Editing Kim Wilde

{{Short description|English pop singer (born 1960)}}
{{about|the singer|her debut album|Kim Wilde (album)|the fictional character|Getting On (UK TV series)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = Kim Wilde
| image             = Kim Wilde 2021 (357).jpg
| caption           = Wilde in 2021
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_name        = Kim Smith
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1960|11|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Chiswick]], Middlesex, England
| genre             = {{hlist|class=nowrap|[[Pop music|Pop]]<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kim-wilde-mn0000103447/biography|title=Kim Wilde &#124; Biography |work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>|[[New wave music|new wave]]<ref name="AllMusic"/>|[[hi-NRG]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/teases-dares-mw0000192431 |first= Stewart |last= Mason |title= Kim Wilde – Teases & Dares |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 31 March 2015}}</ref>}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|radio host|DJ}}
| years_active      = 1981–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[RAK Records|RAK]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[EMI Records|EMI]]|[[Sony Music|Columbia SevenOne]]}}
| website           = {{url|kimwilde.com}}
| module            = {{Infobox person |embed=yes |father=[[Marty Wilde]] |relatives=[[Ricky Wilde]] (brother)}}
}}
'''Kim Wilde''' (born '''Kim Smith''', 18 November 1960)<ref>{{cite news |title=Kim Wilde biography |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18818/kim-wilde/ |access-date=4 March 2020 |work=Official Charts Company}}</ref> is an English pop singer. She first gained success in 1981 with her debut single "[[Kids in America]]", which peaked at no. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the [[Brit Award]] for Best British Female solo artist.<ref name="Brits">[http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/kim-wilde BRITs Profile: Kim Wilde] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201105822/http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/kim-wilde |date=1 February 2012 }} Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2012</ref> In 1986, she had a UK no. 2 hit with a reworked version of [[the Supremes]]' song "[[You Keep Me Hangin' On#Kim Wilde version|You Keep Me Hangin' On]]", which also topped the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1987. Between 1981 and 1996, she had 25 singles that charted within the Top 50 of the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Her other hits include "[[Chequered Love]]" (1981), "[[You Came]]" (1988) and "[[Never Trust a Stranger]]" (1988). In 2003, she collaborated with [[Nena]] on the song "[[Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann#Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime|Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime]]", which topped the [[MegaCharts|Dutch]] and [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|Austrian]] charts.

She holds the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the 1980s, with seventeen UK Top 40 hit singles. Starting in 1998, while still active in music, she has branched into an alternative career as a landscape gardener, which has included presenting gardening shows on the [[BBC]] and [[Channel 4]]. In 2005, she won a Gold award for her courtyard garden at the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Chelsea Flower Show]].

==Early life==
[[File:Oakfield-school.jpg|thumb|[[Oakfield Preparatory School]] in Dulwich]]
Wilde was born as Kim Smith in the [[West London]] suburb of [[Chiswick]], the eldest child of 1950s [[rock and roll]]er [[Marty Wilde]] (birth name Reginald Smith) and Joyce Baker, who had been a member of the singing and dancing group [[the Vernons Girls]]. She attended [[Oakfield Preparatory School]], in the [[South East (London sub region)|Southeast London]] area of [[Dulwich]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} When she was nine, the family moved to [[Hertfordshire]], where she was educated at [[Tewin]] and later [[Presdales School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/content/herts-history/towns-and-villages/thundridge/memories-of-thundridge-part-4 |title=Memories of Thundridge - Joan Woolard |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref> In 1980, at age 20, she completed a foundation course at St Albans College of Art & Design. As Kim Wilde, she was signed to [[RAK Records]] by [[Mickie Most]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wilde-life.com/magazines/intro1/index.html|title=The Official Fan Club for Kim Wilde Introductory Booklet, 1981|page=4|website=Wilde-life.com|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210141607/http://www.wilde-life.com/magazines/intro1/index.html|archive-date=10 February 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Music career==
Wilde's first professional singing credit was as a backup singer to her brother [[Ricky Wilde|Ricky]]'s 1972 song "I Am an Astronaut."<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fv03YNsbOEY |title=Kim Wilde - The story of Kids in America [50 fps] [31/01/2012] |date=2022-01-25 |last=WildeTapes |access-date=2024-10-13 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

