Wind beneath My Wings
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| "Wind beneath My Wings" | ||
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| Single by Bette Midler | ||
| from the album Beaches | ||
| Released | 1989 | |
| Format | CD single, cassette single | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 4:15 | |
| Label | Epic | |
| Writer(s) | Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar | |
| Chart positions | ||
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"Wind beneath My Wings" is a number-one single by Bette Midler from the soundtrack of the film Beaches. 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,[1] the song has also been recorded by Perry Como, Lee Greenwood, Willie Nelson, Kiki Carter, Nana Mouskouri, Sonata Arctica, and many others. It was performed on season three of the Fox television show American Idol 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.
It is often erroneously stated that the song was written for Midler;[citation needed] in reality, she was far from the first to record it. Sheena Easton 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, and Lou Rawls.
In a recent U.K. poll, "Wind beneath My Wings" was found to be the most-played song at British funerals.[2]
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.[citation needed]
Midler sang the song at a 9/11 benefit at the Yankee stadium.
"Wind beneath My Wings" was the name of an episode of Commander In Chief, Geena Davis' short lived political drama; Midler and Davis are good friends.
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 favorite American ballad by Channel 4 (2004).
| Preceded by "Rock On" by Michael Damian |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single June 10, 1989 |
Succeeded by "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" by New Kids on the Block |
