Dust in the Wind
"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.
The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single. 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' only single so certified as of September 17, 2008.[1]
Background and writing
A last-minute addition to the track lineup for Point of Know Return, "Dust In the Wind" would also be its greatest success.
The guitar line for the song was written by Kerry Livgren as a finger exercise for learning fingerpicking. His wife, Vicci, heard what he was doing, remarked that the melody was nice, and encouraged him to write lyrics for it.[2] Livgren was unsure whether his fellow band members would like it, since it was a departure from their signature style. However he did offer it to them, and the song was accepted and then recorded.[2]
"Dust In the Wind" was one of Kansas' first acoustic tracks; its slow melody and philosophical lyrics differ from their other hits such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Point of Know Return". A meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death, the lyrical theme bears a striking resemblance to the biblical passage Genesis 3:19 ("...for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."), but the actual inspiration was from a book of Native American poetry, which includes the line "for all we are is dust in the wind."[2]
The guitar track comes from two guitarists playing six-string guitars in unison, one in standard tuning and the other in Nashville tuning, to create a chimy sound similar to a twelve-string guitar. The instrumental bridge contains a distinctive melodic line and harmony for violin and viola.
Kansas also released a live version of the song on their album Two for the Show and a symphonic version on Always Never the Same.
Chart performance
| Chart (1978) |
Peak
position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 |
6 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary |
6 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles |
3 |
| Dutch Singles Chart |
22 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart |
36 |
References in popular culture
Cover versions
- In 1999, Canadian reggae singer Snow recorded a reggae version of Dust in the Wind, called Hard Life, on his Cooler Conditions album.[3]
- The Buddy Miles Regiment covered "Dust In The Wind" on their 1981 Double LP Sneak Attack.[4]
- Soprano and Broadway star Sarah Brightman covered this song on her 1998 album Eden.[5]
- 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.[6]
- The song was sampled in 1999 by American singer Jordan Knight on his song "Close My Eyes".
- The Brazilian singer Paula Fernandes recorded this song for her same titled album "Dust in the Wind" in 2006.
- The Scorpions included a live version of "Dust In The Wind" on their 2001 CD Acoustica.[7]
- Metalium included the song as the bonus track on the Live-CD packaged with their 2001 DVD/Video release titled Metalian Attack.[8][9]
- 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.[10]
- 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[11] 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.[12]
- A parody version of "Dust in the Wind" was released by J.B.O..
- 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.[13]
- The Muppets' Beaker performed a version of the song in a YouTube video.[14]
- Kansas ex-lead singer John Elefante (1982–1984)[15] covers "Dust in the Wind" in his 2010 album Revolution Of Mind with band Mastedon. It also features the song's author and founding Kansas member Kerry Livgren on electric guitar.
- In early 2008, 15yo Australian classical-crossover, soprano Grace Bawden recorded her version.[16] This track was included on her debut album, Gifts of Grace, released in September 2009.[17]
- The song is featured in the movie "The Beach" during the funeral scene after the shark attack.
- Haggard also uses the harmony solo of the song, in their song, "The Observer"
[18]
References
External links
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