Wonderful Life

Song written by Colin Vearncombe and originally recorded by Black.

Black version

Colin Vearncombe wrote ‘Wonderful Life’ in 1985, at a time his life was in a downward spiral. His marriage had broken down, he’d lost his recording contract with a major label (WEA) after just two singles, he suffered a car crash and he was on the verge of becoming homeless. The title was meant to be ironic, and while the song was in minor key, this wasn’t picked up by everyone at first. The single was released in 1986 by the small label Ugly Man Records in 1986 and managed to reach number 72 in the UK singles chart. Signed by A&M Records soon after, the song was included on his debut album ‘Wonderful life’ and released as the second single from that album, after the first single ‘Sweetest smile’ had been reasonably successful in the summer of 1987. This time, ‘Wonderful life’ became a top 10 hit not only in the UK but also in most of Europe, and even in Japan. Worldwide sales were over a million. It was to be a career-defining single for Black, since subsequent singles and albums weren’t as successful.

Black – which slimmed down in subsequent years to a one man band featuring Colin Vearncombe – re-recorded the track several times, although these versions were not released as a single. The A&M recording was re-released once in 1994 when the track was used for Standard Life insurance TV ads.

The song was covered by many artists, including Ace of Base, Tina Cousins, Lara Fabian, Tony Hadley, German rock band Hyperchild, Dutch singer Mathilde Santing and Zucchero.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘Wonderful Life’ for her 2011 album Snapshots.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Wonderful Life’: the album version and the ‘mixed but not mastered’ version from the promotional CD of ‘Snapshots’.

Live performances

‘Wonderful Life’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 and the tour with Nik Kershaw in Australia in 2013. During live performances, a small part of the song ‘Wonderful Life’ by Hurts was incorporated into the song.

Kim about ‘Wonderful Life’

1987 was a really important year for me. I did a cover version of ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ with my brother Ricky and it went to number 1 in America. This was just an astonishing moment in my life, but I remember amongst all the pop music that was around at the time – Madonna was churning them out, and Michael Jackson, I mean it was just… Rick Astley, they were all at it. They were all putting out this fantastic pop music – but somehow this really subtle song managed to do really really well in the charts and it was called ‘Wonderful Life’ by Black, and I absolutely loved the song and I remember travelling to the airport to go and do some promotion in Europe and hearing about the news of ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ going to number 1, and hearing this song on the radio and thinking, ‘yeah, everything really is very wonderful right now, and so it was sort of like a soundtrack to that period of time for me. Because it really was wonderful at the time. (1)

Credits

Bass guitar: Ricky Wilde
Guitars: Neil Jones & Ricky Wilde
Keyboards: Andrew Murray
Additional vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde & Andrew Murray
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde
Additional engineering by Pascal Magdinier

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

Here I go out to sea again
The sunshine fills my hair
And dreams hang in the air

Gulls in the sky and in my blue eyes
You know it feels unfair
There’s magic everywhere

Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life

The sun’s in your eyes
The heat is in your hear
They seem to hate you
Because you’re there

And I need a friend
Oh I need a friend to make me happy
Not stand here on my own

Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine

No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life

I need a friend
Oh I need a friend
To make me happy
Not so alone

Look at me here
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine

No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
Wonderful life
Wonderful

To France

Song written and recorded by Mike Oldfield.

Mike Oldfield version

Mike Oldfield recorded ‘To France’ for his 1984 album ‘Discovery’. It features Maggie Reilly on vocals. Released as the album’s lead single, it reached number 48 in the UK singles chart, but was a top 10 hit all over Europe.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘To France’ for her 2011 album Snapshots.

Versions

There are three versions of ‘To France’: the album version, the ‘mixed but not mastered’ version from the promotional cd of ‘Snapshots’ and the Christmas edit.

Formats

‘To France’ was released as a single. It was available as a digital download only.
See this page in the discography for more information.

Live performances

‘To France’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 and the Dutch tours in October 2015 and October 2016.

