Date: 31 August 1993
Originally published in: Kleine Zeitung (Austria)
Written by: Christian Ude
Kim Wilde (‘Cambodia’) takes up stock. In a few days the first ‘Greatest Hits’-album of the pop lady will be released.
The 33-year-old has never known continual success. After her start with ‘Kids in America’, twelve years ago, Kim Wilde kept experiencing flopped singles. Between seven top 10 placings – amongst which ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ and ‘Cambodia’ – flops like ‘Dancing in the dak’ and ‘Time’ are rampant. She has never conquered the number one placing in the English charts.
“In 1994 I would like to enter a new musical course”, she declares – but she doesn’t know exactly what kind of musical course she would like to enter. Brother Ricky, who produced and wrote most of her hits, and father Marty, Rock’n’Roll-star of the late fifties, are as ever on her side for cooperating and advice: “The creative input of my family is simply priceless!”
The family business was always met with cynicism by the music press: “Classic nothingness of pop, offered with full earnest and without shame”, was the conclusion of a british magazine. Wilde thinks these qualifications are uncalled for and offers her own view: “I don’t need hits for my ego, but I do think it’s a privilege being able to live from music.” So far, she has sold over six million albums and eleven million singles.
Among her admirers is also Michael Jackson. He took her on his world tour in 1988, when she was celebrating one of her biggest successes with ‘You came’.
As a new song for her to be released album “The Singles Collection 1981-1993” Kim Wilde has recorded “If I can’t have you”, a Bee Gees composition.
The next single for this year will be a dance remix of her debut hit “Kids in America”. She comes full circle.
