Website tag: H

Hadley, Tony

Born on 2 June 1960 in London (UK), Anthony Patrick (Tony) Hadley co-founded Spandau Ballet in 1976 as The Cut, with Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, John Keeble and Michael Ellison, all of whom were students at Dame Alice Owen’s Grammar School. As a member of Spandau Ballet, Hadley went on to enjoy international success in the 1980s, including hits such as ‘True’, ‘Gold’ and ‘Through the Barricades’, as well as appearing at Live Aid in 1985.

Spandau Ballet disbanded in 1990 after their final studio album, ‘Heart Like a Sky’, failed to live up to the critical and commercial success of their earlier albums, such as ‘True’ and ‘Parade’, and was not released in the United States. In April 1999, Hadley, along with fellow band members Steve Norman and John Keeble, failed in their attempt to sue Gary Kemp, the band’s songwriter, for a share of his royalties. On 25 March 2009, it was confirmed that the band had reformed with Hadley and were embarking on a tour of the UK and Ireland in October 2009. Hadley remained a member of the band intermittently until 2017, when he announced his permanent departure, later saying “I’d rather be happy on my own than be in that band again.”

Hadley’s solo career started in 1992, after Spandau Ballet first disbanded. When his solo albums were less successful, he collaborated with several dance acts such as Tin Tin Out, Marc et Claude and the Disco Bros., as well as participating in live tours, such as the Here & Now Tours in the UK.

In 2011, Tony Hadley starred in the movie Shoot The DJ, which also featured Ricky and Kim Wilde. In 2013, Hadley joined Kim Wilde, Bananarama and Go West to set a new world record for Comic Relief when they performed the highest ever gig, singing on a Boeing 767 aeroplane at 43,000 ft (13,000 m).

In 2016, a deluxe version of his ‘Christmas Album’ featured a version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas as a duet with Kim Wilde. A year later, they performed the song live during Let’s Rock Christmas.


Happy Revolvers

Hardcore punk band from Germany, responsible for the release of two albums: ‘Suicide Is Alright’ (1996) and ‘Suicide Nation’ (2000). On their first album they recorded a cover version of Kids in America.


¡Hoy no!

Cover version of Never Trust a Stranger in Spanish by Monica Naranjo.
The lyrics are not literally translated; ‘¡Hoy no!’ means ‘Not today’.
The song is one of the tracks on the EP ‘Mes excentricitès vol. 2’, released in June 2020. The EP consists of several cover versions, including ‘Creep’ by Radiohead and ‘P-Machinery’ by Propaganda.

Formats

‘¡Hoy no!’ was released as a limited edition 7″ single, available only together with the EP ‘Mes excentricitès vol. 2’ via Monica Naranjo’s official website. It was sold out before the actual release date.


Lyrics

He hallado una estrella
He visto el adiós
He andado entre piedras
He andado por barro y tierra

He amado en la paz
He amado en la guerra
Sólo para regresar donde estás tú.

Y yo me sentí una mierda
Pero hoy no. Hoy no.
Me sentí sin fuerzas
Pero hoy no.

He echado raíces
Me he herido al andar
Valiente en la arena
Varada en el mar

Te busco en mi paz
Te busco en mi guerra
Y hoy sólo quiero escapar a donde estás tú.

Y yo me sentí una mierda
Pero hoy no. Hoy no.
Me sentí sin fuerzas
Pero hoy no

He encontrado el instante y la eternidad
Almas de piedra en estatuas de sal
Huellas que fueron quedando atrás
Y gloria y derrotas y rotos que quieren amar.

Te busco en mi paz
Te busco en mi guerra
Y hoy sólo quiero escapar a donde estás tú

Y yo me sentí una mierda
Pero hoy no. Hoy no.
Me sentí sin fuerzas
Pero hoy no.

 

He Will Be There

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde.
Recorded in 1981 or 1982, this song was not released until 2020 when it was included in the deluxe edition of Select.


