Peak
1
Weeks
27
Score
4,358
Chart Year
1988
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
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.
Forty-seven dead beats living in the back street North east west south all in the same house Sitting in a back room waiting for the big boom I'm in a bedroom waiting for my baby [Chorus] She's so mean but I don't care I love her eyes and her wild wild hair Dance to the beat that we love best Heading for the nineties Living in the wild wild west The wild wild west Mandy's in the backroom handing out Valium Sheriff's on the airwaves talking to the D.J.'s Forty-seven heartbeats beating like a drum Got to live it up live it up Ronnie's got a new gun [Chorus] Now put your flags in the air and march them up and down You can live it up live it up all over the town And turn to the left, turn to the right I don't care as long as she comes tonight [Chorus] Heading for the nineties living in the eighties Screaming in a back room waiting for the big boom Give me give me wild west Give me give me safe sex Give me love give me love Give me time to live it up [Chorus]
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 20, 1988 | 94 | 32 |
| 2 | Aug 27, 1988 | 74 | 52 |
| 3 | Sep 3, 1988 | 58 | 68 |
| 4 | Sep 10, 1988 | 45 | 81 |
| 5 | Sep 17, 1988 | 36 | 90 |
| 6 | Sep 24, 1988 | 31 | 95 |
| 7 | Oct 1, 1988 | 27 | 99 |
| 8 | Oct 8, 1988 | 20 | 106 |
| 9 | Oct 15, 1988 | 9 | 117 |
| 10 | Oct 22, 1988 | 5 | 121 |
| 11 | Oct 29, 1988 | 3 | 123 |
| 12 | Nov 5, 1988 | 2 | 124 |
| 13 | Nov 12, 1988 | 1 | 125 |
| 14 | Nov 19, 1988 | 2 | 124 |
| 15 | Nov 26, 1988 | 8 | 118 |
| 16 | Dec 3, 1988 | 15 | 111 |
| 17 | Dec 10, 1988 | 19 | 107 |
| 18 | Dec 17, 1988 | 28 | 98 |
| 19 | Dec 24, 1988 | 39 | 87 |
| 20 | Dec 31, 1988 | 39 | 87 |