Kim about ‘To France’

In 1984, Mike Oldfield released ‘To France’ with Maggie Reilly. She’s such a great vocalist, but I was already a huge fan of Mike Oldfield because we used to play his records at home, particularly ‘Tubular bells’ of course, everyone loves that album as they should, and ‘Ommadawn’ and I remember my dad bringing this album home, putting it on the record player and just all of us absolutely loving it, except my mum who hated the bagpipes. But I was always a huge fan of Mike Oldfield and this song has the most incredible melody. I think when people ask me ‘how did you choose the songs for the album’ I think one of the answers would have to be that I focus very much on how strong the melody was, try to separate that from a great record. A great record is very different to a great song. And that was an interesting thing that I discovered when I was choosing songs for ‘Snapshots’. (1)

Credits

Bass guitar: Ricky Wilde
Guitars: Neil Jones & Ricky Wilde
Keyboards: Andrew Murray & Ricky Wilde
Additional vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde & Andrew Murray
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde
Additional engineering by Pascal Magdinier

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

Taking on water,
Sailing a restless sea
From a memory,
A fantasy.
The wind carries
Into white water,
Far from the islands.

Don’t you know you’re never going to get to France.
Mary, Queen of Chance, will they find you?
Never going to get to France.
Could a new romance ever bind you?

Walking on foreign ground,
Like a shadow,
Roaming in far off
Territory.
Over your shoulder,
Stories unfold, you’re
Searching for sanctuary.

You know you’re never going to get to France.
Mary, Queen of Chance, will they find you?
Never going to get to France.
Could a new romance ever bind you?

I see a picture
By the lamp’s flicker.
Isn’t it strange how
Dreams fade and shimmer?

Never going to get to France.
Mary, Queen of Chance, will they find you?
Never going to get to France.
Could a new romance ever bind you?

Spirit in the Sky

Song written by Norman Greenbaum.

Norman Greenbaum version

Greenbaum had previously been a member of psychedelic jug band Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band. When they split up he won a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen, who had previously worked successfully with The Lovin’ Spoonful. He was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum thought he could write such a song, and did it within 15 minutes.

‘Spirit in the Sky’ contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus, although Greenbaum himself is Jewish. Greenbaum recorded his first solo album with Jacobsen for Reprise Records. The song’s arrangement came together in the studio in San Francisco. The result was an innovative and compelling combination of gospel and psychedelic rock music, with loud drums, distorted electric guitar, clapping hands, and tambourines. The production team brought in the Stovall Sisters, an Oakland-based gospel trio, to sing backing vocals. Because of its unusual lyrics and style, the record company was initially reluctant to issue it, but was finally released as the album’s third single after two other singles had poor sales. ‘Spirit in the sky’ became a worldwide hit, and was at the time the best-selling single ever for the Reprise label.

Doctor and the Medics version

Another notable version of ‘Spirit in the Sky’ was released in the UK in 1986. The psychedelic rock band Doctor and the Medics released their version of the song, which won them a number 1 hit in the UK, equalling the original’s chart peak in that country. It remained the band’s biggest hit.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde released her version of ‘Spirit in the Sky’ on 24 February 2012 as a double A-side with Ever Fallen in Love. It was a track that wasn’t included in the album Snapshots.

Live performances

‘Spirit in the sky’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 only.


Lyrics

When I die and they lay me to rest,
Gonna go to the place that’s the best
When they lay me down to die,
Goin up to the spirit in the sky

Goin’ up to the Spirit in the sky(Spirit in the sky)
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die(When I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest,
I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best

Prepare yourself, you know it’s a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus,
So you know that when you die,
He’s gonna recommend you to the Spirit in the sky
(Spirit in the sky)
Whoa he’ll recommend you to the Spirit in the sky
That’s where you’re gonna go when you die(When you die)
When you die, and they lay you to rest,
You’re gonna go to the place that’s the best

Never been a sinner, I’ve never sinned,
I’ve got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die,
He’s gonna set me up with the Spirit in the sky

Whoa, set me up with the Spirit in the sky (Spirit in the sky)
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die (When I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest,
I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best
Go to the place that’s the best

Snapshots

Released on 26 August 2011, ‘Snapshots’ was Kim Wilde’s twelfth studio album. It was released by Sony Music on the Columbia SevenOne label.