Lyrics

Seven o’clock and he’s late
Nevertheless, I guess I’ll wait
He will be there
He will be there

Under a rainy sky
Millions of faces just pass me by
But I don’t care
He will be there

He will be there
I know he won’t let me down
He’s not the kind of boy
Who’d leave a girl to hang around

Maybe there’s something wrong
Maybe his work just took too long
He will be there
He will be there

He will be there
He makes dreams seem possible
And when he held me tight
He promised me we’d meet tonight

Oh darling, remember
Please don’t let me down
I stayed with you last night
You made it feel so right, so right, hey

Freezing with cold and it’s late
I look at the time and I hesitate
Does he still care?
Will he be there?

Oh, please be there
Didn’t think you’d let me down
You’re not the kind of boy
Who’d leave a girl to hang around

Oh, please be there,
Feel so sad, I want to cry
If he don’t come on time,
I still believe he will be there

Oh darling, you promised,  don’t let me down
(He will be there)
Oh darling, you promised, don’t let me down
(He will be there)
Oh darling, you promised, don’t let me down
(He will be there)
(He will be there)

Here Come the Aliens Tour

The ‘Here Come the Aliens’ tour took place in 2018. It was Kim’s first UK tour in 30 years, followed by dates in Europe later in the year. The UK part of the tour started on 30 March 2018 at Regent Theatre in Ipswich and ended on 30 April 2018 at the Lowry in Salford. The sole French date took place on 26 May 2018 at La Cigale in Paris. The German part of the tour started on 2 October 2018 at the Muffathalle in Munich and ended on 17 October 2018 in Nürnberg. After three dates in Austria, Slovakia and Belgium, the tour continued in the Netherlands, starting in Eindhoven on 14 November 2018 and ending on 23 November 2018 in Dordrecht. The final 2018 date happened on 23 November 2018 in Antwerp (Belgium). The total amount of live concerts in this 2018 tour was 45.

Kim’s band during this tour consisted of Steve Power (keyboards), Jonathan Atkinson (drums), Emily Dolan Davies (drums), Paul Cooper (bass), Neil Jones (guitar), Scarlett Wilde (backing vocals) and Ricky Wilde (guitar).

The songs played during the concerts were:
Stereo Shot, Water on glass, Never Trust a Stranger, Kandy Krush, Cambodia, Birthday, Yours ’til the End, Another Step (Closer to You), Words Fell Down, Bladerunner, If I Can’t Have You, Rosetta, View From a Bridge, Chequered Love, You Came, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, 1969, Pop Don’t Stop and Kids in America.

A live registration of this tour was released in 2019 on the album Aliens Live.

Tour dates

Ricky about the Here Come the Aliens Tour

I’m not going to name names, but we did have a lighting guy, and for whatever reason, right, like, a day or two days before the tour was starting, he decided that he wanted to pull out. And he pulled out. And we’d given them all the arrangements, we thought he was all on it, and right at the last minute he obviously wasn’t. And then we managed to get hold of a guy called John Davis and John, bless him, steamed in and said ‘send me a cd, or rather mp3’s of all the tracks you’re doing, with the arrangements’, and literally he had two days to get that organized. It was unbelievable. And then the first gig we did, Kim’s manager Sean Vincent, who’s doing the sound, so he’s right next to John, and he’s watching the lights, and Sean was absolutely blown away. It was a different level lightshow that we had. (1)

Interview source

(1) Unsung Heroes podcast, 23 July 2021


Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Song written by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane. The song was written while Martin was vacationing in a house in the neighborhood of Southside in Birmingham, Alabama, that his father Hugh Martin designed for his mother as a honeymoon cottage. Located at 1919 South 15th Avenue, (just down the street from his birthplace at 1900 South 14th Avenue) the house became the home of Martin and his family in 1923.

Although Ralph Blane is credited with writing the music for many of Martin’s songs, Martin claimed in his autobiography that he wrote both music and lyrics to all of the songs in Meet Me In St. Louis and that “all of the so-called Martin and Blane songs, (except for Best Foot Forward), were written entirely by me (solo) without help from Ralph or anybody else.” His explanation for allowing Blane equal credit for the songs was: “I was reasonably content to let him receive equal screen credit, sheet music credit, ASCAP royalties, etc., mainly because this bizarre situation was caused by my naive and atrocious lack of business acumen.”

