With Kylie's "Aphrodite" tour less than a month away from reaching our shores, Warner Music Australia has suddenly remembered they have Kylie on their register and rushed out not one but two tour editions of the album. There's the "Aphrodite – Les Folies Tour Edition", which is a 3 CD opus that includes the original album, a remix CD and a megamix party disc. Check out the tracklist below:
Disc 1:
Standard "Aphrodite" album
Disc 2:
1. Put Your Hands Up (Pete Hammond Remix) 2. Aphrodite - (Denzal Park Remix) 3. Cupid Boy - (Stereogamous Dub) 4. Get Outta My Way - (Paul Harris Vocal Mix) 5. All the Lovers - (WAWA & MMB Anthem Remix) 6. Put Your Hands Up - (Muscles Club Remix) 7. Better Than Today - (Bimbo Jones Remix) 8. Higher - Taio Cruz feat. Kylie
Disc 3:
20 Minute Megamix Party Disc
On the bright side, this is an improvement on the heinous "X" tour edition, which was probably thrown together in 5 minutes by a drunk intern. I'm glad there's a new cover and some new locally commissioned remixes. I featured the excellent Stereogamous Dub of "Cupid Boy" on the blog a while ago and I'm glad my former flatmate MMB made the cut! New mixes by Muscles and Denzal Park are also a nice touch. It's nice to see that some thought has gone into the project.
However, is Warner Music completely unaware that the majority of Kylie's fanbase is heading towards 40 and no longer tears up the club on a regular basis? Perhaps sticking on a couple of unreleased "Aphrodite" tracks instead of two remix CDs would have been a good idea. They could have started with "Change Your Mind" and "Broken Hearted (Love Love Love)". Or how about the amazing Japanese bonus track "Heartstrings"? That song easily ranks as one of the finest moments of Kylie's entire career. Even better - why not show some confidence in the the album and push a new single to radio in a bid to properly revive it instead of putting out a tour edition for a quick buck? A cheap live video and a handful of remixes is all it takes and that would pay dividends for longer than the two weeks she's in Australia.
The other super stan "Aphrodite Goddess Edition" looks much more promising. It comes with an incredibly fabulous pop-up booklet and exclusive new photos. Check out some pics of the booklet here. Some real TLC went into this glamorous and original package. I'll have ten! Both tour editions apparently hit stores on June 3 to coincide with the tour. Here's my friend's remix of "All The Lovers": Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
"Los Amores" is one of my favourite things about the entire "Aphrodite" era. The Spanish version of "All The Lovers" is utterly defining. It sounds like a classy Eurovision entry and you haven't lived until you've heard Kylie try to pronounce "cielo". I'll never forget hearing the song in Spain - performed live on the streets of Chueca by Tony Tornado. Dannii's divine sister would have cried tears of joy if she heard it! But as much as I love and adore this gorgeous anthem, I always assumed it was just a novelty. A love letter of sorts to Andrés Velencoso and her adopted homeland. Needless to say, I was more than a little surprised when MMB told me a remix of "Los Amores" had been commissioned but never used. He thinks it was intended for a Pride event but I don't think anyone knows for certain. And to be honest, I'm just happy it exists. Another killer collaboration with Polish DJs WAWA, the Anthem Mix more than lives up to its name. I'm not sure if it's due to the camp factor or the stunning accuracy with which the lyrics were translated but I actually prefer this to the English version. Now repeat after me:
Baila, Es todo lo que quiero ¿Por qué no bailas? Estoy aquí contigo, muevete. Me meteré en tu ritmo y en su fuego, fuego, fuego.
"Cupid Boy" is the best track on "Aphrodite". Hands down. As much as I love the epic gloom of "Closer" and the pure pop perfection of "Get Outta My Way", the Luciana penned/Swedish House Mafia produced belter is the album's only real club anthem. More importantly, it is a floorfiller with enormous crossover potential - exactly the kind of record Kylie needs to shake the Mother's Day artist tag she has been lumped with courtesy of dubious single choices like "Better Than Today". I know she is busy with the tour but a simple club release and live video (perhaps something along the lines of "Cowboy Style") would freshen up the diva's increasingly dowdy image no end and win favour with fans. And initially that was the plan. Parlophone commissioned a couple of "Cupid Boy" remixes and were set to push it to clubs this week but those plans appear to have changed. It's such a waste. Particularly when you hear the remixes. I only have permission to post the Stereogamous dub (below) but it gives you some idea of how epic the vocal version is. The boys completely deconstruct the song but I love the new dark and dirty direction. Fingers crossed Parlophone reconsider their decision and give this a push. If not, there's nothing stopping Warner Australia from giving the track a shove at home. Mushroom used to regularly take a punt on Australian only singles and it's about time Warner prove that they're even aware that Kylie's still on their register. In the digital age, which takes cost out of the equation, what exactly is stopping these labels from giving fans what they want?
EDIT: There's even a release "Cupid Boy" as a single fan page on Facebook. Like it or else!
