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Kids in America

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"Kids in America"
Song
B-side"Tuning In, Tuning On"
"Kids in America"
Song

"Kids in America" is a 1981 song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982.[2] It has 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 2 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)

Chart performance

Chart (1981–1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 4
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[6] 4
Canada (RPM 50 Singles)[7] 34
France (SNEP)[8] 3
Invalid chart entered Germany2 5
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[13] 9
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[14] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 25
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[18] 29

Covers

"Kids in America"
Song
"Kids in America"
Song

References

  1. ^ Jonathan Williams. "Terminus City/No Holds Barred". Prick Magazine. Prickmag.net. Retrieved 23 July 2013. "Terminus even does a punked out cover of the Kim Wilde new wave hit "Kids In America" bringing a whole new meaning to the song."
  2. ^ David Mansour (2005). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 264. ISBN 978-0740751189.
  3. ^ Danyel Smith, ed. (1981). "Billboard 4 july 1981". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 19 June 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Kids In America - KIM WILDE". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Retrieved 26 July 2013. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 4
  7. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 36, No. 23, July 17 1982". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  8. ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc (in French). InfoDisc.fr. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Kim Wilde"
  9. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". IRMA. Retrieved 15 June 2013. Only one result when searching "Kids in America"
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kim Wilde - Kids in America" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  14. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (W)". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  15. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Kim Wilde – Kids in America". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Kim Wilde awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  19. ^ Jonathan Ball. "Use Your Fingers review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  20. ^ "The Bad the Worse and the Out of Print review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  21. ^ Sharon Mawer. "Everytime We Touch review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  22. ^ "I Think We're Alone Now: '80s Hits & More review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
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