Kim Wilde

[Translated for Wilde Life by Anders Sandström]

Her name is Kim Smith and she is the daughter of Reginald Smith. A normal english girl who on this December afternoon in Stockholm has a slight cold. Normally dressed, looks like those early-grown-up chicks that pour beer at the pubs in England.

"I think I'm a flop when it comes to the rock 'n' roll myth, I'm not trying to make my life look more interesting than it is. I don't glamorize it, so people are constantly disappointed because nothing special ever happens to me.
"I don't have any wishes that look good in print, says Kim Smith who some years ago changed her last name to Wilde. Just like Dad did 27 years ago, when Reginald Smith became Marty Wilde, teenage idol and England's answer to Elvis Presley.
"It's about things that have nothing to do with my career. For example to go out fishing. Or go outside in the middle of the night hunting ducks and pheasants. The Scots do that and it's of course illegal, but fun. Or "fish-poaching" (the translator's comment: catching fish without license) salmon in a stream.
"Right now I'm feeling trapped. Skiing vacation is my only luxury."
Kim Wilde does of course want to write her own hit. Until now it has been dad Marty and brother Ricky who have given her songs, produced and arranged. She's dreaming about becoming as famous as Donna Summer, Dusty Springfield or Joni Mitchell. At least she would like to meet them.
Today she is a crossover between "rock chick" a "rough babe" and a all-wool Carola. (note for readers: Carola, Swedish pop/schlager star, competed in two Eurovision song contests, hitting the #3 spot on the list in 1983 with "Främling" and won in 1991 with "Fangad av en stormvind".)
Was impressed by Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin at 14-15 years of age. Earlier while I was practising piano I wanted to play Beethoven at once. Plodding through [piano] scales for six years but from the first day I remember I wanted to play "the grand stuff". That does also appeal to my singing. I wanted to be as good as Stevie Wonder. But I wasn't.
Said Kim Wilde and "jumped" into her three year old jeans, which are beginning to get a little tight around her bottom, and ran into "Drakens" (The Dragon's) scene and made a success before sparkling teenage eyes.