Music Review: Patrick Swayze "She's Like The Wind"

Patrick Swayze

She’s Like The Wind

Album: Dirty Dancing sdtk

Year: 1987

              Patrick Swayze, as Johnny, doesn’t feel good enough for Baby in the  ruminating “She’s Like the Wind.”

               An aching guitar opens the single, setting an angsty tone.  Baby stood up to her father for Penny. She knew it would get her into trouble with her father and but she had do the right thing. It was then he realized she was not like the rest of the visitors to the resort, who see him as merely pretty with nothing else to offer. She listens to what he has to say and is there for him. He has fallen in love with her. She has changed how he sees himself. (“She's like the wind through my tree/She rides the night next to me/She leads me through moonlight/Only to burn me with the sun/She's taken my heart/But she doesn't know what she's done.”)

             In the chorus, she lies in bed next to him and he wonders what it is about him she likes. She’s a young woman who go on to do great things. She’s someone he’ll have to let go of eventually. (“Feel her breath on my face/Her body close to me/Can't look in her eyes/She's out of my league /Just a fool to believe/I have anything she needs/She's like the wind.”)

               A broody saxophone has a solo.

          In the morning, he wipes his face with a towel. With a wounded expression, he continues about his routine before his latest temporary job. It’s the best he can ever hope for. As a child, he had dreams of being a pilot. But once he realized people wrote him off because of poor background, he became cynical. Since he met Baby, he has begun to think that if he saves some money and works other jobs for a while, he could save for college. He doesn’t know what to do once the summer’s over when Baby returns home. He has keep in touch with her. (“I look in the mirror and all I see/Is a young old man with only a dream/Am I just fooling myself/That she'll stop the pain/Living without her/I'd go insane.”)

                The chorus is sung again.

                 In the final chorus, he tells Baby outright that she deserves someone better, He won’t be able to provide her the life she should have. (“Feel your breath on my face/Your body close to me/Can't look in your eyes/You're out of my league/Just a fool to believe (Just a fool to believe)/She's like the wind (Just a fool to believe)/Just a fool to believe

(She's like the wind)/Just a fool to believe (Just a fool to believe)/She's like the wind (Just a fool to believe)/Just a fool to believe/She's like the wind (Just a fool...)(She's like the wind) (She's like the wind/ (Just a fool...)/She's like the wind.”)

             Swayze’s capable vocals are kept within his limits. He strains some at the end of the verses. Though, in context in his character, the imperfection works. He emotes Johnny’s low self-esteem well. Baby has him striving for something more and it makes want to try. 

           The  reflective “She’s Like The Wind” gets inside Johnny’s head and lets people get to know a classic character much better.