written by Peter Cox, Richard Drummie and Martin Page

produced by Peter Wolf

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So, I’m certain I was familiar with this song from its release date and

since it started hitting the airwaves, though I didn’t know at the time

that it was from Pretty Woman, or the name of the band who did it.

I just knew it was catchy as heck and that I loved it.

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So, it was probably around the year 2000—a decade after the song’s original release—when I scored it on a compilation, of 1990 hits. British duo from London—lead singer Peter Cox and rhythm guitar/

backing singer Rich Drummie—called Go West, I learned. That name rang a bell... but I didn’t realize why until later. They started making a name for themselves in 1985, with their eponymous debut album, and its sizable hit single, “We Close Our Eyes,” courtesy of Chrysalis Records. And that same year, they wrote and contributed the song “One Way Street” to Rocky IV and its soundtrack—a soundtrack I had at the time (though I believe only on cassette). That, I connected later, was why it rang a bell.

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So, if you’ve been reading my summaries of these things, and you’re now familiar with my preferences, tastes... and favorite band... then you know I could hardly detail this entry without mentioning that it’s from the movie and soundtrack Pretty Woman, as afore-noted, issued by EMI—Go West’s label Chrysalis about to be sold to the company Thorn EMI at the time—and “King Of Wishful Thinking” there was neighbored by songs from then-EMI artists including David Bowie, Jane Wiedlin, Natalie Cole... and then of course, my personal idols Roxette, with their mega-monster hit “It Must Have Been Love.” Yes, that was a gratuitous Rox-drop. But it is too important to note how beautifully “Must/Love” and “King Of Wishful Thinking” happen to complement each other. Thanks to that 1990 compilation, I didn’t need PW’s soundtrack for “KoWT” here, though it did fondly remind me of it.

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So, the video’s imaginative (and yes, I decided to start each paragraph in this body of notes with “So.”

So sue me), sneaking the Pretty Woman references in there... or maybe “sneaking” isn’t exactly the right word... The word “King” in the title is figurative. Watch the video to see just how much less figurative it becomes. And to see just how many disparate visual spectacles can be placed in desirable relief over a white backdrop—not leaving you disappointed whatsoever that it’s just plain white. Bonus points on the zoo animals, boys.

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Have notes to add? Let me know!

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YT:

full original version

full Club Mix

music video

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Go West’s official website