To be completely honest I was growing tired of the "Aphrodite" era. It started brilliantly with "All The Lovers" but "Get Outta My Way" was criminally mistimed, the past couple of videos have been utterly vile and don't even get me started on that shiteous album killer of a single "Better Than Today". But then I got online this morning and started watching clips of the Aphrodite World Tour - which kicked off in Denmark last night - and I'm back. The $25 million dollar stage is truly spectacular, Dolce & Gabbana have outdone themselves with the costumes and I wholeheartedly approve of the setlist. There's a nice mixture of new, old and very old songs, while still keeping the focus on her latest album.
I'm slightly bitter that "Looking For An Angel" (AKA the Dannii B-side from "Aphrodite") made the cut, while Pascal Gabriel's glorious "Can't Beat The Feeling" was reduced to medley status but the surprise inclusion of my favourite Deconstruction era track "If You Don't Love Me" more than makes up for it. But the absolute highlight (from what I've seen online) has to be "Cupid Boy". I saw Kylie perform the song at GAY in London and it was a not so hot mess but she's finally nailed the vocal. The presentation is also perfection, from the Dangerous Liaisons-esque gown to the semi-naked men hanging from the rafters. Watch in awe below as the slightly more famous Minogue brings Luciana's pop gem to life.
Now that I've sobered up after the craziest weekend in recent memory and finally got Pop Panel out of the way for another week, I can get down to the important stuff - like two new Kylie videos in two days! Christmas really has come early! Let's get "Better Than Today" out of the way first. It's no secret that I wouldn't have picked this as the third single from "Aphrodite" and pretty much expect it to kill the album but that doesn't mean I hate it. In fact, the song has grown on me. A lot. The remixes are fun and there is something irresistibly light hearted and fun about this perky jam. I just don't think it's a hit. And the video isn't going to help its cause. Directed by Kylie herself (with a bit of help from Willie Baker), "Better Than Today" is a cheap as chips re-hash of the live performances she has been using to promote the song in Europe. Think of this as a slightly less trashtastic "All I See". And you know what, that's ok by me. I found the "Get Outta My Way" video a horribly over-stylised and ultimately stillborn affair, so I'm kind of glad this is a bit more organic and exuberant. It's just clear that Parlophone has pretty much pulled the plug on "Aphrodite" if Kylie's video budget is any indication.
Now on to "Higher" - Kylie's collaboration with UK pop sensation Taio Cruz. I loved the original version of this on Taio's album and I think the addition of the elderly Minogue works a treat. With the right promotion, this could really kickstart Kylie's Australian chart campaign. Her duet partner is so hot right now and "Higher" reminds people born after 1970 that the pop diva is still alive. Happily, the song is already gathering momentum. It's top 40 on iTunes and radio airplay - a feat that "Get Outta My Way" never managed. I really hope this takes off. It would be nice to see Kylie's name in the top 10 again. The video is pretty tacky but it pushes all my buttons. I just love ridiculous it is. Why is Kylie being driven around an abandoned carpark in the back of BMW? Has she turned to hooning in middle age? And who thought that stripper outfit was a good idea? Perhaps these mysteries will never be solved but at least we'll always be able to look back on the diva's latest desperate attempt to jump on the urban pop bandwagon. Now Kylie just has to re-release that infamous version of "Chocolate" with Ludacris and my life will be complete. Please buy this shit so my favourite singer doesn't give up on her homeland all together!
After all these years I still get excited when Kylie releases a new single. I still have to buy it in every format and track down all the remixes. No wonder I'm broke! And I'm particularly excited about this one. "Get Outta My Way" (along with Jennifer Rush's modern classic "Echoes Love") was the soundtrack to my recent recent European trip and the song brings back a tidal wave of happy memories. It's a bit of shame then that the song is DOA in Australia. The stunning anthem peaked at a ridiculous #69 on iTunes and just scraped into the radio airplay chart at #42. What the fuck? It's somewhat of a (happy) surprise then that we are getting a physical single. Released on the 8th of October, the 6 track CD will have the following tracklist:
1. Get Outta My Way 2. Bimbo Jones Club Edit 3. Sidney Samson Remix 4. Paul Harris Vocal Remix 5. Mat Zo Remix 6. Video
Fabulous! I actually think they should have gone with a CD1 and CD2. No one else is doing it and the Kylie faithful (ie. the only people who are going to buy it anyway) would lap that shit up. Why not double sales? And who cares if it's chart ineligible? The song is already a flop - you might as well try something different and generate a bit of goodwill in the process. At least we have the UK, where "Get Outta My Way" is being released on 3 different formats and is currently sitting pretty at #8 in the mid-weeks. It might fall out of the top ten by Sunday but it doesn't really matter given the healthy album sales.
Aphrodite - the game!