===RAK years===
Wilde's father Marty and brother, Ricky, were responsible for writing virtually all of her material in the early-to-mid 1980s. Influences on the songwriting process included [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] (OMD), [[Ultravox]], [[John Foxx]], [[Gary Numan]], [[Skids (band)|Skids]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], [[Kraftwerk]] and [[the Stranglers]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Houghton|first=Richard|date=2019|title=OMD: Pretending to See the Future|edition=expanded paperback|publisher=This Day in Music Books|page=454|isbn=978-1-9161156-2-0|quote=[Ricky Wilde:] Andy [McCluskey, of OMD] appeared from nowhere and sat next to me, and I finally thanked him for all the inspiration. Who knows where Kim and I would be now.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-behind-the-song-kids-in-america-by-kim-wilde|title=The story behind the song: Kids in America by Kim Wilde|last=Edwards|first=Briony|date=20 February 2018|website=Louder|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> Wilde released her debut single "[[Kids in America]]" in January 1981. An instant success, it reached no. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and scaled the top five in Germany, France and Australia.<ref>David Kent (1993) Australian Chart Book 1970–1992, Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W.</ref> Although it achieved only moderate success in the US, peaking at no. 25 when released in 1982, it is often regarded today as Wilde's [[List of signature songs|signature song]]. Her debut studio album ''[[Kim Wilde (album)|Kim Wilde]]'' (1981) repeated the success of the single, spawning two further hits in "[[Chequered Love]]" (Top 5 in the UK, France, Australia and Germany) and the UK-only single "[[Water on Glass]]" (UK No. 11).

Wilde's follow-up album was 1982's ''[[Select (album)|Select]]'', led by the hit singles "[[Cambodia (song)|Cambodia]]" and "[[View from a Bridge]]". Both were no. 1 hits in France and reached the top ten in Germany and Australia. At the time, there was some controversy about Wilde's hesitation to do live concerts.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/1981/kim-wilde-taking-different-route-to-top Kim Wilde taking different route to top : Word-of-mouth, Personal Promotions, Not Live Shows build sales] Billboard (US), 19 September 1981</ref> Her first concerts in September 1982 took place in Denmark,<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/1982/1200-wild-wilde-friends 1200 Wild Wilde-friends] Sjællands Tidende (Denmark), 11 September 1982</ref> before embarking on a UK-wide tour in October.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/1982/finally-kim-on-tour Finally: Kim on tour] Veronica (Netherlands), 2 October 1982</ref> Wilde's third studio album, ''[[Catch as Catch Can (album)|Catch as Catch Can]]'' (1983) was a relative commercial failure.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} The first single from the album, "[[Love Blonde]]", was another success in France and Scandinavia, but failed to have major success in other countries. The failure of the album led to her leaving RAK and signing with [[MCA Records]] in the summer of 1984.<ref>[https://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/w/wilde-kim"Wilde, Kim"] Retrieved 11 August 2015</ref>

===MCA years===
Wilde's first album for MCA ''[[Teases & Dares]]'' (1984) was again overlooked in her home country,{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} but fared better in Germany, France and Scandinavia as well as scoring another German Top 10 single with "[[The Second Time]]" (which was Top 30 in the UK). The video for this song appeared in an episode of the 1980s TV hit ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'' in 1985.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/knight-rider Knight rider] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003042511/http://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/knight-rider |date=3 October 2011 }} Wilde Life - Official Kim Wilde Fansite</ref> The second single, "[[The Touch (Kim Wilde song)|The Touch]]", was not a commercial success, but the third single, the [[rockabilly]] "[[Rage to Love]]" (the video for which features a cameo appearance by [[Justin Hayward]], guitarist and frontman of [[the Moody Blues]]) made the UK top 20 in 1985. On ''Teases & Dares'', Wilde made her first songwriting contributions, penning two songs. Meanwhile, she had embarked on three European concert tours (1983, 1985 and 1986).{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

On her fifth studio album, 1986's ''[[Another Step]]'', Wilde wrote or co-wrote most of the songs. The album's lead single "[[Schoolgirl (song)|Schoolgirl]]" flopped in Europe and Australia, but Wilde's fortunes improved in spectacular fashion with the album's second single, a [[Hi-NRG]] remake of [[the Supremes]] classic "[[You Keep Me Hangin' On#Kim Wilde version|You Keep Me Hangin' On]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/another-step-r58345/review|title=Another Step-Kim Wilde |work=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> After topping the charts in Australia and Canada and peaking at No. 2 in the UK, it became a US No. 1 single in 1987. With that hit, she became the fifth UK female solo artist ever to top the US Hot 100, following [[Petula Clark]], [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], [[Sheena Easton]], and [[Bonnie Tyler]].<ref name="BBCAmerica">[http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/23/anglophenia.jsp?bc_id=987 Leona Lewis, First UK Woman In 21 Years To Top Billboard Hot 100] BBC America, 27 March 2008</ref> Her popularity, especially in her native UK, was revitalised and she scored further Top 10 hits in 1987 with "[[Another Step (Closer to You)]]" (recorded with [[Junior Giscombe|Junior]]) and "[[Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree]]" (a [[Comic Relief]] charity single, recorded with comedian [[Mel Smith]]).

In 1988, Wilde released her biggest selling album to date,{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} ''[[Close (Kim Wilde album)|Close]]'', which returned her to the UK top 10 and spent almost eight months on the UK album chart. It produced four major European hits: "[[Hey Mister Heartache]]", "[[You Came]]", "[[Never Trust a Stranger]]" and "[[Four Letter Word (Kim Wilde song)|Four Letter Word]]" (the last 3 were Top 10 hits in the UK). The release of the album coincided with a tour of Europe, where she was the opening act for [[Michael Jackson]]'s [[Bad (tour)|Bad World Tour]].<ref name="laut">{{cite web|url=http://www.laut.de/Kim-Wilde |title=Kim Wilde |language=de |work=laut.de |publisher=Laut AG |access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref> Wilde released her next studio album, ''[[Love Moves]]'', in 1990. The album barely made the UK Top 40, and, although it was a Top 10 success in Scandinavian countries, it failed to sell as well as its predecessor and only spawned two minor hits, "[[It's Here]]" a Top 20 success in Middle and Northern Europe as well as "[[Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love)]]", her last Top 20 hit in France. She toured Europe again as the opening act for [[David Bowie]].<ref name="laut" />

A collaboration with [[Rick Nowels]], who had produced hits for [[Stevie Nicks]] and [[Belinda Carlisle]], resulted in the guitar-driven pop of the single "[[Love Is Holy]]" and the album ''[[Love Is (Kim Wilde album)|Love Is]]'' (1992). The album's success was again limited to a small number of countries, though the single became another Top 20 hit in the UK,<ref name="OOC1992">{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/1992/ |title=Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive: 1992 |work=[[UK Singles Charts|Official charts]] |access-date=20 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528135133/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/1992 |archive-date=28 May 2011 }}</ref> and the second single ("[[Heart over Mind (Kim Wilde song)|Heart over Mind]]") also made the Top 40.<ref name="OOC1992" /> In 1993, she released her first official compilation album ''[[The Singles Collection 1981–1993]]'', which was a success throughout Europe and Australia and the dancefloor-influenced single "[[If I Can't Have You (Bee Gees song)|If I Can't Have You]]" (a cover of the [[Yvonne Elliman]] song from the film ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' that was penned by the [[Bee Gees]]), became her last UK Top 20 Hit as well as a No. 3 hit in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kim+Wilde&titel=If+I+Can%27t+Have+You&cat=s |title=Kim Wilde – If I Can't Have You (song) |website=Australian-charts.com |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref>

Wilde embarked on a huge "Greatest Hits" concert tour through Europe in 1994 and also toured Australia and Japan for the first time in six years.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Her next studio album, ''[[Now & Forever (Kim Wilde album)|Now & Forever]]'' (1995), was a commercial failure worldwide.<ref name="laut" /> Her single "[[Breakin' Away (song)|Breakin' Away]]", however, was a minor hit, and the follow-up, "[[This I Swear (Kim Wilde song)|This I Swear]]", was also a minor hit in Europe.<ref name="musicline-singles">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/WILDE%2C+KIM/single |title=Chartverfolgung / WILDE, KIM / Single |language=de |website=Musicline.de |publisher=PHONONET GmbH |access-date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129094100/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/WILDE,+KIM/single |archive-date=29 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She released the single "[[Shame (Evelyn "Champagne" King song)#Kim Wilde version|Shame]]" in 1996, an [[Evelyn "Champagne" King]] cover.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kim-Wilde-Shame/master/50678 |title=Kim Wilde – Shame |work=[[Discogs]] |year=1996 |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref> From February 1996 to February 1997, Wilde appeared in [[London]]'s [[West End theatre|West End]] production of the [[rock musical]], ''[[The Who's Tommy|Tommy]]''.<ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.swr.de/swr1/rp/programm/leute/-/id=446530/nid=446530/did=2703898/1y66e4l/index.html |title=Kim Wilde |series=Leute |language=de |network=[[Südwestrundfunk]] |station=SWR1 |airdate=1 November 2007 |access-date=20 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018221204/http://www.swr.de/swr1/rp/programm/leute/-/id%3D446530/nid%3D446530/did%3D2703898/1y66e4l/index.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 }}</ref>

