Leon Jackson
Leon Jackson attending the London movie premiere of The Golden Compass in November 2007
Background information
Birth name	Leon Jackson
Born	(1988-12-30) 30 December 1988 (age 23)
Origin	Whitburn, West Lothian, Scotland
Genres	Pop, jazz, acoustic, alternative rock
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Sony BMG, Syco, Independent RCA Records
Associated acts	Michael Bublé, Kylie Minogue, Emily Biggs, Parade
Website	leonjacksonmusic.com

Leon Jackson (born 30 December 1988) is a Scottish singer. He won the fourth series of British talent show The X Factor in 2007. Following his win, Jackson was the main star of his on-web series entitled Leon's Life, which ran from 2007 until 2008.^[1] Jackson's début album, Right Now (2008) finished the year as the 75th best-selling album in the UK, and included the singles, "Don't Call This Love", "Creative" and "Stargazing".

Jackson's début single, "When You Believe", a cover of a song sung by Whitney Houston and composed and written by Stephen Schwartz, was the 92nd best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK,^[2] and was the third best-selling of 2007.^[2] Jackson had the best selling single from a British Male Artist in 2007^[2] beating the likes of Mika, Take That and Mark Ronson in the best-selling male category, and being beaten by Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" and Rihanna's "Umbrella" to the number one and number two positions, respectively.^[2]

Life and career[link]

1988–07: Early life[link]

Leon Jackson was born in Whitburn, West Lothian, Scotland.^[3] Before pursuing his singing career, he worked as a retail sales assistant with Gap. He is a supporter of Rangers F.C.^[4] He was a fan of contemporary jazz, his hero being Michael Bublé, and he has stated that during his early years, karate and singing were the only things that made him happy.^[5] He got his black belt at the age of 10.^[6] Before he appeared on The X Factor, Jackson was planning to attend Edinburgh Napier University, studying architectural technology.

Leon started singing in public in January 2007. He wanted to pursue a career in music so he entered X Factor and, after doing well in the competition, deferred his place at Edinburgh Napier.^[5]

[edit] 2007–08: The X Factor

Jackson, during his time on X Factor in 2007

In 2007, Leon Jackson auditioned for the fourth series of The X Factor in Glasgow, being filmed at the city's Crowne Plaza Hotel. During the show, he was mentored by Dannii Minogue. After progressing through the rounds, he reached the final on 15 December 2007, in which he performed a duet with Kylie Minogue of "Better the Devil You Know", as well as three other songs. After the public vote, he was declared winner, receiving a £1 million recording contract with Simon Cowell's company Syco, a division of Sony BMG.^[7]

Jackson was an outsider to win the competition, and his victory was described as "the biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting."^[8] X Factor judge Louis Walsh later said that Jackson had won the vote by about 10%.^[9] A number of viewers complained to watchdog Ofcom that they were unable to get through to vote for Jackson's rival Rhydian Roberts, but an Ofcom investigation found that Roberts had not been unfairly disadvantaged.^[10][11][12] More than 12 Million people watched the final of Leon winning. Jackson described winning as "not Real".^[12]

In December 2007, Jackson was invited to perform with Canadian performer Michael Bublé at Wembley Arena, singing Bublé's "Home" because Bublé was so impressed by his singing ability. Jackson later said this had been the highlight of his life, because Bublé is his idol. Leon was the first and so far only X Factor contestant to perform at Wembley while still in the competition.^[13] with Rhydian Roberts the runner-up and Dannii Minogue emerging as the winning mentor.^[14] The

The series hit the headlines even before recording began. Some of the controversy centred upon whether 14 and 15-year-olds should be eligible to enter, and also on the high-profile dismissals of judge Louis Walsh and presenter Kate Thornton,^[15][16] to be replaced by choreographer and Grease Is the Word judge Brian Friedman and Big Brother's Little Brother host Dermot O'Leary respectively. Before hiring Freidman and Minogue, Cowell had apparently approached colleague and fellow American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and close friend and X Factor mentor Sinitta. Walsh, however, was quickly reinstated, with Friedman becoming the show's choreographer. Jackson's prize as winner was a £1 million recording contract.^[17] His first single release was "When You Believe", arranged for the finalists by composer Stephen Schwartz and released to download on 16 December 2007, with the physical format following on 19 December. The single became that year's Christmas Number One in the UK Singles Chart. The series was Sharon Osbourne's final series as a judge and was replaced the following year by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole.

On 11 February 2008, Jackson began the "X Factor Live" tour in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland with Rhydian Roberts, Same Difference and the eight other finalists from the 2007 show. They continued the tour in other venues around the UK until 21 March when the tour finished at London's Wembley Arena, thus concluding The X Factor 2007.

[edit] 2008–09: When You Believe and Right Now

Jackson performing live in 2008.

Jackson's debut single, a cover of the Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey duet "When You Believe" went on sale as a download from midnight on Sunday, 16 December 2007 and as a CD on Wednesday, 19 December 2007. The debut single is set to be the fastest-selling single of 2007, with sales predicted to reach 300,000 by Sunday.^[18] At Woolworths the single at its peak was selling 40 copies per minute.^[19] Bookmakers reportedly stopped taking bets on who would get the 2007 Christmas number-one single, as "Leon [was] practically guaranteed top spot".^[20] "When You Believe" indeed reached number one in the UK on 23 December 2007. This made Jackson the first Scottish artist to achieve a Christmas number one.^{[citation needed]}

Jackson appeared as a celebrity guest on the first live episode of series five of The X Factor on 11 October 2008, to perform the first single, "Don't Call This Love", from his upcoming album Right Now. The song was released the next day, and peaked at #3 on the UK singles chart and #8 in Ireland.^[21]

Jackson performing live during the Right Now UK Tour (2009)

Right Now was released on 20 October 2008.^[22] It debuted at #4 on the UK Top 40 Albums chart the week of 26 October 2008.^[23] It remained in the Top 40 for three weeks total, before slipping out of the Top 40^[24][25][26] but remaining in the Top 75 for an additional six weeks.^[27] The album debuted on the Ireland Top 75 Albums chart at #7 for the week of 23 October 2008, staying on that chart for a total of five weeks.^[27] The second single from the album, "Creative", was released as a download-only purchase in late 2008. It peaked at #94 on 29 November 2008 on the UK Singles chart.^[28] The third and final single, "Stargazing", was released to radio stations in January 2009. It was also made available for purchase as a download-only single.^[29] The help promote Right Now, Jackson performed on various UK TV Shows such GMTV, This Morning and The X Factor. Jackson's first single When You Believe which reached #1 in the UK^[30] was performed by Jackson in December 2007 to help promote the single. He performed it on GMTV, The X Factor and This Morning.

