simone'". Npr.org. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
^ "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". Ft.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021. Cite uses generic title (help)
^ "Nina Simone". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
^ Pegg 2011, p. 734.
^ Pegg 2011, p. 279.

Bibliography[]

Pegg, Nicholas (2011). The Complete David Bowie (6th ed.). London: Titan Books. ISBN 9780857682901.

External links[]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

[1] "The 30th Academy Awards | 1958". Oscars.org. Retrieved April 28, 2021.

[FOOTNOTEPegg2011278-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Pegg 2011, p. 278.

[Perone-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b James E. Perone (2007). The Words and Music of David Bowie. Greenwood. pp. 54–55. ISBN 9780275992453.

[4] "Review: 'Nina Revisited... A Tribute To Nina Simone'". Npr.org. Retrieved April 28, 2021.

[5] "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". Ft.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021. Cite uses generic title (help)

[6] "Nina Simone". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.

[FOOTNOTEPegg2011734-7] Pegg 2011, p. 734.

[FOOTNOTEPegg2011279-8] Pegg 2011, p. 279.

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show v t Johnny Mathis
Studio albums	Johnny Mathis Wonderful, Wonderful Warm Good Night, Dear Lord Swing Softly Merry Christmas Open Fire, Two Guitars Heavenly Faithfully Johnny's Mood The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway I'll Buy You a Star Live It Up! Rapture Johnny Sounds of Christmas Romantically Tender Is the Night The Wonderful World of Make Believe This Is Love Olé Broadway Love Is Everything The Sweetheart Tree The Shadow of Your Smile So Nice Johnny Mathis Sings Up, Up and Away Love Is Blue Those Were the Days Love Theme from "Romeo And Juliet" (A Time for Us) Give Me Your Love for Christmas Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head Close to You Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert Love Story You've Got a Friend The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) Song Sung Blue Me and Mrs. Jones Killing Me Softly with Her Song I'm Coming Home The Heart of a Woman When Will I See You Again Feelings I Only Have Eyes for You Mathis Is... Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me You Light Up My Life That's What Friends Are For The Best Days of My Life Mathis Magic Different Kinda Different I Love My Lady Friends in Love A Special Part of Me Right from the Heart Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis The Hollywood Musicals Once in a While In the Still of the Night In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington How Do You Keep the Music Playing? All About Love Because You Loved Me: The Songs of Diane Warren Mathis on Broadway The Christmas Album Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album A Night to Remember Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville Sending You a Little Christmas Johnny Mathis Sings the Great New American Songbook
Compilation albums	Johnny's Greatest Hits More Johnny's Greatest Hits Portrait of Johnny Johnny's Newest Hits I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits The Great Years People The Impossible Dream Johnny Mathis' All-Time Greatest Hits Johnny Mathis Sings the Great Songs The Johnny Mathis Collection The Mathis Collection Tears and Laughter The Best of Johnny Mathis 1975–1980 The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album Celebration – The Anniversary Album 16 Most Requested Songs Better Together: The Duet Album The Christmas Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection The Hits of Johnny Mathis The Ultimate Hits Collection The Essential Johnny Mathis The Very Best of Johnny Mathis Gold: A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration The Ultimate Collection The Classic Christmas Album
Live albums	Johnny Mathis in Person: Recorded Live at Las Vegas Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole Live
Box sets	The Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection The Complete Global Albums Collection The Singles The Complete Christmas Collection 1958–2010 The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection
Singles	"Wonderful! Wonderful!" "It's Not for Me to Say" "Chances Are" "The Twelfth of Never" "Wild Is the Wind" "A Certain Smile" "Sleigh Ride" "Misty" "Gina "What Will Mary Say" "Beyond the Blue Horizon" "Love Me Tonight" "Remember When (We Made These Memories)" "When a Child Is Born" "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late"
Videos	Live by Request: Johnny Mathis Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful!
Related articles	Discography Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Family Ties Deniece Williams

