Kids in America (Kim Wilde song)

Infobox Single
Name = Kids in America


Artist = Kim Wilde
from Album = Kim Wilde
B-side = "Tuning In, Tuning On"
Released = January 26th, 1981 (U.K.),
1982 (U.S.)
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = 1980
Genre = Pop, New Wave, Rock
Length = 3:24
Label = RAK
Writer = Marty Wilde, Ricky Wilde
Producer = Ricky Wilde
Certification =
Last single =
This single = "Kids in America"
(1981)
Next single = "Chequered Love"
(1981)

"Kids in America" is a song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in 1981, and in the US in 1982.

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. 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.

1994 version

"Kids in America 1994" was released in 1994 in order to help promote Wilde's compilation album "The Singles Collection 1981-1993". 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.

Reaction

It was an immediate hit, peaking at number two on the UK singles chart, and repeating that success all around the world. The following year it became a Top 30 hit in the US. In the summer of 1981, the track appeared on Wilde's self-titled debut album.

The new wave-flavoured song has since become a pop classic and was the start of a highly successful career for Wilde, in which she would become the highest-selling and most charted British female soloist of the 1980s. 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

7" (UK) RAK 327

A. Kids In America (3:26)

B. Tuning In Tuning On (4:30)

12" (Germany)

A. Kids In America (3:26)

B. Tuning In Tuning On (4:30)

Chart performance

Infobox Single
Name = Kids in America 1994


Artist = Kim Wilde
from Album =
B-side =
Released = 1994
Format = 12", CD-single
Recorded =
Genre = Pop
Length =
Label = MCA
Writer = Ricky Wilde, Marty Wilde
Producer = Ricky Wilde
Certification =
Last single = "In My Life"
(1993)
This single = "Kids in America 1994"
(1994)
Next single = "Breakin' Away"
(1995)

Covers

Covers in film and television

*It was featured in the 1984 film, "Reckless", staring Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah.
*The Muffs covered the song for Amy Heckerling's 1995 film "Clueless". This version is featured in the video game "Rock Band 2"
*Len covered the song for "" in 2000
*The Mandrakes covered it for the film "Purgatory House"
*No Secrets covered it for the film ""
*The most recent incarnation of the song, recorded in 2006, is a rewritten version by the Jonas Brothers entitled "Kids of the Future", for Disney's animated feature "Meet the Robinsons". The song is the first single from the "Meet the Robinsons Soundtrack". The newly written lyrics specifically reference the characters and events of the film.
*Angel Faith sang lead on their version, the music video for which was commonly featured on commercial breaks on Nickelodeon. On Nickelodeon's weekly music video choice, it was often voted number one.
*The Donnas covered the song during the end credits of the film "Nancy Drew" starring Emma Roberts.

Other covers

*American Juniors
*Atomic Kitten
*Beat Crusaders
*Bloodhound Gang
*The Bouncing Souls
*Bus Station Loonies
*Catch 22
*Cascada
*Eläkeläiset (in Finnish as "Heil Humppa")
*Harvard Din & Tonics
*Charlotte Hatherley
*Kim-Lian
*Lawnmower Deth
*Naked Aggression
*Nirvana
*NOFX
*No Secrets
*Orange Sector
*Pennywise
*Sex Appeal
*The Muffs
*Tiktak (in Finnish as "Kaupungin lapset")
*Tiffany
*Toy Dolls
*Sarah Walker
*Wynona Riders
*The Young Knives
*Alvin and the Chipmunks

Non TV covers

It was featured in the 2002 PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC videogame "" as part of the New Wave radio station Wave 103.

It also featured in the 2004 videogame, "Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME", along with its music video as a fully playable song.

And was featured as well in the 2008 Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii videogame "Rock Band 2" with the interpretation of The Muffs as a track to which the players can simulate the instruments e.g. drums, Guitar, Bass, Microphone(Vocals).

The song was featured in an "American Idol" Season 5 Ford commercial.