Bette Midler said she had absolutely no idea her iconic song, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” would ever amount to anything, when it was first produced.
The song has gone on to be a fan favorite for weddings and is a staple single that is widely played among fans of many generations. “Wind Beneath My Wings” was the soundtrack hit from the “Beaches” that stole the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and will forever be recognized as one of Midler’s greatest hits. Midler insisted the incredible success from this signature song caught her by surprise during a recent interview with People.
Portrait of American singer and actress Bette Midler, Los Angeles, California, 1980s. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
“We didn’t know what we had,” Midler told People, as she spoke of the biggest hit she produced during her decades-long career in the music industry.
She went on to say to the outlet that the movie “Beaches” itself was initially “dismissed” by critics, so she didn’t have high hopes for anything associated with it. The legendary artist reportedly described her surprise when the song “started to climb the charts.” She noted that within six months of the debut of the film roughly around the time of the holiday season, the number one spot had been clinched, according to People.
A few months later, Midler and her producer, Arif Mardin, were surprised once more when they took home the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and the songwriters that contributed to the success of the single won the Grammy for Song of the Year, People reported.
Mardin passed away in 2006. The milestone moment is near and dear to Midler’s heart.
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Bette Midler Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
“I was so proud of that record because Arif Mardin was such a genius, one of the funniest, kindest people in the whole world. I was so lucky to have him around me for so many years,” Midler told People. (RELATED: Bette Midler Blames Famous Child Star Lindsey Lohan For Destroying Her Sitcom)
Midler was not the first to remake the song. Previous renditions were produced by Lou Rawls, Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton and others. Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley originally penned the single in 1982, according to People.