Music

All the tracks on the album are cover versions of songs that were selected by Kim herself. Some were suggested by close friends, and there was also a poll on the internet (via Twitter) on which songs Kim should cover according to her fans. (Only one of those songs was recorded by Kim, although it could be argued that ‘I’ll Stand By You’ was already in her repertoire.) Whereas the previous album Come Out and Play sounded more rock-oriented, ‘Snapshots’ had a real pop sound.

Tracks

The album features the tracks It’s Alright, In Between Days, About You Now, Sleeping Satellite, To France, A Little Respect, Remember Me, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Wonderful Life, They Don’t Know, Beautiful Ones, Just What I Needed, Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldnt’ve) and Kooks. A special limited edition cd for German Saturn stores included the bonus track Forever Young and a download bundle on iTunes featured I’ll Stand By You.

Artwork

The CD booklet featured photographs from throughout Kim’s life and career. Most of them were taken from Kim’s own collection, but two pages were filled with photographs sent in by fans as a result of a request on Kim’s official website. There were also new photographs by Nikolaj Georgiew. The design was made by Benjamin Brauers and Florian Bredl.

Formats

‘Snapshots’ was released as a cd and a digital download. On August 26, they were released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria only.
See this page in the discography.

Highest chart positions

Germany: 14 (4 weeks)
Switzerland: 27 (3 weeks)


Sleeping Satellite

Song written by Tasmin Archer, John Beck and John Hughes and originally recorded by Tasmin Archer.

Tasmin Archer version

Released as a single in 1992, the song reached number 1 in the UK singles chart and also became an international hit.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde performed this song during the Come Out and Play Tour in February and March 2011. She performed it together with her brother (acoustic guitar) and her niece Scarlett (backing vocals) as an acoustic song. In August 2011 the song was released as a studio recording on Kim’s album Snapshots – and also as the lead single of the album.

Versions

There are three versions of ‘Sleeping Satellite’: the album version, the ‘mix but not mastered’ version from the promotional cd of ‘Snapshots’ and the radio edit.

Formats

‘Sleeping satellite’ was released on cd-single as a double A-side with It’s Alright.
See this page for more information.

Music video

A music video was filmed to promote the single.
See this page for more information.

Live performances

‘Sleeping satellite’ was performed live during the Come Out and Play Tour in 2011 and the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012.

Highest chart positions

Germany: 98 (1 week)

Kim about ‘Sleeping Satellite’

‘Sleeping Satellite’ was a huge hit for Tasmin Archer in 1992 and I absolutely loved the song. And it was a huge hit in America as well. Everyone loved the song. There was quite a serious theme to the song, I felt, talking very much about the environment and the damage and of how mankind is in search of adventure instead of taking care of what’s going on in its own backyard, i.e. our planet. So I thought it spoke really poetically about the ecological and environmental problems that we have on the planet and sometimes pop music’s a really good way of getting that message across. (1)

Credits

Drums: Paul Kaiser
Guitars: Heiko Fischer
Additional vocals: Kim Wilde
Drums recorded by Manfred Faust @ Hookwerk Studio, Fohr
Produced by Alex Rethwisch
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died with the Eagle’s flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why are the seas still dry?
Don’t blame this sleeping satellite

Did we fly to the moon too soon?
Did we squander the chance?
In the rush of the race the reason we chase is lost in romance
And still we try to justify the waste
For a taste of man’s greatest adventure

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died with the Eagle’s flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why are the seas still dry?
Don’t blame this sleeping satellite

Have we got what it takes to advance?
Did we peak too soon?
If the world is so green then why does it scream under a blue moon?
We wonder why the earth’s sacrificed
For the price of its greatest treasure

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died with the Eagle’s flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why are the seas still dry?
Don’t blame this sleeping satellite

And when we shoot for the stars
What a giant step
Have we got what it takes to carry the weight of this concept?
Or pass it by like a shot in the dark
Miss the mark with a sense of adventure

I blame you for the moonlit sky
And the dream that died with the Eagle’s flight
I blame you for the moonlit nights
When I wonder why are the seas still dry?
Don’t blame this sleeping satellite

Remember Me

Song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson. The song is written from the view of a spurned woman who requests that her ex-boyfriend remembers her for all the positive things she had brought to his life.

