Dust in the Wind

This article is about the 1977 song by Kansas. For the 1986 movie by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, see Dust in the Wind (film). For the Todd Rundgren song, see Something/Anything?.

"Dust in the Wind"
Single by Kansas
from the album Point of Know Return
Released	January 16, 1978
Recorded	June–July 1977
Genre	Progressive rock, folk rock
Length	3:23
Label	Kirshner Records
Writer(s)	Kerry Livgren
Producer	Jeff Glixman, Kansas
Kansas singles chronology
"Point of Know Return" (1977) "Dust in the Wind" (1978) "Portrait (He Knew)" (1978)

"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.

The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single. The 45-rpm single was certified Gold for sales of one million units by the RIAA shortly after the height of its popularity as a hit single. More than 25 years later, the RIAA certified Gold the digital download format of the song, Kansas' only single so certified as of September 17, 2008.^[1]

Background and writing

A last-minute addition to the track lineup for Point of Know Return, "Dust In the Wind" would also be its greatest success.

Kerry Livgren had been practicing with his acoustic guitar, working on a chord progression he had written as a finger exercise. His wife Vicci, happening to hear what he was doing, remarked that the melody was nice and he should write lyrics for it. The result was a short song titled "Dust in the Wind". Livgren was unsure whether his fellow band members would like it, since Kansas was not known for acoustic ballads. However he did offer it to them, and the song was accepted and then recorded.

"Dust In the Wind" was one of Kansas' first acoustic tracks; its slow melody and philosophical lyrics differ from their other hits such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Magnum Opus". A meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death, the lyrics have a sobering message, for instance late in the song, "Now don't hang on/Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky/It slips away/And all your money won't another minute buy."

The guitar track comes from two guitarists playing six-string guitars in unison, one in standard tuning and the other in Nashville tuning, to create a chimy sound similar to a twelve-string guitar. The instrumental bridge contains a distinctive melodic line and harmony for violin and viola played by Robby Steinhardt.

Kansas also released a live version of the song on their album Two for the Show and a symphonic version on Always Never the Same.

Chart performance

Chart (1978)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	6
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	6
Canadian RPM Top Singles	3
Dutch Singles Chart	22
New Zealand Singles Chart	36

References in popular culture

• The song appeared in the 2011 horror film Final Destination 5 starring Nicholas D'Agosto and Emma Bell.
• It was used in a 2011 commercial for Butlins featuring Ludo the Dino.
• It was featured in the 2003 movie Old School where it was sung by Will Ferrell's character at Blue's funeral, and at the end of the movie Blue sang the song while playing a piano in the sky.
• For a Harvard Commencement Speech, Will Ferrell performed part of the song; and because he just realized it was a "terrible graduation song", he proceeded to change the lyrics, to make it less of " a downer".
• Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the song was placed on the list of songs deemed 'lyrically questionable' distributed by Clear Channel.
• It was used during the second season episodes of Highlander: The Series, including "The Darkness", after Duncan MacLeod's mortal girlfriend Tessa Noël dies, and "Unholy Alliance".
• "Dust in the Wind" is featured in an episode of The Simpsons in which Bart realizes he is not a child anymore.
• It made an appearance as well in an episode of Desperate Housewives called "Your Fault" (Season 1).
• "Dust in the Wind" is referenced in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, when Ted tells Socrates "dust, wind...dude".
• It was used in a commercial for the Subaru Tribeca SUV, driving by other vehicles that turned into dust.
• It was featured in an episode of Recess, where Gus (on being proclaimed the "New Kid") shook his head and said "All we are is dust in the wind...".
• It is referenced in an episode of Jimmy Neutron where one of Jimmy's clones has depression.
• It was played at the beginning of the Freaks and Geeks episode named "We've Got Spirit" as Nick asks Lindsay if she thinks about "heavy stuff ... like death and the meaning of life."
• It was shown as number 5 on VH1's 40 Greatest Softsational Soft Rock Songs of All Time.
• The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Party.
• The song appears during a segment of the season premiere of the 8th season of American Idol.
• The song appears in the episode of Family Guy, The Juice Is Loose, when Peter takes a contemplative walk around Quahog to consider whether or not he should play a round of golf with O.J. Simpson.
• The song is referenced in the TV show Bones, as a soundtrack on a CD for Ange after she breaks up with Roxie.
• The song is referenced by Kid Rock in his song "Cowboy".
• The song lyrics are referenced in "Valentines Day" a season 5 episode of Homicide: Life on the Street.
• The song is referenced by Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) in the Supernatural episode "Appointment in Samarra".
• In season two of the comedy series Party Down the song is discovered playing on repeat on Ron Donald's iPod subsequent his breakup with his girlfriend.
• In season 4 episode 2 of Psych, entitled "He Dead", Shawn Spencer references Dust in the Wind when he is holding someones ashes at a funeral.