The song first appeared in a scene in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis, in which a family is distraught by the father’s plans to move to New York City for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, Missouri, just before the long-anticipated 1904 World’s Fair begins. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, Judy Garland’s character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O’Brien.

In 1957, Frank Sinatra asked Martin to revise the line “Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Martin’s new line was “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.” Martin made several other alterations, changing the song’s focus to a celebration of present happiness, rather than anticipation of a better future. On ‘The Judy Garland Show Christmas Special’, Judy sings the song to her children Joey and Lorna Luft with Sinatra’s alternate lyrics.

Artists like Tori Amos, Glen Campbell, Amy Grant and Vanessa Williams have released versions of this song commercially.

Kim Wilde versions

Kim first recorded this song in the early nineties. Although never released, a recording of this track was put to cassette and auctioned at the first Kim Wilde Fan Meeting.
Kim recorded a new version of ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’ in 2013. It the fourth track of the album Wilde Winter Songbook.
In 2016 she recorded the song as a duet with Tony Hadley for the deluxe edition of his album ‘The Christmas Album’.

Live performances

‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ was performed live by Kim during a Christmas concert in Kirchbrombach, Germany on 10 December 2006. This version was broadcast by FFH radio later that month.
She also performed the song during Christmas concerts in December 2014 and December 2015.

Kim about ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’

I grew up hearing this song by the great Judy Garland. The lyrics, although on the face of it quite upbeat, have an underlying melancholy which really appeals to me. Christmas can be a happy time for friends and family, but often life has different plans. I love the optimism of this song; in spite of anything life throws at you, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas! (1)

Credits [2013 version]

Piano & keys: Steve Power
Guitars: Neil Jones
Drums & percussion: Jonathan Atkinson
Bass, keys & additional vocals: Ricky Wilde
Backing vocals: Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde
Recorded at RAK Studios, London
Mixed by Ricky Wilde & Sean Vincent at RAK Studios, London
Engineered by Sean Vincent, assisted by Robbie Nelson & Helen Atkinson

Interview source

(1) Track by track, Kimwilde.com website (UK), November 11, 2013


Lyrics

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of Yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
and have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
and have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Hammer, Jeff

Originally a classically-trained pianist, Jeff Hammer found fame with Julian Cope and The Teardrops during the height of their popularity in the early Eighties, before going on to tour with Stray Cats, David Bowie, ABC, The Proclaimers, as well as headlining Glastonbury with The Psychedelic Furs.

In 1988 he was a member of Kim Wilde’s band while she was supporting Michael Jackson on his Bad tour. During the tour, there were rumours of a romantic relationship between Jeff and Kim, but this was never confirmed.

Recently, Jeff Hammer has been involved in Christian festivals, telling about his career and his faith.


Haaf, Karel ten

Born in Bloemendaal (Netherlands) in 1962, Karel ten Haaf was a poet, writer, research journalist and politician. He debuted in 1987, with the self-published Siren: Open Letter to Kim Wilde. The booklet was released in an edition of only 21 copies and contained photographs and lyrics of Kim Wilde, most notably How Do You Want My Love. Between 1992 and 1995 he released three poetry collections. In 1999 his first novel, ‘Steppen Zonder Autoped’ appeared. More novels followed, until in 2007 all of his poetic work was collected for the comprehensive bundle ‘Meisjespijn’, with poems written between 1978 and 2007. His bundle of stories called ‘Zat gezien, zat meegemaakt’ featured a photograph of Kim Wilde on the cover.

Meanwhile, he also became active in local politics in his provence Groningen. As a member of the socialist workers party he protested against the rise of the rightwing populist politician Pim Fortuyn. In 2006 he made the list of candidates for the Socialist Party in the city of Groningen, but he was not elected.

Besides writing poetry and novels, he also wrote columns for the literary weblog Tzum. His last poetry bundle ‘Nilfisk’ was published in 2018.

