Website tag: Select

Words Fell Down

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. The second track of the album Select.

Versions

There are three versions of ‘Words fell down’: the album version, a live version, recorded in Salford, released on the album Aliens Live, and the original mix, released in 2020.

Live performances

‘Words fell down’ was performed live during the Debut tour in 1982, the Catch tour in 1983, the Rage to Rock tour in 1985, the Come out and play tour in 2011, the Dutch tours in October 2015, October 2016 and November 2017, the Wilde Wild Xmas Show in December 2017 and the Here come the aliens tour in 2018 and 2019.

Marty about ‘Words Fell Down’

This is what I would basically call a ‘pop song’ in so much as there isn’t any particular deep hidden meaning or deep hidden message. It’s just a song that says words fell down i.e. that particular persons words weren’t enough to remedy the situation. (1)

Interview source

(1) Kim Wilde Fanclub Magazine May 1983


Lyrics

I wake up in the morning, looking for reaction
Then I see your faces, only for fraction
Did you hurt my feelings?
You just nailed me to the wall

Never say you’re sorry, never show emotion
Never show a good hand, never give a notion
Don’t you feel it’s obscene?
Do you feel a thing at all?

‘Cos you come right back with the same old story
Words fell down
Words fell down
You walk right back to the sound of glory
Words fell down
Words fell down
Oh, oh, oh, it’s so helpless
Oh, oh, oh, it’s so helpless, it’s so helpless

Always a deceiver, never any answers
Living in the shadows, taking any chances
When you get a good line
Come and talk in to my face

‘Cos you come right back with the same old story
Words fell down
Words fell down
You walk right back to the sound of glory
Words fell down
Words fell down
Oh, oh, oh, it’s so helpless
Oh, oh, oh, it’s so helpless, it’s so helpless

You fight right back with the same reaction
Words fell down
Words fell down
The same old show with the same old caption
Words fell down
Words fell down
Oh, oh, oh, it’s so helpless
Oh, oh, oh, it’s so helpless, it’s so helpless

Wendy Sadd

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Ninth track of the album Select.

Marty about Wendy Sadd

This was based on the kind of police brutality that you meet in certain sections of America. I saw the song, like I see most of the others, as a mini film with a very sad dejected girl falling into the hands of a very powerful authority. The actual name ‘Wendy Sadd’ comes from Top of the Pops, where there used to be a girl – or she may still work there for all I know – called Wendy Sadd. When Ricky came home and said he had met a girl by that name, I said that is an incredible name and should be a title of a song. So, Wendy Sadd is actually a real name.


Lyrics

Lost in the night, out on the streets
And blown into the wind
She was just heading for trouble
When they got her downstairs

Cut by the lights, strands of her hair
Just tumble from her cheeks
She’s just another caucasion in a crime worn day

Inside her heart was breaking
No-one knew what she’d been through
Inside her mind’s escaping
To a world that no-one knew

Lost in the night, somebody said go easy on the girl
You’ll never get a confession
If you treat her that way
Two pairs of eyes shout at her face and late into the night
They heard a softer whisper saying
“Let me go”

Inside her heart was breaking
No-one knew what she’d been through
Inside her mind’s escaping
To a world that no-one knew

Wendy Sadd has flown away
Wendy found her freedom
No-one else could follow there
Not inside the world of Wendy Sadd

Somebody shouts, something is wrong and panick hits the room
They said she looked at the ceiling and the lights went out
Clutched in her hand
All they could find was a letter that she’d wrote
It said try and forgive them
For what they’ve done

Inside her heart was breaking
No-one knew what she’d been through
Inside her mind’s escaping
To a world that no-one knew

Wendy Sadd has flown away
Wendy found her freedom
No-one else could follow there
Not inside the world of Wendy Sadd

Take Me Tonight

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Seventh track of the album Select. This track was also released as the B-side to the 7″ and 12″ single View From a Bridge.

In Japan, this track was also released as a single, in support of the movie Shadow.