Almost as exciting as Australia's unexpected physical single is the unveiling of Kylie's Aphrodite computer game. I am seriously obsessed with this trash. You basically have to rescue Kylie over 10 very simple levels but the tacky Nintendo circa 1996 graphics and camp voiceover make it absolutely addictive. They need to release this as an iPhone app immediately! Last but not least is the slightly disturbing confirmation that "Better Than Today" will now be the album's third single instead of the previously rumoured "Put Your Hands Up". I'll save that rant for another day because I'm praying the information is wrong. Interestingly, at least one remix of "Cupid Boy" (that I know of) has been commissioned - so hopefully it will get a showing as a later single or, at the very least, be pushed to clubs. In the meantime, let's just enjoy "Get Outta My Way". It might not be the superstar's biggest hit but I think it's one of her best. Check out this lovely behind the scenes doco from the making of the video (below). I had no idea it was a homage to Paris Is Burning!
Why is Kylie standing next to a giant white dildo in this photo? You just know Dannii would straddle that fucker as soon as look at it. But I digress. The topic of today's post is old probably news to most of you. Earlier this week "Change Your Mind" found its way online (probably via Elle's outbox), becoming the first official leak from the "Aphrodite" sessions. Kylie's dreamy jam received a rather cool response from fans but I love it. Produced by Deadmau5, "Change Your Mind" is the kind of soft and lovely electronic embrace that the elderly Minogue does better than anyone. Admittedly, it takes a couple of listens to get into and sounds decidedly unfinished but the bare bones of a great pop song are there. The lyrics (apparently written by Jake Shears) are really quite odd - walking the fine line between romance and realism. Take this little gem: "Don't worry about me, I'm right where I belong. I'm better off all by myself but you might prove me wrong." Pretty! And then there's that fabulous sample of Deadmau5's own "Brazil". Unfortunately, Alexis Jordan got there first - sampling the track to stunning effect on "Happiness", which I posted back in June. That could be why "Change Your Mind" remains unfinished but I hope it eventually finds its way on to a Deadmau5 compilation because the track has so much potential. Check out a hot fan edit below. This is my song of the week!
Sorry for the lack of updates over the past few days but I've been MIA due to a tidal wave of personal dramas. I promise to pull my proverbial finger out this week with a review of Katy Perry's (amazing) album, a Ness Ness post and my long overdue recap of Luciana's recent Australian tour. However, I thought I'd kick things off with a Minogue double dose. Every gay with a blog has already posted the teaser clip of "Get Outta My Way" but here are my two cents. After the nude orgy extravaganza that was "All The Lovers", Kylie has clearly opted for what I like to call the 'pretty lights' option for single number two. Kelly Rowland's "Work" or the pre-historic Minogue's own "In Your Eyes" video are good examples of this genre. It's very effective when done well and Kylie seems to have got it just right. I love the simplicity of the lighting and the costumes look great. The whole lying on the floor dance routine is very reminiscent of "Slow" but if you're going to rip anyone off it might as well be yourself. At first I was concerned that her hair looked a bit 80s perm in a scrunchie (hence why she's hanging her head in shame) but I'm giving Kylie the benefit of the doubt! Fingers crossed this kick starts the campaign. "Get Outta My Way" is such a strong single. I'm actually surprised it's still languishing outside the top 100 on iTunes and not taking off on radio. Wake up Australia, this is Kylie's catchiest anthem since "What Do I Have To Do"!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
I still remember the first time I heard Kylie's 1988 debut. I saved up to buy the cassette for a family roadtrip and ruthlessly tortured my siblings by demanding mum play it on repeat for the entire 6 hour journey. Even as a child I was all about sharing the Minogue love! Over the next 22 years, each new Kylie album has been an event that I've looked forward to and obsessed over. Some have been better than others but I always find something to love and appreciate. Even if it's a random Japanese bonus track ("Love Is Waiting" - the saving grace of 1994's self-titled cure for insomnia) or a so bad it's amazing triumph like "Nu-Di-Ty". One way or another, Kylie always delivers the goods for me. And that's particularly true of her 11th studio album. It's hard to believe but "Aphrodite" actually lives up to the hype. The endearing desperation of "Body Language" is a thing of the past and the sometimes jarring eclecticism of "X" has been reigned in. It's almost as if Team Minogue spent the past two years processing all the criticism and distilled the brand back to something that is quintessentially Kylie. The result is the pop icon's most consistent and cohesive offering since "Fever". At a time when albums have become hastily thrown together collections of singles and pointless filler, "Aphrodite" stands out by having a theme and expertly mapped out tracklist. It's also the antidote to the hypersexual skank-pop of Ke$ha and Lady Gaga. As much as I love their music, Kylie's bright eyed romanticism comes as a welcome relief. She's back doing what she does best - cute pop music with uplifting lyrics, catchy choruses and an unwavering eye for the dancefloor. Here is my track by track review:
All The Lovers
So dreamy, so lovely, such a bad lead single. Chart performance (in Australia) aside, I still think "All The Lovers" is one of the prettiest pop singles in recent memory. The lyrics are gorgeous and have more depth than they are given credit for, while that explosion of synths at the two and a half minute mark gets me every time. I just think this would have made a better album track. The Kish Mauve penned anthem sets the loved up tone of "Aphrodite" perfectly but it just isn't instant enough to be the chart smash that Kylie needed.