Karel ten Haaf passed away on 17 May 2019 in Groningen (Netherlands).


Here Come the Aliens

Released on 16 March 2018, ‘Here Come the Aliens’ was Kim Wilde’s fourteenth studio album. It was released by Wildeflower Records and Ear Music. A deluxe edition of the album, featuring a second CD, was released on 19 October 2018.

Music

The twelve tracks on the album are all original songs, written by Kim Wilde and/or Ricky Wilde and various collaborators. Only ‘Birthday’ was written by Scarlett Wilde and Shane Lee, making this the only track on the album not co-written by Kim or Rick. Musically, the album references Eighties pop, with influences by earlier Kim Wilde tracks (‘Pop Don’t Stop’) and various Eighties artists such as Gary Numan and Blondie.

Tracks

The album features the tracks 1969, Pop Don’t Stop, Kandy Krush, Stereo Shot, Yours ’til the End, Solstice, Addicted to You, Birthday, Cyber.Nation.War, Different Story, Rock the Paradiso and Rosetta.
The deluxe version of the album added a second cd, featuring the tracks Amoureux des Rêves, Fight Temptation, Yours ’til the End (Infinity Mix), Stereo Shot/1969/Different Story (Numinous Mix), Cyber.Nation.War (Keyboard Warrior Mix), You Came (live), Cambodia (live) and Kids in America (live).

Artwork

The cover of the album was created by Scarlett Wilde, who spent over two years at art college in Australia. She created a ‘Fifties movie poster’ with UFO’s, aliens and the Paradiso venue (located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands) in the background while a despairing Kim Wilde looks up to the sky from the lower right corner. The image was inspired by the poster for the movie La terra contro i dischi volanti.

Formats

‘Here come the aliens’ was released as a CD and yellow vinyl LP. In Germany, a box set was released including the CD and the yellow vinyl LP, two art cards and a canvas of the album cover. A limited edition red vinyl LP was made available a few months after the original release of the album, as well as a limited edition picture disc LP in a gatefold sleeve. Digital downloads were made available worldwide.
See also this page in the discography.

Kim about Here Come the Aliens

It did take many years to come to be. It didn’t just happen because we kindof hit gold. It was many years in the making, that album. It really is one of my all-time most favourite albums we’ve been involved in making. (1)

Credits

Guitar, keys and backing vocals: Ricki Wilde
Drums, percussion: Jonathan Atkinson
Bass: Paul Cooper
Guitar: Neil Jones
Keys, piano: Steve Power
Backing vocals: Scarlett Wilde
Guest vocals on ‘Rosetta’: Frida Sundemo
Recorded at Dog House Studios and RAK Studios
Mixed at Rak Studios by Sean J. Vincent and Ricki Wilde
Produced by Ricki Wilde

Chart performance

Austria: 34 (1 week)
Belgium (Flanders): 48 (4 weeks)
Belgium (Wallonia): 93 (4 weeks)
France: 68
Germany: 11 (3 weeks)
Netherlands: 74 (1 week)
Switzerland: 10 (4 weeks)
UK: 21 (2 weeks)

Interview source

(1) Unsung Heroes podcast, 23 July 2021


Hunt for Zero Point (the)

Song from the band Sonic Hub which features Kim Wilde on vocals.
It was written after Sean Vincent read the book of the same name, written by Nick Cook in 2002. The book details one man’s journey to discover the truth behind the myth that is ‘anti-gravity’ propulsion and the associated technologies.
When it came to writing songs for Sonic Hub’s 2006 album ‘Eye of the Storm’, Sean had already persuaded Rick Wilde to read the book and before long Sean had got the basics of ‘Zero Point’ recorded. He wanted to create a piece that captured the mystery, underhand dealing and downright weirdness of the book’s awesome story. With Rick’s help, Sean feels he’s captured exactly that.
When it came to adding the vocal, Sonic Hub knew that they wanted to continue their theme of taking artists out of their comfort zone, which is why they asked Kim to do the opera style vocal. A world away from Kim Wilde’s usual pop/rock style, she did a stunning performance, adding a finishing touch to this eerie and unusual electro-dance track.

