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Kim Wilde

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Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith on November 18 1960) is a British pop singer, gardener, and pop cultural figure. She debuted in 1981 with the hit Kids in America, which was number two in the British music chart.

File:Kwfc0704.jpg
Kim Wilde and Michael Jackson on the cover of fanclub magazine in 1988.

Biography

Kim was born in Chiswick, West London as the first child of 1950s Rock & Roller Marty Wilde and Joyce Baker, formerly of the British singing and dancing group the Vernons Girls.

She moved with her family to Hertfordshire at the age of 9 where she was educated at Presdales School, Ware, before completing a foundation course at St Albans College of Art & Design in 1980.

Kim was signed to Mickie Most's RAK Records in 1980 and released her first single, "Kids in America", in January 1981. It was an instant success, reaching no. 2 in the UK singles chart and ending up in the top 5 all over Europe. In the US, the single peaked at no. 25 on Billboard Hot 100, and in their year-end Hot 100 chart for 1982, it ranked at no. 85.

The debut album Kim Wilde followed later that year and spawned a further two hits, Chequered Love and Water On Glass. Kim recorded a total of three albums for RAK Records before signing to MCA Records in the summer of 1984. Most of the songs, including all her major hits, were written by her father Marty and brother Ricki Wilde.

Six subsequent albums for MCA Records have included international hits such as Another Step (Closer To You) (recorded with Junior), You came, Never Trust A Stranger, Four Letter Word, If I Can't Have You (a cover of the Yvonne Elliman (Bee Gees written) song from the movie Saturday Night Fever) and a remake of the Supremes classic You Keep Me Hangin' On - which gave Kim her first USA Number 1 single in 1987 - all of which have contributed to total worldwide album and single sales in excess of 7 million and 12 million respectively. This same period corresponded with Kim's development as a songwriter having written or co-written the majority of the songs on the MCA albums including many of the above hit singles.

Kim received the Best Female Vocalist Award from the British Phonographic Industry in the United Kingdom in 1983 and has subsequently received two further nominations in this category. Also, she has received numerous silver, gold and platinum records from all over the world.

Kim has undertaken five solo tours and has performed as opening act for Michael Jackson in 1988 and for David Bowie in 1990.

Adding a new dimension to this highly successful career, Kim appeared in London's West End production of the musical Tommy from February 1996 to February 1997.

On September 1, 1996, Kim got married to her co-star in this musical, Hal Fowler, and wanted to have children as soon as possible. On January 3, 1998 she gave birth to Harry Tristan. Two years later, on January 13, 2000, Rose Elisabeth was born.

File:Gardeningwith.jpg
Cover of Kim Wilde's book "Gardening with Children" (2005).

During her first pregnancy an old interest in gardening resurfaced, and she attended the famous Capel Manor college to learn about horticulture, so as to create a garden for her children. She was spotted by talent scouts of Channel 4, who asked her as a designer for the program Better Gardens. A year later she started a two year commitment with the BBC, recording two seasons of Garden Invaders. In 2005 she won a Gold award for her courtyard garden at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show. [1] Her first book about gardening was published in 2005, entitled 'Gardening with children'. The second book is to follow in April 2006, entitled 'The first-time gardener'. Translations of the first book are released at the same time in Spain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands.

On January 13, 2001 she performed live for the first time in years, as a guest star in a show by ABBA tribute band Fabba for a local charity. This sparked her interest in performing live again. Since November 2001, she has toured the UK in three times in the Here & Now Tour, an Eighties revival concert series together with artists such as Paul Young, Human League and Howard Jones. New music also followed: in 2001 she recorded a new track (Loved) for a compilation album which became a surprise hit in Belgium, and in 2003 she had pan-European success with Anyplace, anywhere, anytime, a duet with another 1980s pop icon German singer Nena.

Kim continues to juggle family life, music and gardening, enjoying success and fulfillment in all areas.

Kim's brother, Marty Wilde Jr., was a contestant on The Golf Channel's The Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe.

The studio albums

Kim Wilde (1981)

Kim Wilde's debut album was released when she was 20 years old. Most of the music on this album was played by the punk band The Enid, and the songs were all written by Marty Wilde and Ricky Wilde. Production duties were fulfilled by Ricky Wilde. Musically, the album was mainly rock-oriented, which wasn't surprising because of the appearance of The Enid, but it also featured a reggae track (Everything we know) and a brass section appeared on 2 6 5 8 0. Lyrically, Marty Wilde provided a few surprises: besides the obligatory love songs there was also a song about a rare minority of people who continually hear sound in their head (Water on glass), the deterioration of inner cities (Our town) and a song about a theory that sound is alive and not dead (Tuning in tuning on). The singles Kids in America and Chequered love were big hits all over Europe, the former would later become a classic pop song.

