Wild Wild West

Not at all to be confused with Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" in 1999, which is tied in with the 1999 film of the same title based on the 1965-69 TV series of the same title, this is the song by The Escape Club, released in 1988.

This song was very much ingrained in 1988. That's why they were "headin' for the nineties." Also, the line "she's so mean but I don't care; I love her eyes and her wild, wild hair" probably refers to punk rock women of the era, who would have a tough attitude and sport green spiked mohawks. "Waiting for the big boom" was probably a reference to Cold War paranoia and the fear of nuclear war. Oh, yeah, and "safe sex" was also a big buzzword in the late '80s, thanks to the fear of the newly-discovered AIDS. You kids are lucky that the '80s only lasted ten years.

The Escape Club were a London band consisting of Trevor Steel (vocals), John Holliday (guitar), Johnnie Christo (bass) and Milan Zekavica (drums). This song distinguished them as the only British group to have charted #1 in the US while never charting at all in the UK. In the US, they also charted with "Shake For The Sheik" (#28 in 1989) and "I'll Be There" (#8 in 1991).

That weird disembodied-limbs effect in the video is accomplished using a mirror. Yes, this was a time before digital image editing software.

Probably the best reason to remember this song is the parody version. In 1989, the original Batman film came out starring Michael Keaton in the title role. Fans were a little skeptical of the casting choice, and a novelty act called "Wally Wingert & The Caped Club" released the song "Adam West" (to the tune of "Wild Wild West") in tribute to the original Batman of the 1966-68 TV series. ("He’s got cool, and savoir-faire. In his cape and cowl and his grey underwear. Who is the hero that we like best? Gotta be the Batman. Gotta be Adam West") Wally Wingert is better known as a voice actor who's been in bloody-well-near everything from anime to announcing Jay Leno's show. Visit Wally Wingert's wacky website, you wascally wabbits.