In January 2007, Sean from Sonic Hub met Nick Cook in London for chat about the book, the song, and generally about all things related to the subject. Sean went armed with questions about the some of the book’s unsolved mysteries and the pair exchanged a signed copy of the album and a signed copy of the book.
Sean said of the meeting, “It was a fantastic opportunity to meet someone i really admire and then pick his brains! Nick is a thoroughly nice bloke who obviously loves his work and his enthusiasm about the song really makes it all worthwhile. To be able to chat to the author of my favourite book over a beer is just fantastic…and it’s not lost on me that this is a rare perk of the business we’re in.”

Nick Cook responded: “I was amazed when Sean first wrote to me to say that Sonic Hub had produced a track inspired by The Hunt For Zero Point, but, then again, the book does seem to have had an impact on people I’d never have guessed at when I sat down to write it five years ago. I love the track, am very happy that Kim Wilde is featured on it, and think it captures the essence of the book – a mixture of the sense of wonder, mystery, threat and hope that I felt when I went out on the road to research it. I wish Sonic Hub, Eye of the Storm and everyone involved in it every success with an album that deserves to do very well …”

Versions

There are twoversions of ‘The hunt for zero point’: the album version and The Long Firm’s Twitchy mix.

Kim about ‘The Hunt for Zero Point’

When Kim was asked about recording the Sonic Hub track and whether she enjoyed doing opera vocals, she replied: “I did. I remember when I first met Hal, he used to play me lots of different kinds of music I never sat down and listened to before. One of the things he used to play a lot to me was this beautiful music by Górecki. Do you know it? It’s (Symphony of Sorrowful songs – ed.). It’s actually used quite a lot in MTV and documentaries and stuff. It’s extremely haunting and very very moving, very very beautiful. So when Ricki asked me to do that I did think of Górecki and I thought I’d like to do more of that sort of singing. I’ve got the sort of physical power now to find notes from that place where opera singers sing. I’m not trained in that way. But my husband Hal is very interested, and can sing opera very well. It does interest me.” (1)

Interview source

(1) Kim answers fan questions – A Wilde Life Exclusive!


Lyrics

The hunt for zero point

[opera style vocals by Kim Wilde]

The hunt for zero point

“Do you ever wonder if you’re even awake?”
“Sonic Hub Sonic Hub do you read me? This is Sonic Hub 1…”

The hunt for zero point

Hits Collection (the)

Compilation album, released by EMI Gold on 6 March 2006. Originally, EMI Gold intended to release another version of the 1996 compilation The Best of Kim Wilde. Marcel Rijs approached them in January, offering to compile a different tracklisting. The compilation became the first EMI collection to include all of the A- and B-sides of the singles released in the UK between 1981 and 1983. Bonus tracks include the two twelve inch remixes released by EMI in 1983 and, released for the first time in Europe, Bitter Is Better.

Tracks

This album contains the tracks Kids in America, Chequered Love, Water on Glass, Cambodia, View From a Bridge, Child Come Away, Love Blonde, Dancing in the Dark, Tuning in Tuning On, Shane, Boys, Watching for Shapes, Take Me Tonight, Just Another Guy, Can You Hear It, Back Street Driver, Love Blonde (12″ version), Dancing in the Dark (Nile Rodgers 12″ version) and Bitter Is Better.

Formats

‘The hits collection’ was released on CD.
See also this page in the discography.


Hits (the)

European release for the German Weltbild chain of stores of the cd The Hits Collection, released by EMI in December 2006.

Tracks

This album contains the tracks Kids in America, Chequered Love, Water on Glass, Cambodia, View From a Bridge, Child Come Away, Love Blonde, Dancing in the Dark, Tuning in Tuning On, Shane, Boys, Watching for Shapes, Take Me Tonight, Just Another Guy, Can You Hear It, Back Street Driver, Love Blonde (12″ version), Dancing in the Dark (Nile Rodgers 12″ version) and Bitter Is Better.

Formats

‘The hits’ was released on CD.
See also this page in the discography.