In July 2008, Bublé again invited Jackson to join him on stage at the Glasgow SECC for a duet of "Lost".^[31] In December 2008, Jackson performed at the 2008 Hogmanay Event in Edinburgh.^[32] However in 2007 Jackson pulled out of the event due to tonsillitis where he would have been playing with Scottish singer Amy MacDonald.^[33]

The album sold 130,000 copies and Jackson was dropped from the Sony BMG label.^[34] Jackson proceeded to work with writers who have worked with Paolo Nutini and James Morrison. Jackson told The Sun newspaper that he was focusing on preparing for an upcoming concert tour of the UK, which would take place in May and June 2009.^[35][36]

Scottish singer and songwriter Sandi Thom had lined up Jackson as a Supporting Guest Act in Glasgow as part of her Homecoming Scotland 2009 Tour.^[37] As of April 2009 half of the concert dates had been cancelled by the management. The reason why the dates were cancelled is unknown, but Leon said he was "gutted" at the cancellations and that it was not his doing.^[38] All but two of the joint tour days from England and Wales remained (with support act Same Difference playing a solo tour gig in Portsmouth),^[39] while seven of the nine tour dates in Scotland remained.^[40]

2010–present: Departure from Sony and second album[link]

In 2009, Jackson confirmed that he was working on a brand new studio album which would be more acoustic in style, different from the jazz and soul genre of his debut album Right Now.^[41] Even though Jackson has failed to find another record deal since he got dropped by his label Sony BMG in March 2009, he hopes to release the album independently.^[42]

Leon travelled to Los Angeles in May 2010 to work with songwriters to come up with tracks for his new sound. He worked with credible artists, such as Ernie Halter, to create piano and guitar led songs, as well as writing some himself. Whilst in L.A, he also performed at 'The Gypsy Lounge' with American artists.^[43]

In May 2010, Jackson was announced as the 2nd biggest reality TV flop, winning 76% of the 1,300 people polled, losing out only to Steve Brookstein.^[44][45][46] He has vowed to never perform When You Believe again, calling his X-Factor success a curse ^[47] and revealing he was no longer in contact with former mentor Dannii Minogue or Simon Cowell subsequent to being dropped by Syco Music.^[48] Jackson said he felt "crushed" by Cowell after finding out through the newspaper that Cowell had dropped him.^[49] On 1 September 2010, Jackson released a video for his song, "Different Lives".^[50]

Jackson then announced a summer tour in 2010 where he would perform his new acoustic sound. The first date was at the Half Moon, Putney, London on 8 June. Leon performed guitar and piano-led songs.^[51] The second date was at the ABC Glasgow on 10 July, where he sold out the show and more tickets were put on sale due to popular demand.^[52] The final date of the tour was on 31 July at the O2 Academy Birmingham, where Jackson again performed new songs written by himself and American songwriters.^[53]

On 16 February 2011, Jackson attended the 2011 BRIT Awards as part of the Universal Records after-party.^[54] Jackson has been writing new material and taught himself to play the guitar and piano, which he has brought into his new songs. Some of the new songs include 'Never Left The Ground', 'Ode to Isabel', 'The Other Side', 'See It Through Your Eyes' and 'Wounded by Love'.^[42] Jackson will debut at least four new songs at several summer festivals in 2011.^[55]

The 2011 Scottish New Music Awards were held on 4 September 2011. Jackson performed an acoustic set of new songs.^{[citation needed]} Jackson is still working on his second studio album.^{[citation needed]}

Jackson is said to have written a song for The Voice UK's contestant Vince Kidd named "Sick Love" along with Kidd^[56]. A video of the song premiered on YouTube on 30 January 2012.

Other ventures[link]

Jackson supports the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), a Scottish charity established to provide hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. According to Jackson's own website: “As far as team Leon is concerned music is about life not the other way round. It’s a privilege to be able use your gifting to bring joy to people, travelling and paying the bills is a bonus".^[57]

Following Jackson's X Factor win in 2007, Jackson appeared in his own web series, Leon's Life, which was solely broadcast on the social networking site, Bebo.^[58] The series ran from his win in December 2007 until mid-2008. The series followed the press and television coverage, recording of his debut album, Right Now (released a year after), and the promotion of the album following his win on The X Factor.

Award show appearances[link]

In April 2008, Leon Jackson was awarded the Sunday Mail Young Scot Award at Glasgow City Hall for being a positive role model to young people.^[59] In 2011, Jackson was the host of the Sunday Mail 2011 Young Scot Awards which were held in August 2011 in Glasgow at the Glasgow International Hilton Hotel.

In May 2011, He was nominated at the Johnnie Walker Blue Label "Great" Awards.^[60]

Concert Tours[link]

Headlining

• The X Factor 2008 Tour (2008)
• Right Now (2009)
• Live & Acoustic 2010 Summer Tour (2010)
• Watchet music festival (2011)

Supporting

• Sandi Thom 2009 Homecoming Scotland Tour (Support act in Glasgow)

Discography[link]

Studio albums

• Right Now (2008)
• Different Lives (TBA)

Extended plays

• The Different Lives Youtube EP (2011)^[50]

Filmography[link]

• Leon's Life (2007–2008): Himself^[1]

See also[link]

• List of artists who reached number one in Ireland
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Leon Jackson at the Internet Movie Database

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Leon Jackson

The King V is an electric guitar made by Jackson Guitars based on the Gibson Flying V. The Jackson King V was originally designed for Robbin Crosby of Ratt and he popularized the guitar throughout the 80s. Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine eventually became the guitarist most identified with using this model. After creating a custom King V for Mustaine (completed October 10, 1986), the company later began mass-producing a Dave Mustaine Signature Series King V, which would become one of their best selling guitars. This line continued into the early 2000s, when it underwent massive changes and became the Y2KV, a guitar based much more heavily on the Gibson Flying V. Mustaine then sold his entire personal collection of Jacksons, and subsequently signed endorsement deals with ESP Guitars then Dean Guitars.

Variants of the King V[link]

Listed below is the range of King V models.

Double Rhoads(never in mass production)[link]

The Double Rhoads was a symmetrical version of the Jackson Randy Rhoads with two longer horns, the first one was ordered from Overkill guitarist Dave Linsk. While the guitar was made, Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby saw it and wanted a similar guitar.Jackson built him two, one red and one black (he later got his white DR).Circa 10 Double Rhoads' were built before the design was changed with smaller wings and became the King V, the first King V was silver with black bevels.

King V Custom (Custom Shop)[link]

From start to 1990 this was the name for a King V with sharkfin inlays, neck binding and ebony fretboard. Pickup and bridge options were anything the purchaser wanted.

King V Student (Custom Shop)[link]

Same as above, but with dot inlays, no binding, and jun fretboard.

KV1(Artist Signature Series) (no longer in production)[link]

The KV1 is a Dave Mustaine signature model and is the first commercially-sold model of the King V. Previously known as the King V Pro, the KV1 supersedes the King V Pro and eliminated the Cherryburst finish in favor of a natural Korina wood finish. The tuners were replaced with LSR locking tuners as well. The end-points were shortened from the prototype created for Robbin Crosby as it was created as a "Double-Rhoads" which has a longer point than this model (The "Double-Rhoads" has 2 equal length long points). All other variants below stemmed from this design. USA-made versions of this guitar are highly-coveted by metal guitarists and are typically difficult to locate for sale.

A KV1, same model played by Mustaine before the Y2KV was created.

Y2KV (Artist Signature Series) (no longer in production)[link]

The Y2KV is a Dave Mustaine signature model and differs from all other King Vs in that it has rounded ends which seem similar to that of the Gibson Flying V.

KV2 (USA Series)[link]

The KV2 is a variant of the King V which comes under the 'USA Select Series' of Jackson Guitars. The body is made of alder and is intersected by a neck-thru quartersawn maple neck with ebony fingerboard. It has Neck and Bridge humbucking pickups, both from Seymour Duncan, which are both the JB model. This model has 24 frets and a 2-point double locking Floyd Rose tremolo and is constructed in the US. The KV2 is one of the 2 USA Select Series guitars (alongside the KE2) built with the "Jackson Speed Neck" profile, a slim neck thickness for a fast playability.

KV2T (USA Series)[link]

The KV2T is a variant of the King V which comes under the 'USA Select Series' of Jackson Guitars. The body is made of mahogany and is intersected by a three piece neck-thru quartersawn mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard. It has neck and bridge humbucking pickups, both from Seymour Duncan, with a JB in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. This model has 24 frets but what is unique to this particular model is that it has a string through body, 'shark eye' fretboard inlay, an abalone Jackson logo on the headstock, the headstock itself is an SLS type rather than the traditional concorde Jackson headstock and has Sperzel locking tuners. Also to note is that the body is a flat top and lacks the bevels of the other Jackson King Vs. The guitar is also a 24 3/4" scale rather than the 25.5" scale that other Jackson King Vs have, though it was originally produced in a 25.5" scale.