Versions

Three versions of ‘Take Me Tonight’ have been released.
The album version was released in 1982.
The original mix was released in 2020.
A remix by Luke Mornay, entitled the Luke Mornay Profondo Giallo Mix, was released in 2024.

Live performances

‘Take me tonight’ was performed live during the Debut Tour in 1982 and the Catch Tour in 1983.

Marty about ‘Take me tonight’

One night I’d finished working in a show and I quickly changed and went out very quietly and stood in the bar in this disco and like a voyeur I stood in the darkness and watched everybody else making plans for that particular night. I tried to put myself in the position of how Kim would feel and the kind of things that Kim would say – I hope I got it right.


Lyrics

Lost in the dark the lovers embrace
As the last song plays
Everyone makes for home
Now it’s just me and you alone

And I won’t really care if we can’t meet again
You just live your life
I’m just a night to pass
You’re just a dream that couldn’t last

Take me tonight
Take me tonight
Take me tonight
I want you, I want you – want me too ?

No way of knowing just where my life’s going
Who cares if it’s wrong or it’s right
When all I believe in is just how I’m feeling
Tonight, oh, take me

Take me tonight
Take me tonight
Take me tonight
I want you, I want you

Select

Released on 10 May 1982, ‘Select’ was Kim Wilde’s second album. This long-awaited sequel to the debut album Kim Wilde contained two hit singles, namely Cambodia and View From a Bridge.

Music

Like on ‘Kim Wilde’, Ricky and Marty Wilde wrote all the songs on the album.
Musically, the album featured more synthesizers and less guitar work. Lyrically, the themes were slightly aggressive. From air disasters (‘Chaos at the airport’) to war circumnstances (‘Cambodia’) and an apparent suicide (‘View from a bridge’), it seemed to show a darker side of Marty’s songwriting.

Tracks

This album contains the tracks Ego, Words Fell Down, Action City, View From a Bridge, Just a Feeling, Chaos at the Airport, Take Me Tonight, Can You Come Over, Wendy Sadd, Cambodia, Cambodia Reprise.
In Japan, Cambodia Reprise was deleted in favour of the local 1982 hit single Bitter Is Better.

Artwork

Contrary to the debut album, the sleeve of ‘Select’ showed a picture of Kim alone. It was a headshot with bare shoulders before a white background. On the back of the sleeve, the background was black. The LP version also featured an inner sleeve, showing another photograph of Kim. The photographs were taken by Gered Mankowitz.

Formats

‘Select’ was originally released on LP and tape. A much sought-after collector’s item these days is the Japanese version of the LP, which not only contains one extra track (see above), but also a beautiful large poster of Kim.
The album was released on cd only in 1990 in Europe by EMI. English fans had to wait until 1995, when the 3-CD box set The Originals was released, which included ‘Select’.
See this page in the discography.
In 2009, the cd was re-released by Cherry Pop records with new liner notes by Steve Thorpe and a handful of bonus tracks.
See this page in the discography.
A deluxe edition of the album was released in 2020, with liner notes by Marcel Rijs and several previously unreleased demos and remixes.
See this page in the discography.

Kim about ‘Select’

There aren’t really big musical changes in direction, but we did get closer to the definitive sound. Using more synthesizers, and more drums is an example of that. It didn’t turn out to be an all-synth album, it still sounds very ‘rocky’. (1)

I hated the last sleeve for ‘Select’ because it was boring and a bit tacky. The actual shot was alright, but not the way it was presented. (2)

Chart performance

‘Select’ stormed the charts in various European countries, although it did not surpass the success of its predecessor.

Austria: 20 (2 weeks)
Germany: 4 (19 weeks)
Netherlands: 5 (12 weeks)
Sweden: 2 (18 weeks)
United Kingdom: 19 (11 weeks)

Interview sources

(1) Kim Wilde is owned by everyone, Hitkrant (Netherlands), 29 April 1982
(2) Return of the love blonde, No. 1 (UK), 16 July 1983


Just a Feeling

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Fifth track of the album Select.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Just a Feeling’: the album version and the rough mix, released in 2020.

