Wind Beneath my Wings

Cafe Society
1

Bette Midler’s version of this makes me throw up. It’s so poofy and sappy, and badly orchestrated, I can’t believe it was used in a movie, even a weepie. But beyond that, it’s not even her song!

It was originally sung by a man. I heard it for the first time in I think 1982, and it instantly made me cry. The first verse was spoken, not sung, in the kind of baritone that loosens corsets. I want to say that the singer was Grover Washington, Jr., but I’m not sure.

Reason I ask is, I’m going to see my sister on T-day, and we clashed over this once before, but I didn’t have my copy of the original. I’ll have it this time, but it’s on an unlabeled cassette. For credibility’s sake, I have to know who the singer was. Anyone?

2

And it still does.

3

Lou Rawls, in 1983, took “Wind Beneath My Wings” to a whopping #65 on the Billboard Hot Hundred.

Although Rawls was a veteran of a gospel singing group (The Pilgrim Travelers) and sang backing vocals with Sam Cooke, he’s perhaps best known for being the voice of countless Budweiser beer ads. His one top ten song was “(You’ll Never Find) Another Love Like Mine,” which peaked at #2 in June of 1976.

  • Rick
4

Dang! Thank you! Now I can find a better copy.

5

For the record, Lou Rawls sang at my university for Parent’s Weekend way back when. I missed it, personally but my roommate went with his parents and said that ole Lou bitched for a good five minutes about how no one knew it was his song and not Bette’s.

Lou is a bitter, bitter man.

6

It was also done (quite beautifully and more popularly, I might add) by a man named Gary Morris. Morris was a country singer (who had no twang to him whatsoever) AND an operatic tenor. That version is glorious and hit high on both the country and crossover charts, as I recall. I’ve never heard Rawls’, but now I’ll have to find it and give it a listen.

Bette Midler has ruined everything she’s ever touched. I loathe her.

[Snake voice] Curse you, Bette Midlerrrrr[/snake voice]

7

but if Lou Rawls sang it it must be OK.

As far as that vacuous self-important drag-queen wannabe Ms Midler, her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
And that song, as sung by her, is the subject of many nightmares.

Looking forward to hearing Lou Rawls sing it.

b.

And I DID say Drag-Queen WANNABE, I’ve known some drag queens who were more feminine than Bette is on her best day.

8

In general, or just about the song? I don’t blame him if it’s only the latter.