The bleached blonde was an icon of the 80s. What does Kim Wilde look like today?

“Closer” not only the title is supposed to refer to the album “Close” from 1988 The aforementioned album Kim Wilde brought such hits as, among others: “You Came”, “Never Trust a Stranger” and “Four Letter World”. It is the singer’s biggest commercial success – it achieved platinum status in the UK and Switzerland, and gold in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden. In Europe, it has sold over 1.2 million copies.

Let’s remember that it was then that Kim Wilde was the support Michael Jackson on his European tour, when the King of Pop was promoting his album “Bad”. However, the singer only met Jackson in person once. In her opinion, he seemed to live in his own world.

The song came from the album “Close” “Stone” – Kim Wilde’s protest against the predatory rule of man on our planet.

“He didn’t keep his promises to stop destroying her. ‘Trail of destruction’ is a protest towards the new generation” – 63-year-old Kim Wilde explains the idea behind the new single (check!).

Kim Wilde – the life and work of an 80s icon

“Sex always sells, and if you’re also called a symbol of passion, you’re guaranteed to succeed,” Kim Wilde, one of the biggest pop stars of the 80s, once commented. On another occasion, she added: “I believe that women are the most powerful force in the world. I show who I really am through my clothes.”

Poles may remember the blonde singer (she actually has dark hair) especially from her performance at the Sopot festival in 1988. On the stage of the Forest Opera, while performing the hit “Cambodia”two gentlemen showed up who wanted to give their idol flowers and express their appreciation. The title of the video, which has over 820 thousand views, leaves no doubt: “Two idiots and Kim Wilde”.

A mustachioed man in a pink shirt and waistcoat started dancing, his younger friend in white socks was dancing next to him, and the singer’s face showed a mixture of curiosity and embarrassment.

Kim Wilde She was born on November 18, 1960, into a musical family. The singer’s father is Marty Wilde (his real name is Reginald Leonard Smith), one of the most popular rock and roll performers of the 1950s in the British Isles, alongside Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele. Marty’s wife and Kim’s mother – Joyce Baker – she sang in a vocal group The Vernon Girls.

The career of the dyed blonde began in earnest with the release of her debut single “Kids In America”. A composition written for Kim by her brother Ricky Wilde (initially she sang in his backing vocals) and father Marty Wilde, became a new wave classic and the greatest success in her homeland.

“Kids In America” ​​has spawned a dozen or so covers, and among the artists who have taken on the song are the grunge star Nirvanagirl band Atomic Kittenmockers of Bloodhound Gangdancing Cascadepunks from Toy Dolls and Pennywise and the favorites of teenagers from Jonas Brothers (with modified text and title “Kids Of The Future”).

The album is simply titled “Kim Wilde” contained songs written by the singer’s father and younger brother (Ricky also took care of the production). Kim was accompanied on the recordings by musicians from the prog-rock band The Enidbut the singer was accompanied on the cover by Ricky Wildeguitarist James Stevenson and later Kim’s boyfriend – keyboardist Calvin Hayes.

Years later, the singer revealed that the presence of the supporting band on the cover was caused by the trends of the time (solo careers of women in pop music were not so fashionable). The author of the photo was Gered Mankowitzwho has collaborated with, among others, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Kate Bush and many rock stars of the 70s. The cover was designed by another esteemed artist – John Pascheauthor of the iconic lips The Rolling Stonesalso working with, among others, The Stranglers.

The album debuted at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, rising to number 3 the following week. The album quickly went gold for sales of 100,000 copies in the UK alone.

Album “Kim Wilde” brought more well-received singles “Checkered Love” and “Water On Glass”. Musically it was a mix of new wave and rock with elements of reggae. Some critics saw Kim Wilde as a response to Blondie – a group from the other side of the Atlantic led by another blonde singer, Debbie Harry.

Although the album was a huge success in Europe (including Germany, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands), Kim didn’t conquer America at the time. It wasn’t until 1987 that she managed to do so, thanks to a cover “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” groups The Supremes. In doing so, Kim Wilde became only the fifth British solo female artist in history to top the US Hot 100, a record she held for the next 20 years.

“To be a pop star, you need more than just a good voice,” the singer said years later. That’s why in the mid-80s we saw a new Kim – no longer a good daddy’s girl, but a predatory vamp.

It seemed that conquering America was within reach. But something was ultimately missing: “I don’t know if I ever had the ambition to reach the same level of fame that Madonna“I never really wanted that,” Kim later admitted.

However, she did take a few cues from the Queen of Pop. It is a well-known fact that nothing helps like a scandal. Several British TV stations were shocked with outrage when the video for the single appeared “Say You Really Want Me”. The singer was criticized for demoralizing children with scenes of group sex with strangers. “Sex always sells, and if you are also called a sex symbol, success is guaranteed,” she commented.

In the UK in the 1980s, the singer had no equals, because in that decade she placed as many as 17 singles in the Top 40 of the UK charts, thus setting a record for a British female artist.

What does Kim Wilde look like today?

The failure of the album “Love Moves” (1990) was compounded by personal problems; after the breakup of her relationship with Calvin Hayes She had a nervous breakdown. She was pulled out of her depression by moving to a property in Hertfordshire, where she took up gardening. Gardening soon became her second great passion. “I don’t take myself seriously. Sometimes I go gardening in my knickers and platform shoes,” laughed Kim.

Attempts to return to the scene in the 90s were either rehashes of old ideas (a greatest hits compilation) or went completely unnoticed (the album “Now & Forever” included dance and soul music). Wilde focused on her personal life (marriage to actor Hal Fowlertwo children soon appeared) and garden design – as an expert she found herself on television, hosting programs “Better Gardens” and “Garden Invaders”The singer also made it into the Guinness Book of Records for transplanting the world’s largest tree.

Over time, her attempts to return to the music scene on the wave of nostalgia for the 80s became more and more bold. In the 21st century, she released a total of five albums – “Never Say Never” (2006), “Come Out and Play” (2010), “Snapshots” with covers (2011), “Wilde Winter Songbook” with classic Christmas songs and new songs (2013) and “Here Come the Aliens” (2018).

In late 2022, she divorced Hal Fowler, with their split reportedly being “amicable.” The couple had been married since 1996 and have a 26-year-old son, Harry Tristan, and a 24-year-old daughter, Rose Elisabeth.