Summer Wind

Album: Strangers In The Night (1966)
Charted: 25
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this classic love song, Frank Sinatra wistfully recalls a love affair that came and went with the summer wind. The title refers to the sirocco breeze that sweeps into Southern Europe from the Sahara desert at the end of summer. As the chill of autumn and winter creeps in, he still remembers the girl he lost to the summer wind.
  • Sinatra recorded the tune for his 1966 Strangers In The Night album and released it as the second single. It peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
  • This was one of Sinatra's signature songs, but he wasn't the first to record it. Originally titled "Der Sommerwind," the German love song was written by Heinz Meier (music) and Hans Bradtke in 1965. When Johnny Mercer heard a version by Danish singer Grethe Ingmann, the renowned songwriter wrote new English lyrics that reflected the theme of lost love. The English version was first recorded by Wayne Newton for his 1965 album Summer Wind. His version only went to #78 on the Hot 100. That same year, Perry Como recorded a countrified version in Nashville that was produced by Chet Atkins.
  • Strangers In The Night was Sinatra's last album with his longtime arranger Nelson Riddle. Their first recording session was in 1953, shortly after Sinatra signed with Capitol Records, where Riddle worked as Nat King Cole's musical director. Their first collaboration was "I've Got The World On The String," a huge hit that revived the singer's flagging recording career.
  • Sinatra re-recorded this with Julio Iglesias for the 1993 album Duets.
  • When Bruce Springsteen appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2021 and answered the host's "Colbert Questionert," he chose Sinatra's "Summer Wind" as the one song he could listen to for the rest of his life.
  • Willie Nelson recorded this for his 2018 Sinatra tribute album, My Way. He also performed the song on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
  • This was used in these TV shows:

    Ozark ("Reparations" - 2018)
    Criminal Minds ("Hopeless" - 2009)
    The Simpsons ("Bart Of Darkness" - 1994)

    And these movies:

    Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
    Matchstick Men (2003)
    The Man (1998)
    Arachnophobia (1990)
    The Pope Of Greenwich Village (1984)
    The Adolescents (1975)

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.