Website tag: Charity singles

Spirit of the Forest

Kim participated in this charity project in 1989. It was initiated by a group called Gentlemen without weapons, who released a CD in 1988 called ‘Transmissions’. This CD was almost entirely made with sounds they collected from animals in their natural environment.

This procedure was also used on the song ‘Spirit of the Forest’ by the charity group of the same name. Other participants included Jon Anderson, Sam Brown, Kate Bush, Thomas Dolby, LL Cool J, Nathan Moore, David Gilmour and Ringo Starr. The goal of this release was to raise money for the Earth Love fund, in order to help save the rainforests.


Lyrics

Chris Rea: Up from the canopy I can see
Kim Wilde: A thousand chainsaws comin’ for me
Thomas Dolby: For millions of years this has been my home
Louise Goffin, Lacy J Dalton: Turn around, turn around, it soon may all be gone

Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Raitt, Rita Coolidge, Olivia Newton-John, Louise Goffin, Shikisha, Sam Brown, Kim Wilde, Donna Summer, Debbie Harry, Taylor Dayne, B52’s, Dolette McDonald:
They’ll never break the spirit of the forest
They’ll never cut the heart from the tree of life
They’ll never break the spirit of the forest
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Donna Summer: I hear the cry of the Yanomami
Joey Ramone, Iggy Pop: The Kookaburra and the Golden Monkey
Taylor Dayne: Thousands of acres up in smoke every day
Richie Havens: Millions of species fadin’ away

All: They’ll never break the spirit of the forest
They’ll never cut the heart from the tree of life
They’ll never break the spirit of the forest
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Renato Russo, Djavan, Ivan Linns: Jamais quebrarao o espirito das matas
Sandra de Sa, Rita Lee, Gal Costa, Marisa Monte: Jamais cortarao o coracao na arvore da vida
Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Renato Russo, Djavan, Ivan Linns: Matipu, Makuxi, Waimiri, Pataxo
Sandra de Sa, Rita Lee, Gal Costa, Marisa Monte: Bororo, Tikuna, Kanela
All the Brazilians: Tukano, Xavante, Juruna, Guarani, Kaypo

Nathan Moore: Up from the canopy I can see
Rita Coolidge: Flames of extinction coming for me
Jon Anderson: Hanging in the balance there lies our fate
Was not Was: Turn around, turn around before it’s too late

All: They’ll never break the spirit of the forest
They’ll never cut the heart from the tree of life
They’ll never break the spirit of the forest
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Something Better

Song written by Foskett. Kim recorded this track for the Anti-Heroin Project with Daryl Pandy, Bobby Whitlock and Precious Wilson and Finchley’s Children’s Choir.


Lyrics

Shalalala lala
Shalalala lalalala
Shalalala lala

Daryl: When there’s nothing left in your life
and all your highs have turned to lows
Kim: In need of something to fill that hole
that was left by life’s ugly blows

Precious: Maybe it’s your mistake
Maybe it’s mine too
If you could only wait for one moment
It’s your decision, use your God-given vision
Make up your mind to be free

You must believe
You can give yourself something better
Bobby: Love can conquer all
Climb your prison wall
and be free forever

Kim: Snowflakes fall and the horse runs wild
All you wanna do is ride
Daryl: You hear the calling and become a child
You’re lost, tomorrow with all your pride

Precious: Stop and turn around
Don’t go the easy way
You’re really not alone, you’re not the only one
You’ve got the power to wait another hour
Hold on to yourself till the pain is gone

You must believe
You can give yourself something better
Bobby: Love can conquer all
Climb your prison wall
and be free forever

Kim: You must believe
You can give yourself something better
Bobby: Love can conquer all
Climb your prison wall
and be free forever

Precious: You must believe
You can give yourself something better
Bobby: Love can conquer all
Climb your prison wall
and be free forever

Daryl: I love you
I love you
God loves you
Sing children

Children’s choir:-
We all need something better
We all need something better
We all need something better
We all need something better
We all need something better
We all need something better…

Comic Relief

Comic Relief was established in the UK in 1986 by a group of people who work in comedy, with the intention to use their own skills to raise funds for giving help to victims of famine in Ethiopia and Sudan. In the first year a total of over one million UK pounds was raised through three projects, being the “Living doll” record by Cliff Richard and the Young Ones, a Comic Relief Live show, including performances by top comedy stars such as Rowan Atkinson and Lenny Henry and live performances by Howard Jones and Kate Bush, and a Christmas book.
The money raised was spent on emergency work in Africa, some long-term projects in the area, and charity projects in the United Kingdom.
Kim Wilde and Mel Smith were asked in 1987 to record a version of the Christmas song Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree as part of the second Comic Relief fundraising year. Even more money was raised that year, and the amount of raised money has continued to rise eversince. Comic Relief has become an annual event, televised by the BBC (English TV) on evening-long television fundraising marathons. The need for money still continues, as do the projects supported by this money.


Charity

Kim is always willing to help charitable causes, as she has proved many times during her career. She contributed to some successful records in the 80’s, including Ferry Aid, Spirit of the forest and the Anti-Heroin Project. The most well-known charity record she performed on was of course Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree by Mel (Smith) and Kim (Wilde), a single that raised money for Comic Relief.
She also performed live for charity in 1987 at an AIDS fundraising concert, when she performed Sorry seems to be the hardest word, and in 1991 during the Rock-a-baby concert.
All through her career she’s tried successfully to raise funds to help finance research on the illness Friedreich’s Ataxia, e.g. through Fanclub Magazines in the early 80’s and by organizing an auction during the first Kim Wilde Fan meeting.
Other charity events Kim attended include Children in Need, Help a London Child, the One Small Step Appeal, the Sega Splash for Starlight and countless others.


Anti-Heroin Project

In 1987, a compilation LP and 7″ was released by the Anti-Heroin Project. This project consisted of various artists who donated a song or recorded one especially for this occasion.

Kim Wilde was one of the people present on September 7 when ‘A Live In World’ and Something Better were recorded. Kim recorded the latter track with Precious Wilson, Daryl Pandy and Bobby Whitlock and can be heard singing one of the verses. All of the money raised by the records went to a drug rehabilitation centre.

Kim about the Anti-Heroin Project

I am firmly against drug abuse, and I’m ready to support any anti-drugs campaign.