Wikipedia

Wind of Change (Scorpions song)

"Wind of Change"is a song byGermanrock bandScorpions,recorded for their eleventh studio albumCrazy World(1990). Apower ballad,[1]it was composed and written by the band's lead singer,Klaus Meine,and produced byKeith Olsenand the band. The lyrics were composed by Meine following the band's visit to theSoviet Unionat the height ofperestroika,when the enmity between the communist and capitalist blocs subsided concurrently with thepromulgationof large-scale socioeconomic reforms in the Soviet Union.

"Wind of Change"
Artwork used for most European releases
SinglebyScorpions
from the albumCrazy World
B-side"Restless Nights"
Released21 January 1991(1991-01-21)
Studio
GenreRock
Length
  • 5:13(album version)
  • 3:44 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Klaus Meine
Producer(s)
Scorpionssingles chronology
"Don't Believe Her"
(1990) 		"Wind of Change"
(1991) 		"Send Me an Angel"
(1991)
Music video
"Wind of Change"onYouTube

"Wind of Change" was released as the album's third single on 21 January 1991 and became a worldwide hit, just afterthe failed coupthat would eventually lead to theend of the Soviet Union.The song topped the charts in Germany and across Europe and peaked at number four in the United States and at number two in the United Kingdom. It later appeared on the band's 1995 live albumLive Bites,their 2000 album with theBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra,Moment of Glory,and on their 2001 "unplugged"albumAcoustica.The band also recorded a Russian-language version of the song, under the title "Ветер перемен"(" Veter Peremen ")[2]and a Spanish version called "Viento de Cambio”.

With estimated sales of 14 million copies sold worldwide, "Wind of Change" is one of thebest-selling singles of all time.[3]It holds the record for the best-selling single by a German artist. The band presented a gold record and $70,000 of royalties from the single toMikhail Gorbachevin 1991, with Soviet news sources claiming the money would be allocated to children's hospitals.[4]

Background and writing

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Klaus Meinesaid in an interview that the time 1988/1989 in the Soviet Union was characterized by the mood that theCold Warwas coming to an end, the music was the unifying factor for the people.[5]The memories of this time are also transported in the music video for the song.[6]Meine was inspired by his participation in theMoscow Music Peace Festivalon 13 August 1989, atLenin Stadium,where the Scorpions performed in front of about 300,000 fans:[1][7]

Die Idee dazu ist mir in der U.d.S.S.R. gekommen, als ich in einer Sommernacht im Gorki Park Center saß und auf die Moskwa geblickt habe. Das Lied ist meine persönliche Aufarbeitung dessen, was in den letzten Jahren in der Welt passiert ist.

The idea came to me in the U.S.S.R. when I was sitting in the Gorky Park Center one summer night, looking at the Moskva River. The song is my personal reappraisal of what has happened in the world in recent years.

— Klaus Meine,Friede, Freude, Hasch und Perestroika,in: Rocks. Das Magazin für Classic Rock, Heft 01.2014, S. 88

Meine referred to the 'SNC' cultural center, opened byStas Namininside Moscow's Gorky Park without any official permission, where Russian and international musicians as well as progressive poets, artists and designers met in a free, innovative atmosphere.[8]The lyrics celebrateglasnostin the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and speak of hope at a time when tense conditions had arisen due to the fall of Communist-run governments amongEastern Blocnations beginning in 1989.[1]The opening lines refer to the city ofMoscow's landmarks:

I follow theMoskva
Down toGorky Park
Listening to the wind of change

The Moskva is the name of the river that runs through Moscow (both the city and the river are named identically in Russian), and Gorky Park is an urban park in Moscow named after the writerMaxim Gorky.The song further mentions thebalalaika,the signature Russian stringed instrument, as a counterpart to the guitar, suggesting harmony of different cultures. The balalaika is mentioned in the following lines:

Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say

Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker are owners of thetrade markWind of Change.[9]