Cover versions

• In 1999, Canadian reggae singer Snow recorded a reggae version of Dust in the Wind, called Hard Life, on his Cooler Conditions album.^[2]
• The Buddy Miles Regiment covered "Dust In The Wind" on their 1981 Double LP Sneak Attack.^[3]
• Soprano and Broadway star Sarah Brightman covered this song on her 1998 album Eden.^[4]
• The American R&B and Neo-soul singer Eric Benét covered "Dust In The Wind" on his 1999 album A Day in the Life.
• An electronic dance version was released by Interface in 1999.^[5]
• The song was sampled in 1999 by American singer Jordan Knight on his song "Close My Eyes".
• The Brazilian singer Paula Fernandes recorded this song for her same titled album "Dust in the Wind" in 2006.
• The Scorpions included a live version of "Dust In The Wind" on their 2001 CD Acoustica.^[6]
• Metalium included the song as the bonus track on the Live-CD packaged with their 2001 DVD/Video release titled Metalian Attack.^[7][8]
• The American trip hop group Daughter Darling included a cover on their debut album Sweet Shadows, released in 2002.
• Former New York Yankee center fielder Bernie Williams plays a jazz guitar version on his album titled The Journey Within released in 2003.
• Female vocalist Chantal Richard included a cover of this song on her 2004 album Ashes to Water.^[9]
• William Joseph covers the song on his 2004 album Within, featuring Garou as the lead singer.
• Two time Best American DJ award winning duo Gabriel & Dresden covered "Dust In The Wind" in their 2006 self-titled album Gabriel & Dresden, featuring Molly Bancroft as the lead singer.
• The Sasha & Shawna album Siren^[10] includes a cover of the song. This album, produced by Peter Asher, was released in 2007.
• The version by Spanish heavy metal band Mägo de Oz is called "Pensando en ti" (Thinking about you). It was performed only live and can be heard on their live album Fölktergeist and on the Live DVD A Costa da Rock. A studio version for this song was also included in the El Que Quiera Entender Que Entienda single.
• The Chilean punk rock band Los Mox! has recorded a Spanish-language cover called "Polvo en el viento".^{[citation needed]}
• Korean singer J covers the song on her album Blue.^[11]
• A parody version of "Dust in the Wind" was released by J.B.O..^{[citation needed]}
• Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps from Jacksonville, Alabama will feature the song in the ballad of their 2009 production, "Live... In Concert - The Music of Kansas."
• A parody titled "Dust Up His Nose" (a song about a PCP addict), was sung by Larry Rand in 1978 and played often on the Dr. Demento Radio Show.^[12]
• The Muppets' Beaker performed a version of the song in a YouTube video.^[13]
• Kansas ex-lead singer John Elefante (1982–1984)^[14] covers "Dust in the Wind" in his 2010 album Revolution Of Mind with band Mastedon. It also features the song's author and founding Kansas member Kerry Livgren on electric guitar.
• In early 2008, 15yo Australian classical-crossover, soprano Grace Bawden recorded her version.^[15] This track was included on her debut album, Gifts of Grace, released in September 2009.^[16]
• The song is featured in the movie "The Beach" during the funeral scene after the shark attack.
• Haggard also uses the harmony solo of the song, in their song, "The Observer"

References

1. ^ RIAA.com
2. ^ See production notes in cd insert: Cooler Conditions (Tokyo: JVC Japan)
3. ^ Buddy Miles Express Sneak Attack Japan Promo DOUBLE LP (362103)
4. ^ Sarah Brightman Official Website - Sound And Vision
5. ^ Interface (10) - Dust In The Wind
6. ^ Acoustica
7. ^ Metalium Official Website - Songs
8. ^ Gracenote: Album > Metalium - Metalian Attack -Live
9. ^ CD Baby: CHANTAL RICHARD: Ashes to Water
10. ^ Amazon.com: Siren: MP3 Downloads: Sasha & Shawna
11. ^ http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_artists_detail.htm?No=10168
12. ^ http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=3413
13. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAtBki0PsC0
14. ^ http://www.johnelefante.com/bio.html
15. ^ ReverbNation. http://www.reverbnation.com/gracebawden. 
16. ^ . http://www.classical-crossover.co.uk/albreviews/161-grace-bawden-gifts-of-grace.html. 

External links

• Official Site

Preceded by "Point of Know Return"	Kansas Singles Chronology	Succeeded by "Portrait (He Knew)"
Preceded by "Point of Know Return"	Kansas Top 100 Hits Chronology	Succeeded by "Portrait (He Knew)"
Preceded by "Point of Know Return"	Kansas Top 40 Hits Chronology	Succeeded by "People of the South Wind"
Preceded by "Carry On Wayward Son"	Kansas Top 20 Hits Chronology	Succeeded by "Play the Game Tonight"
Preceded by N/A	Kansas Top 10 Hits Chronology	Succeeded by N/A