First Love Never Dies
British pop singer Kim Wilde may no longer be a household name, but if you lived in Europe in the 1980s, you probably knew her from her frequent appearances in the charts. I still remember seeing Kim Wilde for the first time in one of these cheesy TV shows where singers lip-synced, and musicians played with their instruments unplugged. But I loved her voice and looks, and my instant crush lasted for several years.
Music tastes change with age, and while I regret not seeing her live when she toured Munich in the 80s, I lost track of her work. Today, Kim Wilde is 63 years old and released a brand new song, “Trail of Destruction,” last Friday. I assume she does not have to prove anything to anybody anymore so she could have gone all serious and, for example, released an album full of quiet piano ballads. But no! While she does pack a more profound message into the lyrics, the music is the same exuberant pop production I remember her for. Her voice has not changed much, and you could imagine her performing in front of black-clad synth-poppers behind three-tiered keyboard stands. Kudos for standing so firmly behind your past. And it must have been a lot of fun to record this song: like much of Kim Wilde’s productions, this one is also a family affair and includes her brother Ricky and niece Scarlett in the writing credits. All excellent reasons to look forward to Kim Wilde’s new album Closer, out early next year.
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Oliver’s Notes
Kim Wilde is not the only musician who started in the 80s but still releases new music. Just today, Matt Johnson, mastermind of The The, put out a new song, “Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake.” It is heavier and not as danceable as his 80s hits, but you immediately get the characteristic vibe. Two of my favorite albums in the 80s came from Manchester’s post-punk band The Chameleons. They released three new songs this May, and while Mark Burgess’s voice may have lost some of its roar, the music still hits you with full force. Everybody’s 80s indie darlings, Tears For Fearsreleased their last new music already in 2021, but The Tipping Point, so elegantly refreshes their previous work, that it has to be mentioned here. With 15 albums released, London synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boyscan call any decade since the 80s their home. They do not bother much with changing their sound but churn out one infectious hit after the other. And it works.
Song Pick of the Day
Listen to/watch all seven songs on YouTube. Follow our daily updated playlists on YouTube and Spotify for the 50 latest Song Pick of the Day features or subscribe here to receive them into your mailbox in real-time. Thank you for following us and sharing the excitement.
- Damndest - My Heaven
- Tanukichan - It Gets Easier (ft. Wisp)
- Andie Loren - Hearts Grow Wide
- Red Ribbon - Crying My Car
New Albums Out This Week
Sophie Lindinger and Marco Kleebauer have been making music together as Leyya in Austria since 2010. Their third album Half Asleep is more than 46 minutes long, but the 16 eclectic pop songs keep you engaged until the end.
Why Bonnie, the Brooklyn-via-Texas project of Blair Howerton, releases the second album Wish on the Bone. Four singles are already out, ranging from pop over indie rock to something close to country. It is a joyful listen, so we’re curious about the entire album tomorrow.