Live performances

‘Just a feeling’ was performed live during the Debut Tour in 1982 only.

Cover versions

‘Just a feeling’ has been covered by Måns Wieslander.

Marty about ‘Just a feeling’

This is just a simple love song and the only line that I really love in the song is that line that says “I always looked on the touch of your love as a warm stream running over me”.


Lyrics

Stand at the mirror and look at my face
See all the changes I know somethings wrong
But when I think back to the love that we had
I look for escape ‘cos I know that it’s gone

I always looked on the touch of our love
As a soft stream running over me
But I always knew there would be a way out
But for you, not for me
Just a feeling

Now all I see is the trace of a smile
Memories forgotten a long time ago
Never believed I could see you this way
I don’t know what changed you, I’ll just never know

I used to dream there was someone around
Who was there just to watch over me
Out in the crowds there was someone around
Who was meant just for me

Friends say “impossible”
But I say it’s got to be

Just a feeling

Ego

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. First track of the album Select.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Ego’: the album version and the Rough mix.

Formats

‘Ego’ was released on a promotional 7″ single in Australia.
See this page in the discography.

Marty about ‘Ego’

The lyrics of Ego were based on a particular person that I know of, whose outlook to life is very narrow, basically because of his extreme self-centredness and I hoped that if he heard the song he might change his ways. I feel that all of us at one time or another go through a very self-centred time, but how much nicer we are when we think of other people. (1)

Interview source

(1) Kim Wilde Fanclub Magazine, vol. 2, no. 3


Lyrics

All the time I try to reason with you
But I just can’t seem to make you understand
Nothing seems to ever really get through
Can’t you feel emotions like any other man

You never cared for anyone (anyone)
You never cared for anyone (at all)
Any love that you’ve ever given me
You only gave me for your ego

Look at how you wanted all of my tears
Any time you felt you needed security
All the nights you let me out on my own
That’s the thing that you just can’t give back to me

You never cared for anyone (anyone)
You never cared for anyone (at all)
Any love that you’ve ever given me
You only gave me for your ego

Your only plan it seems is look after number one
You just can’t comprehend what it means to love someone

Stay away, get lost, get out of my life
Can’t you see the changes now and at last I’m free
Any plans I have just don’t include you
And that’s the one thing you won’t take from me

You never cared for anyone (anyone)
You never cared for anyone (at all)
Any love that you’ve ever given me
You only gave me for your ego

Every time I tried to reason with you
But it seemed that I never made you understand
Nothing ever seemed to ever really get through
Can’t you feel emotions like any other man

You never cared for anyone (anyone)
You never cared for anyone (at all)
Any love that you’ve ever given me
You only gave me for your ego

Chaos at the Airport

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Sixth track of the album Select.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Chaos at the Airport’: the album version and the rough mix, released in 2020.

Marty about ‘Chaos at the airport’

This stems from my own crazy, distorted opinion of flying, and most of the chaos at the airport takes place in my own mind since I’m rather scared of flying and I had this vision of all these jets trying to land at the same time and crashing. (1)

Interview source

(1) Kim Wilde Fanclub Magazine, vol. 2, no. 3


Lyrics

I was driving out to meet you that night
Getting reports on the weather
You were coming home and caught the last flight
But we would soon be together
You’d been gone such a long time
When my radio gave the warning

Chaos at the airport tonight, something ain’ t right
No-one can land in the weather
Planes are crashing out of control
And all in all, I think you’ve lost him forever

Looking up I started searching the skies
Was he still up there above me
Was the man who’d waved a million goodbyes
Now just a stranger who loved me
But as I drove to the terminal sign
I heard a great loud explosion

Chaos at the airport tonight, something ain’ t right
No-one can land in the weather
Planes are crashing out of control
And all in all, I think I’ve lost out forever

