Song written by Ricki and Kim Wilde. Second track of the album Love Is. Released as a single in July (Europe) and September (UK). Kim wrote the lyrics of this song, apparently in part about herself.
Formats
The single was released on 7″ single, cassette single and two CD-singles. In Europe, it was also released on 12″ single.
See also this page in the discography.
Music video
A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Greg Masuak.
Go to this page for more information.
Live performances
‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ was performed live during the German tour in December 1992.
Kim about ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’
That was one of the early songs that my brother and I came up with, and our confidence was quite low at the start of this album, we were throwing loads of ideas away and this was one that was just about to get put in the bin. So I had this inspired idea for the lyric just at the last moment really and things just came together very quickly. I wrote the lyrics in a few hours and we recorded it very quickly. It’s quite an angry little song, kind of encapsulates how I feel a lot about fame and how people handle it or don’t, and it’s not all together about one person or even a lot of people or it doesn’t even not include myself so it’s a sort of disenchanted view at fame. (1)
It wasn’t about anyone in particular. It was inspired, obviously, by lots of huge personalities around us and now I think about it, it does take a big personality to go out there and be a popstar and carry it off and of course some of that ego does go to some people’s heads and sometimes it is gross to see. Sometimes it’s a bit offensive and boring and tired. But most of the time I would say the vast majority of time most artists carry it off with a lot of humility, a lot of class, a lot of excitement… I think musicians get a lot of bad press about being big-headed or ‘it’s gone to their head’ or… I think most of them don’t actually deserve it and there aren’t more people like that in the music industry than there are in other industries. I spent a few years in the horticultural industry and I can tell you that there’s a huge amount of egos in that industry as there are in the music industry. Just not written about. (2)
Credits
Drums: Geoff Dugmore
Keyboards and programming, guitar, bass: Ricky Wilde
Backing vocals: Kim Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde
Engineered by James Richards and Stephen Streater
Mixed by Ricky Wilde and Tony Swain
Highest chart positions
Germany: 58
United Kingdom: 49 (3 weeks)
Interview source
(1) Kim Wilde talks about her new album “Love is”, Promo CD (UK), 1992
(2) Unsung Heroes podcast, 17 July 2021
Lyrics
A long time ago you promised yourself
They’re all gonna know me someday
Well you got what you wanted
But look at you now
You lost something good on the way
So where did it go
Tell me where did it go
But you wouldn’t know
Snap your fingers and somebody runs
You don’t care how they feel
Just as long as they come
Got your head in the stars
Now you’ve come this far
Just who do you think you are?
Now everything seems to be going your way
And everyone loves what they see
But you ruin it all with the things that you say
So tell me how does it feel
When you’re all alone
How does it feel
You’re alone
Nothing is real
Snap your fingers and somebody runs
You don’t care how they feel
Just as long as they come
Got your head in the stars
Now you’ve come this far
Just who do you think you are?
You believe a ridiculous lie
You can’t see you’ve become
All the things you despise
But I know who you are
And you’ve gone too far
Just who do you think you are?
You can keep all your dreams
But you don’t have to lose yourself
Cos one day you’re gonna break
When the face in the mirror
Looking back at you’s
A stranger that you can’t place
Just who do you think you are?
Snap your fingers and somebody runs
You don’t care how they feel
Just as long as they come
Got your head in the stars
Now you’ve come this far
Just who do you think you are?
You believe a ridiculous lie
You can’t see you’ve become
All the things you despise
But I know who you are
And you’ve gone too far
Just who do you think you are?
