By Charlie Pohlson, Staff Writer
(Click here to listen to a mix of Minogue’s songs!)
Who is Kylie Minogue?
She’s the second result on Google if you type in “Kylie,” but who is she? Well, according to ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association), Minogue is the highest-selling Australian artist of all time.
Some of her most recognizable songs include her cover of “The Loco-Motion,” “Love At First Sight,” “Better The Devil You Know,” and her signature song, “Can’t Get You out of My Head.”
Minogue, coming from the ‘80s, has been inspired by and compared to Madonna, an ‘80s artist from America. However, as world-renowned as they both are, Madonna has something that Minogue doesn’t: success in America. Since 2001, Minogue has worked to establish herself in the club scene in America with her album Fever.
Why Kylie? Each of her albums convey a different message, as well as different styles of music. Kylie, her debut album, displays a style of bubblegum pop. Its messages focus around love and dance, with the lead singles “I Should Be So Lucky” and “The Loco-Motion.” It is a true late ‘80s album. Compared to others of its time, Kylie shows more personality than its contenders.
Enjoy Yourself, Minogue’s second album, takes a bit darker turn. You wouldn’t know it was a darker album if you were just listening to the melodies. Two singles released from the album, “Hand on Your Heart” and “Never Too Late,” sound very happy and upbeat. However, the lyrics convey a much sadder message, asking you to “put your hand on your heart and tell me it’s all over.”
Minogue later signed to Deconstruction Records and released her fifth album, Kylie Minogue. Minogue returned to the top of the charts with the leading single “Confide in Me,” which conveys an eerie tone, asking the user to “confide” their troubles into her. The music video shows six different ways that women are sexualized. That and another single “Put Yourself in My Place” are some of her most iconic videos of all time, displaying an eerie, yet bright tone.
Minogue’s next album Fever is regarded as her best album of all time, spawning four of the best singles of her entire career: “Can’t Get You out of My Head,” “Love at First Sight,” “In Your Eyes,” and “Come Into My World.” This album also holds dance-pop and disco themes and established a mainstream presence for her globally, especially in America. “Can’t Get You out of My Head” is one of the most memorable songs of the 2000s, with the “la la las” luring you in and wanting more. The lyrics make you feel like you’re the one this pop goddess wants.
After this big success came Body Language, her ninth studio album. “Slow,” the album’s leading single, returns with R&B themes, and very sensual lyrics, returning to her more mature sounding music like in Rhythm of Love. The single was an international success, and the most recent entry in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Coming in from 2010, comes Aphrodite. Similar to her 2000 album Light Years, the disco element returns, with an even more modern twist. “All the Lovers” and “Better than Today,” two of the album’s singles, contain positive vibes and very happy lyrics. It’s a good album to listen to when you’re feeling down.
And finally, Minogue’s most recent release, Golden, is one of the most outlandish albums she has, while still sticking to that dance-pop theme. She explores a more country style with the leading singles “Dancing” and “Stop Me from Falling.” The lyrics return to a more darker sense in “Dancing,” depending on how you interpret them.
One could say that she just wants to have fun and dance, but one could also say that she’s talking about the downfall of her career, and that she wants to “go out” dancing. It’s a very deep and endearing album all around.