She's Like the Wind

"She's Like the Wind" is a 1987 song by American actor and singer Patrick Swayze from the soundtrack to the film Dirty Dancing. The song features additional vocals from singer Wendy Fraser. The ballad^[3] reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1988. Worldwide, it became a top-10 hit in nine other countries, including Belgium, Canada, and Ireland, as well as in France in November 1992.

"She's Like the Wind"
Single by Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser
from the album Dirty Dancing: Original Soundtrack from the Vestron Motion Picture
B-side	"Stay" (performed by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs)
Released	December 1987[1]
Recorded	November 1986
Genre	Soft rock[2]
Length	3:56
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Patrick Swayze Stacy Widelitz
Producer(s)	Michael Lloyd
Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser singles chronology
"She's Like the Wind" (1987) "Raising Heaven (in Hell) Tonight" (1989)

Background

Swayze and Stacy Widelitz co-wrote the song in 1984. During production of Dirty Dancing in 1987, Swayze played the demo for producer Linda Gottlieb and director Emile Ardolino. They loved it and passed it on to Jimmy Ienner and Bob Feiden, the soundtrack's executive producers.^[4] It was recorded for the soundtrack in November 1986, with Michael Lloyd producing.

During his appearance on the August 7, 2020, episode of the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, actor Rob Lowe mentioned that Swayze tried to shop the song to the producers of Lowe's 1986 film, Youngblood, for inclusion on its soundtrack but the song was rejected.^[5]

Chart performance

The song, like the film in which it was featured, was a success, reaching number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and was a hit around the world, reaching the top 10 in at least five other countries.

Music video

The music video in black and white features clips from the film Dirty Dancing. The video can be seen on the Ultimate Dirty Dancing DVD.

Releases

The song was released commercially on 7" vinyl in many countries, with a 3-track 12" maxi single and 2-track cassette also produced. CD singles were a relatively new format. A 2- and 3-track 5" CD and Japanese mini CD single were commercially released.

Track listings

7-inch vinyl single – US

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"She's Like the Wind"	P. Swayze, S. Widelitz	3:49
2.	"Stay"	Maurice Williams	1:34

CD single – France

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"She's Like the Wind"	P. Swayze, S. Widelitz	3:49
2.	"Stay"	Maurice Williams	1:34

Cassette single – US

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"She's Like the Wind"	P. Swayze, S. Widelitz	3:49
2.	"Stay"	Maurice Williams	1:34

Personnel

• Patrick Swayze – lead vocals
• Wendy Fraser – harmony and co-lead vocals
• Laurence Juber – guitar^[6][7]
• Gary Herbig – saxophone^[8]
• Dennis Belfield – bass^[9]
• Paul Leim – drums^[7][9]
• Stacy Widelitz – Oberheim OB-8 synthesizer^[9]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1988–1992) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 5 Canada (The Record)[13] 5 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 4 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[15] 1 France (SNEP)[16] 7 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 27 Norway (VG-lista)[21] 7 Puerto Rico (La Opinión)[22] 8 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[23] 13 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 17 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 3 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[29] 2 Chart (2022) Peak position UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[30] 87

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Belgium (Ultratop)[31] 45 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[32] 29 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 40 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] 14 US Cash Box Top 100[35] 38

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[36]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Lumidee and Tony Sunshine version

"She's Like the Wind"
Single by Lumidee featuring Tony Sunshine
from the album Unexpected
Released	January 13, 2007
Label	TVT
Producer(s)	J. Marty, T.C. Love
Lumidee singles chronology
"Dance!" (2006) "She's Like the Wind" (2007) "Crazy" (2007)

American recording artists Lumidee and Tony Sunshine covered the song for Lumidee's second album, Unexpected (2007). It was released as the lead single from Unexpected in the US and Europe on April 3, 2007.

Background

According to Lumidee, the idea to record a remake of Patrick Swayze's 1987 song "She's Like the Wind" was inspired by her European label when she recommended a collaboration with recording artist Tony Sunshine.^[37] She also said, "We'd been talking about working together but hadn't been able to. But he loved the idea of doing something with this song."^[38]

Music video

The music video for this version was directed by Dayo.^[39]

Track listing

1. "She's Like the Wind" (radio edit) – 4:17
2. "She's Like the Wind" (Spanglish version) – 3:53
3. "She's Like the Wind" (instrumental) – 4:18
4. "She's Like the Wind" (a cappella) – 4:15

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40]	14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[41]	22
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[42]	29
Denmark (Tracklisten)[43]	6
US Billboard Hot 100[44]	43
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[45]	75
US Latin Rhythm Airplay (Billboard)[46]	30
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[47]	18
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[48]	23