Website tag: Numbers

2 the Universe

2 the Universe is a band consisting of Sebastian Maria Gerhard “Sebo” Kühn (Born February 2, 1986 in Hilden, Germany) and Raymond Scott Pardue (Born 20 June 1986 in Colombia, South America, adopted and raised in Booneville, Mississippi and later in Louisville, Kentucky (USA).) They met at a music festival in 2006 but it took them three years to unite as 2 the Universe. They started writing songs together and in 2010 they met producers Phil Schardt and Tom Olbrich. Their music is a mixture of radio-pop, synthpop and R&B melodies.

The group’s name was inspired by the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne which helps people to learn how to enjoy living a happier and more fulfilling life by believing they can. When a person really wishes for something they follow a simple motto: Send a wish to the universe and it will be answered.

On 27 May 2011 they released their debut single ‘Together in one universe’, a song written for the 20th anniversary of the DKMS (Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei), the world’s largest bone marrow donor centre. DKMS is a non-profit organization that recruits volunteer donors of bone marrow of all races and ethnicities to help leukemia patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.

In March 2012, 2 the Universe were the support act during Kim Wilde’s Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour. They performed with a full band: Phil Schart (bassguitar) (replaced by Billy Andrews during the date in Berlin), Steffen Holl (drums) and Benny Richter (keyboards). After this tour they continued recording their debut album.

The line-up of the band subsequently changed, and now consists of Ray Scott Pardue, Taka JC, Steffen Holl and KayKay Röttgen. On 1 July 2016 they released the single ‘Black and white rainbows’ as a digital download, with an EP or album to follow later in the year.


2 6 5 8 0

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Seventh track of the album Kim Wilde. The music has a slight ‘party’ feel and is embellished with a horn section. It’s a track that is very untypical for Kim Wilde’s whole oeuvre.

Live performances

‘2 6 5 8 0’ was performed live during the Debut Tour in 1982 and the Catch Tour in 1983.

Ricky about ‘2 6 5 8 0’

This was also written in Scotland, within about an hour, although the lyrics took a long time to write. But the actual feel of the song, the way it went, came immediately. Marty just made up some figures and came up with the number 26580 and it sounded good. It’s basically meant to be a cheeky song… ‘tongue-in-cheek’. (1)

Kim about ‘2 6 5 8 0’

Like ‘2 6 5 8 0’ off the LP, when my dad gave me the lyric for that I sort of looked at him and l thought my God – what is in his brain! There are parts of him I didn’t even know about! But, you see, he’s got this sense of humour. (2)

Interview sources

(1) Kim Wilde Fanclub Introductory Magazine
(2) WILDE: Sex kitten or reluctant starlet?, New Musical Express (UK), 19 September 1981


Lyrics

I watch a man sitting down in the park
The flashy suit manufactured by the makers
He’s got a pen and he circles an add
It makes him laugh ‘cos he’s reading dirty papers

2 6 5 8 0

She doesn’t know but she’s getting his call
He’s talking straight but he wants it in a strange way
She combs her hair doesn’t worry at all
He could be mad but its just another payday

2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0
Oh, dial it if you want to know me

She likes to live on the poor side of town
She’s shacking down with a guy from West Guyana
The boys around always look at the ground
Oh, what they’d give for a night with that piranha

2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0
Oh, dial it if you want to know me

She doesn’t have to make her money that way
She’s such a pretty young girl
I guess they love it ‘cos you hear when they stay
They’re cryin’ oh, oh, oh

This guy arrives looking scared as a rat
He needs her love but he wants it like a brother
Three hours later he crawls out on his knees
She’s laughing loud ‘cos he’s calling for his mother

2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0
Oh, dial it if you want to know me

2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0, 2 6 5 8 0
Oh, dial it if you want to know me

1987

Album released by Swedish band Fibes, Oh Fibes! in 2009. The album features the track Run to You, a duet with Kim Wilde. The album reached number 8 in the Swedish albums chart and was named ‘Pop Album of the Year’ at the 2010 Grammis Awards in Sweden.

Kim about ‘1987’

1987, which is the name of the album, was a big year for me. I was 27 and rose to the top of the US charts with ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ (1)

Interview source

(1) ‘1987 was a big year for me’, Malmö Lund City (Sweden), 9 September 2009


1 Heure de Musique

Released in France only, this compilation album was a compilation of Kim Wilde songs that were partly already available on the Top 16 compilation album.

Tracks

This album contains the tracks House of Salome, Love Blonde, Dancing in the Dark, Shoot to Disable, Can You Hear It, Child Come Away, View from a Bridge, 2 6 5 8 0, Cambodia, Action City, Can You Come Over, Kids in America, Chequered Love, Water on Glass, Watching for Shapes and Our Town.

Formats

‘1 Heure de Musique’ was released on tape only.
See also this page in the discography for more information.