===Return to pop===
[[file:Kim Wilde 2014.jpg|thumb|right|Wilde performing live at [[Let's Rock (festival)|Let's Rock]] [[Bristol]] in 2014]]
Since November 2001, Wilde has toured the UK three times (and once in Australia during 2003) as part of the [[Here and Now Tour]], an Eighties revival concert series, together with artists such as [[Paul Young]], [[the Human League]], [[Belinda Carlisle]], [[Howard Jones (British musician)|Howard Jones]] and [[Five Star]]. New recordings also followed; in 2001, she recorded a new track, "[[Loved (song)|Loved]]", for a [[compilation album]] which became a surprise hit in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Kim+Wilde&titel=Loved&cat=s |title=Kim Wilde – Loved (song) |website=Ultratop.be |publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref> She recorded the single "Born to be Wild" in 2002, and in summer of 2003 she had a major hit with "[[Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann#Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime|Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime]]", a [[duet]] with German pop star [[Nena]]. The single was a Top 10 hit in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/anyplace-anywhere-anytime Anyplace, anywhere, anytime] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003042815/http://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/anyplace-anywhere-anytime |date=3 October 2011 }} Wilde Life  - Official Kim Wilde Fansite</ref>

In 2006, Wilde signed a new [[recording contract]] with EMI Germany and released the first single from her tenth studio album in many countries across Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. "[[You Came#2006 version|You Came 2006]]" charted Top 20 in most of these countries and became her biggest solo hit in Germany since 1988.<ref name="musicline-singles" /> The album ''[[Never Say Never (Kim Wilde album)|Never Say Never]]'' included eight new tracks plus five re-worked previous hits and has charted in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The second single from the album, which was voted for by fans on her official website was "[[Perfect Girl]]", released in November 2006 and spent nine weeks on the German Top 100 singles chart.<ref name="musicline-singles" /> A third single, "[[Together We Belong]]", was released in March 2007 and a fourth single, "Baby Obey Me", was released in Germany as a remix featuring German rapper Ill Inspecta.<ref>{{cite web|url={{allmusic|id=r1290829 |class=album|pure_url=yes}} |title=Baby Obey Me – Kim Wilde |work=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref>

Since 2003, Wilde has appeared on numerous festival bills and concerts all over Europe with her own band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilde-life.com/discography/concerts |title=Listing of Kim Wilde Concerts |access-date=22 October 2016}}</ref> In early September 2009, a brand new single, "Run to You", recorded as a duet with Swedish rock band [[Fibes, Oh Fibes!]], was released in Sweden. The song reached the Swedish Top 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fibes%2C+Oh+Fibes!+with+Kim+Wilde&titel=Run+To+You&cat=s |title=Fibes, Oh Fibes! with Kim Wilde - Run to You (song) |website=Swedishcharts.com |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref>

In 2010, Wilde signed a new recording contract with [[Sony Music|Sony Music Germany]]. The label released her eleventh studio album, ''[[Come Out and Play (Kim Wilde album)|Come Out and Play]]'' on 17 August,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kim-Wilde-Come-Out-And-Play/release/2418958 |title=Kim Wilde – Come Out And Play  |work=[[Discogs]] |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref> with "Lights Down Low" preceding that as lead single.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kim-Wilde-Lights-Down-Low/release/2403176 |title=Kim Wilde – Lights Down Low |work=[[Discogs]] |date=13 August 2010 |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref> The album peaked at No. 10 in Germany<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/WILDE%2C+KIM/?type=longplay |title=Chartverfolgung / WILDE, KIM / Longplay |language=de |website=Musicline.de |publisher=PHONONET GmbH |access-date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829105242/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/WILDE%2C+KIM/?type=longplay |archive-date=29 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was followed by a tour in Europe in February and March 2011.

[[File:Kim Wilde 2021 (328).jpg|thumb|right|Wilde performing live at [[Let's Rock (festival)|Let's Rock]] [[Liverpool]], 31 July 2021]]