Diana Ross version

Diana Ross recorded the song for her 1971 album ‘Surrender’. Released as the lead single from the album, it reached number 7 in the UK singles chart.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘Remember Me’ for her 2011 album Snapshots.

Versions

There are seven versions of ‘Remember Me’: the album version, the ‘mixed but not mastered’ version on the promotional cd of ‘Snapshots’, plus five remixes by Vinny Vero & Steve Migliore: club mix, dub, instrumental, single mix and synthapella.

Live performances

‘Remember me’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 only.

Kim about ‘Remember Me’

In 1970 I was ten years old, I was really mad about music even at that age. I was very lucky because there was a lot of very cool music being played in the house. My dad had an amazing record collection and so I remember a lot of Motown being played and I remember loving Diana Ross’s voice particularly. In 1970 she released ‘Remember me’. I already knew her songs from earlier but I really particularly loved this one. And of course years later I went on to record ‘You keep me hangin’ on’ by the Supremes and Diana and so I feel an affinity with her because of that in a way, but to me she is the ultimate diva. I think she’s my all time favourite female artist in that pop genre. She’s just a class act. (1)

Credits

Bass guitar: Ricky Wilde
Guitars: Neil Jones & Ricky Wilde
Keyboards: Andrew Murray
Additional vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde & Andrew Murray
Vocal production: Ricky Wilde
Additional engineering: Pascal Magdinier

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

Bye baby, see you around
Didn’t I tell you I wouldn’t hold you down
Take good care of yourself, y’hear
Don’t let me hear about you shedding a tear
You’re gonna make it
You’re gonna take it

Remember me as a sunny day
That you once had, along the way
Didn’t I inspire you a little higher
Remember me as a funny clown
That made you laugh when you were down
Didn’t I boy, didn’t I boy

Remember me as a big balloon
At a carnaval that ended too soon
Remember me as a breath of spring
Remember me as a good thing

Bye baby, see you around
I already know about the new love you’ve found
What can I do but wish you well
What we had was really swell
I won’t forget it, I have no regrets

Remember me as a sound of laughter
And my face the morning after
Didn’t the sky beckon us to fly?
Yes, you’l remember the times we fought
But don’t forget me in your tender thoughts
Please darlin’ oh yeah

Remember me when you drink the wine
Of sweet success and I gave you my best
Remember me with every song you sing
Remember me as a good thing

Remember me as a sunny day
Please darling, remember me as a good thing
Remember me when you drink the wine
Remember me as a good thing
Remember me as a big balloon
Don’t forget me darling

Kooks

Song written by David Bowie to his newborn son Duncan Jones.

David Bowie version

Bowie recorded the song on his 1971 album ‘Hunky Dory’. It was a pastiche of early Seventies Neil Young, as he was listening to a Neil Young record at home as he got the news of the arrival of his son.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘Kooks’ for her 2011 album Snapshots as a duet with her husband Hal Fowler.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Kooks’: the album version and the rough demo mix from the promotional cd of ‘Snapshots’.

Kim about ‘Kooks’

In 1971 I was 11 years old, and one of the best things about my life at that time was my parents’ record collection. There’s amazing albums in there, I mean my mum had all the really iconic women like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and then my father, you know he had all the rock ‘n’ roll stuff, of course, he had quite a lot of classical music, he had things like ‘Tommy’, which would go on to become a very important album for me, and one of the albums I loved most of all was ‘Hunky Dory’ by David Bowie. I used to really love every song on that, especially ‘Life on Mars’, which was so incredible. An incredible song that really got my imagination going as an 11-year-old. But one of the songs on the album’s called ‘Kooks’. I was really touched by that song because it was a song that Bowie had written for his son. Bowie didn’t look like the kind of guy that would be writing lullabies to children at the time. But for me, I really connected with the song very strongly, so for the ‘Snapshots’ album I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be great to do that with my husband Hal’, my husband has got a beautiful voice, and he sings all the time in the West End, We hadn’t sung together ever, to be recorded that is, we sung together at home but not recorded together. So it was a really special day, I’m really chuffed he’s on the album but not as chuffed as he is, he’s over the moon about it. Which is really sweet. So you know, maybe we should do some more! (1)

