Kim Wilde: My 80s Playlist 💿

Icon of the 1980s, Kim Wilde, sits down with Virgin Radio's Steve Denyer to pick her favourite songs of the decade and share stories of her incredible career, from first appearing on Top of the Pops, to meeting pop megastars like David Bowie and Michael Jackson 💿
#KimWilde #80s #1980s #80smusic #80snostalgia #stevedenyer #virginradiouk
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[@richalderson6069]

It's great that Kim embraces her past so enthusiastically, I love hearing her talk about the 80's, what an exciting time it was for pop music.

[@timothyfifield8369]

Kim Wilde is amazing , Never Trust a Stranger , is one of the best pop songs EVER!!!!

[@kyachdistent1301]

So's all the many things she never EVER bothers doing-like 'Ego', 'Child Come Away', 'Dancing In The Dark', 'House Of Salome'-which actually IS the best song ever if ever any one song could claim such a thing.

[@fletchfletcher2702]

I'm a HUGE Kim Wilde fan and the 80s is THE pop decade. So thank you for this video! Much love.

[@mgparis]

Such lovely words about Bowie, Kim is such a class act

[@avtomad722]

Lovely interview and great to see Kim looking back with such pride and humour, what a wonderful artist!

[@kyachdistent1301]

She only looks back with pride on small segments of her career. To her 1982 and 1983 don't exist, except the former for just 2 singles. She co-wrote and produced vast majority of 1986 album, and 3 songs on the 1984 one, but instead of being proud of them and getting them out there again, she only utilises both albums for the same 2 singles, if that, not necessarily ones she wrote! But then she acts like "Close" is above, but she's so proud of that 'Kids' song, it's a wonder she doesn't try and pretend it's on there. Funny how other acts look back with more fondness for their career.

[@fusionsuper34]

Kim Wilde, England's musical pioneerring legend of 1980's music and still powering along. She is so amazingly talented and beautiful as well. What a wonderful music artist!

[@balopra]

Thank you, what a nice interview with fantastic Kim Wilde, see a performance if she is in your town or country!

[@pcdude23]

Great Interview, Kim looks great. I simply adore her with her hit songs in the 80s, keep me hanging on, You came, we're the kids in America, especially Four letter word.🥰

[@The-truth-is-valuable.]

This lady will always be one of those "wow, what a babe"... She was (and still is) such a class act, especially in her early 30, and a bit later, after she really wemt thru a bit of a change: clothes, hair style, figure etc. She brings back a lot of nostalgia...

[@davidattwell2574]

The 1980s was my childhood ❤😂😮😊😊

[@PaulyRob]

Great interview, Kim still looks great. Saw her on the Michael Jackson tour at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 1988

[@Sweet_Music_86]

Amazing interview ❤️ thank you for this 🙏💋 more of this please 😊

[@glennkourie255]

Used to listen to the song kids in America. Never knew I would find out the history of it. Nothing like the 80s.

[@Gavrev]

Lovely interview! Reflecting on the notion of great hidden tracks an artist can have, for me a few of Kim's are "Is It Over?", "Suburbs of Moscow", "Shangri-La", "Dream Sequence" (huge wall of sound intro, even now 40 years later), "Back Street Joe", "Words Fell Down", "The Thrill of It", "Lost Without You".. some fabulous compositions and performances.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Loved that photo session she once did with Duran Duran's Simon Le bon.They looked a sight and made a phenomenal photogenic couple.

[@jamesalex5051]

I like Kim Wilde a lot

[@albertrokosz1545]

I love Kim Wilde. What a beautiful woman inside and out. Great career, but I still think she's underrated. Even in the 80s she had ups and downs (the best years being 1981-1982 and 1986-1988), but the fact that such great albums as Love Moves (1990) and Love Is (1992) were not a commercial success is beyond me.

