In an interview he gave back in 2001, Christopher Cross hinted at why there was no music video to accompany his smash hit single, ‘Ride Like The Wind’. “I’ll be honest with you: Video killed the radio star. I grew up listening to vinyl, listening to Joni, and it’s always been about the songs for me”. Now, however, 45 years after it was first released in 1980, the track which catapulted him into stardom, has finally been given the video treatment.
‘Ride Like The Wind’ was the lead single from Christopher Cross’s self-titled debut album, which saw him make Grammy history, by winning 5 awards in 1981 – including the “Big Four” – Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (the latter two for his second single, ‘Sailing’), as well as the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). This achievement was unsurpassed up to that point, and nobody came close until Billie Eilish in 2020.
Christopher Cross shot for the stars and actually reached them, and showing that it’s possible to not only chase your dreams but also achieve them. His music, later dubbed “yacht rock”, was perfectly poised to capture the MTV generation, which dawned shortly after, and makes it all the more perplexing as to why he’s waited so long to release a video for ‘Ride Like The Wind’.
45 years down that road – 46 since the release of that debut album – Christopher Cross has in that time launched his own label, released 12 studio albums, had numerous Top 10 singles, and even been nominated for an Emmy award. An expanded edition of ‘Christopher Cross’ was released digitally on May 2, and followed up by a deluxe 2LP vinyl edition on June 20. The reissue includes never-before-heard material such as early demos, tracks released only in Japan, and fan favourites such as, ‘Mary Ann’, ‘Passengers’, and, ‘Smiles of Angels’. along with fresh liner notes, written by acclaimed music journalist, Gene Sculatti. Additionally, Christopher Cross is touring the US this summer. sharing the stage with such legends as Toto, and Men At Work. You can get your tickets here.
While there was no video for ‘Ride Like The Wind’ released back in 1980, the 45th anniversary clip is nevertheless still able to capture the atmosphere of the era. We feel like we are watching a scene pulled straight out of a “carsploitation” film, with young women channelling the high energy of such cult classics of the likes of ‘Zabriskie Point’, ‘Vanishing Point’, and ‘Two-Lane Blacktop’. The dusty desert road sets the scene of a battleground, while also being a metaphor for conflict, and resistance. While the song tells a tale of racing to get ahead of something, the clip emulates it by showing the cars racing down the roads, in essence an edge-of-the-seat short film.
Speaking about the music video, director Andrea Calvetti said,
“The goal was simple: to have fun, lean into the pulse of the track, and unleash that wild ’70s energy – muscle cars tearing through the desert, shot on vintage anamorphics, chasing something just out of reach. What makes me most proud is how we reimagined the genre’s legacy. This time, it’s an all-female cast behind the wheel – not passengers in someone else’s story, but drivers of their own wild ride”.
Join Christopher Cross in celebrating the 45th anniversary of ‘Ride Like The Wind’, and watch the stunning music video below. You can find out more about Christopher Cross and his music online by checking out his official website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
