Neha Patil (Editor)

Cambodia (song)

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B-side
  
"Watching for Shapes"

Format
  
7", 12"

Genre
  
Synthpop, new wave

Released
  
2 November 1981

Recorded
  
1981

Length
  
3:56 (7" Version) 7:13 (Album Version, including "Reprise")

"Cambodia" is the fourth single by British singer Kim Wilde. It was released at the end of 1981; a year in which Wilde had already scored three highly successful hit singles and a best-selling debut album.

Contents

The single was another international success, topping the charts in France, Sweden and Switzerland and hitting the top ten in several other nations. In France alone it sold one million copies. It was released on the 7" format but also as a 12" single in Germany, although not in a remixed or extended version. The B-side of both releases was an exclusive non-album track called "Watching for Shapes".

"Cambodia" was later included on Wilde's second album, Select, which was released six months after the single in May 1982. The album version of "Cambodia" runs for 7:13 minutes, as it is teamed with a more uptempo instrumental version of the song, called "Reprise".

Musically and lyrically, "Cambodia" showed a change in direction for Wilde from the new wave feel of her debut album. The song was mainly synth-driven, with oriental-sounding percussion.

The lyrics were inspired by the Operation Menu bombing campaign of Cambodia by the United States during the Vietnam War.

Track Listing

  1. Cambodia (3:56)
  2. Watching for Shapes (3:42)

Cover versions

  • Swedish Doom metal band Enigmatic released a cover in 1996
  • German DJ Pulsedriver released a cover of the song in 2001 and a remake in 2013.
  • One shot Belgian trance project Nobody released a cover of the song in 2003.
  • In 2004, the Italodance project Brothers released a b-side to the single "Memories", called "This Is" and based on the song's music.
  • Apoptygma Berzerk's 2005 album You and Me Against the World includes a cover version of the song.
  • The Swedish Death'N'Roll band Hearse released a cover of the song in 2004 on their album Armageddon, Mon Amour.
  • An Italian house remix of the song was featured in the 2005 compilation album by Gigi D'Agostino, Disco Tanz.
  • The German dance group Scooter covered the song on their 2007 album Jumping All Over the World. Jumpstyle artist Vorwerk also covered this song.
  • In 2008 Serbian punk rock band Six Pack recorded a version on their cover album Discover.
  • In 2009 Dutch DJ Marco V released a track called Coma Aid incorporating a re-recorded version of the song's main synthesizer tune.
  • In 2016 Swedish duo Kurz covered the song on their debut album Vol 1.

    • References

    Cambodia (song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA