Date
12 January 2019
Channel
France
Short French documentary about ‘Les nuits sans Kim Wilde’. Laurent is seen in old interviews, explaining how the song came to be. In other archive material, Kim is seen giving her commentary and clips of performances of the song are also shown.
Song written by the twin brothers Billy and Bobby Alessi, who released it as a track on their debut album ‘Alessi’ in 1977. The single reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and was also a hit in several European countries.
Kim Wilde performed the song live together with Laurent Voulzy during the Night of the Proms concert in Charleroi on 25 April 2010.
I’d like to stay in love with you
All summer and after fall
I’ll keep you warm through the winter
Because I’ve noticed one thing
This ain’t no summer fling
I’d like to ride my bicycle with you
On the handlebars you’d laugh and run away
And I’d chase you through the meadow
Without you I’d die
Let’s never say goodbye
Oh, Laurent
You bring the spring, the summer, fall
Ooh and winter
By the season
Oh, Kim
You make me feel as though
I’ve been born again
Born again
Oh, Laurent
You bring the spring, the summer, fall
Ooh and winter
Oh, Kim
You make me feel as though
I’ve been born again
Born again
I’d like to stay in love with you
Song written by Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy. Performed by Laurent Voulzy. Kim has contributed a few lines on this track as well. Originally released in 1986 as a single A-side, later on the single was turned over in favour of the song Belle-Ile-en-Mer Marie-Galante.
It all started in front of my television. I had already been hearing Kim’s songs on the radio but I never had really seen her. And then, that day, there was this videoclip (Dancing in the Dark – MR) on the small screen. I immediately turned on my videotape and recorded it. It was a year and a half, or two years ago. Thereafter, each time Kim was on TV, I recorded her. Thus I found myself with an entirely devoted to her tape. Where did that fascination come from? I don’t know, she meant something very important to me. And one evening, while I was composing with Alain Souchon, I played my Kim Wilde videotape. He then asked me why I would not compose a song about these “nights without Kim Wilde”. I found that it was a splendid title. It was exactly the kind of song I had wanted to compose at that time. A while later, I even started dreaming: “And what if she agreed to sing on the track!”. I succeeded in making her listen to the song. She liked it. She agreed to take part in it as guest star. We recorded her voice in London. It was marvellous. At this point the idea of making a video clip appeared. Which I submitted to her. And once more, she accepted! Working with her is as fabulous as if Peter Pan had come and kissed me goodnight when I was a child! She’s got mysterious and moving aspects. She’s distant and cordial at the same time, simple and natural. This first videoclip is a great experience in itself, but it turns to a wonderful one working with Kim. (1)
A French singer, Laurent Voulzy has recorded a song about me. At first I was very sceptical about it, because the French are not known for their great pop songs. But when Laurent came by in our studio, I began to become ever more enthusiastic. It was a great record! So I sang in the song and played in his video. (2)
That was crazy! Laurent sent the song here in the studio and my manager told me that there was a song from a French artist called Laurent Voulzy, whom I didn’t know at the time, many years ago. And I thought: ‘Come on, that’s silly, writing a song about me, I mean, he doesn’t even know me, what’s he gonna say, this is ridiculous. I didn’t even want to hear it.
So my brother put it on and said: ‘Kim you really should listen to the song. It’s very, very good’. So I put it on and said ‘Ooh, it’s rather good’. That music, it was very good, very strong. (3)
(1) Laurent Voulzy: “My days with Kim Wilde”, Salut! (France), 20 November 1985
(2) This is the new Kim Wilde: independent, resolute and looking for adventure, Hitkrant (Netherlands), 19 July 1986
(3) Top 50, France, November 1989
Laurent: Les nuits sans Kim Wilde
Je m’ennuie souvent
Des fois je me ballade
ça dépends
Je passe des scopitones
Des chanteurs sur films
Mais les frères Jackson
C’est pas Kim
Oh oh oh oh oh les nuits sans Kim Wilde
Oh oh oh oh oh les nuits sans Kim Wilde
Sur mon flipper’noir
Oú tout seul je frime
L’effigie de ma rock star
M’assassine
Allez, play the game
Shoot again, start again
Oh oh oh oh oh
Je dépense mon énergie
A oublier la nuit
Take it easy, easy
Take it easy, easy
Oh, quelle étrange affaire
Dans mon coeur ce mystère
Kim Wilde
J’ai des amoureuses
Au visage parfait
Qui s’endorment heureuses
Oui, mais
Les nuits sans Kim Wilde
Sont beaucoup moins belles
Que dancing, que dancing
In the dark avec elle
Oh oh oh oh oh les nuits sans Kim Wilde
Oh oh oh oh oh les nuits sans Kim Wilde
Je dépense mon énergie
A oublier la nuit
Take it easy, easy
Take it easy, easy
Oh, quelle étrange affaire
Dans mon coeur ce mystère
Kim Wilde
Allez, play the game, shoot again, start again
Je passe mon temps sur cette machine, ah
Oh oh oh oh oh
Je d&eacut;pense mon &eacut;nergie
A oublier la nuit
Ah, pour oublier la nuit
Kim: Take it easy, easy
Take it easy, easy
Laurent: Oh, quelle étrange affaire
Dans mon coeur ce mystère
Kim Wilde
Kim: Laurent, il est l’heure de dormir maintenant
Enlève tes lunettes
Play the game, Laurent
Play the game, Laurent
Laurent: (Oui, oui)
Kim: Play the game, Laurent
Play the game
Laurent: (Kim, Kim)
Kim: Play the game
Laurent: (Kim, Kim)
Kim: Laurent, Laurent
Play the game
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Laurent: Nights without Kim Wilde
I’m often bored
Sometimes I walk
That depends
I look at old videos
Some singers on film
But the Jackson Brothers
They’re not Kim
Oh, oh, oh, o-o-oh, nights without Kim Wilde
Oh, oh, oh, o-o-oh, nights without Kim Wilde
On my black pinball
Where alone I am shown
The effigy of my rock star
Kill me
Oh, play the game, shoot again, start again
I consume my energy
to forget the night
Take it easy
Oh what a strange thing
In my heart this mystery
Kim Wilde
I have some lovers
with perfect faces
who are sleeping happy
Yes but
Nights without Kim Wilde
are less beautiful
Than dancing, than dancing
in the dark with her
Oh, oh, oh, o-o-oh, nights without Kim Wilde
Oh, oh, oh, o-o-oh, nights without Kim Wilde
Play the game, shoot again, start again
I spend my time in that game
Oh…
I consume my energy
So as to forget the night
to forget the night
Kim: Take it easy, take it easy
Laurent: Oh what a strange thing
In my heart this mystery
Kim Wilde
Kim: Take it easy, take it easy
Laurent: Oh what a strange thing
In my heart this mystery
Kim Wilde
Kim: Take it easy
Laurent: Ooohh…
Kim: Take it easy
Laurent: Oh what a strange thing
In my heart this mystery
Kim Wilde
Kim: Laurent, it’s time to sleep now
Take off your glasses
Play the game, Laurent
Play the game, Laurent
Laurent: (Yes, yes)
Kim: Play the game, Laurent
Play the game
Laurent: (Kim, Kim)
Kim: Play the game
Laurent: (Kim, Kim)
Kim: Laurent, Laurent
Play the game
Date
1 October 2006
Channel
France 2 (France)
The programme is dedicated to Laurent Voulzy and Alain Souchon. During the programme, Kim Wilde appears when the duo sing a version of the 1986 song ‘Les nuits sans Kim Wilde’. After the performance, a short interview about the song and Kim’s new album ‘Never say never’ follows, and then Kim performs ‘You came’ with her own band.
Date
23 June 1992
Channel
France
Laurent Voulzy is interviewed about his song ‘Les nuits sans Kim Wilde’. After the interview, the music video for Kim Wilde’s ‘Love is holy’ is shown.
Date
3 June 1992
Channel
TF1 (France)
In June 1992, Kim was a guest in this programme. She performed her single ‘Love is holy’, wearing a black jacket and skirt. Her 3 piece backing band consists of 1 drummer and 2 guitarists.
After performing her song, Kim is interviewed for a little while by the presenter, and then Kim and Laurent Voulzy sing the song ‘Belle-Ile-en-mer Marie-Galante’ together. Laurent plays guitar. Kim starts the song, and then they sing together. Kim laughs and does not always know the words. The lights are dominantly blue, and Laurent is dressed in black, except for a white shirt.
Date
3 December 1988
Channel
France
Kim lipsynchs ‘Never trust a stranger’, backed by a band consisting of a drummer, a keyboard-player, a bassist and a guitarist. Afterwards, she joins Laurent Voulzy and a French presenter, who makes them listen to a small part of ‘Les nuits sans Kim Wilde’. They sit and smile at eachother. Then Laurent and Kim sing ‘Bye bye love’ live together, with Laurent on guitar.
Date
1 July 1986
Channel
France
Kim performs ‘Schoolgirl’ in a pool area filled with men and women. After this performance, Laurent Voulzy performs ‘Les nuits sans Kim Wilde’ with Kim by his side.
Date
29 November 1985
Channel
Directed by Bernard Malige.
This video features Laurent Voulzy watching the music video for ‘Dancing in the dark’ and flirting with a female actress.
Kim only appears in the latter part of the video, where she appears before Laurent in what seems like a vision.
Date
27 September 1985
Channel
A2 (France)
Laurent Voulzy sings ‘Les nuits sans Kim Wilde’ with his own musicians. In the background, slow-motion images of Kim Wilde are projected.