[@kyachdistent1301]

She had only had "ups and downs" cos people have no tastes-and define best years, cos musically and artistically, 1982, 1983 and 1984 are the best years of them all as all her career-best albums are done then. And it's worse. 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1988 are only picked on for CERTAIN singles-NOT for the rest of them, NOR the rest of the album, and the same for the B-sides and non-album singles. Yes she's underrated as hell, but the fans do not help as THEY underrated her, and she does so herself. She still refuses to do more than 10% of her 80s catalogue live, and it's only EVER the SAME 10%! "Love Is" was a commercial success, but "Love Moves" suffered from being too easy-listening and lacking songs without sparkle-it's the one album where the single choices bar one were pretty weak, but ti was also her 1st album that wasn't full of potential ones, where all the 80s albums were-including the B-sides. "Love Moves" tried too hard to be "Close"-every song made in 1990 tries to ape each one 1988 song in a way, but generally to its detriment. That's the trouble with a sellout like "Close"-and by 1990, the shortcomings of the 90s and the awful trend towards soul rubbish and simple love songs if you were female and had been around a while was all over. Of course it's still a good album, a less than remarkable slip is still better than most people's good works!

[@albertrokosz1545]

@@kyachdistent1301 I'm glad you commented, I often read your comments on other Kim videos, it's obvious you're a real fan. We probably differ on our favorite albums and songs, but I agree that Kim has a lot of great songs that didn't become singles, and a lot of the B-sides are great too. I'm also fed up with Kids in America and I also wish Kim would perform more diverse songs at concerts. For example, I hope that we will finally have the opportunity to hear again the brilliant You'll Be the One Who'll Lose, which she performed only once - on August 20, 1988 in Sopot during her first concert in Poland, where I come from. Before 2022 I knew Kim very little, only from a few of her most famous hits, but in 2022 I became crazy about her and I don't even remember how it started. Better late than never. I love all albums up to and including 1992. Unfortunately, I don't like Now & Forever. For now, I'm focusing on the first period of her career, with some shyness and fear that I might be disappointed by her 21st century albums. But I think I'll finally have the courage to listen to them soon ;) And in general, this interview is very interesting, I am especially happy about some interesting facts, which Kim probably never mentioned, about concerts with Michael Jackson. This is one of my favorite things about Kim's career. Overall, 1988 was a wonderful year for her, my favorite year of her career - Close, Bad Tour and Sopot!

[@kyachdistent1301]

@@albertrokosz1545 Thank you so much for such a kind and informative response, not always what I get, as too many so-called fans entirely misread my tone and point and think I'm not a fan at all and am actually having a go at her, as if normal annoyance and criticism and justifiable point making shouldn't be made against your idols, such stupid guff and makes me wonder about them. Ahh, differing about our songs and albums is one of the great things about interacting with fans, because, while that's natural, we all agree that we love her stuff, and I find any moans I have perfectly justified as I am a fan that has never turned away one of her albums, nor B-sides, or non-albumed singles. Granted the Christmas album can't be counted as a normal album, so isn't, but I do play songs off it, mainly around 25th Dec, but the 2 favs on the album I add to her 2000s non-album stuff as there's so little. Sorry, I just re-read your 2nd para, you're virtually a new fan-congrats and welcome, yes better late than never-"Never Say Never" as one of her albums says. Yes the 80s albums are all great, though "Select", "Catch As Catch Can" and "Teases & Dares" are the 3 greatest records of all 'time' (inverted as she has a song called 'Time'), though. While I found "Close" (1st album I got by her, not long after it was out) a bit of a sell-out and easy-pleaser for the dumbed down conveyor-belt market of '88, it was still a fine album, it just lacked the grand sweep, mystery, drama, storytelling and experimental circuity of all those 1981-1986 creations, though it is an all-round better album than the debut, being more sophisticated and warmer, and there's no 'Kids' bore on it, though there are lyrical sweeps that only 1981 would have that "Close" doesn't. The 90s went a bit too love-song, easy-listening and soul-driven which is where too many survivor women found themselves yet her weaker moments still better than anyone else's. Yes, "Now & Forever" album a shock back then, but soul songs are aggravating in nature and so samey, but at least with her they're less long and sung properly and none of that tuneless wailing. She's moved on from it so much I can think of it more fondly now, though I always kept it, and she's been more rock for ages so it's fine. Don't fear for her latest stuff. By all means love all those great 80s tunes she made (including B-sides) as she had the best work of anyone in that decade, so it was always going to be hard to follow up, not least when the musical landscape went to hell from 90s onwards and is still there-or way beneath it actually. But her few comeback albums since 1998 (we still await that locked away finished 1998 album!) have been far more a contemporary return to her 80s roots than we ever dared hope). "Never Say Never"-despite having so few new songs I had to add a few extras to it to pad them out equalled debut and "Love Is" in quality, as did the 2000s non-album stockpile, then "Come Out And Play" from 2010 equalled the might of "Close", despite too many unnaturally short songs and over-emphasis on live guitar sound, but an album of surprises, but even better, the 2018 album "Here Com The Aliens" you really must embrace-it is IMO even better than "Close"-it did what I thought she could never do-actually equals "Another Step" and the 80s non-album single/B-side stockpile, and that is more than one could wish for, after all I don't except her 3 career-bests from the sensational years 1982, 1983 and 1984 to be topped and I wouldn't want them to be. And there's a good collection of 2010-present non-album stuff too, but just remember to play 'Addicted To You' from 2010, NOT the awful unnecessary re-recording of it for "Aliens"-'Dreamlover' should be put on over this instead.

