'Especially for You' is a funny one because I wouldn't place it as one of my favourite but, when you hear it, it holds so much warmth and charm and was such a moment when performed on the Golden Tour.

The song has huge warmth.

We must also credit the song in addition to her duet partner Jason Donovan.

Part of the appeal of both these artists was the big question are they a real life couple or not.

This captured the imagination of many and raised both their profiles considerably, we must also remember such headlines were not as common in the late 80s as they are now about celebrities dating celebrities.

Their relationship was huge news in its day and they dominated so many tabloids, magzines etc for a long period.

 

 

I loved that whole time as it was kylie and Jason everywhere, at the time I thought especially for you would never get to number 1 so when it did I was super excited.I also clearly remember the day I finally got my 7" vinyl of it. Simpler times back then.

For a short while Jason Donovan was slightly more popular than Kylie.

In many ways Kylie was lucky to escape a backlash when she went off with Michael Hutchinson as Jason and Kylie were so popular at the time.

As we all, now know, the break up did lead to a huge downward spiral for Jason and Kylie really starting forming her career and went from the girl next door to a poweress woman in that period.

I was a huge Jason fan back in the day I still enjoy his between the lines album alot but his success started to fade on album two which was around the time he and kylie broke up.

I think Jason was struggling with his image at that time in general as the music he was making was not the type of music he wanted to make, he has often referred to this in interviews.

I think in later years he appreciated it more, drugs destroyed his career too and they completely took over his life.

Kylie in many ways came out of the relationship unscathed publicly.

 

 

 

 

I felt sorry for jason then but he was lucky to move on in later years and turn his life around.

Number 3 - Rhythm of love (Album) - 2,498 Points

 

 

Song Selection - 1,101 out of a possible 1,200

Album - 940 out of a possible 1,200

Cover - 457 out of a possible 1,200

 

What are your opinions ? too high ? too low ? lets discuss

The cover really lost it its points, great album that I still really like.

Edited August 16, 20195 yr by Feel_The_Fever

I like the cover but I think I'd have preferred it with the dessert background.

 

The album is my fave from the PWL era. The four singles are top notch plus Always Find the Time and Things Can Only Get Better are single worthy too. The other album tracks are great too and show that Kylie had found her way as an artist.

I dont mind the cover but in contrast to the covers of the 4 singles it could have been better as the album image doesnt match up to the images she was aiming for on the covers of the singles.

Fantastic album and if there has been one album that defines Kylie's career more than any other, it is this. Shaking off her girl next door image and fully embracing life as a grown up pop star, this is definitely a turning point where we get to see Kylie the artist, a very natural progression while still refraining the essence of who she is.

Here are my views on 'ROL' album, track by track...


Better The Devil You Know
An album can often be judged by the first track and this is no exception with this magnificent song that kick started a the 90's with a new sound, even from the very first few seconds you can tell its something very different, while still being very much pop, but it crosses so effortlessly over to a hip dance tune with a marked change in Kylie’s vocal strength as she crests over each of the choruses, radiant, exhilarating breath of fresh air. Even to this day its rightly become an anthem for her and still sounds timeless, and definitely ranks as one of if not the BEST thing she's ever done.

Step Back In Time
A thumping 90's dance track, with some added guitars and a dose of 70's music references, and what do you get? This glorious offering, a joyous Disco track with some fantastic production, which makes this the perfect follow up single and there's no denying that it was a compelling proposition - and that mixing old with new created another timeless classic.

What Do I Have To Do
Things just keep getting better with track 3 that winds itself up and explodes into yet another pop classic, definitely one of Kylie's more dance oriented singles with sultry vocals in each verse, before she dominates the chorus with some great energy. Its fast paced and never lets up from its first note to the third chorus fade. While this was remixed for its single release which amped things up and gave this song an entirely new energy, the original album version is still great and makes for yet another standout moment.

Secrets
After three banging dance anthems, the tone is taken down slightly with this track that wouldn't sound out of place on 'EY'. A nice groove with a catchy melody and while its not as strong as the previous tracks so far, its still a very well structured pop song.

Always Find The Time
Back on the Dance/Pop side of things with this great little number, that again features some great vocals from Kylie, she seems very at ease and relaxed throughout the infectious dance beat. Another decent album track that really keeps the momentum going strong.

The World Still Turns
Slowing things down now with this tender heartfelt pop ballad with a very grown up sound, with some strong vocals by Kylie where she really injects some life into this track and even the cheesy sax solo in the middle section really adds some flavour to the song (even if it dates it ever so slightly).

Shocked
Kylie's progression continues here with single #4, and its not hard to see why this era is loved by so many. Harder edged than anything she's done before with the long intro into the vocal builds and builds until eventually electric guitars elevate it to a new plain. And that’s how it stays for its near five-minute length. When Kylie starts to sing, the song just gets better and yes this was again remixed for its single release, but both versions are excellent and completed an excellent run of singles (probably the best of her career).

One Boy Girl
This is where Kylie veered into the New Jack Swing sound, and while it was nice to see Kylie experimenting with new sounds, this however wasn't executed very well, while her rapping was quite credible, the song on the whole is banal and not very memorable or catchy. Definitely the weakest moment on here.

Things Can Only Get Better
Thankfully picking the things up is this dance anthem with some fantastic electric guitars sprayed all over the song, along with some fun lyrics about life and growing up, and there is something just very uplifting about this song, very pivotal to Kylie's evolution, and along with a good melody and the techno beat really adds flavour to the song, all of which makes for yet another album highlight and if there was gonna be a 5th single, then this would have been very fitting.

Count The Days
An okay song that favours the more synth pop groove over the techno/dance beats that runs throughout the rest of the album, which makes this one of the more dated numbers on here and doesn't quite have strong enough hooks, but Kylie does give some good energy throughout and the production is decent enough.

Rhythm of Love
The last track on the album with another great slice of funky 90's pop and more sax over the middle eight, together with more self-assured vocals from Kylie, and therefore ending this fantastic album on an almighty high note.

What do i have to do is one of the few songs where i love the single and album versions equally but in different ways if that makes sense.

Number 17 - Shocked - 967 Points

 

 

 

Cover - 350 out of a possible 500

Song - 312 out of a possible 500

Video - 305 out of a possible 500

 

What are your opinions ? too high ? too low ? lets discuss

Really enjoying shocked as of late.

Shocked the final single from the glorious 4 set from Rhythm of Love.

It remains my least enjoyable single from Rhythm of Love but it remains a good single.

Yip would be my least to but those singles are all so strong.

They certainly got the single choices spot on from Rhythm Of Love.

The album itself really should have sold in much greater numbers but as previously said, Kylie suffered from over exposure at that time.

Ya that must have been the case but its an album that feels alot more succesful than it was.

Rhythm of Love certainly feels a much bigger seller than it is.

Better The Devil You Know is a signature Kylie single that feels like a Number 1 hit despite landing in runner up position.