George Boyle
Wind Beneath My Wings is a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song has been recorded by various artists, including Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, Lee Greenwood, and Lou Rawls. While the song was initially conceived as a love song, the lyrics are universal and can apply to various types of relationships, including friends and family. Bette Midler's version of the song, released in 1988 for the film Beaches, became the most famous and highest-charting version, winning Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song has been featured on lists of popular wedding songs and is often used in heartfelt dedications to loved ones, making it a popular choice for weddings and memorials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Ballad, Pop, Country, Inspirational Love Song |
| Lyrics | Convey a message of enduring friendship and support |
| Mood | Sentimental |
| Artists who have recorded the song | Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, Lee Greenwood, Colleen Hewett, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Gary Morris, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Kamahl, Wedding Music |
| Year written | 1982 |
| Highest-charting version | Recorded by Bette Midler in 1988 |
| Year of first commercial release | 1982 |
| First commercially released by | Roger Whittaker |
| First version to chart | Lou Rawls |
| Highest chart position | #1 in June 1989 |
| Awards | Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association |
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What You'll Learn
The song's meaning
"Wind Beneath My Wings" is a song about support and gratitude. The song's lyrics express the highs one can achieve while acknowledging those who have supported them on their journey. The song applies to various types of relationships, including friends, family, and caregivers. It is a song that can provide comfort and strength during difficult times and life changes.
The song was written in 1982 by Americans Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. Silbar and Henley recorded a demo of the song and gave it to musician Bob Montgomery, who recorded his version and changed it from a mid-tempo song to a ballad. The song was then offered to and recorded by several other artists, including Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, Lee Greenwood, and Colleen Hewett. However, it was Bette Midler's version in 1988 for the film "Beaches" that became the most famous and iconic.
Midler's interpretation of the song transformed it into an "epic pop song" and a powerful ballad, showcasing her brash and larger-than-life personality. Her heartfelt delivery conveyed the message of enduring friendship and support. The accompanying music video, in black and white, depicted two girls befriending each other on a beach, reflecting the theme of companionship in the song.
The song's lyrics, such as "I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it/I would be nothing without you," speak to the dynamic feelings of providing and receiving support. It acknowledges the role of a "wingman" or a partner who complements us and helps us fly higher. The song has often been played at funerals, and its message of gratitude and remembrance resonates with people during difficult times.
"Wind Beneath My Wings" has had a lasting impact and has become one of Bette Midler's signature songs. It won Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1990 and received a platinum disc by the RIAA for sales exceeding one million copies in the US alone. The song's universal message of support and gratitude has made it a timeless and emotional favourite for many.
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Artists who have recorded it
"Wind Beneath My Wings", sometimes titled "The Wind Beneath My Wings" or "Hero", was written in 1982 by Americans Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song was first recorded by Australian singer Kamahl in 1982, but it was not commercially released as it was felt that he did not suit the country and western style.
The song was then offered to several other artists, and Roger Whittaker became the first to release it commercially. It appears on his 1982 studio album, also titled "The Wind Beneath My Wings". Shortly thereafter, the song was recorded by Australian artist Colleen Hewett and released by Avenue Records in 1982. Hewett's recording became the first version of the song to be issued as a single and to appear on a national chart.
In 1983, the song was recorded by Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Gary Morris. Rawls once performed a twelve-minute live version of the song at a concert in Elgin, Illinois. Morris's version reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and was named Song of the Year by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
In 1988, singer and actress Bette Midler recorded the song for the soundtrack to the film "Beaches". Midler's version was the highest-charting version of the song to date and became one of her signature songs. It won Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Midler also performed the song at the Prayer for America memorial service held at Yankee Stadium after the September 11 attacks.
In the 1990s, English actor/singers Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn released their versions as singles. Tarmey's version, from his debut album "A Gift of Love", reached No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart in 1993.
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Writers of the song
"Wind Beneath My Wings" was written in 1982 by Americans Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. Silbar and Henley were brainstorming song ideas when Silbar noticed the title "Wind Beneath My Wings" on Henley's notepad. The title was inspired by a poem Henley had written, and Silbar loved it, especially since he was learning to fly an airplane and become a pilot.