KV3 (Pro Series) (no longer in production)[link]

The KV3 was produced in 98-01 in Japan. Features Duncan Designed pickups, Jackson JT580LP Tremolo, 22 frets, 1x volume, 1x tone, 1x 3way toggle, sharktooth inlays, bolt on maple neck, poplar body. Mother of pearl inlaid rosewood fret board. The jack output was situated upon the upper wing, just like in more expensive series.

KV4 (no longer in production)[link]

Since 1999 (Korean Series) / 2001 (USA Series), features Seymour Duncan JB Model SH-4 and TB-4 pickups, Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson JT580LP Tremolo, 24 frets, 1x volume, 1x tone, 1x 3way toggle, pearloid sharkfin inlays, maple neck-thru alder body w/ rosewood fretboard.

KV5(no longer in production)[link]

This is a Japanese made 'mid range' variant for the King V. The body is made of Alder and is intersected by a neck-thru quartersawn maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. It has Neck and Bridge humbucking pickups, both from Seymour Duncan. This model has 24 frets and a 2-point double locking Floyd Rose tremolo.

KVX10 (X series)[link]

Early models were alder w/ a bolt on maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and an adjustable bridge string-through-body design; post 2006 models are basswood. the pickups are Duncan Designed HB-103B in the bridge position and an HB-102N in the neck position. The standard model has 24 frets w/ sharkfin inlays and a Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson low profile tremolo. This model's first year was 2001 and was built in India for that year only. Subsequent models are all built in Japan.

JS30KV (JS Series)[link]

The JS30KV is a variant of the King V which comes under the 'JS series'; the entry-level series of Jackson Guitars. The body is made of Indian Cedro, connected to the maple neck, which is bolt-on. The fingerboard is made from Rosewood. The guitar has 24 frets and Jackson humbucking pickups. The bridge is an adjustable string-through-body, Jackson JT390 specification. This model is built in Indonesia.
A next generation version of the JS30KV are the JS32T King V (same as JS30, but sharkfin inlays) and the JS32R King V(same as JS32, but with Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Low Profile JT580 LP Double Locking 2-Point Tremolo)

Jenna Jameson Model (Custom Shop Limited Run) (no longer in production)[link]

The Jenna Jameson model is an altered KVX10. The model is limited edition and features a Jenna Jameson graphic on the body, her signature below one of the humbuckers and a copy of her 'Heart-breaker' tattoo inlaid at the 12th fret. This model features an adjustable string-through-body bridge and slightly superior humbuckers like the older KVX10 model (pre-2006).

25th Anniversary Model (Custom Shop Limited Run)(no longer in production)[link]

The 25th Anniversary Model was announced to coincide with Jackson Guitars' 25th Anniversary, 2006. Two guitars were released, one a limited edition Kelly, the other a limited edition King V. The King V comes in Mercedes Silver only and is hand-signed by Mike Shannon, Senior Master Builder at the Jackson Custom Shop. The body is made from Poplar and is intersected by a quartersawn maple neck-thru three-piece neck. The fingerboard is made from ebony and has 22 frets. The guitar has neck and bridge humbucking pickups, both made by Seymour Duncan. The bridge is an original Floyd Rose 2 point double locking tremolo. This guitar was built in the Jackson custom shop and only 25 units were made.

Demmelition King V (Artist Signature Series)[link]

The first signature model since the Y2KV, the Demmelition King V is the signature model of guitarist Phil Demmel of Machine Head. Demmelition King Vs however are not built like traditional King Vs, as they have two cutaways in each wing on the guitar (used to only be available as custom shop option only). The guitar has an alder body, a maple neck, a 24 fret ebony fretboard with mother of pearl sharkfin inlays, an original Floyd Rose tremolo, EMG 81 active pickup at the bridge and an EMG 60 active pickup at the neck. The Demmelition King V is also factory tuned to Drop B tuning, the same tuning Demmel uses on most Machine Head songs (some are in C# Standard, such as Aesthetics of Hate). It is available in five color schemes (black with silver bevels, white with black bevels, red with black bevels, gold with black bevels and black with white polka dots).

King V KVXMG (X Series)[link]

KVXMG has a basswood body, neck through-body construction, maple neck and active EMG 85 and 81 humbucking pickups. Other features include Floyd Rose Special double-locking two-point tremolo, 24 jumbo frets, and three-way blade pickup switching. Available in Black, Kawasabi Green and Snow White.

External links[link]

• Official Jackson Guitars Website

Kylie Minogue
Background information
Birth name	Kylie Ann Minogue
Born	(1968-05-28) 28 May 1968 (age 44) Melbourne, Australia
Genres	Pop, synthpop, nu-disco,[1][2] dance-pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, fashion designer, author, entrepreneur, showgirl
Years active	1979–present
Labels	PWL, Mushroom, Deconstruction, Parlophone, Warner Music Australia
Website	kylie.com

Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE ( /ˈkaɪliː mɨˈnoʊɡ/; born 28 May 1968) — often known simply as Kylie — is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, showgirl, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing her career as a recording artist in 1987. Her first single, "Locomotion", spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart and became the highest selling single of the decade. This led to a contract with songwriters and producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Her debut album, Kylie (1988), and the single "I Should Be So Lucky", each reached number one in the United Kingdom, and over the next two years, her first 13 singles reached the British top ten. Her debut film, The Delinquents (1989) was a box-office hit in Australia and the UK, and received generally positive reviews.

Initially presented as a "girl next door", Minogue attempted to convey a more mature style in her music and public image. Her singles were well received, but after four albums her record sales were declining, and she left Stock, Aitken & Waterman in 1992 to establish herself as an independent performer. Her next single, "Confide in Me", reached number one in Australia and was a hit in several European countries in 1994, and a duet with Nick Cave, "Where the Wild Roses Grow", brought Minogue a greater degree of artistic credibility. Drawing inspiration from a range of musical styles and artists, Minogue took creative control over the songwriting for her next album, Impossible Princess (1997). It failed to attract strong reviews or sales in the UK, but was successful in Australia.

Minogue returned to prominence in 2000 with the single "Spinning Around" and the dance-oriented album Light Years, and she performed during the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Her music videos showed a more sexually provocative and flirtatious personality and several hit singles followed. "Can't Get You Out of My Head" reached number one in more than 40 countries, and the album Fever (2001) was a hit in many countries, including the United States, a market in which Minogue had previously received little recognition. Minogue embarked on a concert tour but cancelled it when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005. After surgery and chemotherapy treatment, she resumed her career in 2006 with Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour. Her tenth studio album X was released in 2007 and was followed by the KylieX2008 tour. In 2009, she embarked upon her For You, For Me Tour, her first concert tour of the United States and Canada, and the following year released her eleventh studio album, Aphrodite.

