11 Essential Kim Wilde Songs

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Our 11 most essential Kim Wilde Songs list takes a look at the career of Kim Wilde and how she straddled the line between pop music, new wave, and, ultimately, dance. Kim Wilde was born in Chiswick, West London in 1960. She was born the daughter of Marty Wilde, a 1950s rock-and-roll singer. Marty Wilde also co-composed all the songs with his son, Rick Wilde, on Kim Wilde’s first album. Her mother, Joyce, was a singer in the group the Vemons Girls. Kim Wilde broke onto the music scene big time in 1981 with her huge worldwide smash “Kids In America.” The Kim Wilde album also contained the hit singles “Water On Glass” and “Chequered Love.”

Over time, the sound of Kim Wilde’s records moved further into dance genres and away from her early new-wave sound, bringing her great success. However, in 1983 and 1984, pop music began to shift toward a more dance-oriented sound, fueled by the success of the soundtracks Footloose and Flashdance. It wasn’t a full return to the days of disco but rather a groove with less funk, more straight-ahead snare, and a great deal of hair.

While Kim Wilde may have disappeared from the spotlight in the United States, she has continued to release music throughout the 1980s, 90s, and into the 2000s and 2010s. Kim Wilde has released 13 albums since her debut in 1981. Her last release, Wilde Winter Songbook, was issued in 2013.

# 11- Cambodia

The song “Cambodia” was released on Kim Wilde’s Select album. The record was issued in 1982 as a follow-up to her 1981 debut. The song “Cambodia” was the album’s first single release. The song was written by Kim Wilde’s father and brother, Marty Wilde and Ricky Wilde. The song has a new-wave feel similar to the music on her debut album. It’s a minor-key song, fueled. by a big-sounding chorus. It was interesting to hear where she was going on this album as she developed her sound.

# 10 – Keep Me Hanging On

Kim Wilde’s cover version of the Supremes’ iconic songs would prove to be her first number one hit in the United States. The song was released in 1986 on her Another Step album. This is a very different-sounding Kim Wilde on this track than the new wave-sounding Kim on her debut. Her voice still bleeds a new wave, but the producers of the record have hit singles on their minds with their arrangements. In the end, it all worked out perfectly.

# 9 – Love Blonde

“Love Blonde” was an interesting release from Kim Wilde. It was the song that served as the first peek into the dance music genres she seemed to be heading towards. It’s interesting because “Love Blonde” was released on her third album, Catch as Catch Can, in 1983. We love the horns at the start of the song. This one has a captivating groove and a very hip-swinging style.

# 8 – View From A Bridge

Kim Wilde’s second album featured two major singles in the 1980s. The great track “View From A Bridge” was the second single released from her Select album in 1982. This track features a heavy dose of keyboards, reflecting the sounds of the early 1980s. Kim’s vocals are so mesmerizing. She had the ability to put you in a trance.

# 7 – Dancing In The Dark

While this song may share the same title as Bruce Springsteen’s classic Dancing in the Dark, the similarity stops right at the title. And to be fair to Kim Wilde, the title “Dancing in the Dark” originated long before the Born In The U.S.A. album, as the title of the classic 1949 film “Dancing in the Dark ” that starred William Powell. Kim Wilde’s Dancing in the Dark was the follow-up single to Love Blonde. Both songs were released on her 1983 Catch Me As You Can LP.

# 6 – The Second Time

The classic Kim Wilde song “The Second Time” was released on her fourth album, Teases & Dares, in 1984. “The Second Time” was a bit of a return to her original sound and proved highly successful worldwide. The album Teases & Dares was also Kim Wilde’s first release for MCA Records. Big drum sounds, heavily layered keyboards, and tons of reverb on the vocals. Thats the sound of 1984.

# 5 – The Touch

The song “The Touch” was the second single released from the Teases and Dares album. It was also the opening track on her great MCA Records debut. Since this was released in 1984, one can hear the prominent sounds of the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer throughout the track.

# 4 – Chequered Love

Three out of the top four songs on our essential Kim Wilde Songs list hail from her debut album, Kim Wilde, released in 1981. The classic song “Chequered Love” opened side two of the record that launched Kim Wilde’s rock and roll career. The song was released as the second single from the album, following “Kids In America.” The song’s opening is so explosive. I never get tired of listening to this one. The band sounds great, wrapping around Kim’s perfect new-wave vocals.

# 3 – Anyplace Anywhere Anytime

In 2003, Kim Wilde recorded an amazing duet with the legendary Nena entitled “Anyplace Anywhere Anytime.” The song was originally released on Nena’s album Nena feat. Nena. Nena originally recorded the song in 1985. However, in 2003, Nena re-recorded the song with Kim Wilde and released it as a single.

# 2 – Water on Glass

“Water on Glass” was initially released on Kim Wilde’s debut album in 1981. The song’s spirited 1960s melodic groove, meeting late 1970s new wave, proved to be a fan favorite. One can hear very much the influence of her father’s 1950s and 60s rock and roll career in the song’s composition.

# 1 – Kids in America

If you were a kid in America or any other place in the world in the 1980s, you most definitely remember this song. In as few words as possible, this was great stuff. A song that would become a classic. More than just a pop-rock song, but rather a representation of the music and times at the dawn of the 1980s.

Updated February 5, 2025

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