Get Outta My Way
Speaking of future hits, "Get Outta My Way" is destined to be huge. Cutfather and Lucas Secon have given Kylie another "Love At First Sight" for a whole new generation of fans. This is the kind of pure pop that Kylie does better than anyone. The lyrics make me laugh ("this is what'll happen if you ain't givin' your girl what she needs!"), that chorus is more addictive than heroin and the production is sleek without being sterile and overbearing. You can almost see the hordes of drunken girls rushing the dancefloor when this comes on. A lock for second single unless someone at Parlophone has a brain explosion.
Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)
If "Get Outta My Way" is a return to the diva's pure pop roots, then this is her first real dance anthem since the "Fever" era. It's such a relief to hear a big, hearty blast of club Kylie after years of mid-tempo electronic tunes. This is exactly what she needs to win back the gays who have since moved on to Lady Gaga and would be my choice for the album's third single. Hooking up with the Nervo sisters turned out to be an inspired move and Starsmith cements his reputation as one of pop's hottest producers. The Italo-disco-tastic outro is particularly amazing. I can't wait to hear this in a nightclub.
Closer
While not as memorable as her similarly titled 1992 B-side, "Closer" is a quirky little grower. It took me a while to warm to it but the track injects some much needed darkness and variety into "Aphrodite". I love the minimal beats and that bare bones of a chorus is strangely hypnotic. Stuart Price really lets his imagination run wild on this one. "Closer" belongs on the soundtrack to a 70s sci-fi film about a demented fembot that falls in love with its creator. Or maybe I just have too much time on my hands...
Everything Is Beautiful
I'm not exactly a Keane fan but Tim Rice-Oxley has a knack for writing melancholy tinged pop songs for fabulous divas. "Early Winter" is probably my favourite track on Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" album and "Everything Is Beautiful" is one of the unexpected highlights of "Aphrodite". It's funny. I initially found this quite slow and boring in comparison to the rest of the album but the sleepy chorus slowly seeps into brain and I love how accurately the song channels Kylie's vulnerability and optimism. I don't think she's given enough credit for her ability to interpret other people's material. This song simply wouldn't work with anyone else.
Aphrodite
Oh here we go. The title track is already being thrown around as a 'fan favourite' but this "Hollaback Girl" meets "Wind It Up" rip off has already been done on "X". It didn't work there and doesn't sound that much better here. The only thing that saves it from being a total embarrassment is the brilliant chorus, which sounds like it belongs to an entirely different song. Having said all that - I see the appeal. "Aphrodite" is big, dumb fun that will inevitably be a showstopper when Kylie takes the album on tour. Who would have guessed that Nerina Pallot (and husband Andy) would come up with something this camp and ridiculous? I have an annoying feeling that it will be a future single.
Illusion
Kylie gets her first writing credit on "Illusion" and it sounds fairly autobiographical. Take the following lyric. "Follow my dreams into distant lands, blowing in the wind over shifting sands". I think Kylie was having a bit of a moment when she penned this in a bubble bath, sipping from a flute of champagne. Or so I'd like to imagine. "Illusion" isn't the catchiest song on the album but it holds a mirror to the darker side of love, which balances the almost dementedly happy mood of the rest of the album. The production is pure Stuart Price. Layered synths and vocals give the track an almost ethereal feel that makes it stand out from the rest of the album for all the right reasons.
Better Than Today
To be honest, I'm kind of surprised this made the album over the fabulous bonus tracks. Not because it's rubbish but because it's been doing the rounds in various forms since Kylie first performed it on her American tour earlier this year. "Better Than Today" still sounds like something Elton John recorded in 1978, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I like the perky lyrics and catchy chorus. More importantly, the retro sound helps break up the album and showcases Kylie's versatility. Not my favourite song on the album but still a lot of fun.
Too Much
Now this is more like it. I think Calvin Harris is an overrated mess but it's hard to fault his work with Kylie. "In My Arms" was perhaps the highlight of "X" and I was part of the vocal minority that genuinely loved "Heart Beat Rock". This time around he teams up with Jake Shears, which turns out to be a match made in gay heaven. "Too Much" is a seriously brilliant pop song with the kind of explosive chorus that gets stuck in your head and refuses to leave. I love Calvin's playful production that chops and changes from dark and brooding at the beginning to a big, beautiful blast of 80s flavoured electronica. The lyrics are particularly gorgeous. "Can't say, can't say what it is, if I say what I feel it's too much" - is this the much longed for electro sequel to "Never Spoken"?
