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"Wild, Wild West" is a song by British pop rock band the Escape Club from their debut studio album, Wild Wild West (1988). The single reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of 12 November 1988, making the Escape Club the only British artist to have a No. 1 hit in the United States while never charting in the UK.

"Wild, Wild West"
Single by the Escape Club
from the album Wild Wild West
B-side"We Can Run"
Released1988
Length
  • 5:44
  • 3:59 (7-inch version)
  • 7:54 (12-inch version)
LabelEMI, Atlantic
Songwriter(s)The Escape Club
Producer(s)Chris Kimsey
The Escape Club singles chronology
"Wild, Wild West"
(1988)		 "Shake for the Sheik"
(1988)
Music video
"Wild, Wild West" on YouTube

Background


Singer Trevor Steel said,

John had heard a Run-DMC track on the TV the previous night and rushed upstairs to put a hip-hop drum beat onto his drum machine. The journey to the drum machine doubled the speed though and when I came round to see him the next morning and started singing over it, it turned into "Wild Wild West". I think we wrote that song in the space of two hours. It was originally going to be three minutes long and the extended section with the rap was only meant for the 12" single. We loved it so much full length though that we put the whole thing out.[1]


Lyrics and music


The lyrics, with phrases such as "I love her eyes and her wild, wild hair", "heading for the '90s, living in the wild, wild west", are augmented with gunshot, laser and blaster (a la Star Wars) sound effects. Critics have noted that, due to the distinct drum beat and vocal patterns during the verses,[2] portions of the song bear a strong similarity to Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up". On the lyrical content, singer Trevor Steel said, "I guess it was just a reflection of the times, living in the '80s with all the yuppies getting rich quick and living under the fear of the Cold War and AIDS. The "Ronnie" in the song was a reference to Ronald Reagan."[1]


Music video


The music video was banned from British television for unclear reasons. The Florida Sun Sentinel claimed it was due to sexism. At the time, band members speculated it was due to the use of disembodied limbs through special effect. They also defended the video, saying the sexism was "designed to make fun of the more overtly sexist promo videos of the era." When asked in a 2012 interview, lead singer Trevor Steel responded, "I can't remember why the video was banned in the UK, I think some kids got scared looking at the disfigured legs."[3][4][5][6] One recent reviewer said of the ban and disembodied limbs, "British censors would've been acting in the public interest. [...] It's [a] pretty easy psychedelic trick-shot, and it's also pure nightmare fuel. I hate looking at it."[7]


Track listings


7-inch vinyl

  1. "Wild Wild West" – 3:59
  2. "We Can Run" – 3:40 (B-Side previously unreleased)

12-inch vinyl

  1. "Wild Wild West" (remix) – 7:54
  2. "Wild Wild West" (Artillery Mix) – 5:58
  3. "Wild Wild Dub Club" – 7:20
  4. "Bacapella" – 5:45

Charts



Certifications


Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.


References


  1. "Interview with Trevor Steel of The Escape Club". Kickin' it Old School. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  2. English, Timothy (2007). Sounds like teen spirit : stolen melodies, ripped-off riffs, and the secret history of rock and roll. iUniverse Star. p. 55. ISBN 9781583480236. OCLC 191820511. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  3. Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 450. CN 5585.
  4. Wilker, Deborah (24 March 1989). "ESCAPE CLUB HAS A WILD BEGINNING". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  5. "Interview with Trevor Steel of The Escape Club". Kickin' it Old School via Redisover the 80s. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  6. Jones, Rhys (5 May 2009). "Escape To Club Wild Wild West". Retro Universe. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. Breihan, Tom (7 June 2021). "November 12, 1988: The Number Ones: The Escape Club's "Wild, Wild West"". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. "The Escape Club – Wild, Wild West". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 9. 26 November 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  10. "RPM 20 Dance Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 2 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  11. "The Escape Club – Wild, Wild West". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. "The Escape Club Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. "The Escape Club Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. "The Escape Club Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  15. "The Escape Club Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2021 2021.
  16. "The Escape Club Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  17. "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  18. "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  19. "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  20. "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  21. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  22. "American single certifications – Escape Club – Wild, Wild, West". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

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На других языках

[de] Wild, Wild West (Lied)

Wild, Wild West ist ein Pop-Rock-Lied der britischen Band The Escape Club aus dem Jahr 1988, das von der Band selbst geschrieben und von Chris Kimsey produziert wurde. Es erschien auf dem gleichnamigen Album. Die Veröffentlichung des Songs war am 19. August 1988.
- [en] Wild, Wild West (The Escape Club song)


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