Date: 1 July 2012
Published in: Blu (Germany)
Written by: Dimitri Giannestras
Kim Wilde – the eternally young blonde – is on tour and will be making a stop at the Tollwood Festival. In addition to her biggest hits like “Kids in America,” “Cambodia,” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” she’ll also be performing songs from her current cover album “Snapshots.” Blu loves the wild Wilde!
With your top 10 album “Come Out and Play” under your belt, you performed successfully live in Germany last year. In 2012, you’ll be back on tour with your latest album, “SNAPSHOTS.” What’s different about this tour, and what can fans expect?
We’ve been working hard on the show and coming up with new ideas to musically and visually translate the concept behind the “Snapshots” album. For example, we’re using previously unreleased footage from my life for the video screens. My mother gave me a lot of it on DVD for my birthday last year. Pictures and film clips, for example, from my childhood on a wooden horse or from my youth with Justin Hayward, before he became the lead singer of the legendary band The Moody Blues. The pictures, together with my music, are intended to provide an overview of my love of music, my career, and my life. However, it’s damn difficult to fit all of that into two hours. (laughs) After all, some time has passed in my life.
At your concerts, you now sing for two hours, every night. How do you keep yourself and your voice fit before and during a tour?
Since Christmas, I’ve been preparing for the tour with a personal trainer. I’m paying close attention to my health by trying to drink plenty of fluids and eat only healthy foods. No, I’m not a health fanatic, but protecting your immune system does help to stay healthy. I also try to get plenty of sleep, although that’s not always easy on a moving tour bus.
You’ve already collaborated with many musical artists, such as Nena, Nik Kershaw and Ali Campbell of UB40. Are there any musical artists you’d like to collaborate with?
I’m a big fan of Ellie Goulding and Jessie J., both young, talented English songwriters. I think female songwriters are currently on the rise. Yes, of course, I could imagine a collaboration!
What was the biggest musical challenge for you in your 30 year career?
I think my biggest challenge was definitely songwriting and overcoming the fear of writing my own lyrics for these songs. I wrote my first original songs in 1984 for the album “Teases & Dares.” I simply didn’t feel mature enough for that. After all, I grew up listening to songs by Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Stevie Wonder, whose songwriting skills I always admired. Besides, my parents weren’t exactly supportive, so I had no choice but to gain experience and discover songwriting on my own.