Cupid Boy
My friend Luciana wrote this with her equally talented husband Nick, so I'm probably completely biased. I was so excited when "Cupid Boy" made the final tracklist after she came heartbreakingly close to having two songs on "X" (the brilliant "Beat Of My Own Drum" and singleworthy smash that never happened "Dynamite") but nothing prepared me for the brilliance of this super sexy dancefloor anthem. No wonder Cheryl Cole (*vomits*) has hired Luciana's services for her sophomore album. While Kylie ponders the highs and lows of love and romance on the rest of "Aphrodite", Dannii's much older sister is looking for some hot lovin' on "Cupid Boy". A girl has needs! Apart from being the classiest song about a booty call ever recorded, it's also the most contemporary Kylie has sounded in years. The chorus is fire and the slinky verses seethe with longing. Roping in Sebastian Ingrosso (of Swedish House Mafia fame) to produce the track also turned out to be a masterstroke. He brings a club perspective to the proceedings while still respecting the song's pop origins. "Cupid Boy" would be a radio smash in this country.
Looking For An Angel
I thought "Looking For An Angel" was an absolute stinker when I first heard it at the "Aphrodite" listening party, labelling it a bad Dannii B-side. But I can admit when I'm wrong. After a couple of listens this is actually one of the album's cutest tracks. The sappy lyrics would be nauseating in the hands of anyone else but Kylie has an uncanny ability to make pure cheese ("so I dream of things like your golden wings") sound adorable. After keeping a lid on her natural tendency for all things high camp and over the top, I'm kind of glad Stuart Price let Kylie unleash on this relentlessly cheerful and upbeat anthem. A not so guilty pleasure that gets more charming each time I hear it.
Can't Beat The Feeling
Pascal Gabriel has to be the most underrated songwriter in pop music. If he's ever delivered a shit track, I'm yet to hear it and his work with Kylie has always been of the highest calibre (ie. "Tightrope" - easily the best song from the entire "Fever" era). I've been waiting for this reunion since 2001 and it was worth the wait. "Can't Beat The Feeling" is a burst of serotonin that sounds like a cross between "In My Arms" and "Love At First Sight". While I miss the bittersweet aftertaste of "Your Love" and "Tightrope", there is something quintessentially Kylie about this track. Which makes it the perfect way to close the album.
BONUS TRACKS
Mighty Rivers
I could write a thesis on Kylie's amazing ability to waste her best material as B-sides and bonus tracks and the trend continues on "Aphrodite". Bless. "Mighty Rivers" is the first of two Xenomania produced songs that didn't make the cut. In this case, it's understandable. The track is a little too moody for the album's upbeat tone and the lyric "mighty rivers run right through me" reminds me of a urinary tract infection I had in the 90s. That said, it is a gorgeous little tune that is well worth downloading. Emo-Kylie or as close as it gets on "Aphrodite".
Heartstrings
Japan is so lucky. Not only do they have the sexiest packaging (I'm sick for Obi strips) but they also get this amazing bonus track. Despite wasting the past decade on boring hacks like Girls Aloud, Xenomania occasionally pull one of the bag and "Heartstrings" is probably the best song they have written since contributing to Dannii's era defining "Girl" album. I would have swapped this with the title track or "Better Than Today". Unlike "Mighty Rivers", it fits the album's tone and theme perfectly and ranks as one of the loveliest songs Kylie has ever put her name to. Listen to this gorgeous gem below.
Earlier tonight I went along to Warner Australia's "Aphrodite" listening party and finally had the chance to hear Kylie's exquisite new album in full. I'm surprised I wasn't uninvited (like Alanis) after my last post but I'm glad no one held a grudge. The Prophet - my hot date to the event - has already written a mini-review and I pretty much agree with every word. As expected from the megamix and Amazon preview clips, "Aphrodite" is almost flawless. I'll have to play it again a couple (of hundred) more times to make my final verdict but, on first listen, it's very, very impressive.
I was particularly surprised by how different some of the tracks sound from the previews - notably "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)", which is screaming out to be a future single and the endearingly trippy "Closer". As for the rest, "Get Outta My Way" still sounds like a sure bet as second single and Luciana's "Cupid Boy" is even more dark and delicious in its finished form. Most of the people I spoke to singled out the title track as a standout but to my ears it's a bit of a throwback to the Gwen Stefani-esque shenanigans on "X". Think the tour version of "Heart Beat Rock" with a better chorus. The Prophet got his stan on for "Illusion" and "Too Much" but I was more impressed with the album's only mid-tempo moment - the gorgeous "Everything Is Beautiful" - and relentlessly joyful "Can't Beat The Feeling". Bless Pascal Gabriel. We both agreed that "Looking For An Angel" is the only real stinker but it kind of sounds like a Dannii B-side so it will probably be my favourite track on the album by the time it's released!
There really isn't much to criticise and I'm ruthless when it comes to Kylie - only because I love her so much and hold her to a higher standard than second rate imposters like Madonna and Britney! If pushed, I almost found it too cohesive. I kind of miss the rough around the edges playfulness of "X". A little bit of shit sometimes makes you appreciate the gems all the more! I also think the second half is ever so slightly weaker than the first but that is being extremely picky. "Aphrodite" is a stunning return to form that would have been a perfect follow-up to "Fever". In just, it picks up where that album left off - just with a slightly mellower, loved up perspective and a fresh batch of collaborators. Heidi, Ke$ha and Lolene now have serious competition for album of the year! Expect a full review when the album leaks is released.
