Today [Tuesday 25th March 2025], Limahl, the former lead singer of British pop band Kajagoogoo drops his latest single, a lovely reworking of the classic folk/rock hit “A Horse With No Name” originally by the band America.
The release comes just a few days after he sang the timeless Kajagoogoo smash hit “Too Shy” live on BBC TVs Comic Relief – Red Nose Day – telethon to great acclaim. Talking about his new single, Limahl says: “The original ’70s track has been a favourite on my ‘Evening’ playlist for a long time,”
The song was first released in 1971 in the UK (1972 in the US), composed and performed by folk rock trio America and it topped Billboard’s Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts, and peaked at # three on the UK singles chart – certified gold in 1972.
Adapting the ’70s musical aesthetics and injecting a bit of ’90s electronica, Limahl’s updated version of the song carries a bit of a retro-futuristic quality that feels equally at home in 2025. “The ’90s have been enjoying a revival which prompted me to experiment with the drums/rhythms from that decade,” he explains.
The resulting track transforms the classic folk track with a mesmerising and hypnotic synth-dominated swirl. Th accompanying video bursts with surreal and psychedelic imagery, reflecting the song’s hallucinatory spirit.
Winning the hearts of millions of fans in the ’80s as the lead singer of pop stars Kajagoogoo, Limahl enjoyed the instant celebrity of hitting the top of the charts with their debut single “Too Shy” – more than 75 million streams to date – which was followed by two more Top 20 hits, “Ooh To Be Ah” and “Hang On Now” [all of which he co-wrote].
Limahl struck out on his own and soon re-emerged in the charts again with his first solo single “Only For Love”…
Quickly followed by the Giorgio Moroder-produced worldwide smash “Neverending Story” (151 million streams to date),” the theme song from the hit film of the same name.
Very much active in pop culture, Limahl continues to perform throughout Europe. In 2024 he performed live and/or co-hosted the SENSE charity gala at London’s Westminster Church Hall with the Princess Royal in attendance – the event raised more than £100.
He was also at the reopening gala at London’s National Portrait Gallery after its £3m renovation, and at the London gala for Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity which raised 100k+. Plus the premiere of new stage musical adaptation of “Neverending Story” (“La Historia Interminable”) in Madrid [now playing in Barcelona].
In addition, Limahl’s worldwide smashes “Neverending Story” and “Too Shy” were featured on the hit television series “Black Mirror” episode “Bandersnatch”, American Horror Story Season nine: “1984” and Stranger Things season three.
Limahl’s “Track Record”…
1. First song you recall hearing as a child?
Gosh, that’s a tough one. I think it was “Edeleweiss” from “The Sound Of Music”, released in 1965 when I was seven.
2. First single you owned?
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond in 1969. I was 11.
3. First LP/album you owned?
“Motown Chartbuster – Volume 1” (1967).
4. First CD you owned?
I probably just replaced a worn-out or scratched vinyl LP I already owned. Back then, CDs were marketed as having superior sound quality, with all the hype around “digital” technology.
But over time, I think we’ve all come to appreciate the warmth of analogue tape recordings – something that’s often missing in digital. That said, these days there are plenty of plug-ins designed to emulate that classic analogue warmth.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
I subscribe to Spotify, so doesn’t that technically mean I’m buying music every month? I use it frequently – if I’m in a store and hear a track I like, I’ll ‘Shazam’ it. The technology is wild: It only needs four bars to recognise a song!
Over time I’ve built up a bunch of playlists: ‘Crooners’, ‘Motown’, ‘Disco’, ‘Morning’, ‘Evening’, ‘Jazzy Vibes’, ‘Xmas’, ‘Workout’.
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
“The Nightfly” by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
“Nightclubbing” by Grace Jones, “Can’t Get Enough” by Barry White, “Extensions” by Manhattan Transfer.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
Surely too many to choose from, but if you must have one, I’ll say “The Snake” by Al Wilson, because I love the metaphor/story in the lyrics, plus his gravelly voice. An absolute 60’s classic.
9. Guilty secret (or anything unusual or perhaps unexpected) in your music collection? .
These are not “guilty” tracks, but could possibly be construed as unusual: Chet Baker (trumpet player/singer) hits from the 40’s 50’s & 60’s. My music knowledge started around 1970, so the earlier decades I’ve come to know as an adult.
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
.Music means everything to me, it usually makes me feel good, but of course we all know it can also make you feel sad. But I try to avoid that, because these days it seems sadness is everywhere and the world is rather scary, so music helps me escape from all that.
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
“Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton or “Band Of Gold” by Freda Payne.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
Shirley Bassey / Matt Monro: “If I Never Sing Another Song”. The lyrics say it all: “In my heyday young men wrote to me, everybody seemed to have time to devote to me, everyone I saw all swore they knew me, once upon a song. Framed citations hang on every wall, got a scrapbook full of quotes I can’t recall at all, there were times I felt the world belong to me, and so you see…”
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer”, of course lol.
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
“With You I’m Born Again” by Billy Preston & Syreeta.
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
I didn’t have a wedding. In 2005 when they became legal, I had a ‘Civil Partnership’ with my lovely partner of 32 years, Steve. For us to choose is a tricky decision as we have different music tastes. So let me think . . . Well, we both like The Carpenters, so I’ll go with with “Yesterday Once More”.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
Surely it has to be “Delilah” by Tom Jones.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
“I’m Still Waiting” by Diana Ross. I remember Tony Blackburn playing it on the radio (BBC Radio 1) while I was getting ready for school. Just as I was about to head out the door to catch my bus, he did something unexpected on national radio. He said, “I’m going to play that again because it’s so good,” and then he actually did. I was so hooked, I stayed to listen, missed my bus and ended up late for school.
Years later, I found myself sitting next to Tony at an anniversary event for “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here”, and I shared my memory with him. Of course, he didn’t remember (lol), but he did tell me that he was the one who called Motown’s London office and suggested releasing, “I’m Still Waiting” as a single. So we have Tony to thank for that.
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
Steely Dan, The Beatles, Manhattan Transfer, Duran Duran, ABC, Lighthouse Family, Take That, Blondie, Mary Jane Girls, The Carpenters.
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
Barry White, Shirley Bassey, Manhattan Transfer, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick Jr, Luther Vandross, Chet Baker.
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
I haven’t decided yet, but your question has definitely got me thinking – it’s one of those things we all tend to put off. I don’t want my funeral to be a sad affair. I’m not religious, I don’t want people dressed in black, and most of all, I want it to be a celebration of my time here.
I’ve always tried to be a positive person; it’s part of my survival strategy. Fingers crossed it’s working, though, of course, there’s only so much one can do to delay the big exit!
Photo credits:
Image top of page by Brian Aris/EMI [sleeve image from “Only For Love”]
Jumper & braces b&w image by Johnny Rozsa
All other images by Christopher Music