Wilde released her next studio album, ''[[Wilde Winter Songbook]]'' in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wilde-life.com/news/2012/kim-dj-bobo-collaborate-new-album-in-2013 |title=Kim & DJ Bobo collaborate; new album in 2013 |publisher=Wilde Life |date=11 November 2012 |access-date=27 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001055118/http://www.wilde-life.com/news/2012/kim-dj-bobo-collaborate-new-album-in-2013 |archive-date=1 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 18 December 2017, Wilde released a Christmas single with [[Lawnmower Deth]] titled ''"[[F U Kristmas!]]"''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/music-nightlife/can-kim-wildes-anti-christmas-884611 |title=Can Kim Wilde's anti-Christmas duet with Nottingham thrash metal band top the charts? |date=6 December 2017 |access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> Wilde released her fourteenth studio album ''[[Here Come the Aliens]]'' on 16 March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kimwilde.com/news/here-come-aliens-released|title='Here Come The Aliens' released!|date=16 March 2018|website=Kimwilde.com}}</ref> It was inspired by an encounter with a [[Unidentified flying object|UFO]] she had in 2009. While sitting in her [[garden]] with her husband and a friend, they noticed something odd about the sky and experienced an eerie silence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-04|title=Kim Wilde: 'Maybe aliens are using me to put out a record with them on it'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/04/kim-wilde-maybe-aliens-are-using-me-to-put-out-a-record-with-them-on-it|access-date=2021-10-07|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-09|title=Kim Wilde Q&A: "If I'd never been outside, I'd never have seen the UFOs"|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2018/05/kim-wilde-qa-if-i-d-never-been-outside-i-d-never-have-seen-ufos|access-date=2021-10-07|website=New Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-03-22|title=Kim Wilde says aliens inspired her pop comeback|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43485454|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> They observed a huge bright light behind a cloud. Being curious she walked down the grass to track the source of the light and what she noticed was that the light was swiftly moving back and forth. She thought about it every day and it gave her the idea for her new album.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43485454|title=Kim Wilde on aliens and her pop comeback|last=Savage|first=Mark|date=2018-03-22|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-03-26|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In May 2021, Wilde confirmed she would celebrate 40 years of music with the release of a [[box set]] greatest hits album titled, ''[[Pop Don't Stop: Greatest Hits]]''. The album was released in August 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/kim-wilde-pop-dont-stop-greatest-hits-box-sets/|title=Kim Wilde unveils massive ''Pop Don't Stop – Greatest Hits'' box set|website=retropopmagazine|date=15 May 2021|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

==Impact and recognition==
[[file:Kim-wilde-ebw-06.jpg|thumb|right|Wilde performing in 2007]]
Wilde holds the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the 1980s, with seventeen UK Top 40 hit singles throughout the decade (including her duets with Junior Giscombe and Mel Smith).<ref>[https://www.scotsman.com/news/interview-kim-wilde-1-4703006 "Interview: Kim Wilde"]. The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 February 2019</ref>

A number of artists have performed covers of Kim Wilde songs, ranging from pop and rock to dance and [[death metal]] versions. On 16 February 1991, then [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] drummer [[Dave Grohl]] recorded a version of "[[Kids in America]]" in an [[Arlington County, Virginia]] basement studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stitchesandgrooves.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/foo-fighters-songs-from-the-laundry-room-10-record-store-day-2015/foo-fighters-songs-from-the-laundry-room-inlay-2/|title=Foo Fighters – Songs From The Laundry Room inlay 2|date=9 May 2015|website=Stitchesandgrooves.wordpress.com|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref> It is the third track on the rare 2015 "[[Songs from the Laundry Room]]" [[Foo Fighters]] EP, a clip of which plays during the credit roll of the [[Seattle, Washington]] episode of Grohl's [[Sonic Highways]] [[documentary]] TV series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foofighterslive.com/2014/11/seattle-episode-of-sonic-highways-reveals-new-dave-grohl-demo-snippets/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407080553/http://www.foofighterslive.com/2014/11/seattle-episode-of-sonic-highways-reveals-new-dave-grohl-demo-snippets/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2016|title=FooFightersLive.com|date=7 April 2016|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref> American pop star [[Tiffany Darwish|Tiffany]] recorded a version of "Kids in America" in 2007 for her album ''[[I Think We're Alone Now: '80s Hits and More]]''. German [[eurodance]] act [[Cascada]], recorded a version of "Kids in America", on their ''[[Everytime We Touch (album)|Everytime We Touch]]'' album in 2007.