"All The Lovers" debuted at #14 in Australia this week, becoming the second lowest charting lead single of Kylie's career. In fact, only "Some Kind Of Bliss" performed worse (landing at #27 in 1997) and that was released at the absolute nadir of her popularity. It's a bit depressing but hardly unexpected. I reviewed the song a month ago and wrote the following:
As much as I adore the song, I do have some criticisms. Well, one big one. I really hope I'm wrong but I don't think "All The Lovers" is a particularly smart lead single from a commercial standpoint. Kylie needed to steal her sister's crown as the undisputed Queen of Clubs instead of returning with what is essentially an electronic Mother's Day anthem. Fans have likened the song to "I Believe In You" and "The One" but neither of those set the charts on fire outside of England.
Sometimes I hate being right. The Kylie faithful will tell you that "All The Lovers" is a grower and will get a boost with the release of the physical single (in stores Friday) but I doubt it. The song has fallen out of the top 20 on iTunes and has stalled on radio. Strangely, I'm not that bothered. If the album is half as good as the "Aphrodite" megamix suggests, then Dannii's much older sister will be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking future singles and she can take heart from the song's top 5 debut in the UK and top 10 position in Germany. However - given that "All The Lovers" has received almost universal praise from fans and critics - what the fuck went wrong in this country?
Some militant Al Kylieda members have blamed the song leaking a couple of weeks in advance but I think that's ridiculous. More people legally downloaded "Your Love Is My Drug" last week and that's the third single from an album that's being doing the rounds online since January. Then there's the usual chant of "no promotion", which is slightly more valid. Australia hasn't really been a priority for Kylie since she exploded internationally in 2001 and the remote control approach to what is traditionally her second biggest market has been slowly backfiring ever since. However, Kylie did just as little promotion for "Slow" and "2 Hearts" and they both reached #1.
In my opinion, the problem lies with the dud remix package (Dada Life and XXXChange just don't cut it over here) and the fact that she went with another mid-tempo tune. Kylie really needed to come back with a dancefloor anthem that appealed to the half a million or so people that spent $20 on "Fever". As pretty and dreamy and perfect as it is, "All The Lovers" is too subtle and way too European for a market currently ruled by Katy Perry and Ke$ha.
Fortunately, every song on that "Aphrodite" megamix sounds more instant and radio friendly than the lead single. I honestly have such a good feeling about this album and think it has the potential to be absolutely massive. Kylie HQ just needs to be a bit smarter about single choices and make sure they are tailoring them for different markets. Particularly when it comes to the clubs. Get TV Rock or Hook N Sling to remix "Get Outta My Way" so it will actually be played in an Australian club outside of Oxford Street. Go with a different song if the UK's choice won't work over here. If an act as big as Pink can be bothered with Australia only singles, why can't Kylie?
Anyway, here are the living legend's 11 lead singles and their chart position from 1987 - 2010. A top 15 hit 23 years into a career is actually a pretty amazing achievement. I just think we all have so much affection for Kylie, we can't help but want more for her.
1987 Locomotion - #1 1994 Confide In Me - #1 1989 Hand On Your Hand - #4 1990 Better The Devil You Know - #4 1991 Word Is Out - #10 1997 Some Kind Of Bliss - #27 2000 Spinning Around - #1 2001 Can't Get You Out Of My Head - #1 2003 Slow - #1 2007 2 Hearts - #1 2010 All The Lovers - #14
On the bright side, at least Kylie's not as big a flop as Robyn, Kelly Rowland or Christina Aguilera! And she's the only person who can fall flat on her fanny and still look fabulous in the process. For video evidence watch this iconic moment below!
Just when I thought it was impossible to love Kylie more than I already do, she goes and slams that violent criminal from Girls Aloud. Australia's enduring natural beauty took the words right out of my mouth when she said "Cheryl Cole's music doesn't impress me". That's Kylie code for "fuck off, you evil cunt". Respect! My favourite bit is when she only admits to having heard "Fight For The KKK". Cheryl's international flops are clearly beneath this living legend!
In addition to preaching truth about sad pretenders, Kylie unveiled the Australian tracklist for "All The Lovers". We get a bunch of remixes and a video but where are the obligatory B-sides? Min is the Queen of bonus tracks and B-sides, so I'm kind of shocked. Hopefully the UK will get some. Anyway, this little gem will hit stores on the 25th of June. I might have to take the day off work!
