Swayze and Stacy Widelitz co-wrote the song in 1984. It was originally intended for the soundtrack of Grandview, U.S.A.[5] and was meant to be about Jamie Lee Curtis' character in the film.[citation needed] However, the song was not used in that film. During production of Dirty Dancing in 1987, Swayze played the demo for producer Linda Gottlieb and director Emile Ardolino. They loved it and passed it on to Jimmy Ienner and Bob Feiden, the soundtrack's executive producers.[5] It was recorded for the soundtrack in November 1986, with Michael Lloyd producing. The song, like the film in which it was featured, was a success, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Adult Contemporary, and was a hit around the world. It is still in rotation on radio. The soundtrack album was number one for 18 weeks.[note 1][4]
During his appearance on the August 7, 2020, episode of the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, actor Rob Lowe mentioned that Swayze tried to shop the song to the producers of Lowe's 1986 film, Youngblood, for inclusion on its soundtrack but the song was rejected.[6]
The song was released commercially on 7" vinyl in many countries, with a 3-track 12" maxi single and 2-track cassette also produced. CD singles were a relatively new format, however; a 2- and 3-track 5" CD and Japanese mini CD single were commercially released.
American recording artists Lumidee and Tony Sunshine covered the song for Lumidee's second album, Unexpected (2007). It was released as the lead single from Unexpected in the US and Europe on April 3, 2007.
According to Lumidee, the idea to record a remake of Patrick Swayze's 1987 song "She's Like The Wind" was inspired by her European label when she recommended a collaboration with recording artist Tony Sunshine.[29] She also said, "We'd been talking about working together but hadn't been able to. But he loved the idea of doing something with this song."[30]