Wilde has provided inspiration for other artists, including [[Charlotte Hatherley]], who wrote a song about her entitled "Kim Wilde", and included it on her debut album, ''[[Grey Will Fade]]''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jack |last=Smith |title=Review: ''Charlotte Hatherley Grey Will Fade'' |date=13 August 2004 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/hb25 |work=[[BBC]] |access-date=5 Mar 2011}}</ref> East German punk rock band [[Feeling B]] also recorded a song called "Kim Wilde", which featured on their debut album, ''[[Hea Hoa Hoa Hea Hea Hoa]]'' (1989). In 1985, French singer [[Laurent Voulzy]] paid tribute to Wilde in his song "[[Les Nuits Sans Kim Wilde]]" ("The Nights without Kim Wilde").<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.parismatch.com/Culture/Musique/Laurent-Voulzy-et-Kim-Wilde-une-histoire-sans-fin-155082|title=Laurent Voulzy et Kim Wilde: une histoire sans fin|access-date=2017-10-12|language=fr}}</ref> In her graphic novel ''[[Persepolis (comics)|Persepolis]]'', Iranian cartoonist [[Marjane Satrapi]] has a comic strip titled ''Kim Wilde''. In it the main character Marji, a young Iranian girl, sings "Kids in America" in the streets of the Iranian capital. Also, when her parents go on holiday in Turkey, they buy a poster of Wilde and smuggle it into [[Tehran]] for Marji. Marji pins the poster on her bedroom's wall and practises emulating Wilde.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9v9cj7uGZucC&q=persepolis+kim+wilde&pg=PA21 |title=Without Boundary: Seventeen Ways of Looking |first1=Fereshteh |last1=Daftari|first2= Homi K. |last2=Bhabha |first3=Orhan |last3=Pamuk |year=2006 |author-link2=Homi K. Bhabha |author-link3=Orhan Pamuk|publisher=[[Museum of Modern Art]] |isbn=978-0-87070-085-9|page=21}}</ref>

==Gardening career==
During her first [[pregnancy]], an old interest in gardening resurfaced and she attended [[Capel Manor College]] to learn about [[horticulture]], so as to create a garden for her children. As a celebrity, she was asked by [[Channel 4]] to act as a designer for their programme ''Better Gardens''.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2000/former-pop-star-and-better-gardens-presenter-kim-wilde-is-photographed-in-the-grounds- Former pop star and 'Better Gardens' presenter Kim Wilde is photographed in the grounds of Capel Manor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003042837/http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2000/former-pop-star-and-better-gardens-presenter-kim-wilde-is-photographed-in-the-grounds- |date=3 October 2011 }} OK! (UK), 26 May 2000</ref> A year later, she started a two-year commitment with the [[BBC]], recording two series of ''Garden Invaders''.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/news/2001/kim-invades-your-garden-starting-april-30th Kim invades your garden starting 30 April!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208013341/http://www.wilde-life.com/news/2001/kim-invades-your-garden-starting-april-30th |date=8 February 2011 }} Wilde Life - Official Kim Wilde Fansite, 5 May 2001</ref>

In 2001, she (along with fellow horticulturist David Fountain) created the "All About Alice" garden for the Tatton Flower Show and was awarded the 'Best Show Garden' award.<ref>[http://www.kimwildegardens.com/gardens/01304/ All about Alice] Kim Wilde Gardens {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429205904/http://www.kimwildegardens.com/gardens/01304/ |date=29 April 2007 }}</ref> In 2005, she won a Gold award for her courtyard garden at the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Chelsea Flower Show]].<ref name="Chelsea">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4574989.stm Singer Kim Wilde wins garden gold] BBC News, 24 May 2005</ref> She has designed and created numerous gardens during her involvement in the ''Better Gardens'' and ''Garden Invaders'' TV programmes and commissioned by individuals and organisations. She has also created gardens for flower shows across the UK. In 2001 she was involved in setting a world record for the largest tree transplantation, when a {{convert|58|ft|m|order=flip}} [[Platanus × hispanica|London plane]] was moved from Belgium to a development site in [[Warrington]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/the-houses-that-green-fingers-built-5366564.html |title=The houses that green fingers built |first=Ginetta |last=Vedrickas |date=27 January 2001 |access-date=6 May 2020 |newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> After standing in its new location for six years, however, the tree was toppled by [[Cyclone Kyrill]] in January 2007.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2007/blown-away Blown away] ''This is Cheshire'' (UK), 25 January 2007</ref>

===Publications===
Wilde has written two books as part of her gardening career. The first, ''Gardening with Children'', was released on 4 April 2005 by [[HarperCollins|Collins]] publishers.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Wilde| first = Kim| title = Gardening with Children| publisher = [[HarperCollins|Collins]]| date = 4 April 2005| location = UK| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DE81AgAACAAJ&q=gardening+with+children| isbn = 978-0-00-719311-0 }}</ref> Translations of the book were released at the same time in Spain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, and later in Germany.<ref>{{DNB portal|982385757|TYP=}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Her second book, ''The First-Time Gardener'', was released on 3 April 2006 (again by Collins), and is a beginner's guide to gardening.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kim Wilde|title=The First-Time Gardener|date=2006|publisher=[[HarperCollins|Collins]]|isbn=978-0-00-720682-7}}</ref>

