Kim Wilde: Pop Don’t Stop

by Marcel Rijs

Marcel Rijs has followed Kim’s career from the start. In 1996 he started a website about her, which eventually became her official fansite wilde-life.com. He was involved in several compilation CD’s and reissues of Kim’s early albums. After writing the liner notes for Kim’s first three albums, released by Cherry Pop last year, he was inspired to write a full biography. The book came together over the course of a year, with Kim contributing exclusive quotes to tell the story of an astonishing career. Kim first saw success in 1981 with her debut single “Kids in America”, which reached number two in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo artist. In 1986, she had a UK number two hit with a reworked version of the Supremes’ song “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”, which also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. Between 1981 and 1996, she had 25 singles reach the Top 50 of the UK singles chart. Worldwide, Kim has sold over 10 million albums and 20 million singles. 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. A return to music followed, with hit albums in Europe and a triumphant return to live stages all over Europe and in the UK.

568 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2021

Reviews

[Viggo Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Wilde wasn't really on my radar in the 80's. A couple of her songs was in the background of my childhood, but not more than that. I'm sad and ashamed to say that it wasn't until 2018 when 'Here Comes The Aliens' that I really got into her music.
This book is just what a biography of an artist should be! Starting to tell the story even before she was born. Beginning with her father, Marty's childhood. The book goes through her childhood, all her music career, TV, writing, books and more. Each chapter that is about a specific album tells the story of the making of the album, and what else was going on in her life, and ended with going through each song that was on that album.
Spread throughout the book are loads of pictures of her, both on and of stage.
Absolutely loved this book! Highly recommended!!

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als je in het dankwoord genoemd wordt dan krijg je natuurlijk al 5 sterren. Maar Marcel heeft een mooi boek afgeleverd met heel veel inside informatie. Eindelijk een chronolisch verhaal van Kim Wilde die ondanks haar sterrenstatus bij zichzelf blijft en nog steeds meetelt in de popscene.