I Talk to the Wind#Opus III version
{{Short description|1969 song by King Crimson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Talk to the Wind
| artist = King Crimson
| album = In the Court of the Crimson King
| released = {{Start date|1969|10|12|df=y}}
| recorded = 29 July 1969
| genre = *Folk{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/mt0002419977|title=I Talk to the Wind – King Crimson {{!}} Song Info|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|website=AllMusic|access-date=27 April 2019}}
- progressive rock{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-100-best-classic-progressive-rock-songs-part-3-60-41-2495397028.html|title=The 100 Best Classic Progressive Rock Songs: Part 3, 60–41|last=Murphy|first=Sean|date=28 March 2017|website=PopMatters|access-date=27 April 2019}}
| length = {{Duration|m=6|s=05}}
| composer = Ian McDonald
| lyricist = Peter Sinfield
| label = Atlantic
| producer = King Crimson
}}
"I Talk to the Wind" is the second track from the British progressive rock band King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969).
Starting immediately after the cacophony that ends "21st Century Schizoid Man", the mood of this song is a stark contrast; it is serene, simple and peaceful. Ian McDonald's flute begins the song, and is one of the lead instruments throughout.{{Cite web|url = http://musiccourtblog.com/category/same-artist-different-place/|title = From the Court to Foreigner – The Story of Ian McDonald|date = |accessdate = 2 July 2015|website = The Music Court|publisher = |last = |first = }} He also plays a classical-inspired solo in the middle of the song as a "C" section and a longer one at the end as a coda.
An earlier demo version of this song may be found on the now out-of-print LP A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson, which featured Robert Fripp (guitar), Peter Giles (bass), Michael Giles (drums), and Ian McDonald (flute), along with Judy Dyble (formerly of Fairport Convention) on vocals.{{Cite web|url = http://judydyble.com/content/young-person%E2%80%99s-guide-king-crimson-i-talk-wind|title = Young Person's Guide to King Crimson (I Talk to the Wind)|date = |accessdate = 2 July 2015|website = Judy Dyble|publisher = |last = |first = }} This version was more up-tempo and lighter in instrumentation. he Young Person's Guide recording and another demo of the same song were recorded in 1968 by Giles, Giles and Fripp. The song did not appear on a Giles, Giles and Fripp record until The Brondesbury Tapes (1968) was released on CD in 2002.{{Cite web|url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brondesbury-tapes-1968-mw0000220445|title = Giles, Giles & Fripp|date = |accessdate = 2 July 2015|website = All Music|publisher = |last = Eder|first = Bruce}} Two recordings of "I Talk to the Wind" appear on this CD; one features vocals by Judy Dyble, and the other features vocals by Peter Giles.
Personnel
- Robert Fripp – electric guitar
- Ian McDonald – flute, clarinet, reed organ, piano, vocals
- Greg Lake – bass guitar, vocals
- Michael Giles – drums
- Peter Sinfield – lyrics
Opus III version
{{Infobox song
| name = I Talk to the Wind
| cover = Opus III-I Talk to the Wind.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Opus III
| album = Mind Fruit
| B-side = Sea People
| released = {{start date|1992|6|15|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=17|date=13 June 1992}}
| recorded =
| studio =
- Fluffy Trees
- PWL
- The Bunker
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:06
| label = PWL International
| writer =
| producer = Opus III
| prev_title = It's a Fine Day
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = When You Made the Mountain
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|FEKVMTwW9S0|"I Talk to the Wind"}}}}
}}
In 1992, the song was covered by English electronic music group Opus III, whose lead vocalist was Kirsty Hawkshaw. It was released in June 1992 by PWL International as the follow-up to their successful "It's a Fine Day" and the second single from their debut album, Mind Fruit (1992). The single peaked at number six in Finland, number 52 in the United Kingdom and number 162 in Australia. The accompanying music video for "I Talk to the Wind" is similar to the video for "It's a Fine Day", featuring Hawkshaw with her head shaved and dressed in a silvery bodysuit with silver boots and silver make-up.
=Critical reception=
AllMusic editor MacKenzie Wilson felt the group's "crafty version" of King Crimson's "I Talk to the Wind" "composes a dreamy synthetic wave." He also noted Kirsty Hawkshaw's "dove-like vocals transcended into freewheeling soundscapes".{{cite web|first=MacKenzie|last=Wilson|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mind-fruit-mw0000082227|title=Opus III – Mind Fruit|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=18 March 2020}} Randy Clark from Cashbox wrote that her "childlike and breathy voice blows through this dance track like a gentle breeze."{{cite magazine|first= Randy |last= Clark |title= Music Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cashbox |date= 31 October 1992 |page= 5 |accessdate= 1 November 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-10-31.pdf}} Dave Simpson from Melody Maker viewed it as "another sublime reinvention".{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Simpson|title=Albums|magazine=Melody Maker|date=18 July 1992|page=30|access-date=20 February 2023|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52647257025/}} Andy Beevers from Music Week opined that the song is similar in style to "It's a Fine Day", "but is nowhere as special."{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-06-13.pdf |title= Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= 13 June 1992 |page= 6 |accessdate= 2 October 2020}} Roger Morton from NME praised it as "excellent".{{cite magazine|first=Roger|last=Morton|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=18 July 1992|page=34|access-date=20 February 2023|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52648740921/}} Siân Pattenden from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, remarking that "the flutes whisper along merrily with the bubbly syntheramic background".{{cite magazine|first= Siân |last= Pattenden |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/49385963937/in/album-72157712670638578/ |title= New Singles |magazine= Smash Hits |date= 10 June 1992 |page= 55 |accessdate= 6 October 2020 |author-link= Siân Pattenden}}
=Track listings=
- Europe 7-inch single (1992)
- "I Talk to the Wind" (edit) – 4:06
- "Sea People" – 6:00
- UK 12-inch single (1992)
- "I Talk to the Wind" (extended mix) – 6:11
- "Sea People" – 5:33
- UK CD single (1992)
- "I Talk to the Wind" (edit) – 4:06
- "I Talk to the Wind" (12-inch extended mix) – 6:11
- "Sea People" – 6:00
=Charts=
References
{{reflist}}
{{In the Court of the Crimson King}}
{{King Crimson}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:I Talk To The Wind}}
Category:Opus III (band) songs
Category:Pete Waterman Entertainment singles
Category:Songs written by Ian McDonald (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by Greg Lake
Category:Songs with lyrics by Peter Sinfield