I ran so, so fast but if I could only reach you
But you’re so far away, you’re oh so far away
Landing lights approaching out from a sea of darkness
But you’re so far away, you’re oh, so far away

Like a bird of death, it hovered around
Until the wheels started turning
Then I saw the jets just touching the ground
And I could see it was burning
And as I looked for the last time
My radio gave the warning

Chaos at the airport tonight, something ain’ t right
No-one can land in the weather
Planes are crashing out of control
And all in all I think you’ve lost him forever

Can You Come Over

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Eighth track of the album Select. Due to time pressure, this particular track was recorded at the Wilde’s home not long before finalizing the album. The backing harmonies were sung by Kim and her mother.

Marty about ‘Can you come over’

This is a pop song, and the thing I will always remember about this song was that most of the vocals were recorded in Kim’s bedroom in her own house. What had happened was that we were behind in making the album, and we had to use the RAK Mobile, which is a great long lorry which has been converted into a recording studio, giving it great mobility. We parked it in the bottom of our garden and ran all the cables into our house and parts of the song were recorded in the hallway of our house, in Kim’s bedroom and in our dining room at very odd hours in the morning. What a strange lot Pop people are! (1)

Interview source

(1) Kim Wilde Fanclub Magazine vol. 2, no. 3


Lyrics

Darlin’, oh oh oh, can you come over
Oh oh oh, can you come over
Meet me tonight

I’ve been sitting here alone
Looking down this telephone
Thinking things I’d really love to say to you

Oh, it’s true
I can’t get enough of how you love
That’s the truth, I swear to you

Can you come over, can you come over
Think of what we could do
If you decide to, if you’re alive to
What I want from a guy like you

Darlin’, can you come over
Can you come over
Meet me tonight

Watching movies on TV
Never does a thing for me
I get bored just living here and hanging ’round
Toss a coin, it’s heads or tails
If I run a bath or do my nails
What’s it really matter when I’m far away from you

If you come over, if you come over
I could be good for you
Wouldn’t you please me, it could be easy
Just stay here for a night or two

Darlin’, can you come over
Can you come over – meet me tonight

I’m the girl who waits for you
I’m the girl who needs you too
I’m the girl who wants you tonight

Darlin’, can you come over
Can you come over
Meet me tonight

…Get you tonight

Cambodia (Reprise)

Written by Marty & Ricky Wilde.
Instrumental improvisation inspired by the song Cambodia, which was included on the album Select.


Action City

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Third track of the album Select.
A dynamic, synth-driven song with some layered vocals by Kim. One of the tracks which defined the sound of the album.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Action City’: the album version and the instrumental demo.

Cover versions

‘Action City’ was covered in the Czech language as ‘Já Tvé Sny Znám’ by Marie Rottrová.

Marty about ‘Action City’

‘Action City’ was written at a time when our country, I felt, was in an extremely dangerous position. This was basically because of the great social unrest that was taking place. Strangely enough, since then, things have quietened down considerably.


Lyrics

Suddenly there’s a shadow on a nation
Suddenly it’s a changing situation
Fear is on the face of every tiger as the jungle grows
Suddenly people running never walking
Nobody wants to know, nobody’s talking
But rushing through the air
I feel the wind of change about to blow

Watch out tonight, the dogs are down in action city
There out tonight, there’s trouble down in action city

Watching the police running from the station
Suddenly flashing lights and confrotation
The devil walks the streets
Just as the flames of hell begin to grow

Watch out tonight, the dogs are down in action city
There out tonight, there’s trouble down in action city

It’s a brave new world, It’s a brave new world
Such a brave new world
Well I don’t know where it’s going
But it’s heading for some changes I know

People are wondering why there’s such confusion
There is a face of youth with disillusion
Don’t look for the reasons
They were sprayed on every wall I know

Watch out tonight, the dogs are down in action city
There out tonight, there’s trouble down in action city

It’s a brave new world, It’s a brave new world
Such a brave new world
Well I don’t know where it’s going
But it’s heading for some changes I know