[@kyachdistent1301]

@@albertrokosz1545 Just to add, I think you'll be a 'Lucky Guy' because she intends to do her entire "Close" album next year when she tours her apparent new album, creepily called "Closer", which worries me, not least cos it sounds to mean a career-closer (we 'hope' not). She probably won't do the 2 B-sides, not anything else that didn't make the album, as she's like that. Hell, I hear you, I been saying Kim's setlists should be better for donkeys. You don't get Ms Minogue, Ms Lauper and many others sticking to the same songs every show. How can ANYONE pretend to love their career and singing if all they ever do is act like they've got 1 album! And that bloody 'Kids' song ruins every show-like it's the LAST thing I want to hear at a set's end! You'll be luckier than me. I love "Catch" but she and her equally silly brother just denigrate and ignore that album, so hateful to it are they both that the awesome anthem 'Love Blonde'-far more a her song that that 'Kids' bore, stopped being done decades ago, and that was the only ever done from the album outside its birth. I was lucky and shocked when she resurrected 'Words Fell Down' when she toured "Aliens" in London in 2018-that was my 1st "Select" fave, and she brought back my "Teases" 1st fave 'The Touch' for her last hits concerts, but 1st fave from "Catch"-'House Of Salome'-true owner of Best Song Ever Made if one song could ever own such an impossible to grab title will never EVER be done, I can say that with certainty, nor will ANY of unique album "Catch", despite its ongoing absence that never makes her heart grow fonder, nor will 'Child Come Away' and the rest of "Select" bar the 1st 2 singles-hell she doesn't even do anything of "Another Step" beyond the 2 obvious ones and that's largely self-written and boasts the most songs as at that point she said: "well they were all worthy so we had to leave them all on." Clearly doesn't listen to herself! My biggest problem with her though is her attitude to her own work over others. She LOVES every other act's songs, no matter how naff and pointless, and her 2011 cover album is an awful reminder of this, yes I keep it but it reeks of an artist hating her own artistry, and also she wastes WAY too many setlists on pointless covers, which seem to crop up with a new one each 'time' the latest pop star to die seems to 'speak to her' to add a song of theirs to the list. At this rate she'll become a covers queen, yet in 1992, she slashed at artists not doing their own stuff and how it cheated the audience. She's a mass of silly contradictions over this. I'm glad she toured with Jackson for what it did for her, but she's the main talent there, he's way beneath her. And trust him to release a whole album of singles and get away with it, she barely does 2 or 3 an album, and her career has been managed dreadfully by all her labels since day one, it's amazing we've all stayed so sane. Lovely to hear from you, she'll be over in Poland soon I'm sure, and keep on enjoying her stuff, and do pay as much attention to her 1983 work if you can, and how exciting when 'Rain On' and 'Sail On' were found in the vault in 2020 as I knew there had to be at least 1 more B-side from the peerless 1983 era. Rock on, mate!