1. All The Lovers 2. All The Lovers (WAWA & MMB Anthem Remix) 3. Michael Woods Remix 4. Xxxchange remix 5. All The Lovers Music Video
Last but not least, a 9 and a half minute album megamix hit the net this morning and I still have chills. On the strength of this, "Aphrodite" could well equal the poptastic brilliance of "Fever" and "Light Years". Every song gives me goosebumps. "Get Outta My Way" (already announced as the second single) is a smash, Luciana's "Cupid Boy" is the coolest Kylie has sounded in a decade, "Closer" is just too adorable, "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)" is club gold and the title track gives me the giggles in the best possible way. My favourite lyric is "I'm fierce and feel alive, I'm a golden girl, I'm Aphrodite". LOL! Give it a listen below. Bring on the 2nd of July!
Oh and why can't the stunning image at the top of the post be the album cover? She looks phenomenal!
I was ready for just about anything when I sat down to watch "All The Lovers" - apart from a stunning homage to Kelly Llorenna! Yes pop fans, Kylie has bathed in a vat of Golden Glow in a touching tribute to the orange goddess. You just know K Lo is crying tears of joy and gratitude in her super-powered sunbed. Maybe she'll return the favour by covering "All The Lovers" for her next stunning unreleased AATW anthem! Apart from resembling a walking advertisement for Le Tan, Kylie looks smokin' hot. And not just because fell asleep in the solarium. Bitch has finally shelled out the cash to see Dannii's high end plastic surgeon or hired James Cameron's CGI team because she could pass for 25. I love the hair and her costume is surprisingly flattering. Kylie has her swag back and I fully expect her to wear as little as possible during the entire "Aphrodite" campaign!
As for the rest of the film clip - I'm a little underwhelmed. Maybe the preview raised my expectations to an unrealistic level. It's definitely 100 times better than any of the "X" videos and the concept is clever. She is a modern day Aphrodite calling everyone to worship her and fuck at her feet. Nice. The cinematography is beautiful and it walks the fine line between sexy and tacky with ease. However, I somehow thought or hoped that the gang bang would be one scene in a greater storyline or plot. Or that there would at least be a couple of different set-ups. If Parlophone were going to spend the big bucks on any video then surely it should be this? The end result isn't bad by any means. In fact, it's better than 95% of the crap being churned out by her competitors but it's not the iconic triumph I was hoping for. That said, I love the random circus animals and the clip's simplicity reminds me of "Come Into My World" - which has gone on to become something of a classic. Perhaps I just need to watch it a couple more times before making a final judgement. Anyway, here's a link:
"All The Lovers" will officially be unveiled on YouTube tomorrow. Hopefully someone tones down the orange before then. Hell, I could probably do it using Final Cut Pro if they're short on cash or techical support!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
So here's the first sneak peek at Kylie's outrageous "All The Lovers" video clip, which finds Dannii's increasingly immoral sibling partaking in what appears to be a massive gang bang. What about the children? Jokes aside, I fucking love it! The Queen of Pop should promote indecent exposure and public fornication more often. This could be Kylie's first truly iconic video since "Slow" and should provide the buzz she needs to snag a lofty chart position. More importantly, the bitch looks HOT. That costume is so much more flattering on film and I haven't seen airbrushing this thorough since Mariah's last album cover. I'm so glad Kylie has decided to bring sexy back and push the envelope again. No doubt the video will be torn apart by the usual critics - who seem to think every woman over 40 should be covered from head to toe in a burka -but this is still very tasteful. It reminds me of a big budget perfume commercial or Vogue fashion shoot. Sexy but still artistic and glamorous. I get goosebumps when the chorus kicks in and they lift her from the crowd. Only three more days before the finished product is unveiled!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
I know this review has been a long time coming but I wanted to live with the song for a couple of days before declaring it the greatest thing since "Better Than Her". As it turns out, "All The Lovers" is probably the best pop tune since Matisse revolutionised music as we know it. The Kish Mauve penned, Stuart Price produced gem initially struck me as a little safe but releasing a lead single as soft and pretty as "All The Lovers" is almost an act of rebellion at a time when Lady Gaga and Ke$ha are ruling the charts with their hypersexual slut anthems. Instead of jumping on the latest trend like Madonna, the (ever so slightly) more successful Minogue sister has re-discovered her own sound.
In another singer's hands, the track would be vomit inducing mush but Kylie does wide eyed romance and time worn whimsy better than anyone. In fact, one of the song's greatest accomplishments is its ability to channel something autobiographical. "All The Lovers" is the fitting soundtrack for a perfectly preserved cougar with a well hung Spanish toy boy. Kylie is finally lucky, lucky, lucky in love and the song captures that euphoria perfectly. The lyrics couldn't be more simple but they tap into something that anyone who has been around the block a couple (of hundred) times can identify with and Stuart Price serves up a brilliant smorgasbord of delicate bleeps and beeps to accompany them. Given all that, I wonder why the song makes me want to cry. It just seems inexplicably bittersweet. "All The Lovers" appears to capture the final moments of lovesick insanity before reality kicks in and you realise you've fallen for a lying man whore with the moral fibre of a dog on heat but I could just be projecting.
