HerbieHollywood

What a fantastic strand and thanks for all the work that has gone into it. My favourite Kylie songs are the four Rhythm of Love singles (in their release order), Turn it into Love (ok was sadly only released in Japan and on the moon), Fever and Get Outta My Way. So many surprise placings in this countdown. The arrival of digital singles and longer chart runs definitely artificially helping the likes of 2 Hearts and Wow along. Here's my prediction: All the lovers 10 Cant get you out of my head 1 Especially for you 3 Got to be certain 6 Higher 5 I should be so lucky 2 In your eyes 7 Je ne said pas pourquoi 4 Kids 8 Wow 9 This post has been edited by Dannyboy: Thursday, 08:04 PM

02 Kylie 06 Enjoy Yourself 07 Rhythm of Love 09 Let's Get To It 10 Kylie Minogue 08 Impossible Princess 11 Light Years 10 Fever 08 Body Language 02 X 10 Fever 10 Aphrodite 04 Kiss Me Once 02 Greatest Hits 92 10 Ultimate Kylie 09 Kylie Christmas 05 Abbey Road

I started my post by asking why they didn't collaborate when Kylie was a 'chart worthy pop act' - by this I meant the era when she could release a single and it be assured a top ten placing. That era has definitely passed which does not detract from the fact that her concerts still sell and she could retire very handsomely. clearly she has a lot of money in the bank and a permanent spot on chat show couches. I do dispute the mythology that Dannii was famous first - yes she was in the ensemble cast of a moderately successful Australian family TV variety hour. But she was hardly a huge star and was unlikely to ave found overseas success (or received a 2001 career reboot) without the Minogue surname being kept in lights by Kylie. anyway that's getting off topic.

Does anyone else feel that a big opportunity was missed back when Kylie was a chartworthy pop act - why didn't she and Dannii ever do a proper collaboration? And by that, I mean a proper single with a proper video and a promo campaign? I have to admit I'm not much of a Dannii fan. I've always tended to feel the media criticism that she was a second-rate Kylie to be pretty fair, although I'm sure she's a lovely person. But with this cynicism aside I would've been interested in a duet and feel that it would've been a sure fire top ten. I think Dannii herself once said they knew such a song could be a number one and that's why they why they were waiting - but the chance seems to have passed them by. Why? Unfortunately I can't help suspecting that Kylie's camp didn't want her to associate with Dannii (maybe Kylie felt the same way too professionally) ... until now. I don't believe it was purely a record company thing - collabs happen all the time when the parties are willing. Their Abba cover from the mid 00s happened and was surprisingly low key - as it were answering a public demand in the quietest way possible. I think this was because Kylie was riding high and Dannii wasn't. Kylie didn't want to damage her brand. Now Kylie's fortunes are fading and she needed all the help she could get with her Xmas album. So Dannii's phone finally rings. I'm not suggesting the sisters dislike each other or anything like that. But I am curious as to why such a moment never happened in the heyday, and if Danni would've ever got to see her name under a number one singe. The release of 100 Degrees feels like a but of a limp footnote on what might have been.

I totally agree with the bulk of what you've said except I don't think she's had a 'Believe' moment yet, which is of course entirely dependant on how you define such a thing! Kylie was in her early 30s when she released CCYOOMH and Spinning Around, which was then - and now - still a very marketable age for a pop act. Cher was 50+ when she released 'Believe' which is what makes that a 'moment' in my book - she was defying the age barriers of the time, which still existed then as they do now. So I'd love to see Kylie break down that wall and I agree that she must focus on a strong single/album. Easier said than done, of course.

I think the promo strategy was right for the material. As no one single song was a stand-out they opted to showcase everything in the hopes that people would buy it for the full Christmas experience. And in Aus, they used their one key promo slot (X-Factor) wisely by featuring the Dannii duet. Promo was everywhere. Yes the videos were low budget but its a sign of the times. They would've had small funds and used them more for photography and jetting about the place. The problem was the material. When I first heard that Kylie was doing a Xmas album my response wasn't an eye roll. It makes sense that she would do this now - sales of her last album were low and recent collabs haven't gained traction. She needed a sure bet so why not marry her campness with Xmas? Unfortunately the song choices were just okay - not terrible, just okay. Kylie doesn't have the vocal chops to do anything special with standards so the only hope was in the arrangements and the new material. And there simply wasn't enough excitement on offer to make the public go "Wow - I need the Kylie album in my Xmas collection". I also think she waited far too long to throw Dannii a bone and collaborate with her. They could've had a hit single years ago - maybe even a number one. (And yes, I do realise she doesn't need a number one to be validated - but lets face it, most of us want her to have one! And the music business is a commercial industry and without sales, it will diminish her future prospects somewhat.) I think it's all a bit indicative of Kylie needing a new angle. A lot of people talk about Cher's 'Believe' as the moment Kylie (and Madonna) need to have. Of course lightning in a bottle doesn't just happen. However I think 'Believe' - apart from being a great song - worked because it had a maturity about it, an older woman singing about life about love. I hope she can find this kind of creative direction on her next endeavour.

Some people might've thought this but a lot of others like me didn't object to her being in her 40s - the problem was simply that Sexercise wasn't sexy at all, it was just a bit desperate with its overt sex messages and shock value. ONJs Soul Kiss seems similar in that it was a mediocre song with an overtly sexual lyrics and video that was a flop too. Olivia's chart career never recovered.

I'm not old enough to have followed ONJ when she was a current music star but I can't help seeing some similarities between her and Kylie and the way their careers panned out. Aside from being beautiful Aussie ladies who are also actresses I mean: Both had long chart careers with a peak coming in the second half timeline wise (CGYOOMH and Physical) Both started out wholesome and then went dead sexy As chart success began to wane both took the sexiness too far and alienated some fans (Sexercise and Soul Kiss) Both then went down the covers/Chrismassy route - wholesome again (Kylie Christmas and basically every ONJ release since the late 80s) ONJ seems so lovely in interviews (like Kylie) and also sugar sweet that it makes it hard for me to think she's the same woman who once vamped it up. I wonder will Kylie now continue down this route or will she go more like Madonna who tries to stay edgy and youthful? I kinda hope she does something in between. I don't want her to do Sexercise again but I'd hate for her to spend the rest of her career doings covers/Xmas/kids albums or whatever. I'm a bit worried she will!

I love love love the verses and the beat - less rapt in the chorus (which by the way I feel about soooo many songs these days. What is going on with music?) I feel the same about Madonna's Living For Love. In a celebrity death match between the two songs Kylie gets my vote.

I think she needs to come back with a new album quickly. Naturally it relies on good material, with credible collabs, but don't build expectations - just put it out. Do a mature-age Beyonce surprise release. Ensure the first single is available immediately, don't force fans to buy the album, get a song back in the top ten - any song - that's the headline she desperately needs. And importantly, act your aga. Ignoring debates about when a woman should or should not start covering up, the 'sex Kylie' thing only gives the media a reason to pounce. Learn from Madonna. There's a classier route to go down. A break from music will only worsen the inertia that's set in with her fan base.

The top 3 should've been Sexy Love ITB KMO

Glad Mr P has gone. Such cringey lyrics. Sexercise must follow. Is Sexy Love the new GOOMY? I love both but yet others mysteriously hate. I just don't get it.

Turn it into love Hand on your heart Better the devil you know Let's get to it Confide in me Some kind of bliss On a night like this Fever Sweet music The one Get outta my way Sexy love

I agree with everything you said except the Sexercise bit. It's a horrible, dated, embarrassment of a song IMO and a shocking way to begin any era!

I like the concept, colour palate and costume for the video. My problem is, it's just one long shot - there should have more innovation and variation of the chosen theme - but since there's not, it's just boring. I actually don't think it's a cheap as it looks. Surely there's at least thirty extras and that costs. Plus it would have been time consuming with many stops and resets to get the illusion of an ever-changing crowd. Sadly, money badly spent. I'm afraid I've given up on this era. I wonder if we are seeing Kylie's last major commercial release. I feel Parlaphone are not going to keep investing in her, unless it's for a cheap covers project with a mothers day timed release.

You are right - the chorus hook is exactly like Delta. It will be interesting to see if the media picks up on this, it could be Kylie's first major brush with a minor plagiarism scandal! The drums are also very Katie Perry / California Girls. I agree it's a better lead single than ATL. Can't see it hitting number one unless she does a killer live performance on The Voice. But I like!

I love GOOMY - it's in my top five ever Kylie songs - whereas ATL wouldn't be in my top ten. Personally I think it was let down by a boring video and disappointing live performances.

I have to agree, I'm not a fan of this album at all and the whole project seems dreadfully predictable to me - it seems like so many artists get to a certain age - their chart fortunes fade - so they start coming out with releases that rely on past glories. Yes, I know many ardent fans here will object to that harsh criticism. And yes, I do realize it's her 25 year, so such a release does fit with the theme. I just find the while thing very meh. That said, I can understand where Kylie and Parlaphone are coming from. With all the money invested in Aphrodite - big name song writing/producer sessions, videos, promotion, etc - you have to wonder if it turned much of a profit in the end. Am I the only one feeling a bit pessimistic about the future?

The 25th anniversary celebrations have just gone from boring to BRILLIANT! This is exactly what Kylie needs to be doing - moving forward (as well as looking back). Love the song, love the video. It feels like she's got her swagger back. Why is it not on the upcoming Best Of? The only theory I want to believe in is this - there is a studio album coming at the end of the year, and Time Bomb will appear on that. We'll get another new song around Sep, album Oct/Nov. The Best Of is an interim cash-in. It's odd that Time Bomb would be released at the same time, thus giving the impression that both projects are connected, but perhaps the new single was brought forward to capitalize on her slot on The Voice? In any case, she needs to get her ass over to the US immediately. She has her first potential Hot 100 hit in a decade.

Most. Disappointing. News. Ever. Not even one new song? Extremely poor effort. The only thing that will make up for this in my book is a brand new studio album by the end of the year. Unlikely. As for the song selection, well you can't please everyone, but I also love the fact that there's no 2 Hearts. Finally, an unofficial admission that it was a shocking lead album single (and a pointless Kiss Mauve cover). But God, yes, should have been 25 songs, hello no brainer!

1. You're comparing apples with oranges. ATL is arguably her first true single of the digital age*. In this age, songs sell far more units thanks to itunes etc. Per unit, indeed, it sold well compared to her singles from BL and X. Compared with other hit songs from 2010 - it was decent, but not substantial hit. 2. I agree to a point. Madonna did very little promotion - but when was the last time she did? In the past, Madonna could fart in a bottle and see it go top ten. Those days are gone. Rihanna & Katy can still do it. 3. Personally I thought GOOMW was a corker. That said, I hated the video and the key is very hard to perform live (which she did numerous times). B sides are totally irrelevant - they only count on physical singles and few buy them anyway. * Before you shoot me down, I do realise that itunes was around during the days of X. But strong physical sales alone could still get you into the top ten back then. Not anymore.

I think the dawn of the digital age has exposed a shift in Kylie's fan base. Prior to the Aphrodite era, you didn't need all that many sales - digital or physical - to make it to the top ten. But with the explosion of digital, young people now buy singles again, and Kylie has much less of an impact in the market place. I know this is a reality many die hard fans don't want to accept - I don't want to either. But try as I might, I can't blame the record company / release / promote schedule for the failures of GOOMW and BTD. For example, Rihanna/Gaga/Katy don't need every planet to be aligned (eg an appearance on X-Factor) to make a splash on the charts. But for Kylie, we insist that all ducks be lined up. We're seeing the exact same thing now with Madonna. I don't like the MDNA era, but I don't think it's any worse than Hard Candy or Confessions. Yet those releases produced a plethora of chart hits. Times have changed. Where to from here? I believe Kylie can still have hits - and certainly sell decent amounts of albums - but she needs to diversify, which in fact she is doing perfectly. Can't fault her approach at this stage of her career.

I think it will be a new song to promote a new greatest hits. It will be another traditional collection called K25 (yes, its too soon after Ulimate Kylie, but the record company won't be able to resist). I suspect the acoustic songs might sit on a bonus CD to this collection - cant see it warranting a release of its own, unless it was timed for Mothers Day or some such. But I love the sound of Time Bomb!

Would love to see the debut / early figures for Especially For You. Sales for the weeks when it finally hit the summit are pretty average, considering it accumulated total sales upwards of 1 million, no? Also think this song could benefit from a well times re-release, eg if they reunite to perform it at the SAW reunion concert.

I agree - there should be no performances of singles or songs commonly performed on tours, despite the temptation to throw them in. I'd love the rumoured K25 greatest hits collection to be a three disc thing, including major hits, some new songs (at least 6!) and bonus disc, containing the best b-sides & rarities, as market tested on the anti-tour. Otherwise, it's just another hits collection, and not much of a progression from Ultimate Kylie.