"When the Wind Blows" is a 1986 song from the soundtrack of the film of the same name, performed by

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...

and written by Bowie and

Erdal Kızılçay Erdal Kızılçay (born c. 1950) is a Turkish-born multi-instrumentalist. He has worked with, among others, David Bowie. He plays bass guitar, oud, drums, keyboards, trumpet and violin. He lives in Aegerten, Switzerland. Work with David Bowie ...

. It was released as a single in October 1986 and released digitally in 2007.

Background and recording

Originally, Bowie had intended to write the entire soundtrack for the movie, but after pressure to produce his own original album mounted (he would release ''

Never Let Me Down ''Never Let Me Down'' is the seventeenth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 21 April 1987 through EMI America Records. Co-produced by Bowie and David Richards (record producer), David Richards and featuring guit ...

'' in 1987), he instead pulled out of the project and only submitted the title track;

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alum

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. In 1965, he co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd as the bassist. Following the departure of the group's main songwriter Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became ...

provided much of the original music for the soundtrack instead. "When the Wind Blows" marked the second contribution from Bowie to a film based on a

Raymond Briggs Raymond Redvers Briggs (18 January 1934 – 9 August 2022) was an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist and author. Achieving critical and popular success among adults and children, he is best known in Britain for his 1978 story ...

book – he contributed a filmed introduction to ''

The Snowman ''The Snowman'' is a 1982 British animated television film and symphonic poem based on Raymond Briggs's 1978 picture book '' The Snowman.'' It was directed by Dianne Jackson for Channel 4. It was first shown on 26 December 1982, and was an ...

'' in 1982. Bowie's song was the result of a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist

, who would work with Bowie for another 10 years on such projects as ''Never Let Me Down'' (1987), '' The Buddha of Suburbia'' (1993), and ''

Outside Outside or Outsides may refer to: * Wilderness Books and magazines * ''Outside'', a book by Marguerite Duras * ''Outside'' (magazine), an outdoors magazine Film, theatre and TV * Outside TV (formerly RSN Television), a television network * '' ...

'' (1995).

Reception

The single peaked at UK No. 44, promoted by a video that featured a montage of clips from the film, with Bowie's animated face overlaid. Bowie biographer

Nicholas Pegg Nicholas Pegg is a British actor, director and writer. Education Educated at Nottingham High School and graduating with a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Exeter, Pegg subsequently trained at the Guildford School of ...

said that it was a "mystery why this splendidly melodramatic number ... didn't achieve greater chart success."

Other releases

The single release appeared on ''

'' (1995 reissue), in some regions on ''

Best of Bowie ''Best of Bowie'' is a greatest hits album by English recording artist David Bowie. Released in October 2002, four months after the critical and commercial success of the '' Heathen'' album, the songs range from his second album, ''David Bowi ...

'' (2002), '' The Platinum Collection'' (2005), '' The Best of David Bowie 1980-1987'' (2005/2007), which also includes the music video, and ''Re:Call 4'' from the ''

Loving the Alien (1983–1988) ''Loving the Alien (1983–1988)'' is a box set by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 12 October 2018. A follow-up to the compilations '' Five Years (1969–1973)'', '' Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)'', and '' A New Career in ...

'' box set (2018).

Track listing

Lyrics by David Bowie, music by Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay.

7": Virgin / VS 906 (UK) / VSS 906 (UK)

# "When the Wind Blows" – 3:32 # "When the Wind Blows" (instrumental) – 3:52

12": Virgin / VS 906-12 (UK)

# "When the Wind Blows" (extended mix) – 5:46 # "When the Wind Blows" (instrumental) – 3:52

Digital download – 2007 EMI UK (''When the Wind Blows'' EP by David Bowie)

# "When the Wind Blows" (2002 remaster) – 3:34 # "When the Wind Blows" (extended mix) – 5:36 # "When the Wind Blows" (instrumental) – 3:46

Personnel

*David Bowie – vocals, production *

- other instruments * David Richards – production

Charts

References

Bibliography

* * {{Authority control 1986 singles David Bowie songs Songs written by David Bowie Song recordings produced by David Bowie Songs about nuclear war and weapons Songs written by Erdal Kızılçay Virgin Records singles