She's Like the Wind

"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)
ReleasedDecember 1987
RecordedNovember 1986
GenreSoft rock
Length3:56
LabelRCA
Songwriters
ProducerMichael Lloyd
Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser singles chronology
"She's Like the Wind"
(1987)		 "Raising Heaven (in Hell) Tonight"
(1989)

"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.

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. 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.

Chart performance

In the US, the song went to No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on Cashbox Top 100. Worldwide, it became a top-10 hit in nine other countries.

Music video

The music video was directed by David Fincher and depicts Swayze singing the song (joined in the climax by Fraser) and clips from the film in black and white. The video can be seen on the Ultimate Dirty Dancing DVD and other home media releases of the movie.

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.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She's Like the Wind"P. Swayze, S. Widelitz3:49
2."Stay"Maurice Williams1:34
CD single – France
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She's Like the Wind"P. Swayze, S. Widelitz3:49
2."Stay"Maurice Williams1:34
Cassette single – US
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She's Like the Wind"P. Swayze, S. Widelitz3:49
2."Stay"Maurice Williams1:34

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) 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
ReleasedJanuary 13, 2007
LabelTVT
ProducersJ. 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. 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."

Music video

The music video for this version was directed by Dayo.

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)14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)22
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)29
Denmark (Tracklisten)6
US Billboard Hot 10043
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)75
US Latin Rhythm Airplay (Billboard) 30
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)18
US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)23

References

  1. ↑ Patrick Swayze Featuring Wendy Fraser - She's Like The Wind, retrieved October 23, 2020
  2. ↑ Tzioumakis, Yannis (March 18, 2013). The Time of Our Lives: Dirty Dancing and Popular Culture. Wayne State University Press. p. 250. ISBN 978-0-8143-3625-0.
  3. ↑ Swayze, Patrick; Swayze, Lisa Niemi (September 29, 2009). The Time of My Life. Simon and Schuster. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-4391-6591-1.
  4. ↑ "JRE #1522 - Rob Lowe". The Joe Rogan Experience (Podcast). August 7, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Top Adult Songs:1961–2006. Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-149-7.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955-2010. Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-188-8.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Sheridan Books,Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
  8. 1 2 3 ""She's Like the Wind" & My Story Behind the Song". Stacy Widelitz. October 6, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ PatrickSwayzeVEVO (November 25, 2009). Patrick Swayze - She's Like The Wind (Official HD Video) ft. Wendy Fraser. Retrieved September 11, 2026 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ Callwood, Brett (2017). "Laurence Juber is the ultimate Wing-man." Culver City News, 18 Nov. 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ Gary Herbig @lastudiomusicians.org Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 "The Dirty Dancing Soundtrack: the inside story from its hitmaking songwriters." The Strange Brew Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 302. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  16. ↑ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  17. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 47, Issue 23 (1988-03-26)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Adult Contemporary. Volume 47, Issue 21 (1988-03-12)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  20. ↑ "She's Like the Wind | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 9. February 27, 1988. p. 8.
  22. ↑ "Canciones de mayor popularidad en el hemisferio - Mexico". La Opinión (in Spanish). April 25, 1988. p. 17.
  23. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind". VG-lista. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Canciones de mayor popularidad en el hemisferio - Puerto Rico". La Opinión (in Spanish). April 25, 1988. p. 17.
  28. ↑ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs S". rock.co.za. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/4/1988 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 14/10/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1988" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '88". RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. December 24, 1988. p. 9.
  35. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1988/Top 100 Songs of 1988". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  36. ↑ "No. 1 Awards: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-26.
  37. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1988". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  39. ↑ "British single certifications – Patrick Swayze ft Wendy Fraser – She's Like the Wind". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 30, 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type She's Like the Wind Patrick Swayze ft Wendy Fraser in the "Search:" field.
  40. ↑ (Posted: March 26, 2007) Elena del Valle, Puerto Rican singer Lumidee launches second album in April 2007 hispanicmpr.com. Poyeen Publishing. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  41. ↑ Gail Mitchell, "R&B singer Lumidee rejects one-hit-wonder tag" Reuters.com. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  42. ↑ Lumidee, "She's Like The Wind" (Feat. Tony Sunshine) - Music videos Archived April 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine BET.com. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Lumidee feat. Tony Sunshine – She's Like The Wind" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  44. ↑ "Lumidee feat. Tony Sunshine – She's Like The Wind" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  45. ↑ "Lumidee Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Lumidee feat. Tony Sunshine – She's Like The Wind". Tracklisten.
  47. ↑ "Lumidee Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  48. ↑ "Lumidee Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  49. ↑ "Lumidee Chart History (Latin Rhythm Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Lumidee Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  51. ↑ "Lumidee Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2020.