The album entered the British album charts at no. 10, moving into the top three the next week. During promotion, Kim's band consisted of Ricky Wilde, James Stevenson and Calvin Hayes, who also appeared on the sleeve of the album.

Select (1982)

The first single from this album, Cambodia, was released in December 1981 and signalled a different sound from the Wilde camp. The Enid was out, synths and electronic music was in. Again, the songs were written by Marty and Ricky Wilde, production by Ricky Wilde. This was a cause for concern for the "serious" music press at the time: was Kim just a puppet being manipulated by her family? In reality, Kim simply profited from the craftsmanship of her father and brother. The lyrics of the songs were as imaginative as they were on the first album: the second single View from a bridge and the album track Wendy Sadd seemed to be about suicide, Chaos at the airport described a nightmare about flying and Ego was quite the opposite of a lovesong. Musically, the 1980's had really begun: lots of synthesizers and drum computers seemed to dominate the soundscape. One oldfashioned rocksong appeared near the end of the album: Can you come over was recorded at the Wilde's home. The striking cover image was a photograph from Gered Mankowitz.

This long-awaited sequel to the debut album Kim Wilde stormed the charts in a host of mostly European countries, although it did not surpass the success of its predecessor.

Catch as catch can (1983)

Having toured the UK and Europe in November and December 1982, there was a silence of six months. Kim Wilde returned with the single Love blonde, an oldfashioned rock 'n' roll track that lyrically mocked the blonde bombshell image that some media had dealt Kim in the preceding year. The album 'Catch as catch can' didn't contain any track similar to this single, it rather continued the electronic music theme that was introduced on 'Select'. Most of the songs were again written by Marty and Ricky Wilde, except the second single Dancing in the dark which was written by Nicky Chinn and Paul Gurvitz. Ricky Wilde produced the album. Some of the songs seemed to be telling a story (House of Salome, Sing it out for love) whereas Dream sequence was one of Marty's more imaginative lyrics, describing what seems to be a random sequence of images. The cool blue cover image was provided by photographer Sheila Rock.

The album seemed to suffer from negative reports in the press and the lack of successful singles. Even a second European tour couldn't help the decline in sales, although with hindsight it is easy to recognise how well the album has aged. Quirky electronic noises and beautifully layered soundscapes make this one of the more appealing albums in Kim's repertoire.

Teases & dares (1984)

Kim Wilde left RAK Records, who released her first three albums, and signed to MCA Records. This was her first album for them. Ricky and Marty Wilde produced this album together, wrote most of the songs. However, it also featured for the first time two songs written and composed by Kim: Fit in and Shangri-la. One obvious thing leapt out: both songs were remarkable for their personal lyrics. Fit in was inspired by Kim's neighbours banging on the ceiling when she was playing a 12" single by [Frankie Goes To Hollywood], Shangri-la seemed to describe a longing for a place without a care. At first, the singles taken from this album seemed to continue the trend of declining sales, as both The second time and The touch were relatively unsuccessful. The third single, Rage to love (remixed by Dave Edmunds), was the first one in a long time to break the singles top 20. By then, Kim had started her third live tour to sold out halls all over Europe.

Kim's image was changed from a girl wearing second hand clothes to a kindof Barbarella sci-fi goddess by XL Design, the team that shaped most images in the mid-1980's, but Kim quickly got bored of this image and switched back to an image she felt more comfortable in. It seemed to be a wise choice, as the success of the next album would prove.

Another step (1986)

Boasting 12 tracks (13 on the CD and cassette) and a varied team of songwriters, "Another step" was an artistic and commercial triumph for Kim. She'd co-written more than half of the tracks herself. The first half of the tracks ('Side A' in the days of vinyl) was uptempo, whereas the other half ('Side B') contained ballads. Most of the tracks were produced by Ricky Wilde, but there were also production duties fulfilled by Reinhold Heil, Richard James Burgess, Rod Temperton, Dick Rudolph and Bruce Swedien. The album's first track was a cover of the Supremes hit You keep me hangin' on. Released as a single in America, it became a number one single in the summer of 1987. The track was almost equally successful in the UK, where it was no. 2. The next single was Another step (closer to you), a duet with British soul singer Junior Giscombe. This UK top 10 hit single was the first one Kim had co-written herself. The third and final single off the album was Say you really want me, causing a minor controversy when the video was banned from children's programming because it showed Kim writhing on a bed having fun with a pearl necklace. All of the singles were uptempo tracks, and all of the tracks on this album were a departure of the synth sound of the previous albums. There was more guitar on most of the tracks, and some of them, like The thrill of it and I've got so much love had a decided 'rock' feel to them. The ballads were touching and very melodic. The sound of Kim Wilde had obviously matured.

