Song of the Day: 'Chequered Love' by Kim Wilde

I'm not sure I would be tweeting about its "41st anniversary." (Is that even a thing?!) But any excuse to remember this gem from Kim Wilde's self-titled 1981 album, which served as the second single after "Kids in America." How she wasn't a bigger star is anyone's guess, although it certainly didn't help that her record label refused to release her second and third albums in the U.S. "Select," Kim's sophomore LP, featured "Cambodia," the greatest "story song" of the 1980s, a haunting French-Indochina "Ode to Billie Joe."

Dear EMI America: If "Cambodia" didn't have hit potential in the U.S., why does it remain her most popular song on all streaming platforms save for her No. 1 Supremes cover? The 1980s were filled with bizarre hit singles, how could you blow this one? 

Song of the Day: 'W.M.' (Initial Talk Remix) by Tom Aspaul Featuring Kim Wilde

Here are a couple of fun ones for fellow Kim Wilde fans: Both are collaborations with Tom Aspaul, an openly gay writer, producer and performer who has penned songs for a host of artists including Kylie Minogue. "W.M." is my favorite of the two, which is a remix of a song that originally appeared on Tom's solo debut, "Black Country Disco." (He followed it up with remix album, cleverly titled "Black Country Discotheque.") And the second is a new track included on Kim's upcoming retrospective, "Pop Don't Stop," due Aug. 6.

This whole arrangementt reminds me a bit of another talented gay musician getting to work with his dream diva -- Mr. Gabe Lopez, who wrote and produced the track "Sun" a few year ago for Belinda Carlisle who returned the favor. Didn't I hear murmurs of another collaboration between those two?

Tom Aspaul: "W.M." featuring Kim Wilde (Initial Talk Remix)

Kim Wilde: "You're My Karma" featuring Tom Aspaul

Song of the Day: 'Name and Number' by Boy George and Kim Wilde

 Here's a dream duet from my childhood -- and the song even sounds like it's from the '80s. (Do kids even know what "name and number" means?) This appeared on Boy George's recent YouTube-only album called "Cool Karaoke Vol. 1," which led me to believe it's a cover of Curiosity Killed the Cat's song of the same name. (Karaoke = covers, no?) It's not, so I still don't understand the album title. But the song is fun just the same.

P.S.

You might hear "Name and Number" live this summer if you catch the Mossless Culture Club's U.K. tour along with the "Kids in America" singer, Bananarama and others.

Song of the Day: 'Boys' by Kim Wilde

Really struck me when listening to Kim Wilde's eponymous debut how "Boys" just as easily could have been her breakout single. (It was  later used as a B-side of "Water on Glass.") 

On the Rag, Vol. 510

A weekly look at what's making news in the gay mags:

HotSpots (Florida): 8 most effective ways to speed recovery and facilitate gains

Get Out!: Bianca Del Rio returns to the silver screen in 'From Russia With Hate'

Kim Wilde: 'Here Come the Aliens'

Between the Lines (Detroit): Adam Rippon on finding his gay power

Metro Weekly (D.C.): Todd Almond on turning '90s alt-rock into a gay love story

Out: Troye Sivan meets Elton John

Dallas Voice: AIDS Outreach Center's annual gala looking to 'unmask the stigma of HIV'

QX (London): It's Bear Pride weekend!

The Advocate: Why the gay and bi men of 'Boys in the Band' still matter

Gay Times (U.K.): Fighting on the front lines against a rising wave of heterophilia is Casey Spooner, the musician whose art doesn’t just imply queerness but rather screams it from the rooftop

Gloss (San Francisco): Are you going to Candy Land?

Q Salt Lake: Pride gets salty!

San Francisco Bay Times: Kate Kendell’s legacy of inspired leadership at the National Center for Lesbian Rights

Rage Monthly: Is Sheila E. still leading the glamorous life?

Grab (Chicago): Are you ready for the 2018 Grabbys?

Song of the Day: 'Kandy Krush' by Kim Wilde

Another winner from Kim Wilde's new album, "Here Comes the Aliens," which is also pretty darn good.

Song of the Day: 'Pop Don't Stop' by Kim Wilde

Kim Wilde's back with a new album -- now I'm revisiting the previous one ("Snapshots") -- and the first single is awfully fun! Kind of has a “Video Killed the Radio Stat” vibe ...

Song of the Day: 'White Mice' by the Mo-dettes

Kim Wilde tweeted this gem from 1979. Song's even better than I remember -- I still have the 45!

From HERE.

Song of the Day: 'I'd Never Find Another You' by Billy Fury

Instantly fell in love with this one after Kim Wilde posted this classic photo! The late '50s and 1960s heartthrob died in 1983 at 42 from complications of Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child. An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equaled the Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks on the U.K. chart, without a chart-topping single or album.

Song of the Day: 'Shoot to Disable' by Kim Wilde

From the lass's third album -- which I had to get on import at Zia Records -- "Catch as Catch Can." This song's been stuck in my head since the beginning of 11th grade. Mainly posting to see if my friend Greg is reading as I know he's the only other person who would fully appreciate! (I bought the Cherry Pop reissue in 2009, natch!)

