ARTIST FEATURE: Why Are We Still In Love With Kylie?
- Posted on December 28, 2006 8:07 AM
- 1 comment
By Nick Levine
On New Year's Eve Kylie Minogue begins the UK leg of her 'Showgirl - Homecoming Tour' at London's Wembley Arena. By the end of the night - her first British gig since beating breast cancer - it'll be easier to find a turkey who enjoyed Christmas than a dry eye in the house. But what is it about the pint-sized popstrel that's fascinated us for the last 18 years? Hint: it's taken a lot more than a snug-fitting pair of gold hotpants...
Pop Savvy
Kylie's consistently been able to spot a slap-you-round-the-face pop stormer, squeezing the best out of her early writers, the Stock Aitken Waterman 'Hit Factory'. Think about it - nobody listens to Rick Astley or Sinitta anymore but Better The Devil You Know is guaranteed to fill the floor at any hen night, office party or civil partnership ceremony. Even her mid-90s po-faced period launched brilliant singles like Confide In Me and Put Yourself In My Place. Plus, with the iconic Can't Get You Out Of My Head, Kylie gave us the holy trinity: the perfect pop star performing the perfect pop song in the perfect pop video. Respect.
Sex
It's 1988. Kylie's larking about in a bathtub. She's got a terrible perm. She's wondering why she can't be a bit more lucky, lucky, lucky in love. Fast forward to 1990 and Kylie's gyrating in a figure-hugging LBD in the Better The Devil You Know video, looking as if she's spent the last couple of weeks writhing between satin sheets in a room with a mirrored ceiling. Kylie's discovered sex - and she never looks back.
Coming Through An Awkward Adolescence
Kylie ditched Stock Aitken Waterman in 1992, slamming the "learn your lines, perform your lines, no time for questions, promote the product" mentality of the Hit Factory. The period that followed was the pop equivalent of turning a bit gothic in your mid-teens and refusing to make eye contact with anyone who doesn't own the complete back catalogue of The Cure for 18 months. Getting the Manics to co-write her single? Check. Allowing Nick Cave to stone her to death in a promo video? She did it. Overdosing on irony by reciting the lyrics of I Should Be So Lucky at a 'Poetry Jam' at the Royal Albert Hall? You betcha. But we always knew it was just a phase and, sure enough, Spinning Around came next.
Arse
Well, we couldn't leave out La Minogue's impossibly pert derriere, could we?
Showgirlship
Kylie sports no fewer than 8 different costumes during her current tour. The most striking? A John Galliano creation comprising a pink plumed head-dress, a jeweled bodice and a huge train made from Parisian ostrich feathers. Crucially, while the costumes create the spectacle we expect from an arena-filling pop princess, it's Kylie's innate star quality that truly fills the stage.
Gay Appeal
Better The Devil You Know is arguably the most transcendent gay anthem of all. And her 2000 album 'Light Years' - featuring song titles like Your Disco Needs You, Koocachoo and Loveboat - is camper than the Judy Garland Appreciation Society's Christmas bash. Her great trick is to remain a diamond-encrusted gay icon without alienating her wider audience.
Collaborators
Robbie Williams was at his most bearable duetting with La Minogue on Kids; the Pet Shop Boys have worked with her twice and the Scissor Sisters co-wrote (and produced) her 2004 smash I Believe In You.
Surviving
When Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005 it felt as if a friend, a neighbour, one of us had been struck down. Her spirited and dignified battle with the disease only confirmed what we already knew: Kylie is one hell of a survivor. The twenty year pop career didn't just fall at her tiny little feet, you know.
Want more Kylie? Who doesn't... to round off the week (and the year) we've got a few more little Minogue treats in store. Watch this space for a tasty slice of the memory lane pie as Katie Spain re-lives the last time Kylie hit London...
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Comments (1)
damian littlefair
Mr D S Littlefair
101 Hutton Avenue
DARLINGTON
Co Durham
DL1 2AH
11 November 2007
Dear Sir/Madam
My name is Damian Steven Littlefair I am 17 years of age and I am the world’s biggest Kylie Minogue fan.
It all started when I was about six years old when I heard my first Kylie Minogue song. I heard an angel in my head and for years after that I wanted to see her in concert but they were sold out. When I found out she had cancer I blamed my self and I burst into tears for months even a year for what I had done to her. So when 2005 Earls court showgirl came out on DVD I bought it and I watched it 24/7.
The year I found out that she had cancer I looked for concerts for when she was well enough again. So when Wembley and Manchester sold out I burst into tears and I almost felt like killing myself for not being able to go
I entered millions of competitions to win the tickets but no look, about late November early December I started having dreams about being at her concert and then a few weeks later I looked on the internet and found some Manchester concert tickets for sale on Ticket Master. My Mam and Dad got me them and I was on top of the moon or even further.
On Saturday 13th January I was watching her Melbourne show on Channel 4 I even taped it. Later that night I found out that she became ill again and I burst into tears and I blamed my self for making her ill again. A few days later, about Monday, I found out that she was still doing Thursday’s show and I burst into tears again
On the Thursday I got up early, did my paper round, went to the doctors, had a McDonald's and went for the train to Manchester to see my star angel live in concert. Once the concert started I almost started crying because it was the best day of my life and I never wanted it to stop but it did.
Now when I hear Kylie singing on CD or DVD I cry almost instantly because she is an inspiration to us all and because of every thing that she has done and has showed me that whatever good or bad that has happened or that is happening the key is not to give up no matter how much you want to.
I would love to see her in person just to thank her for being brave and sticking with it. My greatest wish now is to meet her in person.
Thank you for taking time to read my letter.
Posted on November 28, 2007 4:09 PM
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