| Wild, Wild West | |
| Cover: | Escape Club WWW.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | the Escape Club |
| Album: | Wild Wild West |
| B-Side: | We Can Run |
| Released: | 1988 |
| Studio: | Maison Rouge, Air London, Westside (London, England) |
| Genre: | Dance-rock[1] |
| Length: |
|
| Label: | |
| Producer: | Chris Kimsey |
| Next Title: | Shake for the Sheik |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
"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 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.
Lead singer Trevor Steel said:
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."
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]
7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single[8] [9] [10]
UK and European 12-inch single[11] [12]
A1. "Wild, Wild West" (dance mix)
B1. "Wild, Wild West" (single edit)
B2. "We Can Run"
US, Canadian, and Australian 12-inch single[13] [14] [15]
A1. "Wild, Wild West" (dance mix) – 7:54
A2. "Wild, Wild West" (single edit) – 3:59
B1. "Wild, Wild West" (Wild, Wild dub club) – 7:20
B2. "We Can Run" – 3:40
Credits are lifted from the Wild Wild West liner notes.[16]
Studios
Personnel
| Chart (1988) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] | 2 | |
| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[18] | 1 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 1 | |
| US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[20] | 10 | |
| US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[21] | 45 | |
| US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[22] | 36 | |
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[23] | 3 |
| Chart (1988) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] | 31 | |
| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[25] | 2 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[26] [27] | 18 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1988 | Atlantic | ||
| United Kingdom | 30 August 1988 | WEA | [28] | |
| Japan | 10 December 1988 | Mini-CD | [29] |