Composition

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"Wind of Change" opens with a clean guitar introduction played byMatthias Jabs,which is played alongside Klaus Meine's flat whistle.[10]The song's guitar solo is played byRudolf Schenker.[citation needed]

Claim of CIA creative input

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The song is the subject of thePineapple Street StudiospodcastWind of Change,released 11 May 2020, which raises questions regarding the song's origin.[11][12][13]Patrick Radden Keefe,a staff writer at theNew Yorkerand host of the podcast, investigates the allegation that the song was written by or connected to theCentral Intelligence Agency,citing a rumor originating allegedly from inside the agency. In aSirius XMinterview withEddie Trunkon 13 May 2020, Meine stated "It's a fascinating idea, and it's an entertaining idea, but it's not true at all".[14][15]

In December 2020, it was reported that a further investigation of the song's origins based on the claims from the podcast would be adapted into a series forHuludirected byAlex Karpovsky.[16]

Legacy

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The song became associated with theRevolutions of 1989and theFall of the Berlin Wallalso in 1989 and was performed by the Scorpions at theBrandenburg Gateon 9 November 1999, during the 10th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.[17][18] In 2005, viewers of the German television networkZDFchose this song as the song of the century.[1]"Wind of Change" is featured in the filmsIn Search of a Midnight Kiss(2007),Gentlemen Broncos(2009),The Interview(2014),Love Island(2014) andI.S.S. (film)(2024), and the video gameSingStar Rocks!(2006). The song can be heard in the opening scene of the action comedy filmThe Spy Who Dumped Me(2018). The song is also featured in television showsMelrose Place,Chuck,andCar ShareandNutri Venturesparody version.[19]

As of 2022, the Scorpions still perform the song live but with lyrical changes in light of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.The opening lines are changed to "Now listen to my heart / It says Ukrainia, waiting for the wind to change." Meine stated, "It's not the time with this terrible war in Ukraine raging on, it's not the time to romanticize Russia."[20]

In February 2023, the official music video hit one billion views on YouTube.[21]

During theCOVID-19 pandemic,they collaborated with Japanese rock starYoshikito perform "Wind of Change" for the documentary filmYoshiki: Under the Sky.[22]This was the first time the band came together to perform the Ukraine version of the song.[23]The performance was later released as a music video on YouTube.[24]

As of 2024, the Scorpions have changed the opening lyrics again to adopt a more neutral tone, displaying these on the video screens at gigs: "Now listen to my heart, it still believes in love, waiting for the wind to change. A dark and lonely night, our dreams will never die, waiting for the wind to change."[25]

Track listings

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Personnel

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Scorpions

Additional personnel

  • Koen van Baal – keyboards

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[63] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPIAustria)[64] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[65] Gold 30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[66] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[67] Gold 400,000*
Germany (BVMI)[68] Platinum 500,000^
Italy (FIMI)[69]
sales since 2009 		Platinum 70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] Platinum 30,000‡
Russia (NFPF)[71]
Ringtone 		Gold 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[72] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[73] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[74] Gold 500,000^