==TV and radio==
Wilde broadened her [[Environmentally friendly|eco-friendly]] image by taking on advertising jobs for various 'green' companies. For two years, she featured on advertisements for the highstreet [[health food store|health food shop]] [[Holland & Barrett]]. She wrote [[infomercial]]s for [[Bold (detergent)|Bold]]<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2004/bold-2in1-launches-new-lavender-camomile Bold 2in1 launches new Lavender & Camomile] Procter & Gamble press release, Wilde Life (UK), 23 August 2004</ref> and [[Timotei]],<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2005/kim-shining-as-timoteis-golden-oldie "Kim shining as Timotei's golden oldie"], ''Express & Star'', 11 May 2005</ref> and in 2008, she started advertising 'green kitchens' for [[Magnet Kitchens|Magnet]].<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2008/kim-wilde-to-front-magnet-green-kitchen-drive Kim Wilde to front Magnet 'green kitchen' drive] Brand Republic (UK), 12 March 2008</ref> In 2019, [[Cadbury]] featured Wilde in one of their 30 second TV commercials for their Darkmilk chocolate bar campaign, set in a horticultural setting.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Selwood|first=Daniel|title=Cadbury enlists Kim Wilde and Jason Donovan for Darkmilk ads|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/marketing/cadbury-enlists-kim-wilde-and-jason-donovan-for-darkmilk-ads/592596.article|date=2019-04-18|access-date=2021-10-05|website=The Grocer|language=en}}</ref>

===Radio===
Wilde presented ''Secret Songs'' on [[Magic (UK radio station)|Magic 105.4]] every Sunday between 10{{nbsp}}am and 1{{nbsp}}pm.{{when?|date=April 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|title=About Kim|url=http://www.magic.co.uk/on-air/secret-songs/|publisher=Magic 105.4 FM|access-date=29 September 2013}}</ref> It later became ''The Request Show''. In 2021, Wilde joined [[Ireland's Classic Hits Radio]], presenting ''The Kim Wilde 80's Show'' which airs in the evenings, four days a week.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-20|title=Eighties popstar Kim Wilde joins Classic Hits for an evening retro show|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40725660.html|access-date=2021-11-16|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On 1 September 1996, Wilde married her co-star in ''[[The Who's Tommy#Productions|Tommy]]'', Hal Fowler, and expressed a desire to have children as soon as possible.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/1996/here-kims-the-bride "Here Kims the bride"] ''Daily Mirror'' (UK), 2 September 1996.</ref> On 3 January 1998 she gave birth to Harry Tristan, who is now a guitarist in the [[alternative rock]] band, [[Wunderhorse]].<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/1998/kim-wilde-gets-a-son "Kim Wilde gets a son] Haagsche Courant (Netherlands)", 5 January 1998</ref> On 13 January 2000, Rose Elisabeth was born.<ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2000/kims-latest-wilde-child "Kim's latest Wilde child"], ''Daily Mirror'', 15 January 2000</ref><ref>[http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2000/kim-wilde-the-former-pop-star-and-her-actor-husband-hal-introduce-new-baby-rose-at-the "Kim Wilde, the former pop star and her actor husband Hal introduce new baby Rose at their home in Hertfordshire"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614113730/http://www.wilde-life.com/articles/2000/kim-wilde-the-former-pop-star-and-her-actor-husband-hal-introduce-new-baby-rose-at-the |date=14 June 2011 }}, ''OK!'' (UK), 18 February 2000.</ref> They announced their separation and subsequent divorce via a statement on Twitter on 21 December 2022.<ref>[https://twitter.com/kimwilde/status/1605683878253010945 "Twitter Statement"]</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Kim Wilde discography}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}

===Studio albums===
*''[[Kim Wilde (album)|Kim Wilde]]'' (1981)
*''[[Select (album)|Select]]'' (1982)
*''[[Catch as Catch Can (album)|Catch as Catch Can]]'' (1983)
*''[[Teases & Dares]]'' (1984)
*''[[Another Step]]'' (1986)
*''[[Close (Kim Wilde album)|Close]]'' (1988)
*''[[Love Moves]]'' (1990)
*''[[Love Is (Kim Wilde album)|Love Is]]'' (1992)
*''[[Now & Forever (Kim Wilde album)|Now & Forever]]'' (1995)
*''[[Never Say Never (Kim Wilde album)|Never Say Never]]'' (2006)
*''[[Come Out and Play (Kim Wilde album)|Come Out and Play]]'' (2010)
*''[[Snapshots (Kim Wilde album)|Snapshots]]'' (2011)
*''[[Wilde Winter Songbook]]'' (2013)
*''[[Here Come the Aliens]]'' (2018)
*''[[Closer (Kim Wilde album)|Closer]]'' (2025)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/kim-wilde-shares-new-single-trail-of-destruction-tracklist-for-closer-album/|title=Kim Wilde shares new single Trail of Destruction, tracklist for ''Closer'' album|magazine=Retropop|last=Gotto|first=Connor|date=23 August 2024|access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>
{{col-break}}

