It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1958, but lost to "All the Way" by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn from The Joker is Wild.

[citation needed] Mathis recorded the song with a flexible sense of meter, rushing some words as if they were speech.

Simone extensively reworked the song, with slow, sparse instrumentation and her drawn-out vocal delivery expressing a sense of loss.

"[2] Bowie took special care with the arrangement and production of "Wild Is the Wind", committing to an emotional and romantic vocal performance modeled after Simone's which has often been cited as one of his best.

[9][10] According to Chris O'Leary and Benoît Clerc:[11][7] Technical Bowie performed the song during his June 2000 Mini Tour.