Close (1988)

Produced by Ricky Wilde and Tony Swain, 'Close' contained the last few songs co-written with Marty Wilde, whereas Kim had co-written eight out of the ten tracks included on this. No less than five singles were taken from this album. Hey mister heartache featured again backing vocals from Junior Giscombe, You came, a tribute to Kim's nephew Marty, Ricky's first child, was the biggest hit of the five singles and combined touching lyrics with a very dynamic and melodic song. Never trust a stranger was a throwback to early Kim Wilde songs, a largely guitar-driven affair, Four letter word, the last song to be written by Marty and Ricky Wilde for Kim, was a moving ballad and Love in the natural way was a poppy song. Further tracks included Lucky guy, a cover of the song by Todd Rundgren, and European soul, a song about the painter Marc Chagall. Released in the summer of 1988, it was Kim's first album since her debut album to reach the top 10 in the UK albums chart, and stayed in that chart for 38 weeks.

Love moves (1990)

Six tracks written by Ricky and Kim Wilde, four tracks written by Kim Wilde and Tony Swain. Production was done by Ricky Wilde. This album was an attempt to follow on from the success of 'Close', but unfortunately it didn't. There were no clear indications why it didn't: the lyrics were as heartfelt as any lyric written by Kim, and the music was melodic as ever. Some critics lamented the MOR feel of the album and the use of similar sounds throughout the album. Other than that, every effort had been made to create an impressive album. It included guests like Jaki Graham who contributed backing vocals and Deon Estus playing bass guitar. The first track It's here was released as the first single off the album and describes Kim's search for a place of her own in a competitive world. World in perfect harmony and Who's to blame showed to faces of a similar problem: hope for a better world and despair at how mankind is treating the environment respectively. In Hollywood is about a world of glamour where love seems to lose out in between famous people. Kim wasn't especially "Wilde" on this album, except for the track Can't get enough (of your love) where the guitar rips one more time.

Love is (1992)

Kim Wilde found herself working with Rick Nowels on this album, the same songwriter who had written for Belinda Carlisle amongst others. Three of the eleven tracks were produced by him, the remaining eight were produced by Ricky Wilde. The majority of the tracks on this album were co-written by Kim. She'd taken a long hard look at herself, resulting in the song Who do you think you are?, in which she reflects on how she had gone through recent years in her career. It wasn't a very pretty picture, but she clearly decided to get rid of the nonsense and 'getting on with her life'. Nowels provided Love is holy, a song that immediately struck Kim when she heard it in his studio in America. Two further tracks, I won't change the way that I feel and A miracle's coming showed, like Love is holy, obvious signs of Carlislism, but the rest of the album was more consistent with the Wilde sound: synthpop with guitar riffs and a few touching ballads. Most haunting of all was the closing track, Too late, in which the loss of love is described in mournful tones.

Now & forever (1995)

With the previous albums somewhat more alike one another than the first five, Kim decided it was time for a change, and she chose to make an album with a decided soul/R&B feel to it. Ricky Wilde still produced the album, but joined forces with CJ Mackintosh for four of them and the Serious Rope team for seven others. The remaining three he produced alone. Opening with Breakin' away, an obvious dance track, and including R&B tracks like C'mon love me, You're all I wanna do and Where do you go from here, the album was a departure from the familiar Wilde sound and didn't please the fans and audience like other albums had. It was the first album not to break the albums chart in the UK. Still, the album was a daring move for Kim, who wanted to make something to please herself first and foremost. It would also be her last album for a while, because in 1996 she started playing in a musical, and subsequently married and had children.


Discography

Notes: US top data: for singles from The Billboard Hot 100, for albums from The Billboard 200; UK top data for singles and albums from UK Singles Chart.

