Shangri-La

Song written by Kim Wilde. Ninth track of the album Teases & Dares. Along with Fit In this was one of the first two songs that were released, written by Kim Wilde herself. Not too confident about her songwriting abilities, she apparently had been writing two years before releasing her first two own compositions.

Versions

There are four versions of ‘Shangri-la’: the album version, the 7″ version (released as the B-side of The Touch), the extended version and a special remix featured on the LP Debut.

Live performances

‘Shangri-la’ was performed live during the Rage to Rock tour in 1985 only.

Kim about ‘Shangri-la’

‘Shangrila’ is a typical British expression of a paradise condition, which everyone is searching for in life. What belongs in that, is different for everyone – which is why this lyric is poetic, leaves lots of things open. (1)

Credits

Yamaha DX 7, Mini Moog: Kim Wilde
’62 Fender Jazz Bass, Roland Jupiter 8, Solina, Synclavier II: Ricki Wilde
Arranged by Kim Wilde
Produced by Ricki Wilde and Marty Wilde.
Engineer: Nigel Mills with thanks to Stephen Stewart-Short and Pete Schwier.

Interview source

(1) Snapshot. Popcorn (Germany), November 1984


Lyrics

Hidden away – It’s the end of a day
And you’re not really thinking at all
There’s that same stupid paper on the wall
And a stain where the damp’s crawling

He’s still looking for his Shangri-la
But he wouldn’t know it
if it hit him in the face
if it hit him in the face

Day turns to daze
And indifference plays
While a sun goes on beating in the sky
And a small child falls over as she crys
Somewhere someone is calling her

She’s still looking for her Shangri-la
But she wouldn’t know it
if it hit her in the face
if it hit her in the face

Spoken : I take a look behind me
And the sun shines brighter there
And the people are much more beautiful
In a place without a care
And I’m wondering if there’ll ever be room for me
in Shangri-la

Wondering now – do you love me – and now
As I burn with a dangerous desire
Is our time up and on to the next fire
Got my fingers burnt and cut into the wire
Do you think we will ever learn

He’s still looking for his Shangri-la
But he wouldn’t know it
if it hit him in the face
if it hit him in the face

As we keep looking our Shangri-la…
Our Shangri-la
But we wouldn’t know it
if it hit us in the face
if it hit us in the face