*Sales figures based on certification alone.
^Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe 21 January 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Mercury [75]
United Kingdom 20 May 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Vertigo [76]
24 June 1991 Cassette [77]
United Kingdom (re-release) 16 September 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [78]
Japan 25 October 1991 Mini-CD Mercury [79]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdBienstock, Richard (2 September 2015)."Scorpions' 'Wind of Change': The Oral History".Rolling Stone.Retrieved1 October2023.
  2. ^"Scorpions - Ветер перемен [Wind of Change] (Russian Version)".5 September 2008.Retrieved24 May2022– viaYouTube.
  3. ^Brasseler, Jana-Sophie (2 October 2009)."SCORPIONS: WIND OF CHANGE Der Wende-Hit".Hamburger Abendblatt.Retrieved23 August2016.Von Jana-Sophie Brasseler 02.10.09
  4. ^Bregestovski, Anton (15 December 1991)."Rock group meet Gorbachev".Upi.Retrieved3 February2019.
  5. ^SWR Online:Die „Scorpions "— Deutschlands erfolgreichster Rockexport[permanent dead link‍];the interview could be heard on 14 May 2010 inSWR1 Leute(Baden-Wuerttemberg).
  6. ^"Wind of Change".the-scorpions.Archived fromthe originalon 13 November 2006.Retrieved30 June2022.
  7. ^Und jetzt alle zusammen!,einestagesvom 6. Oktober 2010
  8. ^Pristed, Birgitte Beck (1 August 2017).The New Russian Book: A Graphic Cultural History.Springer. p. 187.ISBN978-3-319-50708-8.
  9. ^"Trademark information for Wind Of Change from CTM – by Markify".12 December 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 12 December 2013.Retrieved24 May2022.
  10. ^"Musikalischer Exportschlager".Derwesten.de.17 February 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 19 May 2015.Retrieved26 March2021.
  11. ^"Did the CIA write a power ballad that ended the Cold War?".Crooked Media.11 May 2020.Retrieved7 September2021.
  12. ^Marks, Andrea (14 July 2020)."Could the CIA Have Planted Hair-Metal Propaganda During the Cold War?".Rolling Stone.Retrieved9 February2021.
  13. ^"Was a '90s Scorpions Song the Work of the C.I.A.? This Podcast Is on It".The New York Times.8 May 2020.Retrieved15 May2020.
  14. ^"Klaus Meine from The Scorpions on if CIA wrote Wind of Change".@OfficialEddieTrunk | Youtube. 13 May 2020.Eddie Trunk interviews Klaus Meine from The Scorpions, Klaus talks about if the CIA wrote Winds of Change
  15. ^"Scorpions singer Klaus Meine ended up the rumors that 'WInd of Change' was written by CIA".metalcastle.net.14 May 2020.Retrieved15 May2020.
  16. ^White, Peter (16 December 2020)."Hulu Lands TV Adaptation Of Rock 'N' Roll Spy Podcast 'Wind of Change'".Deadline.Retrieved20 December2020.
  17. ^"BBC News | Europe | Berlin anniversary ends with a bang".news.bbc.co.uk.10 November 1999.Retrieved15 May2020.
  18. ^William Drozdiak (10 November 1999)."Ten Years After the Fall".Washington Post.Retrieved1 April2020.
  19. ^"IMDB – Scorpions".IMDb.Retrieved17 May2020.
  20. ^"SCORPIONS Singer KLAUS MEINE Explains 'Wind Of Change' Lyric Change: 'It's Not The Time To Romanticize Russia'".Blabbermouth.net.11 April 2022.Retrieved24 May2022.
  21. ^"Scorpions' 'Wind of Change' Video Enters One Billion YouTube Views Club".Billboard.8 February 2023.Retrieved8 February2023.
  22. ^"SCORPIONS Featured In 'Yoshiki: Under The Sky' Documentary".BLABBERMOUTH.NET.15 August 2023.Retrieved22 December2023.
  23. ^"YOSHIKI 'S UNDER THE SKY PROJECT".Scorpions – Official Site. 21 December 2023.Retrieved22 December2023.
  24. ^Scorpions feat. YOSHIKI - Wind Of Change (YOSHIKI: Under the Sky)onYouTube
  25. ^"[4K] Scorpions - Wind of Change Las Vegas 4/11/2024".YouTube.12 April 2024.
  26. ^Wind of Change(European 7-inch single vinyl disc).Scorpions.Mercury Records.1990. 878 832-7.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^Wind of Change(Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Scorpions. Mercury Records. 1991. PHDR-43.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^Wind of Change(European CD single disc notes). Scorpions. Mercury Records,Phonogram Inc.1990. 878 833-2.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^Wind of Change(UK CD single liner notes). Scorpions.Vertigo Records.1991. VERCD58, 866 017-2.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^Wind of Change(US & Canadian 7-inch single liner notes). Scorpions. Mercury Records. 1991. 868 180-7.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change ".ARIA Top 50 Singles.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  32. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change "(in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  33. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  34. ^"Top RPM Singles: Issue 1570."RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  35. ^"Top 10 Denmark"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 8, no. 30. 27 July 1991. p. 20.Retrieved21 March2018.