Kim Wilde on Meeting 'Massive Idol' Debbie Harry

Blondie is a band -- but Kim Wilde is a person?

This story made me smile, especially when recalling how annoyed Debbie was when she felt people like Kim were co-opting Blondie's style.

I got very star struck when I bumped in Debbie Harry a few years ago. I’d never met her before and she was a massive idol of mine, so I was a bit overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to say, she had to calm me down. I’d just come off stage and I bumped into her and went, “Oh my god, it’s you!” She could see I was completely overwhelmed, she obviously has a lot of people react to her that way, so she said, “Go on Kim, calm down. You look like you need to calm down a little bit.” She was right, I did need to calm down a little bit; I’d just come off stage and bumped into Debbie Harry. It was just an overwhelming moment. I recently went to see Elvis Costello, because I was a massive Elvis Costello fan back in the eighties, bought all his albums, and somehow ended up talking to him via email through a bizarre chain of events, and ended up seeing him on his new Detour tour, and went back to say hi to him afterwards. I felt as star struck all these years later as I did when I met him back in the eighties. It’s quite a funny thing when you meet an idol. I’m always very respectful of it when people get like that around me, because I know I’m the same way around my idols and I don’t think it’s silly or stupid. I understand how it works and it’s the same for me too, so we’re all the same, really.

Song of the Day: 'Love Will Keep Us Together' by Kim Wilde

Not every song works on "'80s Re: Covered" -- a new compilation of '80s artists covering classic hits in full-on '80s style. But Kim Wilde doing one of my all-time favorites -- I used to bring this album to Hiller Elementary to play during lunch, with my label-makered name in the upper-right corner so it wouldn't get stolen -- definitely hits all the right notes! (I wonder how the Captain is doing these days after the split. Toni is reportedly writing a tell-all about their marriage that I'm sure dozens of fans will be dying to read!)

Order HERE.

Song of the Day: 'World in Perfect Harmony' by Kim Wilde

"Love Moves" is definitely not one of my favorite Kim Wilde albums. However, while giving it another try over the weekend, I was reminded that the "World in Perfect Harmony" is a real gem, much like the album's first single and best song, "It's Here." 

Song of the Day: 'Hey Mister Snowman" by Kim Wilde

   The holiday album phase of Kim Wilde's career is upon us, but boy is it a treat! Order HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Short Term Affair' by Kim Wilde and Steve Coogan

This is actually pretty funny: International singing sensation Tony Ferrino (Steve Coogan) and Kim Wilde pay homage to ... Jude Law, Ethan Hawke, Robin Williams ... (you get the point).

Song of the Day: 'Another Step (Closer to You)' by Kim Wilde and Junior Giscombe

Buying those Kim Wilde reissues has turned out to be a wise investment, as they remain in heavy rotation over here. My latest takeaway? If I were Kim Wilde and had put out "Another Step (Closer to You)" -- featuring Junior Giscombe -- in 1986 only to see it tank on the U.S. charts, I'd have probably thrown in the towel. She had just topped the charts with her hi-NRG\ remake of "You Keep Me Hangin' On," for crying out loud -- and how can you top this follow-up?

Song of the Day: 'Putty in Your Hands' by the Shirelles

  Perhaps my favorite album track by the great girl group, best known for the smash hits "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," "Baby, It's You" and "Soldier Boy." Kim Wilde did a true-to-the-original cover as a b-side to her hit "Rage to Love," but it was the girls from Passaic who did it best.

Song of the Day: 'They Don't Know' by Kim Wilde

Admittedly, my love and devotion for Kim Wilde is a tad bit overstated. (Does anyone else listen to "Cambodia" on autorepeat at the gym???) But I don't think many can deny that she does Kirsty MacColl's classic "They Don't Know" justice -- both live at the 2010 tribute show for the late singer/songwriter, as well as in the studio on her "Snapshots" album. Enjoy!

Musical Geography

Heard Sade's "Smooth Operator" over the weekend and it got me thinking about geographical missteps in pop songs. "Coast to coast, L.A. to Chicago" is a classic, along with "New York to East California" in Kim Wilde's "Kids in America" and the famed "South Detroit" in Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

Please put your favorites in the comments -- I'm pretty sure there's an infamous John Denver blooper, which escapes my mind right now!

Song of the Day: 'View From a Bridge' by Kim Wilde

From the get-go, I've been wild about Kim, despite her being slagged off as a Blondie knockoff by none other than Debbie Harry. I'd always thought Kim was a superstar in her native Britain, but only recently did I review the charts and learn that after her smash eponymous debut, most of her releases had fared pretty poorly. (Just four more Top 10 hits in the ensuing 30 years, and zero No. 1's.) On the Continent, however, Kim remained a force to be reckoned with for years -- and even today she is the female David Hasselhoff of Germany.(In fact, her last two LPs were released by Sony Music Germany.) "View From a Bridge" is from her sorely underrated sophomore album, "Select," which never even got released in the U.S. The first single was the haunting "Cambodia," which stalled at No. 12 in the U.K. but topped the charts all over Europe. Its follow-up, "View From a Bridge," hit No. 16 in her homeland, but was a Top 10 hit in Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Australia and Austria. Not too shabby for a song about suicide!