Kim Wilde is an English pop icon whose career has spanned more than four decades, marked by chart-topping hits, acclaimed albums, and a lasting influence on the sound of the 1980s. Born into a musical family, she burst onto the scene in 1981 with “Kids In America,” a global hit that established her as one of the decade’s most distinctive voices. Throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, Wilde blended new wave, pop, and rock with polished vocals and strong visual style, earning multiple awards and a loyal international following.
In addition to her music career, she has built a respected reputation as a television presenter and landscape designer, showcasing her versatility and creativity well beyond the stage. Today, Kim Wilde continues to record, tour, and inspire, solidifying her status as one of pop music’s enduring talents.
Kim Wilde’s 1986 cover of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” is a brilliant reinvention of the Motown classic, transforming it into a high-energy ’80s pop powerhouse. Driven by bold synths, a sharp dance-pop beat, and Wilde’s confident, commanding vocals, the track captures the emotional urgency of the original while giving it a sleek, modern edge. Her version became a global hit, showcasing her ability to take a familiar song and make it unmistakably her own.
Even today, it stands as one of her most iconic singles—vibrant, empowering, and irresistibly catchy.
It peaked at No. 02 in the UK Singles Chart on 15th November 1986.
| A-Side | You Keep Me Hangin’ On (4:15) (E. Holland, L. Dozier, B. Holland) Produced By Ricki Wilde |
| B-Side | Loving You (4:57) (K. Wilde, R. Wilde) Produced By Ricki Wilde |
| Genre | Electronic, Pop, Hi-NRG |
| Release Date | 19th September 1986 |
| Label | MCA |
| Catalogue Number | KIM 4 |
| Date Of UK Top 40 Entry | 25th October 1986 |
| Highest Chart Position | No. 02 |
| Weeks In UK Top 40 | 12 |
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [12 Weeks] – 25th October 1986 – 10th January 1987 |
Officially Released Versions
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (Single Version) (4:15)
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (MCH Mix) (9:03)
Versions On Spotify
If you have an active Spotify account you will be able to play the complete versions of the songs below. If you don’t have an account, you will only be able to hear a 30-second sample.
Lyrics
Keep me hangin’ on
Set me free, why don’t you, babe?
Get out my life, why don’t you, babe?
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Set me free, why don’t you, babe?
Get out my life, why don’t you, babe? (Ooh-woo, ooh)
‘Cause you don’t really need me
But you keep me hangin’ on
Why do you keep on coming around
Playing with my heart?
Why don’t you get out of my life
And let me make a brand new start?
Let me get over you
The way you’ve gotten over me, yeah
Set me free, why don’t you, babe?
Get out my life, why don’t you, babe? (Ooh-woo, ooh)
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Now you don’t really need me
You just keep me, hangin’ on
You say although we broke up
You still just wanna be friends
But how can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again?
(And there ain’t nothing I can do about it)
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Yeah, yeah
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me (Hangin’ on), hangin’ on
You say you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you’ve got your freedom
You wanna still hold on to me
You don’t want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else
Set me free, why don’t you, babe?
Get out my life, why don’t you, babe? (Ooh-woo, ooh)
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Why don’t you be a man about it
And set me free? (Ooh-woo, ooh)
Now you don’t care a thing about me
You’re just using me, hey, abusing me
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night (Ooh-woo, ooh)
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me, hangin’ on (Ooh-woo, ooh)
Written By E. Holland, L. Dozier, B. Holland