===Compilations and other albums===
*''[[The Very Best of Kim Wilde (1984 album)|The Very Best of Kim Wilde]]'' (1984)
*''[[The Singles Collection 1981–1993]]'' (1993)
*''[[The Remix Collection (Kim Wilde album)|The Remix Collection]]'' (1993)
*''[[The Very Best of Kim Wilde (2001 album)|The Very Best of Kim Wilde]]'' (2001)
*''[[The Hits Collection (Kim Wilde album)|The Hits Collection]]'' (2006)
*''[[Pop Don't Stop: Greatest Hits]]'' (2021)
{{col-end}}

==Awards==
*1996 RSH-GOLD Female Classic of 1995 (Germany)
*1993 [[Bambi Award]] for "The Singles Collection" (Germany)
*1990 Diamond Award (Netherlands)
*1988 European Platinum Award as female singer who sold the most records across Europe (she shared this award with equally successful 80s singer [[Sandra Cretu|Sandra]]){{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
*1984 Golden Otto Best Singer (Germany)
*1983 Silver Otto Second Best Singer (Germany)
*1982 Silver Otto Second Best Singer (Germany)
*1981 Golden Otto Best Singer (Germany)
*1981 [[Rockbjörnen]] – Best female singer (Sweden)

'''Billboard Music Awards'''
{{award table}}
!Ref.
|-
| 1985
| rowspan=4|Herself
| Top Pop Singles Artist – Female
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=1985+year+in+music+billboard&pg=PT101 | title=Billboard | date=28 December 1985 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=6|1987
| Top Pop Singles Artist
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=6|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=1987+year+in+music&pg=RA1-PA21 | title=Billboard | date=26 December 1987 }}</ref>
|-
| Top Pop Album Artist – Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Dance Sales Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|"[[You Keep Me Hangin' On#Kim Wilde version|You Keep Me Hangin' On]]"
| Top Pop Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Hot Crossover Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Dance Sales 12' Single
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

'''Brit Awards'''
{{award table}}
!Ref.
|-
| [[Brit Awards 1983|1983]]
| rowspan=4|Herself
| rowspan=4|[[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|British Female Solo Artist]]
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1983|title=History : 1983|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Brit Awards 1985|1985]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1985|title=History : 1985|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Brit Awards 1987|1987]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|title=History : 1987|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Brit Awards 1988|1988]]
| {{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1988|title=History : 1988|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
{{end}}

'''Classic Pop Reader Awards'''
{{award table}}
|-
| rowspan=3|2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/01/2018-reader-awards/|title=There's still time to vote in our 2018 Reader Awards!|date=2 January 2019|website=Classicpopmag.com|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124170123/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/01/2018-reader-awards/|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rowspan=2|Herself
| Artist of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| Live Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| "Kandy Krush"
| Single of the Year
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

'''Smash Hits Poll Winners Party'''
{{award table}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1981<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1981-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1981|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref>
| rowspan=18|Herself
| Best Female Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Most Fanciable Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1982<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1982-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1982|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Best Female Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1983<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1983-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1983|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Most Fanciable Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1984<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1984-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1984|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Best Female Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1985<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1985-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1985|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|Most Fanciable Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1986<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1986-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1986|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|1987<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1987-poll-winners|title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1987|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-date=24 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824002309/http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1987-poll-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Female Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Best Female Solo Singer
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1988<ref>[http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1988-poll-winners] {{dead link|date=May 2019}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|Most Fanciable Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1989<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1989-poll-winners|title=Articles On Smash Hits|website=Smash Hits Magazine Remembered|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721192448/http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/1989-poll-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Female Solo Singer
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

==Bibliography==
*''Gardening with Children'' (2005)
*''The First-Time Gardener'' (2006)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{Official website|http://www.kimwilde.com/}}
* {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=mn0000103447}}
* {{Discogs artist|71081-Kim-Wilde}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0928463|name=Kim Wilde}}

{{Kim Wilde}}
{{Brit British Female}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilde, Kim}}
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