As much as I adore the song, I do have some criticisms. Well, one big one. I really hope I'm wrong but I don't think "All The Lovers" is a particularly smart lead single from a commercial standpoint. Kylie needed to steal her sister's crown as the undisputed Queen of Clubs instead of returning with what is essentially an electronic Mother's Day anthem. Fans have likened the song to "I Believe In You" and "The One" but neither of those set the charts on fire outside of England. I can't help but feel Kylie is restricting herself to spinsters and ageing homosexuals on this outing. And that's ok. I'm beyond caring about chart positions. As long as the music is this good, the diva can happily become Australia's own Sophie Ellis Flopster and churn out amazing pop tunes that no one buys. Legally. That aside, "All The Lovers" is pretty close to perfect.
It's Christmas for Kylie fans. Not only has "All The Lovers" finally been unveiled in all its majestic glory, the "Aphrodite" tracklisting has been announced and the remix package is currently being downloaded by DJs around the world (apparently I qualify - LOL). However, the most exciting thing about today is that I can finally announce that my friend/international dance icon Luciana has a song on "Aphrodite". I've been dying to mention it for weeks but I was sworn to secrecy and didn't want to jinx anything by spilling the beans. This is HUGE for Luci and the song - "Cupid Boy" - is an absolute ball tearer! Congratulations, sweetheart! If that song is any indication of the rest of the album, Kylie has something truly extraordinary on her hands. Now the mixes. The WAWA & MMB Anthem remix is mind blowingly fabulous. I think I've listened to it 35 times this morning! Michael Woods brings an edge to his club banger, while the mysterious XXXChange remix will please the cool crowd. Ms Minogue has literally ticked every box this time around.
All The Lovers Get Outta My Way Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) Closer Everything Is Beautiful Aphrodite Illusion Better Than Today Too Much Cupid Boy Looking For An Angel Can't Beat The Feeling
Oh and "All The Lovers"? I fucking love it. Expect a full review later today/tonight.
Words escape me. Well, not really but it is extremely hard to laugh and type at the same time. New pictures from Kylie's "All The Lovers" video shoot surfaced today and it seems the diva is intent on making a big splash with her comeback. Not only is her famous arse back on full display, she's taken to posing provocatively on a mountain of half-naked extras. Think Spencer Tunick sponsored by Calvin Klein and you get the general idea. I particularly love the gay couple on the left. Those boys are having way too much fun! The concept will no doubt draw the usual boring criticism of being age inappropriate (yawn) but there's no denying its originality. While the rest of the pop world is going for edgy in a desperate bid to imitate Lady GaGa, this is quintessentially Kylie. High camp, fun and fabulous. As for the low quality leak of "All The Lovers" doing the rounds - I'm well and truly on board. Gay Jesus has a hit on her hands!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
The first pics from Kylie's "All The Lovers" video shoot in LA emerged yesterday and it looks like a typically classy affair. In the leaked snaps Minogue senior can be seen lounging around in her knickers surrounded by a group of semi-naked men. So far, so good! I know it's only the one scene that will no doubt be airbrushed to the point of animation but I'm glad Kylie is bringing back the sex. With the right lighting and special effects she can still pass for 39 and a half - so why not flaunt it? I actually think she looks amazing here. The styling reminds me of the beautiful photos in her "Body Language" CD booklet. If you remember correctly, they were a thousand times better than pic used on the shiteous cover. I'm not sure about the hooker shoes or the knee pads - although I could put them to good use in the company of those gentlemen - but who really cares? Kylie is back! And she's ditched the nana act! As far as I'm concerned this is already a triumph. In fact, the only thing that could make it any better is hiring Ayna as her image consultant/choreographer. All jokes aside, I have a really good feeling about the "Aphrodite" era. It's almost as if the pop legend has taken over the reigns as the trashy Minogue now that Dannii is up the duff and is finally having some much deserved fun. The 28th of June can't come quick enough!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
It's an honour to exclusively reveal the original cover of Kylie's "Aphrodite" album! As you can see this visual masterpiece is superior to the final version in every conceivable way. The Queen of pop looks amazing and her older sister scrubs up alright too. I love Kylie's sexy toga - such an improvement on that House of Dereon reject she ended up going with. Her demure pose is also suitably goddess-like and that cheeky grin is adorable. Then there's the stunning location and incredibly glamorous font. This triumph should be hanging in the Louvre instead of gathering dust in Dannii's it should have been me photo album on Facebook. The powers that be obviously decided it was too fabulous for public consumption and decided to go with something a little more frumpy and age appropriate. Shame. So tell me, which cover do you prefer?Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Aphrodite Visit pop music records for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection
With Kylie's "Aphrodite" tour less than a month away from reaching our shores, Warner Music Australia has suddenly remembered they have Kylie on their register and rushed out not one but two tour editions of the album. There's the "Aphrodite – Les Folies Tour Edition", which is a 3 CD opus that includes the original album, a remix CD and a megamix party disc. Check out the tracklist below:
