The Steps Christmas album certainly missed the mark with what their fans and the public would want/expect from a project like that. Personally I believe they were experiencing an identity crisis, not understanding how to make Steps work in 2012 while being the grand old ages of 34-37 (lol) while recording it. It seemed they wanted to come across as mature, and to prove that they can sing... so "be fun, festive and camp" was 100% missing from the brief. It took me years to get around to listening to it, and when I did, I realised people weren't exaggerating that it was a miss. However whenever this album is brought up, I have to say... 'It May Be Winter Outside' is a really nice song from it and it went into my Christmas playlists!

Back to Kylie... I think 'Kylie Christmas' needed more cooking time, and that a stronger vision was needed for it. With careful cover choices and a stronger focus on originals, I believe it could have stood apart from other Christmas releases and struck a chord with the public. But I think they failed with that. From the presentation to the track list to the marketing, I would describe it as very haphazard. If I'm being honest, I don't think Fully Wrapped's track list rights enough wrongs from the original release... but I think they've had a good go at making it more visually modern and fun. Also I know we haven't heard three of the new tracks yet, and for all I know they could be really good and make the new track list make more sense.

I agree about all your comments and i think the points you make about Steps are spot on with their Christmas album and to be honest when they released it i never in a millon years thought they could come back as strong as they did with Tears on the Dancefloor album and later the 2 what the future holds albums, they really did right a wrong with those albums.

With Kylie when the Christmas album was released the marketing was all over the place and despite getting some big slots to perform the album didn't do aswell as it should have done on the back of it but as you said some of the songs choices were questionable, in defense of the original album i have to say the artwork was far far better than the new version that is coming as i have to say i dont like the artwork at all for the new version. Hopefully the 3 other songs we have yet to hear are good upbeat songs and not all slow songs as i want fun and upbeat from Kylie as its what she does best.

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/kylie-minogue-christmas-album-baubles-interview-b1259875.html

Xmas Album passive promo

these sound promising

One moment of joyful connection came when working on the song Office Party with her collaborators though — they had so much fun that the song almost became too rude for human consumption. She is giggling when she thinks about it. “There were a whole lot of lyrics that didn’t make the song. As you can only imagine… heh.”

You mean we could have had Kylie’s full, unedited thoughts on the merits of photocopying one’s body parts after a few too many Babychams?

“All the photocopying, ha!” she laughs. “After we recorded it and sent it over I kept thinking there’s definitely going to be something in the inbox from the label saying, ‘Yeah, we liked the song but… is that a joke? Can we lose the ending?’ But no one said anything!” (You’ll have to play it to find out what made it through.)

I tell her that Hot in December had me up and dancing around the kitchen the second time I played it — it’s quite sexy. “Oh great! Yeah, it’s a pop song disguised as a Christmas song. I mean it’s uber pop.”

As for This Time of Year, it’s a loving song but with a sad tune that you could instantly imagine on the soundtrack of a rom-com. Three quarters of the way through, when you know those two lovers should be together and yet all hope appears lost. “I was just trying to find the balance of being emotional but not a wreck. Hopeful and loving. So if it made it into a rom-com, wow, I… I don’t know what I’d do, I’d be so excited. But you’ve hit the nail on the head, that’s where it feels like it should go.”

Edited November 27, 2025Nov 27 by SmileyKylie

On 26/11/2025 at 10:52, Jessie Where said:

I've never heard Steps' one and I never plan to.

'100 Degrees' was only a bonus track on the original album, which seems crazy. The whole release was actually really weird when you think about it.

If there was ever going to be an official Kylie and Danni single 100 Degrees was the moment for it.

With a performance on Strictly by both alongside physicals it would have entered the charts.

Not top 100 here in Ireland this week which is no real surprise.

I went to Battersea Power Station yesterday and saw the outside of the pop-up shop, and where she'd written on the wall.

2 minutes ago, Jessie Where said:

I went to Battersea Power Station yesterday and saw the outside of the pop-up shop, and where she'd written on the wall.

Is she attending in the shop when it opens?

25 minutes ago, Padamic_Tension said:

Is she attending in the shop when it opens?

I hope so! She did last time (although of course not when I did)

I'm planning on going Saturday afternoon

I wont make it over on this ocassion but when she does it again i would love to be able to get times when she is actually there herself, id love to see her face to face and ideally meet her, but i know its a big call.

HMV exclusive CD has sold out - bodes well for album sales!

https://hmv.com/store/music/cd/kylie-christmas-(fully-wrapped)-hmv-exclusive-chri

3 minutes ago, ___∆___ said:

HMV exclusive CD has sold out - bodes well for album sales!

https://hmv.com/store/music/cd/kylie-christmas-(fully-wrapped)-hmv-exclusive-chri

Oooh, shame it’s not properly signed as first ‘implied’ but still think it’s a nice collectors item especially if it has a different colour scheme too.

Fingers crossed there’s a few hundred UK chart sales there plus they might have some saved for instore too.

2 hours ago, aeroco said:

Oooh, shame it’s not properly signed as first ‘implied’ but still think it’s a nice collectors item especially if it has a different colour scheme too.

Fingers crossed there’s a few hundred UK chart sales there plus they might have some saved for instore too.

Guessing they were limited to 1,000 - it was allowing 700+ to be added to the basket at one point - so like you say assuming they’ll be a few hundred distributed to stores.

All nice positive signs that the album is going to open on fairly decent numbers.

On 29/11/2025 at 13:27, ___∆___ said:

Guessing they were limited to 1,000 - it was allowing 700+ to be added to the basket at one point - so like you say assuming they’ll be a few hundred distributed to stores.

More may become available.

Unlisted, but discovered... watch while you can, might be removed!

'Office Party' sounds cute! "I could be the Princess of Pop..." yes you are!

So we're getting a video for 'Office Party' too? I thought the "Dirty Dancing lift" was in the 'XMAS' video.

Not fully sold on office party, its ok but a bit to swing/jazzy for me.

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by Padamic_Tension

28 minutes ago, -Jay- said:

Unlisted, but discovered... watch while you can, might be removed!

How weird it’s on her channel but not on the listings…sack the intern ha ha.

Hmmm, I don't know what to think about that.

Looking at this week's album sales kylie would easily be number 1 if released last Friday.