Main albums

Year Album Name Label US Top UK Top WW sales mil.
1981 Kim Wilde RAK Records 86 3
1982 Select RAK Records 19
1983 Catch As Catch Can RAK Records 90
1984 Teases & Dares MCA Records 84 66
1986 Another Step MCA Records 40 73
1988 Close MCA Records 114 8
1990 Love Moves MCA Records 37
1992 Love Is MCA Records 21
1995 Now & Forever / Breaking Away MCA Records 114

Compilations

Year Album Name Label US Top UK Top WW sales mil.
1993 The Singles Collection 1981-1993 11
1996 The Best Of EMI
1996 The Gold Collection - Greatest Hits EMI

Singles

Year Single Name Label US Top UK Top WW sales mil.
1981 Kids in America 25 2 2
1981 Chequered Love 4
1981 Water On Glass 53 (M.Stream Rock) 11
1981 Bitter Is Better
1981 Cambodia 12
1982 View From A Bridge 16
1982 Take Me Tonight
1982 Child Come Away 43
1983 Love Blonde 23
1983 Dancing In The Dark 67
1983 House Of Salome
1984 The Second Time 29
1984 The Touch 56
1984 Rage To Love 19
1986 Schoolgirl
1986 You Keep Me Hangin' On 1 2
1987 Another Step 6
1986 Say You Really Want Me 44 29
1988 Hey Mr. Heartache 31
1988 You came 41 3
1988 Never Trust a Stranger 7
1988 Four Letter Word 6
1988 Love In The Natural Way 32
1990 It's Here 42
1990 Time 71
1990 Can't Get Enough
1990 World in Perfect Harmony
1990 I Can't Say Goodbye 51
1992 Love is holy 16
1992 Heart Over Mind 34
1992 Who Do You Think You Are? 49
1992 Million Miles Away
1993 If I Can't Have You 12 (Billboard Hot Dance) 12
1993 In My Life 54
1994 Kids In America 1994 MCA Records
1995 Breakin' Away 43
1995 This I Swear 46
1995 Shame 86
2001 Loved-#7 (Belgium)
2002 Born To Be Wild #82 (Germany)
2003 Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime (with Nena)- went # 3 in Germany, and #1 Austria, #12 Switz and #1 the Netherlands, # 2 Belgium


Impact

Kim Wilde is still the UK's best selling solo female pop singer of all times. She was consistently successful throughout the 1980's and some of her songs have become international standards. Her second career as a gardener has been equally successful, having received many accolades within only five years as a "serious" gardener.

Kim Wilde as an inspiration for other artists

In 1985, French singer Laurent Voulzy released the song Les nuits sans Kim Wilde ("Nights without Kim Wilde") in France. He apparently wrote the song after seeing Kim on television and finding himself totally fascinated by her image. Kim heard the recording and finally agreed to sing a few lines on the song herself.

The East-German punk band Feeling B released a song called Kim Wilde in 1989. The lyrics are almost entirely in German dialect.

Ash guitarist, Charlotte Hatherley, wrote a song about her, entitled Kim Wilde, in 2004 and included it on her debut album Grey will fade.

Kim Wilde covered by other artists

Many artists around the world have done cover versions of Kim Wilde songs, ranging from pop and rock to dance and death metal versions. Here are just a few of the professional ones:

Books

Gardening with children

Kim Wilde's first book was written in 2004 and released on April 4, 2005 by Collins publishers. Bursting with ideas for getting - and keeping - kids interested in the outdoors, Gardening with Children is a comprehensive guide to making the garden fun and safe. Kim Wilde offers many projects in which children play an active role in gardening, along with insightful tips for making a family garden educational and exciting. Along with guidelines for safety in the garden are there are ideas for maintaining a child's attention span throughout the sometimes slow gardening process. Children like to feel grown-up and to see the results of their labours: this book shows parents how to help them. Illustrated, step-by-step projects range from creative ways to plant, such as rainbow and sensory gardens, to making scarecrows, wormeries and tile mosaics. For families with a small garden, or none at all, windowboxes and other activities are suggested. Indoor projects for rainy days are also included, as well as a plant directory identifying good plants for children, chosen for their speedy growth, smell, cost-effectiveness, ease of handling and other child-friendly characteristics.

The First-time Gardener

Written in 2005 and released on April 3, 2006 by Collins publishers. Full of practical tips and detailed step-by step instructions, The First-Time Gardener is the beginner's guide to gardening. Beautifully illustrated throughout this one-stop guide will teach you the very basics of what gardening is about. The book assumes no prior knowledge and takes you through the basics of planning a garden, choosing plants and turning your ideas into reality - including how to make the most of climbers, containers, and hanging baskets. But it will also help you assess what you've already got in your garden. Not all gardens should be created from scratch, as per the TV makeovers. In fact, if you can wait a while to see what happens in your new garden, then you may find you've inherited some weird and wonderful plants.


See also

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