The super popular song Wind of Change remains, perhaps, the most famous composition of the rock band Scorpions in the expanses of the former USSR. This is understandable, because Klaus Meine wrote it after visiting the Moscow Peace Festival in 1989.
Although for the first time the musicians visited Russia a year before when they gave several concerts in Leningrad, the history of the work began at that event.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song Wind of Change Scorpions
In Germany, native to the “scorpions”, Wind of Change is loved no less than in our country. Just a couple of months after its release, the Berlin Wall was torn down. In the summer of 1990, the Scorpions performed the song where it used to be. So Wind of Change became, one might say, the national anthem of German reunification.
A year later, the Soviet Union was gone, after which music lovers all over the world started talking about the fact that Klaus Meine caught the very “wind of change”, and his song is almost prophetic. Since then, Wind of Change has been a symbol of the collapse of the socialist camp in Eastern Europe, the end of the Cold War, and Perestroika.
Song release
The Scorpions included the song on their 1990 album Crazy World. Five years later, the song became one of the tracks on the Live Bites live album.
In 2000, the Scorpions recorded Wind of Change with the Berlin Philharmonic (Moment of Glory album). The band also released an acoustic version of the song and even Spanish and Russian versions.
Wind of Change topped the charts in Germany, France, Austria, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and other European countries. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Wind of Change – Scorpions Video
Let’s watch the legendary music video for the song “Wind of Change”.
Interesting Facts
- According to the results of the audience voting on the German TV channel ZDF, Wind of Change was recognized as the “Song of the Century”.
- In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev met with the Scorpions in the Kremlin. The musicians performed Wind of Change for him.
- The song was featured in an advertisement for the computer game Call of Duty: Black Ops (this package includes a map called “Berlin Wall”).
Wind of Change Lyrics by Scorpions
I follow the Moscow
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
The world is closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers
The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
in the wind of change
Walking down the street
distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I follow the Moscow
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
in the wind of change
The wind of change
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a stormwind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say
Lyrics Wind of Change by Scorpions Alternate
I’m walking along the Moscow River
To Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
August summer evening
Soldiers are passing by
Listening to the wind of change
The world is getting closer
Could you ever imagine
That we can be as close as brothers
The future is in the air
I feel it everywhere
In the wind of change
Take me to a magical moment
good night
Where the children of tomorrow fly away in dreams
With the wind of change
Walking down the street
I leave forever in the past
distant memories
I’m walking along the Moscow River
To Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
Take me to a magical moment
good night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me
Take me to a magical moment
good night
Where the children of tomorrow fly away in dreams
With the wind of change
The wind of change
Blowing right into the face of time
Like a storm that rings the freedom bell
For peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing about
What does my guitar want to say
Song quote
Everyone was there: the Red Army, journalists, musicians from Germany, from America, from Russia – the whole world was on board. It was like a vision. Everyone spoke the same language. It was a very positive feeling. That evening became the main inspiration for Wind of Change.
Klaus Meine
