Released May 1996 (1996-05) Label Warner Bros. | Genre Instrumental rock | |
Writer(s) Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen Producer(s) Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen | ||
"Respect the Wind" is a lengthy keyboard and electric guitar instrumental track written and performed by Edward and Alex Van Halen. It is played over the end credits of the 1996 hit film Twister and is Alex Van Halen's only-ever credit independent of the band Van Halen.
It was the second of two songs contributed to Twister by Eddie Van Halen, the other being "Humans Being" recorded with the other three members of Van Halen. "Respect the Wind" was recorded following Eddie's dissatisfaction with the song "Humans Being" and marked one of the straws that supposedly led to lead singer Sammy Hagar's exit from the band. It is considered one of Eddie's greatest individual performances. The version used for "Twister" is shorter in length than the original recording which was recorded in a single studio session and was almost entirely improvised.
The song is composed in C dorian mode.
"Respect the Wind" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental in 1997, but did not win.