Silbar and Henley typically wrote the chorus first, but with this song, they started with the first line of the verse. The lines came to them in a spontaneous way, with a stream-of-consciousness flow. By the end of the day, they had written most of the song. The next morning, they polished the lyrics and made final adjustments. In the afternoon, they demoed the song as a mid-tempo number with a guitar-based arrangement.
Silbar and Henley believed they had written a special song. They thought it would be a love song, with a man singing to a woman or vice versa. They delivered the demo to their publisher, Bob Montgomery of House of Gold Music, who loved it. Montgomery recorded a ballad version of the song over the weekend, which brought Silbar and Henley to tears.
Silbar reflected on the impact of "Wind Beneath My Wings" years after its release, expressing his joy that the song had brought inspiration and joy to many people. He shared how meaningful it was to hear others tell him about performing the song at important events in their lives, such as weddings, funerals, and graduations.
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Highest-charting version
"Wind Beneath My Wings", sometimes titled "The Wind Beneath My Wings" or "Hero", was written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song was first recorded by Australian singer Kamahl in 1982 for a country and western album, but it was not commercially released. The first commercial release of the song was by Roger Whittaker, followed by Sheena Easton and Lee Greenwood.
The highest-charting version of the song was recorded in 1988 by singer and actress Bette Midler for the soundtrack to the film Beaches. Midler's version, released in November 1988, became the definitive version of the song, blowing away all the others that came before it. It became one of her signature songs and was awarded a platinum disc by the RIAA for sales exceeding one million copies in the US alone. It also won Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1990. The song was a #1 hit for Midler in June 1989 and reached #3 in the UK.
Prior to Midler's version, the first version to chart was by Lou Rawls, who took it to #65 in 1983. Later that year, a version by Gladys Knight & The Pips, retitled "Hero (Wind Beneath My Wings)", went to #104. Other artists who covered the song before Midler include Lee Greenwood, Sheena Easton, Willie Nelson, and Patti LaBelle.
The song has been described as an inspirational love song and a sweet, melodious ballad. It has been used in countless heartfelt dedications to loved ones and has endured as a popular choice for memorials and funerals. The universal appeal of the song lies in its ability to apply to various types of relationships beyond romantic love, such as friends and family.
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Awards won
"Wind Beneath My Wings" has won several awards and has been recorded by numerous artists since it was first written in 1982 by Americans Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. The song was first recorded by Australian singer Kamahl in 1982, but it was not commercially released as it was felt that his voice did not suit the country and western style. The song was then recorded by several other artists, including Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, and Lee Greenwood.
The highest-charting and most famous version of the song was recorded in 1988 by singer and actress Bette Midler for the soundtrack to the film Beaches. Midler's version won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1990 Grammy Awards. It also achieved Platinum status from the RIAA for sales exceeding one million copies in the US alone.
In addition to Midler's awards for the song, other artists have also received recognition for their recordings. Gary Morris released a country version of the song in 1983, which won Song of the Year at the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards. Lou Rawls was the first to score a major hit with the song, with his version peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, No. 60 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and No. 65 on the main Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Gladys Knight & the Pips also released a recording of the song in 1983, with their version peaking at No. 64 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart and reaching No. 23 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
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Frequently asked questions
'Wind Beneath My Wings' is not specifically a wedding song, but it has been included in several wedding albums, such as 'Piano Wedding Classics', 'Romantic Wedding Music', and 'Wedding Songs'.
'Wind Beneath My Wings' was written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley in 1982. The first recording of the song was done by Australian singer Kamahl in the same year, but it was not commercially released. The first commercial release was by Roger Whittaker, followed by Colleen Hewett, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Gary Morris.
Bette Midler's version of 'Wind Beneath My Wings' in 1988 is considered the most famous and definitive version of the song. It became one of her signature songs and topped the US singles chart.
'Wind Beneath My Wings' is a highly emotional song that has been used in countless dedications to loved ones. While it was initially conceived as a love song from a lover to another, the lyrics are more universal and can be applied to various types of relationships, such as friends or family. The song celebrates the person who has been an invaluable support system, the "wind beneath her wings".