[@albertrokosz1545]

Wow, thank you for such a long answer. Coming back to the topic of Kim's underestimation, I often compare her with Kylie Minogue, whom I also like very much, but still less than Kim, who will be number 1 for me forever. OK, Kim on the one hand was the most successful female singer in the UK charts in the 1980s. On the other hand, she missed out on number 1. Meanwhile, Kylie won number 1 at the first opportunity. As of today, Kim still doesn't have a UK number 1 (and probably will stay that way), and Kylie has 7 (same with albums). Kim's biggest success is the US number 1 with You Keep Me Hangin' On. It was great, but otherwise Kim's career in the US was almost non-existent. This was partly due to Kim herself, who did not want to get more involved and move there, putting her family and friends in the UK ahead of her. I don't criticize her for that, but overall she deserved more appreciation. Weird decisions regarding singles and videos didn’t help either. It's true that Kim sometimes contradicts herself. For me, an example is her statement from the 1990s, when she said that she would not be on stage as long as Tina Turner. Fortunately, she changed her mind :) I hope that the 1998 album will see the light of day. It's amazing it still hasn't come out. Recently, Marcel Rijs, a huge fan and expert, seemed to suggest that there is a chance that it should finally be released in the near future. The entire Close album at concerts makes me happy, especially the opportunity to hear again Love in the Natural Way and You'll Be the One Who'll Lose, two beautiful ballads about love - the first happy, the second sad. Will Kim visit Poland again? I have hope, but also fears. The last time she was in Poland was a long time ago - in 2015. I look with envy at other countries where she regularly gives concerts, especially Germany. I guess I'll have to go abroad, because concert dates for 2025 are already appearing and Poland is missing from the list again. If I were a millionaire, I would invite Kim to my country ;) Kind regards!

[@SpeccyMan]

My younger brother bought me "Close" on cassette as a present for my 27th birthday. He and I were (I still am) huge fans of Kim Wilde. Funny thing I also have a favourite record from 1968 - The Legend of Xanadu by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. My favourite Cilla song has always been You're My World.

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

Terrific exchange, Kim lovely as always. Have something of a special bond with her because... "You Came" was released just a few days before my birth in July 1988! It is definitely a special song and even her voice sounded different, more mellow on it. Ironically I don't have much affection for "Kids in America" or her cover of The Supremes, my other favourites are View From a Bridge, Another Step (Closer To You), Love Blonde, Hey Mister Heartache and The Light of the Moon (Belongs to Me)... 5 different songs from different albums! Some of the recent songs from Here Come The Aliens are great as well. Even then I couldn't find room for her in my all-time 1980s favourites compilation! It's a playlist of songs I managed to fit on a CD to play in the car: Survivor - Eye of The Tiger Toto - Africa Michael Jackson - Billie Jean The Police - Every Breath You Take George Michael - Careless Whisper Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World Bryan Adams - Heaven Berlin - Take My Breath Away Europe - The Final Countdown (might replace with Heart - These Dreams in the future) The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian Madonna - La Isla Bonita (Into The Groove and Live To Tell are brilliant too) Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth INXS - Need You Tonight Martika - Toy Soldiers "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red might find its way there someday.

[@tasossaros8375]

Love this video👍❤

[@motulifelikefigures1987]

jesus the 80s were the golden age of pop so hard to choose a top 10 list from it. so many groundbreaking artists like michael jackson, madonna, cindy lauper, the bangles, a-ha, belinda carlisle, kate bush, eurythmics, erasure, david bowie, george michael, depeche mode, nena, ultrvox etc. - so many hymns and anthems like no other decade. it's really sad what we have now in music compared to that time.