  36. ^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 8, no. 23. 8 June 1991. p. 21.Retrieved22 October2019.
  37. ^Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Yes".Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF)(in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 286.Retrieved12 July2022.
  38. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change "(in French).Les classement single.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  39. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  40. ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Wind of Change ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  41. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change ".Top 40 Singles.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  42. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  43. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change ".VG-lista.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  44. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change ".Singles Top 100.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  45. ^"Scorpions – Wind of Change ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  46. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  47. ^"Scorpions Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  48. ^"Scorpions Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  49. ^"Scorpions Chart History (Mainstream Rock)".Billboard.Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  50. ^"ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1991".ARIA.Retrieved11 February2021.
  51. ^"Jahreshitparade Singles 1991"(in German).Retrieved11 February2021.
  52. ^"Jaaroverzichten 1991"(in Dutch).Ultratop.Retrieved11 February2021.
  53. ^"RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991".RPM.Retrieved5 November2019– viaLibrary and Archives Canada.
  54. ^"Eurochart Hot 100 1991"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 8, no.51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 21.Retrieved17 January2020– via World Radio History.
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  56. ^"Single top 100 over 1991"(PDF)(in Dutch).Dutch Top 40.Retrieved13 April2010.
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  60. ^"Billboard Top 100 – 1991".Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2009.Retrieved15 September2009.
  61. ^"The Year in Music: Top Album Rock Tracks".Billboard.Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-41.
  62. ^"Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Annual Chart: 2024".TopHit.Retrieved6 January2025.
  63. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1991 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.Retrieved2 December2021.
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  65. ^"Brazilian single certifications – Scorpions – Wind Of Change"(in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil.Retrieved18 March2024.
  66. ^"Danish single certifications – Scorpions – Wind of Change".IFPI Danmark.Retrieved12 August2023.
  67. ^"French single certifications – Scorpions – Wind Of Change"(in French). InfoDisc.Retrieved29 June2020.SelectSCORPIONSand clickOK.
  68. ^"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Scorpions;'Wind of Change') "(in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie.Retrieved29 June2020.
  69. ^"Italian single certifications – Scorpions – Wind of Change"(in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.Retrieved15 November2021.
  70. ^"New Zealand single certifications – Scorpions – Wind of Change".Radioscope.Retrieved16 January2025.TypeWind of Changein the "Search:" field.
  71. ^"РОССИЙСКАЯ ИНДУСТРИЯ ЗВУКОЗАПИСИ - Год 2011 I полугодие"[Top 50 RBT 2011](PDF)(in Russian).Lenta.ru.2011. p. 4. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 April 2019.Retrieved29 June2020.
  72. ^"Spanish single certifications – Scorpions – Wind of Change".El portal de Música.Productores de Música de España.Retrieved4 March2024.
  73. ^"British single certifications – Scorpions – Wind of Change".British Phonographic Industry.Retrieved29 June2020.
  74. ^"American single certifications – Scorpions – Wind of Change".Recording Industry Association of America.Retrieved29 June2020.
  75. ^Cite error: The named referencegerwas invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).
  76. ^"New Releases: Singles".Music Week.18 May 1991. p. 21.
  77. ^"New Releases: Singles".Music Week.22 June 1991. p. 19.
  78. ^"New Releases: Singles".Music Week.14 September 1991. p. 21.
  79. ^"ウインド・オブ・チェンジ | スコーピオンズ"[Wind of Change | Scorpions] (in Japanese).Oricon.Retrieved9 September2023.
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