Minogue has achieved worldwide record sales of more than 68 million,^[3] and has received notable music awards, including multiple ARIA and Brit Awards and a Grammy Award. She has mounted several successful and critically acclaimed concert world tours and received a Mo Award for "Australian Entertainer of the Year" for her live performances. Bestowed from the Queen of Australia Queen Elizabeth II, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) at Buckingham Palace in 2008 "for services to music". In the same year she was awarded France's highest cultural honour, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government for her contribution to the enrichment of French culture. In 2011, "I Should Be So Lucky" was added to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's Sounds of Australia registry.^[4][5] While also in 2011, Minogue was awarded an honorary Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc.) degree by Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom of for her work in raising awareness for breast cancer. On 27 November 2011, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ARIA Music Awards, Kylie Minogue was inducted by the Australian Recording Industry Association into the ARIA Hall of Fame.^[6]

Life and career[link]

1968–86: Early life and career beginnings[link]

Kylie Ann Minogue was born 28 May 1968 in Melbourne, Australia, the eldest child of Ronald Charles Minogue, an accountant of Irish ancestry^[7] and Carol Ann (née Jones), a former dancer from Maesteg, Wales.^[8] Kylie's sister, Dannii Minogue, was also a pop singer^[7] and is a judge on Australia's Got Talent, while her brother, Brendan, works as a news cameraman in Australia.^[9] The Minogue children were raised in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, and educated at Camberwell High School.^[10]

The Minogue sisters began their careers as children on Australian television.^[7] From the age of 11, Kylie appeared in small roles in soap operas such as The Sullivans and Skyways, and in 1985 was cast in one of the lead roles in The Henderson Kids.^[11] Interested in following a career in music, she made a demo tape for the producers of the weekly music programme Young Talent Time,^[12] which featured Dannii as a regular performer.^[13] Kylie gave her first television singing performance on the show in 1985 but was not invited to join the cast. Dannii's success overshadowed Kylie's acting achievements,^[7] until Kylie was cast in the soap opera Neighbours in 1986,^[10] as Charlene Mitchell, a schoolgirl turned garage mechanic. Neighbours achieved popularity in the UK, and a story arc that created a romance between her character and the character played by Jason Donovan, culminated in a wedding episode in 1987 that attracted an audience of 20 million British viewers.^[14]

Her popularity in Australia was demonstrated when she became the first person to win four Logie Awards in one event, and the youngest recipient of the "Gold Logie" as the country's "Most Popular Television Performer", with the result determined by public vote.^[15]

[edit] 1987–92: Kylie, Enjoy Yourself, Rhythm of Love and Let's Get to It

During a Fitzroy Football Club benefit concert with other Neighbours cast members, Minogue performed "I Got You Babe" as a duet with the actor John Waters, and "The Loco-Motion" as an encore, and was subsequently signed to a recording contract with Mushroom Records in 1987.^[16] Her first single, "The Loco-Motion", spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian music charts. It sold 200,000 copies,^[12] became the highest selling single of the 1980s,^[17] and Minogue received the ARIA Award for the year's highest selling single.^[18] Its success resulted in Minogue travelling to England with Mushroom Records executive Gary Ashley to work with Stock, Aitken & Waterman. They knew little of Minogue and had forgotten that she was arriving; as a result, they wrote "I Should Be So Lucky" while she waited outside the studio.^[19] The song reached number one in the UK, Australia, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Israel and Hong Kong.^[20] Minogue won her second consecutive ARIA Award for the year's highest selling single, and received a "Special Achievement Award".^[21] Her debut album, Kylie, a collection of dance-oriented pop tunes spent more than a year on the British album charts, including several weeks at number one.^[22] The album went gold in the United States, and the single, "The Loco-Motion", reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart,^[23] and number one on the Canadian Singles Chart. "It's No Secret", released only in the U.S., peaked at number 37 in early 1989,^[23] and "Turn It Into Love" was released as a single in Japan, where it reached number one.

In July 1988, "Got To Be Certain" became Minogue's third consecutive number one single on the Australian music charts,^[24] and later in the year she left Neighbours to focus on her music career. Jason Donovan commented "When viewers watched her on screen they no longer saw Charlene the local mechanic, they saw Kylie the pop star."^[7] A duet with Donovan, titled "Especially for You", sold almost one million copies in the UK in early 1989, but critic Kevin Killian wrote that the duet was "majestically awful ... [it] makes the Diana Ross, Lionel Richie 'Endless Love' sound like Mahler."^[25] She was sometimes referred to as "the Singing Budgie" by her detractors over the coming years,^[26] however Chris True's comment about the album Kylie for Allmusic suggests that Minogue's appeal transcended the limitations of her music, by noting that "her cuteness makes these rather vapid tracks bearable".^[27]

Her follow-up album Enjoy Yourself (1989) was a success in the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand, Asia and Australia, and contained several successful singles, including the British number one "Hand on Your Heart",^[22] but it failed throughout North America, and Minogue was dropped by her American record label Geffen Records. She embarked on her first concert tour, the Enjoy Yourself Tour, in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and Australia, where Melbourne's Herald Sun wrote that it was "time to ditch the snobbery and face facts—the kid's a star."^[28] In December 1989, Minogue was one of the featured vocalists on the remake of "Do They Know It's Christmas",^[29] and her debut film, The Delinquents, premiered in London. It was poorly received by critics,^[29] and the Daily Mirror reviewed Minogue's performance with the comment that she "has as much acting charisma as cold porridge",^[30] but it proved popular with audiences; in the UK it grossed more than £200,000,^[31] and in Australia it was the fourth-highest grossing local film of 1989 and the highest grossing local film of 1990.^[32]

Rhythm of Love (1990) presented a more sophisticated and adult style of dance music and also marked the first signs of Minogue's rebellion against her production team and the "girl-next-door" image.^[33] Determined to be accepted by a more mature audience, Minogue took control of her music videos, starting with "Better the Devil You Know", and presented herself as a sexually aware adult.^[34] Her relationship with Michael Hutchence was also seen as part of Minogue's departure from her earlier persona; Hutchence was quoted as saying that his hobby was "corrupting Kylie", and that the INXS song "Suicide Blonde" had been inspired by her.^[35] The singles from Rhythm of Love sold well in Europe and Australia and were popular in British nightclubs. Pete Waterman later reflected that "Better the Devil You Know" was a milestone in her career and said that it made her "the hottest, hippest dance act on the scene and nobody could knock it as it was the best dance record around at the time".^[7] "Shocked" became Minogue's thirteenth consecutive British top-10 single.^[22]

In May 1990, Minogue performed her band's arrangement of The Beatles's "Help!" before a crowd of 25,000 at the John Lennon: The Tribute Concert on the banks of the River Mersey in Liverpool. Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon offered Minogue their thanks for her support of The John Lennon Fund, while the media commented positively on her performance. The Sun wrote "The soap star wows the Scousers — Kylie Minogue deserved her applause".^[36] Her fourth album, Let's Get to It (1991), reached number 15 on the British album charts and was the first of her albums to fail to reach the Top 10;^[22] her fourteenth single "Word Is Out" was the first to miss the Top 10 singles chart,^[22] though subsequent singles "If You Were with Me Now" and "Give Me Just a Little More Time" reached number four and number two respectively.^[22] Minogue had fulfilled the requirements of her contract and elected not to renew it.^[7] She later expressed her opinion that she was stifled by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and said, "I was very much a puppet in the beginning. I was blinkered by my record company. I was unable to look left or right."^[37]

A Greatest Hits album was released in 1992. It reached number one in the UK^[22] and number three in Australia,^[38] and the singles "What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)" and her cover version of Kool & The Gang's "Celebration" each reached the UK Top 20.^[22]

[edit] 1993–98: Kylie Minogue and Impossible Princess

Minogue's subsequent signing with Deconstruction Records was highly touted in the music media as the beginning of a new phase in her career, but the eponymous Kylie Minogue (1994) received mixed reviews. It sold well in Europe and Australia, where the single "Confide in Me" spent four weeks at number one.^[39] She performed a striptease in the video for her next single, "Put Yourself in My Place", inspired by Jane Fonda in the film Barbarella.^[40] This single and her next, "Where Is the Feeling?" each reached the British top 20,^[22] and the album peaked at number four,^[22] eventually selling 250,000 copies.^[41] During this period she made a guest appearance as herself, in an episode of the comedy The Vicar of Dibley. The director Steven E. de Souza was intrigued by Minogue's cover photo in Australia's Who Magazine as one of "The 30 Most Beautiful People in the World", and offered her a role opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Street Fighter (1994).^[42] The film was a moderate success, earning US$70 million in the U.S.,^[42] but received poor reviews with The Washington Post's Richard Harrington calling Minogue "the worst actress in the English-speaking world".^[43] She co-starred with Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin in Bio-Dome (1996), but it was a failure, dismissed by Movie Magazine International as the "biggest waste of celluloid space".^[42] Minogue returned to Australia where she appeared in the short film, Hayride to Hell (1995), and then to the UK where she filmed a cameo role as herself in the film Diana & Me (1997).^[44]

File:KylieMinogueWhereTheWildRosesGrowVideo.jpg

The music video for "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (1995) (left) was inspired by John Everett Millais' Ophelia (1851/52) (right).

