Song written by Kim, Ricky and Scarlett Wilde. First single from the album Here Come the Aliens, released on 30 January 2018.
Formats
‘Pop don’t stop’ was released as digital download. The artwork was created by Scarlett Wilde.
Versions
There are three versions of ‘Pop Don’t Stop’: the single version, the album version and the 12″ version.
Artwork
The cover of the single was created by Scarlett Wilde, who spent over two years at art college in Australia. She created a ‘Fifties movie poster’, inspired by a poster for the movie La terra contro i dischi volanti.
Music video
A music video was filmed to promote the single.
A silent teaser was released on 26 January 2018, featuring a few short scenes from the music video.
A second teaser was released on 30 January 2018, featuring a short clip from the video. It features Kim and Rick and the whole band.
Live performances
‘Pop don’t stop’ was performed live during the Here Come the Aliens Tour and during the Return of the Aliens Tour.
Kim about ‘Pop don’t stop’
‘Pop don’t stop’ really is a little hommage to pop music from Ricky and I, thanking it so much for all the inspiration it’s given our lives and all the joy and wonderful things it’s brought into our lives. And still does!’ (1)
It’s unusual for us. The song came about in two or three different stages. Scarlett had written some great lyrics for a slightly different version of it, and I took it away and was inspired by ‘Pump It Up’ by Elvis Costello. And I fancied a punchy chorus, that’s who inspired that chorus. And then it became obvious that it was a love letter to pop music itself. And then, that’s when it actually started to make sense. We didn’t know… I think at the time, initially it’s first incarnation was a much more personal one. (…) It became a journey about us but also about pop more generally. So we de-personalized it. At the same time it was very personal. (2)
Credits
Drums: Jonathan Atkinson
Guitar: Neil Jones
Keyboards, guitar: Ricky Wilde
Backing vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde, Scarlett Wilde
Interview source
(1) Facebook Track by Track video, 1 March 2018
(2) Unsung Heroes podcast, 23 July 2021
Lyrics
Two of us growing up together
through a golden age
We never realized it
Our lives you changed
Days of pure inspiration
will live in our hearts forever
And as the years went by
dreaming of our destinies
Believing in the power of a melody
In your songs we found magical music
Words and sound
The seasons come and go again
And what was old is new again (new again)
They say you’re over, times have changed, the end
But there’s no end to this story
Just look at what you’ve become
And so the story goes on…
Pop pop music
Gimme pop pop music
Don’t stop
Gimme pop
Gimme pop pop music
Gimme hip hop rock
Gimme punk gimme funk
Don’t stop with the pop pop music
The melody’s your legacy I know
You give me something to believe
So give me pop pop music
Gimme pop pop music
Don’t stop with the pop
Don’t stop pop music
You hit the hurdles
but you never fail to run
You fire the gun
You overcome, yeah
When you lose your way
You come back twice as strong
Here you go
You’re number one
The seasons come and go again
And what was old is new again (new again)
They say you’re over, times have changed
But there’s no end to this story
Just look at what you become
Pop pop music
Gimme pop pop music
Don’t stop
Gimme pop
Gimme pop pop music
Gimme hip hop rock
Gimme punk gimme funk
Don’t stop with the pop pop music
The melody’s your legacy I know
You give me something to believe
So give me pop pop music
Gimme pop pop music
Don’t stop with the pop
With the pop pop pop (you’re number one)