[@SpeccyMan]

The 70's were pretty good too and plenty of anthems there, including songs from both Michael Jackson (Don't Stop Till You Get Enough) and Kate Bush (Wuthering Heights) and numerous songs from Bowie. There is still plenty of good music around now - especially if you avoid the dross that is the current mainstream - you just have to seek it out. 1. Ultravox - Vienna 2. Spandau Ballet - Through The Barricades 3. Kim Wilde - Rage To Love 4. Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain 5. Kate Bush - Babooshka 6. Erasure - A Little Respect 7. Transvision Vamp - I Want Your Love 8. A-Ha - Take On Me 9. Yazoo - Don't Go 10. Altered Images - I Could Be Happy True, it is difficult to pick just 10 but those are some of my favourites from that decade. The 70's were more my decade though.

[@motulifelikefigures1987]

@@SpeccyMan well u named mostly hits from the end of the 70s but true 70s were great too! Cool list! Forgot about transvision vamp( was more of a one hit wonder - the 80s had many) like Crash from the primitives. A-HA had many masterpieces so did depeche mode and eurythmics, madonna, jackson or witney houston, kylie, alison moyet, fleedwood mac, ah the list goes on and on....:)

[@motulifelikefigures1987]

@@SpeccyMan what would u call great music today? Its true its out there just hard to find, since we have no great MTV anymore, miss the artistry in musicvideos too these days.

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

@@SpeccyMan the effort to "seek it out" is just not worth the effort when I can simply listen to my old 1980s and 90s records (have some 70s favourites as well, such as Heart). And I'm saying that as someone who was born in the late 80s, the 1980s shouldn't hold the same sentimental value to me compared to someone born in the 1950s/60s but there you go, I love those records. The records that came out during my own 20s and 30s were absolutely wretched in comparison

[@kyachdistent1301]

Don't mention muckdonna with these people, that trash is NOT an artist.

[@paulemery7353]

Love these videos and have watched nearly all of them this week catching up, but Ive noticed quite a bit that Steve and the guest know the songs but the viewer occasionally isn't clued in to what song is being talked about, the title isn't mentioned and dosen't come up on screen all the time or in list in the video details. Would really appreciate knowing each song. Thanks for these great videos and guests, it's so amazing to see them and hear their choices. Please keep going !

[@JohnEbens]

🥰😍😘

[@Sleepwalk60]

Finally a ultravox song.

[@JoseRodrigues-qk2dz]

Olá Kim. Boa tarde linda 💖❤❤❤🎉

[@mangasky7]

The Bowie album Kim is referring to is Scary Monsters, but we can't expect a Virgin DJ to know this now, can we?

[@paulwildman6067]

My first teenage crush.

[@paulemery7353]

Mine too! She’s still amazing

[@alexioverdo5225]

The sexiest female creature that crossed the '80s. For me it wasn't Madonna but Kim.She was the dish.Seen her live she's a gr8 performer.

[@paulemery7353]

@@alexioverdo5225 I still think You Came is one of the best pop songs ever.

[@SpeccyMan]

I was in my 20's by the time she came along. My first teenage crush was Noosha Fox.

[@mikekaraoke]

Loved this interview, however when talking about the Summer of 1988 tour and said he was on landline to her mum and before mobile phones! Come on Kim still had Mobile phones then bros had them in their -I Owe You Nothing music video amongst many other things lol My dad got the Motorola 8000X In Summer of 1985!

[@SpuktasticAudio]

Why didn't you list the songs she picked in the notes?

[@gerritbruwer89]

What was the Spandau Ballet song?

[@SpeccyMan]

It would've been nice to hear the songs too but YT and its "policies" do like to take the fun out of things.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Maybe 'To cut along story"?

[@lolachiconila7650]

i like Kim's interviews , but is it me or Kim's accent like Madonna's sort of change sometimes she sounds British sometimes she sound...Brit-Irish sometimes she sounds American :)

[@lanzodave]

you taking the piss with the loaded adverts,,,,, its KZbin not Greatest Hits

[@katieberos1347]

Ultravox Vienna not a nice song.