Australian artist Nick Cave had been interested in working with Minogue since hearing "Better the Devil You Know", saying it contained "one of pop music's most violent and distressing lyrics" and "when Kylie Minogue sings these words, there is an innocence to her that makes the horror of this chilling lyric all the more compelling".^[45] They collaborated on "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (1995), a brooding ballad whose lyrics narrated a murder from the points of view of both the murderer (Cave), and his victim (Minogue). The video was inspired by John Everett Millais's painting Ophelia (1851–1852), and showed Minogue as the murdered woman, floating in a pond as a serpent swam over her body. The single received widespread attention in Europe, where it reached the top 10 in several countries, and acclaim in Australia where it reached number two on the singles chart,^[46] and won ARIA Awards for "Song of the Year" and "Best Pop Release".^[47] Following concert appearances with Cave, Minogue recited the lyrics to "I Should Be So Lucky" as poetry in London's Royal Albert Hall "Poetry Jam", at the suggestion of Cave, and later described it as a "most cathartic moment".^[48] She credited Cave with giving her the confidence to express herself artistically, saying: "He taught me to never veer too far from who I am, but to go further, try different things, and never lose sight of myself at the core. For me, the hard part was unleashing the core of myself and being totally truthful in my music."^[49] By 1997, Minogue was in a relationship with the French photographer Stéphane Sednaoui, who encouraged her to develop her creativity.^[50] Inspired by a mutual appreciation of Japanese culture, they created a visual combination of "geisha and manga superheroine" for the photographs taken for the album Impossible Princess and the video for "German Bold Italic", Minogue's collaboration with Towa Tei.^[51] Minogue drew inspiration from the music of artists such as Shirley Manson and Garbage, Björk, Tricky and U2, and Japanese pop musicians such as Pizzicato Five and Towa Tei.^[52]

Impossible Princess featured collaborations with musicians such as James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore of the Manic Street Preachers. Mostly a dance album, its style was not represented by its first single "Some Kind of Bliss", and Minogue countered suggestions that she was trying to become an indie artist. She told Music Week, "I have to keep telling people that this isn't an indie-guitar album. I'm not about to pick up a guitar and rock."^[53] Acknowledging that she had attempted to escape the perceptions of her that had developed during her early career, Minogue commented that she was ready to "forget the painful criticism" and "accept the past, embrace it, use it".^[48] Her video for "Did It Again" paid homage to her earlier incarnations, as noted in her biography, Kylie: La La La, "Dance Kylie, Cute Kylie, Sex Kylie and Indie Kylie all struggled for supremacy as they battled bitchily with each other."^[54] Billboard described the album as "stunning" and concluded that "it's a golden commercial opportunity for a major [record company] with vision and energy [to release it in the United States]. A sharp ear will detect a kinship between Impossible Princess and Madonna's hugely successful album, Ray of Light".^[49] In the UK, Music Week gave a negative assessment, commenting that "Kylie's vocals take on a stroppy edge ... but not strong enough to do much".^[55] Retitled Kylie Minogue in the UK following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, it became the lowest-selling album of her career. At the end of the year a campaign by Virgin Radio stated, "We've done something to improve Kylie's records: we've banned them."^[10] A poll conducted by Smash Hits voted her the "worst-dressed person, worst singer and second-most very horrible thing—after spiders".^[10]

In Australia, Impossible Princess spent 35 weeks on the album chart and peaked at number four,^[56] to become her most successful album since Kylie in 1988, and her Intimate and Live tour was extended due to demand.^[57] The Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett, hosted a civic reception for Minogue in Melbourne,^[58] and she maintained her high profile in Australia with live performances, including the 1998 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras,^[57] the opening ceremonies of Melbourne's Crown Casino^[59] and Sydney's Fox Studios in 1999, where she performed Marilyn Monroe's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend",^[60] and a Christmas concert in Dili, East Timor in association with the United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces.^[60] During this time she filmed a small role for the Australian-made Molly Ringwald film, Cut (2000).

[edit] 1999–04: Light Years, Fever and Body Language

Minogue and Deconstruction Records parted company. She performed a duet with the Pet Shop Boys' on their Nightlife album and spent several months in Barbados performing in Shakespeare's The Tempest.^[61] Returning to Australia, she appeared in the film Sample People and recorded a cover version of Russell Morris's "The Real Thing" for the soundtrack.^[61] She signed with Parlophone Records in April 1999.^[62] According to Miles Leonard, her new A&R at Parlophone, it was the label and not Minogue that was responsible for her career downturn, believing that her talent hadn't been tapped into by Deconstruction.^[63] Leonard later told HitQuarters: "I believed that she was still very strong vocally, and still definitely a star ... and I knew that with the right project, the right songwriters, the right producers, the right team, she would still have a fanbase out there."^[63] Parlophone wanted to reestablish Minogue as the pop artist they felt she essentially was, but that had been lost. Leonard said: "But I didn't want to make a throwaway pop record, I wanted it to have an edge and some depth."^[63]

Her album Light Years (2000) was a collection of dance songs, influenced by disco music. Minogue said that her intention was to present dance-pop music in a "more exaggerated form" and to make it "fun".^[62] It generated strong reviews and was successful throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, selling over one million copies in the UK.^[64] The single "Spinning Around" became her first British number one in ten years, and its accompanying video featured Minogue in revealing gold hot pants, which came to be regarded as a "trademark".^[65][66] The single was described by a 2009 The Times article as heralding a new era in synthpop that was continuing.^[1] Her second single, "On a Night Like This" reached number one in Australia^[67] and number two in the UK.^[22] "Kids", a duet with Robbie Williams, was also included on Williams's album Sing When You're Winning, and peaked at number two in the UK.^[22]

In 2000, Minogue performed ABBA's "Dancing Queen" and her single "On a Night like This" at the 2000 Sydney Olympics closing ceremony.^[68] She then embarked upon a concert tour, On A Night like This, which played to sell-out crowds in Australia and the United Kingdom. Minogue was inspired by Madonna's 1993 world tour The Girlie Show which incorporated Burlesque and theatre, William Baker also cited the style of Broadway shows such as 42nd Street, films such as Anchors Aweigh, South Pacific, the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals of the 1930s and the live performances of Bette Midler.^[69] Minogue was praised for her new material and her reinterpretations of some of her greatest successes, turning "I Should Be So Lucky" into a torch song and "Better the Devil You Know" into a 1940s big band number. She won a "Mo Award" for Australian live entertainment as "Performer of the Year".^[70] Following the tour she was asked by a Seattle Post-Intelligencer journalist what she thought was her greatest strength, and replied, "[That] I am an all-rounder. If I was to choose any one element of what I do, I don't know if I would excel at any one of them. But put all of them together, and I know what I'm doing."^[71]

