Kylie Minogue 'Spinning Around'

Chart Peak: 1

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It's ten years since Kylie last hit the No.1 spot in the UK with 'Tears On My Pillow'... 'Spinning Around' sent her rocketing back to the top of the charts in June 2000 and her new album promises to yield even more corkers as it features the songwriting talents of Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Paula Abdul.

Indeed, Paula Abdul co-wrote this very song; it was intended for a comeback album that never happened but ended up becoming the start of Minogue's comeback instead, ultimately helping to pave the way for her breakthrough in the US a couple of years later. Her first single for EMI, it scored her first Number One single of the new decade (thanks to the success of the aforementioned 'Tears On My Pillow' in early 1990, it was the third consecutive decade when she'd topped the chart) and her first Now appearance in more than five years. And from a commercial perspective, everything seemed to fit perfectly - the song lyric dovetails with Kylie's return to dance-pop, which coincided with an almost unprecedented popularity for that style of music. Not only was it the dominant sound of the singles chart at the turn of the century but had a sort of social respectability she hadn't enjoyed during her first imperial phase.

For me, it was always a bit of a sad moment, though, because she seemed to be turning her back on the slightly more interesting music she'd made in the previous few years. I suppose if she'd been literally spinning around then she'd have faced back towards it, but that's probably stretching the metaphor too far. And the video, legendary hotpants and all, seems a bit too desperate. Anyway, listening back to this, I have noticed that it has quite a good bassline so all is not lost.

Also appearing on: Now 11, 18, 19, 21, 29, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 68, 69, 70, 76, 77
Available on: The Best of Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'

Chart Peak: 1

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Two things I don't often do on here are albums from the 21st century and requests. But I'm making a double exception here because an anonymous tipster (at least I assume they're anonymous, they're free to reveal themselves should they so wish) has actually supplied me with a copy of the discs, and invested almost two pounds sterling in the hope of seeing these tracks covered - see image at right.

We start with one of the most famous records of 2001, a track that was so widely and instantly recognised as a pop classic that I've scarcely ever been able to listen to it. The one previous time I've had to write about Kylie round here, I floundered somewhat for fear of the true believers who can't accept that anything she does is ever substandard. Whilst this wasn't exactly her comeback hit - she had of course had a Number One single the previous year - it feels like the very start of that idea. Rarely in the history of music has there been a record where I've felt that my own opinion is less valued - it seems like anyone of any musical taste or attitude is obliged to love it, just from different angles.

It's only the best part of a decade later that I've been able to listen to the record instead of hearing it. Actually, it's not bad musically, but I always found those girly chorus vocals a bit irritating. I don't really know whether I'm allowed to only like it a bit though, and in any case I feel like I'm a bit tired of it now. But I can restrain my contrarian impulse to pretend it's no good at all.

Also appearing on: Now 11, 18, 19, 21, 29, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 68, 69, 70, 76, 77
Available on: Fever

Kylie Minogue 'Wow'

Chart Peak: 5

YouTube

According to Wikipedia, this was Kylie's first single ever to miss the Top 20 in Romania; Kylie herself has claimed that this song goes off "like a frog in a sock". Tim Berners-Lee must be so proud, eh?

Over the years I've begun to realise that she's one of those acts who seem to attract a lot of true believers. These people start with such a solid faith that anything she does is good that it's impossible for them even to consider that any record is sub-standard or even unpopular - it's always the record company's fault or the media's fault. Actually, this single performed OK (unlike the album), but it's a bit of a tomorrow's chip-paper single for me: does the job, might sound alright in a club, not really memorable, apart from the slight production gimmick in the chorus which, in the brilliant words of fellow blogger No Rock sounds like "sounds like when you put your hand over your ear and open and close it quickly." And it sounds a bit like she's singing "Every inch of you smells of desire," which is a bit icky.

Also appearing on: Now 11, 18, 19, 21, 29, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 68, 70,
Available on: X + DVD