Kids in America (song)

"Kids in America"
Single by Kim Wilde
from the album Kim Wilde
B-side	"Tuning In, Tuning On"
Released	26 January 1981 (U.K.), 1982 (U.S.)
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1980
Genre	New Wave Synthpop
Length	3:27
Label	RAK
Writer(s)	Marty Wilde, Ricky Wilde
Producer	Ricky Wilde
Kim Wilde singles chronology
"Kids in America" (1981) "Chequered Love" (1981)

"Kids in America 1994"
Single by Kim Wilde
Released	2 May 1994
Format	12", CD single
Genre	Pop
Length	3:53 (Cappella Mix)
Label	MCA
Writer(s)	Ricky Wilde, Marty Wilde
Producer	Ricky Wilde
Kim Wilde singles chronology
"In My Life" (1993) "Kids in America 1994" (1994) "Breakin' Away" (1995)

"Kids in America" is a New Wave song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982. It has famously been covered by many artists from different genres.

Background

The song was recorded in 1980 after RAK Records boss Mickie Most heard Wilde singing on a backing track for her brother Ricky Wilde. He liked her voice and image and expressed an interest to work with her.^{[citation needed]} Ricky Wilde, together with his father Marty Wilde (a 1950s/1960s rock and roll star) wrote the song "Kids in America" for Wilde to record. Once the demo was sent, Most remixed the track himself and released it on RAK as Wilde's first single in January 1981.^{[citation needed]}

1994 version

"Kids in America 1994" was released in May 1994 in order to help promote Wilde's compilation album The Remix Collection. Although it was intended to be released in the UK, for reasons unknown these plans were cancelled at the last minute. However, the track was released in other countries in several remixed forms using Wilde's original vocals from 1981. The "radio version" of the track was remixed by Cappella, with James Stevenson on guitar.^{[citation needed]}

2006 version

Among some of her other classic hits, Wilde recorded a new version of the song for her 2006 comeback album Never Say Never, featuring English singer Charlotte Hatherley. This version, like the rest of the album, was produced by German producer Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, whom she had previously worked with in 2002 for German singer Nena's 20th anniversary album Nena feat. Nena on the track "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime", a new version of her 1984 hit single. Wilde contributed English verses to the song, which was slightly remixed and released as a single in 2003.

A new re-recorded version of the song was used in a 2010 commercial for Totino's pizza and pizza rolls.^{[citation needed]}

Reaction

The song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom. The following year it became a Top 30 hit in the United States. In the summer of 1981, the track appeared on Wilde's self-titled debut album.

The new wave song was the start of Wilde's career. Her father and brother continued to write songs for her (with the latter also given production credits), although in later years Wilde herself and her brother would usually be credited with the songwriting.

Track listing (1981/1982)

7" (UK) RAK 327 (track listing same as most international 7" formats)

A. Kids in America (3:26)

B. Tuning In Tuning On (4:30)

7" (US/Canada) EMI America PB-8110

A. Kids In America (3:26)

B. You'll Never Be So Wrong (4:11)

12" (Germany) RAK 052-64249

A. Kids in America (3:26)

B. Tuning In Tuning On (4:30)

Track listing (1994)

12" (Netherlands) MCA MCT 31556

• Kids In America 1994 (Extension Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (House Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (Plus Staples)

12" (UK) MCA SAM 29T (Promo)

• Kids In America 1994 (Extension Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (X Club Dub)
• Kids In America 1994 (Instrumental)
• Kids In America 1994 (House Dub)
• Kids In America 1994 (Plus Staples)
• Kids In America 1994 (X Cut Cut)

CD Single (Germany) MCA MCD 31555

• Kids In America 1994 (Cappella Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (Extension Mix)
• Kids In America

CD Single (Germany) MCA MCD 31926

• Kids In America 1994 (Cappella Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (Extension Mix)

CD Single (Japan) MCA MVCM 13010

• Kids In America 1994 (Cappella Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (Extension Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (House Mix)
• Kids In America 1994 (Plus Staples)

Official versions

1981

Album version (3:26)

1994

Cappella Mix (3:53)

Extension Mix

House Mix

Plus Staples

X Club Dub

Instrumental

X Cut Cut

2001

D-Bop's Bright Lights Mix (4:03)

2006

"Never Say Never" album version (duet with Charlotte Hatherley) (3:24)

2007

Live Version (5:54)

Chart performance

Chart (1981–82)	Peak position
United Kingdom	2
US Billboard Hot 100	25
Canada	34
Denmark	1
Ireland	1
South Africa	1
Sweden	2
Belgium	4
Australia	5
France	5
Germany	5
Switzerland	5
Netherlands	6
Norway	9
Austria	12

Covers

"Kids In America"
Single by Kim-Lian
from the album Balance
Released	18 August 2004
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:32
Label	CMM Records
Kim-Lian singles chronology
"Garden of Love" (2004) "Kids in America" (2004) "Road to Heaven" (2006)

"Kids of the Future"
Song by Jonas Brothers
Released	27 March 2007
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop rock, children's music
Length	3:15
Label	Walt Disney

• Alvin and the Chipmunks^{[citation needed]}
• Atomic Kitten
• Bloodhound Gang
• The Bouncing Souls
• Bus Station Loonies
• Cascada (2006) Everytime We Touch
• Catch 22
• Charlotte Hatherley
• The Donnas (2007) (Nancy Drew Soundtrack)
• Eläkeläiset (Heil Humppa)
• Fourth Grade Nothing (Bio-Dome Soundtrack)
• Game Over (Lyrics changed to "Kids of the Australia")
• Gandhi's Cookbook
• Harvard Din & Tonics
• Jonas Brothers, 2007 single from Meet the Robinsons Soundtrack, re-released on Jonas Brothers (lyrics changed to "Kids of the Future")
• Kidz Bop
• Kim-Lian, 2004 single from Balance (Cars 2 Soundtrack)
• Lawnmower Deth
• Lagwagon
• Len
• The Muffs (1995) (Clueless Soundtrack, appeared on Rock Band 2 in 2008)
• MxPx (NHL 10 soundtrack)
• Naked Aggression
• Nirvana (live, 16 January 1993 - Hollywood Rock Festival, São Paulo, Brazil)
• No Secrets (2001) No Secrets
• No Use For a Name
• One Direction (2011 for X Factor)
• Orange Sector
• Play
• S.E.X. Appeal
• Shebang (2011)
• Tiffany (2007) I Think We're Alone Now: '80s Hits And More
• Tiktak (Kaupungin lapset)
• Toy Dolls
• Tři sestry (25:01)
• Wynona Riders
• The Young Knives