show v t David Bowie singles
Discography Songs
1960s	"Liza Jane" "I Pity the Fool" "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" "Can't Help Thinking About Me" "Do Anything You Say" "I Dig Everything" "Rubber Band" "The Laughing Gnome" "Love You till Tuesday" "Space Oddity" "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola"
1970s	"The Prettiest Star" "Memory of a Free Festival" "Holy Holy" "Moonage Daydream" "Hang On to Yourself" "Changes" "Starman" "John, I'm Only Dancing" "The Jean Genie" "Drive-In Saturday" "Time" "Life on Mars" "Let's Spend the Night Together" "Sorrow" "Rebel Rebel" "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" "Diamond Dogs" "1984" "Knock on Wood" "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" "Young Americans" "Fame" "Golden Years" "Station to Station" (French promo) "TVC 15" "Suffragette City" "Stay" "Sound and Vision" "Be My Wife" "'Heroes'" "Beauty and the Beast" "Breaking Glass" "Boys Keep Swinging" "DJ" "Yassassin" "Look Back in Anger" "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)"
1980s	"Alabama Song" "Crystal Japan" "Ashes to Ashes" "Fashion" "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" "Up the Hill Backwards" "Under Pressure" "Wild Is the Wind" "The Drowned Girl" "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" "Let's Dance" "China Girl" "Modern Love" "Without You" "White Light/White Heat" "Blue Jean" "Tonight" "This Is Not America" "Loving the Alien" "Dancing in the Street" "Absolute Beginners" "Underground" "When the Wind Blows" "Magic Dance" "Day-In Day-Out" "Time Will Crawl" "Never Let Me Down" "Under the God" "Heaven's in Here" "Tin Machine" / "Maggie's Farm (live)" "Prisoner of Love"
1990s	"Fame '90" "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" "Baby Universal" "One Shot" "Real Cool World" "Jump They Say" "Black Tie White Noise" "Miracle Goodnight" "The Buddha of Suburbia" "Ziggy Stardust" "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" "Strangers When We Meet" / "The Man Who Sold the World (live)" "Hallo Spaceboy" "Telling Lies" "Little Wonder" "Dead Man Walking" "Seven Years in Tibet" "Pallas Athena" "I'm Afraid of Americans" "I Can't Read" "Without You I'm Nothing" "Thursday's Child" "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell"
2000s	"Survive" "Seven" "Slow Burn" "Everyone Says 'Hi'" "I've Been Waiting for You" "Shadow Man" "New Killer Star" "Just for One Day (Heroes)" "Rebel Never Gets Old"
2010s	"Where Are We Now?" "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" "The Next Day" "Valentine's Day" "Love Is Lost" "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" "Blackstar" "Lazarus" "I Can't Give Everything Away"
Other songs	"Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" "Cygnet Committee" "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" "The Width of a Circle" "All the Madmen" "Black Country Rock" "After All" "She Shook Me Cold" "The Man Who Sold the World" "The Supermen" "Oh! You Pretty Things" "Kooks" "Quicksand" "Andy Warhol" "Song for Bob Dylan" "Queen Bitch" "The Bewlay Brothers" "Bombers" "Five Years" "Soul Love" "Lady Stardust" "Velvet Goldmine" "Sweet Head" "Amsterdam" "Round and Round" "Watch That Man" "Aladdin Sane" "Panic in Detroit" "Cracked Actor" "Lady Grinning Soul" "All the Young Dudes" "Future Legend" "Sweet Thing" "Big Brother" "Can You Hear Me?" "Right" "Fascination" "Word on a Wing" "Speed of Life" "What in the World" "Always Crashing in the Same Car" "Warszawa" "Art Decade" "Weeping Wall" "Subterraneans" "Joe the Lion" "Sons of the Silent Age" "Blackout" "V-2 Schneider" "Sense of Doubt" "Neuköln" "Fantastic Voyage" "It's No Game" "Teenage Wildlife" "Scream Like a Baby" "Criminal World" "As The World Falls Down" "Girls" "Nite Flights" "I'm Deranged" "Nature Boy" "Cactus" "The Loneliest Guy" "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" "Bring Me the Disco King" "Girl Loves Me" "Dollar Days"