Credits

Bass guitar: Ricky Wilde
Guitars: Ricky Wilde
Keyboards: Ricky Wilde
Additional vocals by Kim Wilde & Hal Fowler
Produced by Ricky Wilde
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

Will you stay in our Lovers’ Story
If you stay you won’t be sorry
‘Cause we believe in you
Soon you’ll grow so take a chance
With a couple of Kooks
Hung up on romancing

Will you stay in our Lovers’ Story
If you stay you won’t be sorry
‘Cause we believe in you
Soon you’ll grow so take a chance
With a couple of Kooks
Hung up on romancing

We bought a lot of things to keep you warm and dry
And a funny old crib on which the paint won’t dry
I bought you a pair of shoes
A trumpet you can blow
And a book of rules
On what to say to people when they pick on you
‘Cause if you stay with us you’re gonna be pretty Kookie too

Will you stay in my Lovers’ Story
If you stay you won’t be sorry
‘Cause we believe in you
Soon you’ll grow so take a chance
With a couple of Kooks
Hung up on romancing

And if you ever have to go to school
Remember how they messed up this old fool
Don’t pick fights with the bullies or the cads
‘Cause I’m not much cop at punching
other people’s dads
And if the homework brings you down
Then we’ll throw it on the fire
And take the car downtown

Will you stay in our Lovers’ Story
If you stay you won’t be sorry
‘Cause we believe in you
Soon you’ll grow so take a chance
With a couple of Kooks
Hung up on romancing

Will you stay in our Lovers’ Story
If you stay you won’t be sorry
‘Cause we believe in you
Soon you’ll grow so take a chance
With a couple of Kooks
Hung up on romancing

Just What I Needed

Song written by Ric Ocasek.

The Cars version

‘Just what I needed’ was recorded by The Cars on their self-titled debut album, released in 1978. Sung by the band’s bass player Benjamin Orr, the song was released as a single and peaked at number 17 in the UK singles chart.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘Just what I needed’ for her 2011 album Snapshots.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘Just what I needed’: the album version and the rough demo mix included on the promotion cd for the album.

Live performances

‘Just what I needed’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 only.

Kim about ‘Just what I needed’

‘Just what I needed’ was recorded by the Cars, released in 1978. I was 18, increasingly getting into pop music. I loved the punk rock scene but I loved the sort of post-punk, new wave kind of scene. The Cars were in that sort of genre, post-punk, new wave, definitely rock and roll, and very pop. So they seemed to combine all the elements of music that I loved the most. And this song I just, I just loved Ben Orr’s vocals and his beautiful face. It was just a few years before I started recording myself, so they were a huge influence, not just on myself but on my brother, Ricky Wilde. (1)

Credits

Drums: Paul Kaiser
Guitars: Ricky Wilde
Additional vocals by Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Alex Rethwisch
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde
Drums recorded by Manfred Faust @ Gaga Studio, Hamburg

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

I don’t mind you coming here
and wasting all my time
’cause when you’re standing oh so near
I kinda lose my mind

It’s not the perfume that you wear
It’s not the ribbons in your hair
I don’t mind you coming here
and wasting all my time

I don’t mind you hanging out
and talking in your sleep
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been
As long as it was deep

You always knew to wear it well
You look so fancy i can tell
I don’t mind you hanging out
and talking in your sleep

I guess you’re just what i needed
I needed someone to feed
I guess guess you’re just what i needed
I needed someone to bleed

It’s Alright

Song written by Anthony Mortimer and originally recorded by East 17.

East 17 version

Produced by Phil Harding, Ian Curnow, Richard Stannard and Neil James Stainton, ‘It’s Alright’ is an up-tempo pop song which starts with a slow ballad-like intro. The single reached number 3 in the UK singles chart in 1993 and topped the chart in Australia a year later.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘It’s Alright’ for her 2011 album Snapshots. It became the lead single of the album.

Formats

‘It’s Alright’ was released on cd-single as a double A-side with ‘Sleeping Satellite‘.
See this page for more information.

Versions

There are five versions of ‘It’s Alright’: the album version, the ‘mixed but not mastered’ version from the promotional cd of ‘Snapshots’, the radio edit, the Groove Coverage remix edit and the Groove Coverage remix.

Live performances

‘It’s alright’ was performed live during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 only.

Music video

A music video was filmed to promote the single.
See this page for more information.

Highest chart positions

Germany: 98 (1 week)

Kim about ‘It’s Alright’

East 17’s song ‘It’s Alright’ I think is a magnificent pop song. I remember the beginning of the Nineties, it was either you’re into Britpop, like Suede and Blur or Oasis, or you were really into the boybands, like New Kids on the Block and Take That and East 17. I loved both schools, I loved what Blur and Suede and everyone were doing but I really was a bit of a sucker for a boyband. My favourite one I think was East 17. I loved all their tattoos and shaved heads and streetwise attitude and they were kindof the bad boys of boypop and I liked that. It was really fun to sing their song. (1)

Credits

Guitars: Joachim Schluter
Additional vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Produced by Alex G.
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

Don’t you worry, ‘cos it’s alright
Don’t you worry, child of the night
‘cos in the morning come with the new day sun
love – an everlasting light

We are the seed of the new breed
We’ll succeed our time has come
We are the new, these words are true
Let the light of love shine through

It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
It’s really alright
It’s alright
It’s really alright

Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
It’s ready alright

Listen to me, dreams can come true
Call out to love, it will answer you
Forget your trouble and smile
Let your heart speak awhile
Let the light of love shine through

We are the seed of the new breed
We’ll succeed our time has come
We are the new, these words are true
Let the light of love shine through

It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
It’s really alright
It’s alright
It’s really alright

Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
It’s ready alright

It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
It’s really alright
It’s alright
It’s really alright

Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
It’s ready alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
Everything’s gonna be alright
Alright, alright
It’s really alright

In Between Days

Song written by Robert James Smith. Originally recorded by the Cure.

The Cure version

‘In between days’ was released as the lead single from the Cure’s 1985 album ‘The Head on the Door’. The song’s lyric is about ageing, loss and fear although the music is quite upbeat and dynamic. The single reached number 15 in the UK singles chart.

Kim Wilde version

Kim Wilde recorded a cover of ‘In Between Days’ for her 2011 album Snapshots.

Versions

There are two versions of ‘In Between Days’: the album version and the rough demo mix from the promotional CD of ‘Snapshots’.

Kim about ‘In between days’

In 1980, it was a year before my career began, and I’d just left art college, I was living at home but I was spending quite a lot of time going to clubs and hang out at parties my mates were having and it was sort of the post-punk, new wave era and you’d turn up at parties and all you would hear were Siouxie and the Banshees or Joy Division or the Cure. I loved the dark, gothic stream that ran through that sound but amongst all of that were these great melodies and the Cure were great at making pop records and they went on to have hit after hit as they discovered that they were actually a great pop band. They emerged from their gothic roots and made these fantastic records. I loved Robert’s styling, I loved the way he’d look like he was rifing through his dad’s old clothes and borrowing his mum’s lipstick and he was a great popstar! Although he would’ve hated to have been called that, at the time he was a great popstar. ‘In between days’ is such a fabulous melody and I really enjoyed singing this particular song. (1)

Credits

Drums: Paul Kaiser
Guitars: Heiko Fischer
Additional vocals: Kim Wilde & Lisa Rethwisch
Drums recorded by Manfred Faust @ Hookwerk Studios, Fohr
Produced by Alex Rethwisch
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde

Interview source

(1) Track by track commentary, Sony Music, 2011.


Lyrics

Yesterday I got so old I felt like I could die
Yesterday I got so old it made me want to cry
Go on go on, just walk away
Go on go on, your choice is made
Go on go on and disappear
Go on go on away from here

And I know I was wrong
When I said it was true
That it couldn’t be me and be her
Inbetween without you
Without you

Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child
Yesterday away from you
It froze me deep inside
Come back come back, don’t walk away
Come back come back, come back today
Come back come back, why can’t you see
Come back come back, come back to me

And I know I was wrong
When I said it was true
That it couldn’t be me and be her
Inbetween without you
Without you

I’ll Stand By You

Song written by Chrissie Hynde, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg.

Pretenders version

The song was recorded in 1994 by the Pretenders on their sixth studio album, ‘Last of the Independents’. The song is a ballad that pledges love and faithful assistance in times of personal darkness. It was released as a single in 1994 and reached number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 in the UK chart.

Since its initial release, ‘I’ll Stand by You’ has also become a major hit for Girls Aloud in 2004 and Carrie Underwood in 2007, both times recorded as a charity single.

Kim Wilde version

In 2011, Kim recorded the track in the studio during sessions for the album Snapshots. The track was released as part of a download bundle on iTunes only.

Live performances

‘I’ll stand by you’ was performed live during Kim’s concerts in 2008, 2009 and 2010.


Lyrics

Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Dont be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
cause Ive seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You dont know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Wont let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you

So if youre mad, get mad
Dont hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well Im a lot like you
When youre standing at the crossroads
And dont know which path to choose
Let me come along
cause even if youre wrong

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Wont let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you

And when…
When the night falls on you, baby
Youre feeling all alone
You wont be on your own

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Wont let nobody hurt you

I’ll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Wont let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you
Wont let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you

Forever Young

Song written by Bernhard Lloyd, Marian Gold and Frank Mertens.

Alphaville version

‘Forever young’ is the title track from German rock/synthpop group Alphaville’s 1984 debut album of the same name. Though it was not the group’s highest-charting European hit and failed to reach the American Top 40 despite three separate U.S. single releases, ‘Forever young’ became something of a pop standard and has been covered by numerous artists since its 1984 debut.

Kim Wilde version

In August 2011 the song was released as a studio recording as a bonus track on the special limited edition version for German Saturn stores of Kim’s album Snapshots.

Live performances

Prior to the release of the studio recording, Kim Wilde performed this song during the Come Out and Play Tour in 2011. She also performed the song during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 and during the tour with Howard Jones in Australia in 2016.

Kim about ‘Forever young’

I played this song in February and March 2011 during the ‘Come out and play’ tour in Germany. The song was released in 1984 by the German rock/synthpop band Alphaville – in the same year that I released my album ‘Teases and dares’. I can’t claim it made a big impression on me. In fact I only understood what a great song it is when my niece Scarlett proposed it for the tour. It has a wistful and at the same time consistent quality and the audience seems to have a special connection to it. It doesn’t matter that we all get old, when we stay ‘Forever young’ in our hearts. (1)

Credits

Guitars: Heiko Fischer
Additional vocals by Ricky Wilde
Produced by Alex Rethwisch
Vocal production by Ricky Wilde

Interview source

(1) ‘Snapshots’ CD booklet


Lyrics

Let’s dance in style, lets dance for a while
Heaven can wait we’re only watching the skies
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst
Are you going to drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever
We don’t have the power but we never say never
Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip
The music’s for the sad men

Can you imagine when this race is won
Turn our golden faces into the sun
Praising our leaders we’re getting in tune
The music’s played by the madman

Forever young, i want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever forever
Forever young, i want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever
Forever young

Some are like water, some are like the heat
Some are a melody and some are the beat
Sooner or later they all will be gone
Why don’t they stay young

It’s so hard to get old without a cause
I don’t want to perish like a fading horse
Youth is like diamonds in the sun
And diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn’t happen today
So many songs we forgot to play
So many dreams are swinging out of the blue
We let them come true

Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever forever
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever forever forever
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever forever
Forever young, I want to be forever