FEATURE:
You Still Get Me High
Kylie Minogue: Indie Music, a Possible Biopic, and a Look Ahead to the Remarkable TENSION
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THERE are a few…
PHOTO CREDIT: James D Morgan/Getty Images
Kylie Minogue-related things that I want to discuss and pour over. I know I written about her a lot recently but, as she is awesome and about to release an incredible album, it is worth coming back to her one more time. Recently, I reacted to the news that Minogue will begin a residency in Las Vegas later in the year. It will be the first time she has done that. A chance not only to expand her American fanbase, it will give her this consistent and stable live setting where she can do a career-spanning set. I am not sure what form her shows will take when it comes to setlist and feel, but it is going to be amazing. I have returned to Kylie Minogue so soon because she has recently revealed a couple of things that caught my eye. I shall come to those. First, as it is out on 22nd September, make sure that you pre-order your copy of Minogue’s upcoming album, TENSION:
“Kylie’s brand new studio album, Tension, a record of euphoric, empowered dance floor bangers and sultry pop cuts. Tension is eleven tracks of unabashed pleasure-seeking, seize-the-moment, joyful pop tunes with the hypnotic electro of ‘Padam Padam’ opening the album.
Discussing ‘Tension’, Kylie says, “I started this album with an open mind and a blank page. Unlike my last two albums there wasn’t a ‘theme’, it was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of that moment and always trying to service the song. I wanted to celebrate each song’s individuality and to dive into that freedom. I would say it’s a blend of personal reflection, club abandon and melancholic high”.
I have been thinking about Kylie Minogue’s 2023. She scored massive chart success with the lead single from TENSION, Padam Padam. It was played on BBC Radio 1 (eventually!), and she is going to deliver this amazing and near-career-best albums. She recently turned fifty-five and, whereas that may signal that the industry will sideline her or show less love, I think the opposite will happen. The music industry generally does marginalise women when they get past forty. Minogue is so busy and producing this music that is urgent and wonderfully memorable, it is going to be impossible to ignore the legend. I was struck by an NME article, who were reacting to an interview Minogue gave to E! Online. I would usually not parlay that into a feature but, as Minogue talked about Indie music and who she would like to play her in a biopic, I have come back to her feet – I will write about her one more time next month when TENSION comes out:
“Kylie Minogue has spoken about her “love” of indie bands and said she’d most like to collaborate with The Killers.
The singer, who has previously worked with the likes of Nick Cave and Manic Street Preachers, has said she would love to get into studio with the Las Vegas band.
She told E! Online: “I’ve always loved more kind of indie bands, like The Killers. Most collaborations I’ve done have come to me so I haven’t had to make that decision. But whoever I work with, I think there’s always something to learn from people I work with.”
Minogue also said she would like to team up with Beyoncé and Rihanna and reckons Barbie star Margot Robbie should play her in a biopic.
It comes after Cave recently spoke about his 1995 collaboration with Minogue ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’.
He said: “It was a murder ballad that ends with the character killing his beloved… It was quite something at the time for Kylie to take on.”
“I certainly wasn’t in showroom condition,” he continued. “Her management were like ‘This is a bad idea’ because we were a bunch of dark drug-addicted monstrosities… but she was determined to do that.”
The pair performed the track on Top Of The Pops live but Cave said he struggled to “remember much” about it because he was “high”.
Minogue most recently announced her first-ever Las Vegas residency at the new Voltaire nightclub at The Venetian between November and January.
Minogue’s sixth studio album, ‘Tension’, will be released on September 22 via Darenote/BMG. You can pre-save and pre-order the album here.
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers meanwhile, recently teamed up with Elton John to perform ‘Tiny Dancer’ during his final ever UK gig at Glastonbury”.
IN THIS PHOTO: The Last Dinner Party
There is a lot to unpack there. Kylie’s ‘Indie’ period is one of my favourite. I especially love her 1994 album, Impossible Princess. Even though she is more Disco, Dance and Pop-focused now, I can see Minogue either collaborating with Indie artists on their singles, or the follow-up to TENSION might be more Indie-based. Her working with The Killers might be as good thing, though there are other bands and artists people would love to see her play with. I would welcome a reunion between her and Nick Cave on a new song. There a few bands that I think Kylie would fuse well with. I have always imagined her recording with Blur and Radiohead. Maybe not strictly Indie, I feel that there is something intriguing and different Minogue could bring to their music. I think that new bands would get a real boost from Kylie Minogue’s endorsement. The Last Dinner Party are an incredible new group that I could also see Minogue joining with and producing something amazing! That remark she made about Indie music is going to open up a lot of requests. I think that we will see Minogue performing with some amazing artists. Even though I am not a fan of The Killers, it would still be a good hook-up. That comment she made about teaming with Beyoncé and Rihanna. This would be really tantalising! I think a Kylie Minogue and Beyoncé partnership would be particularly special. Maybe Bey could remix a track from TENSION. At a time when we are seeing joint-tours – two acts/bands going on tour together -, maybe Minogue and Beyoncé could tour together.
IN THIS PHOTO: Margot Robbie/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
I will end with Minogue suggesting Margot Robbie could play her in a biopic. I am surprised we have not yet seen a Kylie Minogue one. I have suggested Margot Robbie’s name when thinking of two other biopics – she could play Debbie Harry in a Blondie biopic; suit the role of Stevie Nicks for a Fleetwood Mac biopic. Margot Robbie would be great. She does not do too many film roles where she gets to keep her Australian accent. This would be a rare opportunity! Even though she is taller than Minogue and, at thirty-three, would probably portray Minogue during her Fever/Light Years period (2000-2001) regency, it would be fascinating to see that brought to the screen. In an already big and triumphant year for Kylie Minogue, there is the business of TENSION. I think that the album will get a load of positive reviews. Following that, there are gigs and her Las Vegas residency. I was hooked by what she said about Indie music and a biopic. Let’s hope that this all comes to fruition. It is going to be a very busy next year or two for Minogue. In addition to a biopic, I wonder whether Minogue has ever thought about briefly returning to the big screen. I feel she could bring her talents to film. Cast in a green film, there are so many fans of hers that would really like to see that! I shall leave it there. An iconic, multitalented and chameleon-like talent, there is no telling…
WHERE she heads next.