She appeared as "The Green Fairy" in Moulin Rouge! (2001),^[72] shortly before the release of Fever, an album containing disco elements combined with 1980s electropop and synthpop.^[73] Fever reached number one in Australia, the UK, and throughout Europe, eventually achieving worldwide sales in excess of eight million.^[74] Its lead single "Can't Get You Out of My Head" became the biggest success of her career, reaching number one in more than 40 countries.^[75] She won four ARIA Awards including a "Most Outstanding Achievement" award,^[76] and two Brit Awards, for "Best international female solo artist" and "Best international album".^[77] Rolling Stone states that "Can't Get You out of My Head" "was easily the best and most omnipresent dance track of the new century",^[78] and following extensive airplay by American radio, Capitol Records released it and the album Fever in the U.S. in 2002.^[79] Fever debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart at number three,^[80] and "Can't Get You out of My Head" reached number seven on the Hot 100.^[23] The subsequent singles "In Your Eyes", "Love at First Sight" and "Come into My World" were successful throughout the world, and Minogue established a presence in the mainstream North American market, particularly in the club scene. Minogue followed the success of the album by touring the United States with the Jingle Ball festival, visiting Miami, Anaheim, New York City, Philadelphia and Houston.^[81][82] In 2003 she received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Dance Recording" for "Love at First Sight",^[83] and the following year won the same award for "Come into My World".^[84]

Minogue's stylist and creative director William Baker explained that the music videos for the Fever album were inspired by science fiction films—specifically those by Stanley Kubrick—and accentuated the electropop elements of the music by using dancers in the style of Kraftwerk. Alan MacDonald, the designer of the 2002 KylieFever tour, brought those elements into the stage show which drew inspiration from Minogue's past incarnations.^[85] The show opened with Minogue as a space age vamp, which she described as "Queen of Metropolis with her drones", through to scenes inspired by Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, followed by the various personas of Minogue's career.^[85] Minogue said that she was finally able to express herself the way she wanted, and that she had always been "a showgirl at heart".^[85] During 2002 she worked on the animated film The Magic Roundabout, released in 2005 in Europe^[86] and 2006 in the U.S.; she voiced one of the principal characters, Florence.

Minogue began a relationship with the French actor, Olivier Martinez, after meeting him at the 2002 Grammy Awards ceremony.^[87] Her next album, Body Language (2003), was released following an invitation-only concert, titled Money Can't Buy, at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. The event marked the presentation of a new visual style, designed by Minogue and Baker, inspired in part by Brigitte Bardot, about whom Minogue commented: "I just tended to think of BB [Bardot] as, well, she's a sexpot, isn't she? She's one of the greatest pinups. But she was fairly radical in her own way at that time. And we chose to reference the period, which was ... a perfect blend of coquette and rock and roll."^[88] The album downplayed the disco style and Minogue said she was inspired by 1980s artists such as Scritti Politti, The Human League, Adam and the Ants and Prince, blending their styles with elements of hip hop.^[89] It received positive reviews with Billboard Magazine writing of "Minogue's knack for picking great songs and producers".^[90] Allmusic described it as "a near perfect pop record ... Body Language is what happens when a dance-pop diva takes the high road and focuses on what's important instead of trying to shock herself into continued relevance".^[91] Sales of Body Language were lower than anticipated after the success of Fever,^[74][79] though the first single, "Slow", was a number-one hit in the UK and Australia.^[92] After reaching number one on the US club chart,^[93] "Slow" received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Dance Recording category.^[83]

Body Language achieved first week sales of 43,000 in the U.S., and declined significantly in the second week.^[94] The Wall Street Journal described Minogue as "an international superstar who seems perpetually unable to conquer the U.S. market".^[94] Minogue commented that she had told her American record company that she was not willing to invest the time needed to establish herself in the U.S. and that she would rather enhance the success she had already achieved in other parts of the world,^[94] an attitude endorsed by Billboard analyst Geoff Mayfield as a "business decision ... If I were her accountant, I couldn't blame her for making that call."^[94] Minogue later commented that she was not concerned by her limited success in the U.S. and was more frustrated by assumptions that she considered her career incomplete without it.^[95]

Minogue played a guest role in the season finale of the comedy series Kath & Kim, in which she referenced her earlier role as Charlene in Neighbours, during a wedding sequence. The episode achieved the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's highest ratings of the year.^[96]

She released her second official greatest hits album in November 2004, entitled Ultimate Kylie, along with her music videos on a DVD compilation of the same title. The album introduced her singles "I Believe in You", co-written with Jake Shears and Babydaddy from the Scissor Sisters, and "Giving You Up". "I Believe in You" reached the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play top three,^[93] and Minogue was nominated for a Grammy Award for the fourth consecutive year when the song was nominated in the category of "Best Dance Recording".

[edit] 2005–09: Breast cancer and X

Early in 2005, Kylie: The Exhibition opened in Melbourne. The free exhibition featured costumes and photographs spanning Minogue's career and went on to tour Australian capital cities receiving over 300,000 visitors,^[97] and was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in February 2007.^[98] Minogue commenced her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour, and after performing in Europe, travelled to Melbourne, where she was diagnosed with breast cancer.^[99]

In November 2006, Minogue resumed her Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour with a performance in Sydney. She had told journalists before the concert that she would be highly emotional, and she cried before dedicating the song "Especially for You" to her father, a survivor of prostate cancer.^[100] Her dance routines had been reworked to accommodate her medical condition, and slower costume changes and longer breaks were introduced between sections of the show to conserve her strength.^[101] The media reported that Minogue performed energetically, with the Sydney Morning Herald describing the show as an "extravaganza" and "nothing less than a triumph".^[100] The following night, Minogue was joined by Bono, who was in Australia as part of U2's Vertigo tour, for the duet "Kids", but Minogue was forced to cancel a subsequent planned appearance at U2's show, because of exhaustion.^[102] Minogue's shows throughout Australia continued to draw positive reviews, and after spending Christmas with her family, she resumed the European leg of her tour with six sold-out shows in Wembley Arena, before taking her tour to Manchester for a further six shows.

Performing in Berlin during KylieX2008

In February 2007, Minogue and Olivier Martinez announced that they had ended their relationship, but remained on friendly terms. Minogue was reported to have been "saddened by false [media] accusations of [Martinez's] disloyalty".^[87] She defended Martinez, and acknowledged the support he had given during her treatment for breast cancer, commenting "He was always there, helping with the practical stuff and being protective. He was incredible. He didn't hesitate in cancelling work and putting projects on hold so he could be with me. He's the most honourable man I have ever met."^[87]

Minogue released X, her tenth studio album and much-discussed "comeback" album,^[103] in November 2007. The electro-styled album included contributions from Guy Chambers, Cathy Dennis, Bloodshy & Avant and Calvin Harris.^[103] For the overarching visual look of X, including the music video for first single "2 Hearts", Minogue and William Baker developed a combination of the style of Kabuki theatre and the aesthetics originating from London danceclubs including BoomBox.^[104] The album received some criticism for the triviality of its subject matter in light of Minogue's experiences with breast cancer; she responded by explaining the personal nature of some of the album's songs, and said "My conclusion is that if I'd done an album of personal songs it'd be seen as 'Impossible Princess 2' and be equally critiqued."^[103] Rolling Stone's reviewer described Minogue as "pop divadom's party planner in chief",^[105] and said of her breast cancer, "thankfully, the experience hasn't made her music discernibly deeper".^[105] Minogue later said, "In retrospect we could definitely have bettered it [the album], I'll say that straight up. Given the time we had, it is what it is. I had a lot of fun doing it."^[106]

Minogue in 2009

X and "2 Hearts" entered at number one on the Australian albums^[107] and singles^[108] charts respectively. In the UK, X initially attracted lukewarm sales,^[103] although its commercial performance eventually improved,^[109] and Minogue won a Brit Award for "International solo female".^[110] X was released in the U.S. in April 2008, and debuted outside the top 100 on the albums chart despite some promotion.^[80] Minogue called the U.S. market "notoriously difficult ... [Y]ou have so many denominations with radio. To know where I fit within that market is sometimes difficult."^[111] X was nominated for the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album,^[112] Minogue's fifth Grammy Award nomination.

In December 2007, Minogue participated in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway,^[113] and later performed in the final of the UK talent show The X Factor with the eventual winner, Leon Jackson, whose mentor was Dannii Minogue.^[114] From May 2008, Minogue promoted X with a European tour, KylieX2008, which is her most expensive tour to date with production costs of £10 million.^[80][115] Although she described the rehearsals as "grim" and the set list went through several overhauls,^[106] the tour was generally acclaimed and sold well.^[109]

Minogue was featured in White Diamond, a documentary filmed during 2006 and 2007 as she resumed her Showgirl Homecoming Tour.^[116] She appeared in The Kylie Show, which featured highly stylised set-piece song performances from Minogue as well as comedy sketches with Mathew Horne, Dannii Minogue, Jason Donovan and Simon Cowell.^[117] She co-starred in the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special episode, "Voyage of the Damned", as Astrid Peth, a waitress on a spaceship Titanic. The episode aired on 25 December 2007, with 13.31 million viewers, the show's highest viewing figures since 1979.^[118]

It was announced in late December 2007 that Minogue was to be among those honoured in Queen Elizabeth II's 2008 New Years Honours list, with an OBE for services to music.^[119] Minogue commented "I am almost as surprised as I am honoured. I feel deeply touched to be acknowledged by the UK, my adopted home, in this way."^[120] She received the OBE officially from The Prince of Wales in July 2008.^[121] In May 2008 Minogue was awarded the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France's highest cultural honour. Culture Minister Christine Albanel described Minogue as a "midas of the international music scene who turns everything she touches into gold", and saluted her for publicly discussing her breast cancer.^[122] In July, Minogue was named the UK's "Best Loved Celebrity" by a tabloid newspaper, who commented that she "won the hearts of the nation as she bravely battled breast cancer",^[123] and won the "Best International Female Solo Artist" award at the 2008 BRIT Awards.^[124]

Performing in Toronto 2009 with display of the landmarks of venue in the background.

In late September 2008, Minogue made her Middle East debut as the headline act at the opening of Atlantis, The Palm, an exclusive hotel resort in Dubai,^[125] and from November, she continued with her KylieX2008 tour, taking the show to cities across South America, Asia and Australia.^[126] The tour visited 21 countries, and was considered a success, with ticket sales estimated at $70,000,000.^[127] She hosted the 2009 BRIT Awards on 18 February 2009 with James Corden and Mathew Horne.^[128]

In September and October 2009, Minogue embarked on the For You, For Me Tour, her first North American concert tour, which included shows in the U.S. and Canada.^[127] She was also featured in the Bollywood film, Blue, performing an A.R. Rahman song,^[95] and had confirmed that she was working on her eleventh studio album, commenting that it would be an album of dance and pop music.^[95] On 13 September 2009, Minogue performed "Super Trouper" and "When All Is Said and Done" with Benny Andersson at the ABBA tribute concert "Thank You for the Music ... a Celebration of the Music of ABBA" at London's Hyde Park, her only live performance in the UK in 2009.^[129] On 14 December 2009, Minogue released a download-only concert album entitled Kylie: Live in New York. The album was recorded at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and contains 25 live version songs.^[130]

[edit] 2010–present: Aphrodite and K25 anniversary

Minogue performing on her Aphrodite Tour, in France, March 2011

Minogue's eleventh studio album, Aphrodite, was released in Japan on 30 June 2010 and worldwide in July 2010.^[131] The lead single, "All the Lovers", premiered on radio in May 2010 and was made available for purchase in June 2010. The album debuted at number one in the UK charts, exactly twenty two years after her first UK number one hit.^[132] On 3 June 2010, she hosted the inaugural AmfAR "Inspiration Gala" at the New York Public Library honouring Jean Paul Gaultier for his lifelong contribution to men's fashion and the fight against AIDS.^[133] Minogue appeared on BBC1's Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on 25 June 2010, during which she confirmed she is a UK resident, and announced that she will tour in 2011.^[134]

In July 2010, Minogue filmed a cameo performance as a rock star in the American independent film Jack and Diane. The movie stars Juno Temple, Riley Keough and Jena Malone.^[135] She also recorded a duet titled "Devotion" with British synthpop duo Hurts for their debut album Happiness, released on 6 September 2010.^[136] The second single from Aphrodite, titled "Get Outta My Way" was released on 27 September 2010.^[137] In October 2010, Minogue performed in front of the Sphinx and the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt to celebrate the anniversary of "Enigma" magazine, with profits going to the We Owe It To Egypt Foundation.^[138] A third single, "Better Than Today", was released on 6 December 2010.^[139]

Minogue's singles, "All the Lovers" and "Get Outta My Way", were popular in U.S. clubs, each reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.^[140] On 5 March 2011 "Better Than Today" was at number one on the chart, and her collaboration with Taio Cruz, "Higher", was at number three, making her the first artist in the chart's history to have two singles simultaneously in the top three.^[141] On 1 December 2010, Minogue and Parlophone records released the EP A Kylie Christmas on iTunes, which included a cover of the 1945 song "Let It Snow" as well as "Santa Baby" which was previously available as a b-side to her 2000 single "Please Stay".^[142][143] Kylie performed the song "Santa Baby" at the 2010 rockefeller tree lighing in New York on 30 November 2010.^[144][145]

In August 2011, "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)", also reached number one on the Billboard dance chart, where Minogue has now achieved five consecutive number one spots on the chart for her last five releases — including her collaboration with Taio Cruz on the track, "Higher".^[146]

In 2011, Minogue embarked on the Aphrodite World Tour, travelling to Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and Africa. A DVD/Blu-ray of the concert, filmed in London, was released at the end of November 2011.^[147][148] Minogue is currently working on a new compilation album featuring re-worked versions of hits that will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of her debut single "Locomotion".^[149]

To celebrate her 25 years in the music industry, Minogue began a year-long celebration in 2012. Known as "K25", the singer plans to release a greatest hits collection containing acoustic and orchestral versions of her biggest hits. On her YouTube channel, Minogue has released a video on 25 January and February showcasing two recordings at the historic Abbey Road Studios.^[150] In addition, the singer has performed at various music festivals including the Sydney Mardi Gras.^[151] On 5 March 2012 Minogue announced the first dates of the K25 Anti Tour. The intimate show will feature b-sides, demos and rarities from her music catalogue.^[152] On 20 April 2012, Minogue's film Jack and Diane premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.^[153] In May 2012, Minogue premiered in another film, Holy Motors, at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The film received an overwhelmingly positive reception with the audience cheering and loudly applauding.^{[154][155][156]}

On May 4, 2012, Billboard announced that Minogue would release a brand new greatest hits album entitled The Best of Kylie Minogue.^[157]

Minogue also released a new single, "Timebomb", on May 25, 2012 as part of her K25 celebrations.

Image and celebrity status[link]

Bronze statue of Kylie Minogue at Waterfront City, Melbourne Docklands

Minogue's efforts to be taken seriously as a recording artist were initially hindered by the perception that she had not "paid her dues" and was no more than a manufactured pop star exploiting the image she had created during her stint on Neighbours.^[37] Minogue acknowledged this viewpoint, saying, "if you're part of a record company, I think to a degree it's fair to say that you're a manufactured product. You're a product and you're selling a product. It doesn't mean that you're not talented and that you don't make creative and business decisions about what you will and won't do and where you want to go."^[89] In 1993, Baz Luhrmann introduced Minogue to the photographer Bert Stern, notable for his work with Marilyn Monroe. Stern photographed her in Los Angeles and, comparing her to Monroe, commented that Minogue had a similar mix of vulnerability and eroticism.^[158] During her career Minogue has chosen photographers who attempt to create a new "look" for her, and the resulting photographs have appeared in a variety of magazines, from the cutting edge The Face to the more traditionally sophisticated Vogue and Vanity Fair, making the Minogue face and name known to a broad group of people. Stylist William Baker has suggested that this is part of the reason she has entered in the mainstream pop culture of Europe more successfully than many other pop singers who concentrate solely on selling records.^[159]

By 2000, when Minogue returned to prominence, she was considered to be have achieved a degree of musical credibility for having maintained her career longer than her critics had expected.^[160] That same year, Birmingham Post noted "[o]nce upon a time, long before anybody had even heard of Britney, Christina, Jessica or Mandy, Australian singer Kylie Minogue ruled the charts as princess of pop. Back in 1988 her first single, I Should Be So Lucky, spent five weeks at number one, making her the most successful female artist in the UK charts with 13 successive Top 10 entries."^[161] Her progression from the wholesome "girl next door" to a more sophisticated performer with a flirtatious and playful persona attracted new fans to her.^[160] Her "Spinning Around" video led to some media outlets referring to her as "SexKylie", and sex became a stronger element in her subsequent videos.^[160] William Baker described her status as a sex symbol as a "double edged sword" observing that "we always attempted to use her sex appeal as an enhancement of her music and to sell a record. But now it has become in danger of eclipsing what she actually is: a pop singer."^[162] After 20 years as a performer, Minogue was described as a fashion "trend-setter" and a "style icon who constantly reinvents herself".^[163] She has been acknowledged for mounting successful tours, and for worldwide record sales of more than 68 million.^{[3][164][165]}

Minogue is regarded as a gay icon, which she encourages with comments such as "I am not a traditional gay icon. There's been no tragedy in my life, only tragic outfits ..." and "My gay audience has been with me from the beginning ... they kind of adopted me."^[89] Minogue has explained that she first became aware of her gay audience in 1988, when several drag queens performed to her music at a Sydney pub and she later saw a similar show in Melbourne. She said that she felt "very touched" to have such an "appreciative crowd" and this had encouraged her to perform at gay venues throughout the world, as well as headlining the 1994 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.^[166]

Minogue has been inspired by and compared to Madonna throughout her career.^[10] Her producer, Pete Waterman recalled Minogue during the early years of her success, with the observation, "She was setting her sights on becoming the new Prince or Madonna ... What I found amazing was that she was outselling Madonna four to one, but still wanted to be her."^[10] Minogue received negative comments that her Rhythm of Love tour in 1991 was too similar visually to Madonna's Blond Ambition World Tour of the previous year for which the critics labelled her a Madonna wannabe.^[168] Kathy McCabe for The Telegraph notes that Minogue and Madonna follow similar styles in music and fashion,^[167] and concludes, "Where they truly diverge on the pop-culture scale is in shock value. Minogue's clips might draw a gasp from some but Madonna's ignite religious and political debate unlike any other artist on the planet ... Simply, Madonna is the dark force; Kylie is the light force."^[167] Rolling Stone comments that, with the exception of the U.S., Minogue is regarded throughout the world as "an icon to rival Madonna", and says, "Like Madonna, Minogue was not a virtuosic singer but a canny trend spotter."^[78] Minogue has said of Madonna, "Her huge influence on the world, in pop and fashion, meant that I wasn't immune to the trends she created. I admire Madonna greatly but in the beginning she made it difficult for artists like me, she had done everything there was to be done ...",^[168] and "Madonna's the Queen of Pop, I'm the princess. I'm quite happy with that."^[167]

In January 2007 Madame Tussauds in London unveiled its fourth waxwork of Minogue; only Queen Elizabeth II has had more models created.^[169] During the same week a bronze cast of her hands was added to Wembley Arena's "Square of Fame".^[169] On 23 November 2007, a bronze statue of Minogue was unveiled at Melbourne Docklands for permanent display.^[170]

In March 2010, Minogue was declared by researchers as the "most powerful celebrity in Britain". The study examined how marketers identify celebrity and brand partnerships. Mark Husak, head of Millward Brown's UK media practice, said: "Kylie is widely accepted as an adopted Brit. People know her, like her and she is surrounded by positive buzz".^[171] She was named one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Time" by Men's Health.^[172]

Personal life[link]

Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36 on 17 May 2005,^[173] leading to the postponement of the remainder of her Showgirl — The Greatest Hits Tour and her withdrawal from the Glastonbury Festival.^[174] Her hospitalisation and treatment in Melbourne resulted in a brief but intense period of media coverage, particularly in Australia, where Prime Minister John Howard issued a statement supporting Minogue.^[175] As media and fans began to congregate outside the Minogue residence in Melbourne, the Victorian Premier Steve Bracks warned the international media that any disruption of the Minogue family's rights under Australian privacy laws would not be tolerated.^[176] His comments became part of a wider criticism of the media's overall reaction, with particular criticism directed towards paparazzi.^[177][178] Minogue underwent surgery on 21 May 2005 at Cabrini Hospital in Malvern, and commenced chemotherapy treatment soon after.^[175]

On 8 July 2005, she made her first public appearance after surgery, when she visited a children's cancer ward at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital. She returned to France where she completed her chemotherapy treatment at the Institut Gustave-Roussy in Villejuif, near Paris.^[179] In December 2005, Minogue released a digital-only single, "Over the Rainbow", a live recording from her Showgirl tour. Her children's book, The Showgirl Princess, written during her period of convalescence, was published in October 2006, and her perfume, "Darling", was launched in November.^[180] This range was later augmented by eau de toilettes such as Pink Sparkle, Couture and Inverse.^[181] On her return to Australia for her concert tour, she discussed her illness, and said that her chemotherapy treatment had been like "experiencing a nuclear bomb".^[180] While appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2008, Minogue said that her cancer had originally been misdiagnosed. She commented, "Because someone is in a white coat and using big medical instruments doesn't necessarily mean they're right",^[182] but later spoke of her respect for the medical profession.^[183]

Minogue was acknowledged for the impact she had made by publicly discussing her cancer diagnosis and treatment; in May 2008, the French Cultural Minister Christine Albanel said, "Doctors now even go as far as saying there is a 'Kylie effect' that encourages young women to have regular checks."^[122]

Discography[link]

• Kylie (1988)
• Enjoy Yourself (1989)
• Rhythm of Love (1990)
• Let's Get to It (1991)
• Kylie Minogue (1994)
• Impossible Princess (1997)
• Light Years (2000)
• Fever (2001)
• Body Language (2003)
• X (2007)
• Aphrodite (2010)

Filmography[link]

Leading roles

• 1986-88: Neighbours, as Charlene Robinson
• 1989: The Delinquents, as Lola Lovell
• 1994: Street Fighter, as Cammy
• 1996: Bio-Dome, as Dr. Petra von Kant
• 2011: Jack and Diane, as Tara

See also[link]

	Book: Kylie Minogue
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

	Kylie Minogue portal
	Music portal

• List of awards and nominations received by Kylie Minogue
• List of Kylie Minogue concert tours
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of best-selling music artists

References[link]

Notes