Happy Birthday, Kylie!

Kylie turns 43 today. Damn. In my mind she's still the 18 year old ingenue from Neighbours but I guess most of her fans weren't even born when Scott and Charlene packed up the car and drove off to the arsehole of Australia to live happily ever after. It scares me that I remember that episode and every step of the pop icon's subsequent career. I have literally been a life-long fan. And while the "Aphrodite" era leaves me cold, Kylie will always be my favourite. She's like family. We fall out, make up and carry on as if nothing ever happened. The Les Folies juggernaut rolls into Australia in a couple of weeks and I'll be there waiting with a smile on my face and an arm full of tacky tour merchandise. Bring it on! So how to celebrate Kylie's special day? I was going to post one of the new "Put Your Hands Up" remixes but I just can't muster any enthusiasm. They are fine but I'd rather watch this fabulous clip of the diva belting out "Look My Way" in 1988. That jam has always been one of my favourites - I still give it the occasional spin when intoxicated! - and I love that she randomly performed it on national TV instead of promoting an actual single. Dannii's older sister looks so cute and sounds fantastic. The video is pretty low quality but it's well worth putting up with the fuzzy visuals. Happy birthday, Kylie!

Two Aphrodite Tour Editions!

With Kylie's "Aphrodite" tour less than a month away from reaching our shores, Warner Music Australia has suddenly remembered they have Kylie on their register and rushed out not one but two tour editions of the album. There's the "Aphrodite – Les Folies Tour Edition", which is a 3 CD opus that includes the original album, a remix CD and a megamix party disc. Check out the tracklist below:

Disc 1:

Standard "Aphrodite" album

Disc 2:

1. Put Your Hands Up (Pete Hammond Remix)
2. Aphrodite - (Denzal Park Remix)
3. Cupid Boy - (Stereogamous Dub)
4. Get Outta My Way - (Paul Harris Vocal Mix)
5. All the Lovers - (WAWA & MMB Anthem Remix)
6. Put Your Hands Up - (Muscles Club Remix)
7. Better Than Today - (Bimbo Jones Remix)
8. Higher - Taio Cruz feat. Kylie

Disc 3:

20 Minute Megamix Party Disc

On the bright side, this is an improvement on the heinous "X" tour edition, which was probably thrown together in 5 minutes by a drunk intern. I'm glad there's a new cover and some new locally commissioned remixes. I featured the excellent Stereogamous Dub of "Cupid Boy" on the blog a while ago and I'm glad my former flatmate MMB made the cut! New mixes by Muscles and Denzal Park are also a nice touch. It's nice to see that some thought has gone into the project.

However, is Warner Music completely unaware that the majority of Kylie's fanbase is heading towards 40 and no longer tears up the club on a regular basis? Perhaps sticking on a couple of unreleased "Aphrodite" tracks instead of two remix CDs would have been a good idea. They could have started with "Change Your Mind" and "Broken Hearted (Love Love Love)". Or how about the amazing Japanese bonus track "Heartstrings"? That song easily ranks as one of the finest moments of Kylie's entire career. Even better - why not show some confidence in the the album and push a new single to radio in a bid to properly revive it instead of putting out a tour edition for a quick buck? A cheap live video and a handful of remixes is all it takes and that would pay dividends for longer than the two weeks she's in Australia.

The other super stan "Aphrodite Goddess Edition" looks much more promising. It comes with an incredibly fabulous pop-up booklet and exclusive new photos. Check out some pics of the booklet here. Some real TLC went into this glamorous and original package. I'll have ten! Both tour editions apparently hit stores on June 3 to coincide with the tour. Here's my friend's remix of "All The Lovers":

NEW Kylie! Fundraiser for Japan

It's been a while since Kylie has dropped anything new, so I was pretty excited when I heard she had recorded a charity song for Japan. I'm not sure if "We Are One" - a stunning ballad with Japanese rapper VERBAL - was exactly what I had in mind but it's so kooky and well-intentioned that I can't help but love it. Dannii's matronly sister is currently touring the devastated nation and unveiled the song at a press conference yesterday. It's a classy touch given her enduring popularity in the land of the rising sun. After all, this is the country that took "Turn It Into Love" all the way to #1! So is it any good? Well if you like syrupy ballads with twee lyrics interspersed with Japanese hip hop then the answer is a resounding YES. Personally, I think she should have dragged Ami Suzuki out of retirement for the song but this will do nicely. Fingers crossed there's a physical promo somewhere because my Kylie collection is crying out for a J-Pop addition! Check out the kind-hearted diva's charity anthem below. Make a donation to help Japan by clicking here.

A Kylie Exclusive - Los Amores Remix

"Los Amores" is one of my favourite things about the entire "Aphrodite" era. The Spanish version of "All The Lovers" is utterly defining. It sounds like a classy Eurovision entry and you haven't lived until you've heard Kylie try to pronounce "cielo". I'll never forget hearing the song in Spain - performed live on the streets of Chueca by Tony Tornado. Dannii's divine sister would have cried tears of joy if she heard it! But as much as I love and adore this gorgeous anthem, I always assumed it was just a novelty. A love letter of sorts to Andrés Velencoso and her adopted homeland. Needless to say, I was more than a little surprised when MMB told me a remix of "Los Amores" had been commissioned but never used. He thinks it was intended for a Pride event but I don't think anyone knows for certain. And to be honest, I'm just happy it exists. Another killer collaboration with Polish DJs WAWA, the Anthem Mix more than lives up to its name. I'm not sure if it's due to the camp factor or the stunning accuracy with which the lyrics were translated but I actually prefer this to the English version. Now repeat after me:

Baila,
Es todo lo que quiero
¿Por qué no bailas?
Estoy aquí contigo, muevete.
Me meteré en tu ritmo y en su fuego, fuego, fuego.

With the producer's kind permission, enjoy "Los Amores (WAWA & MMB Anthem Mix)"!

Kylie, Nelly & Shakira In A Car Park

Seriously, I'm away from the computer for 24 hours and all my faves decide to get busy. I don't know how the professional bloggers keep up! First diva off the rank is Kylie. Just when I was starting to feel hopeful for her chart prospects again after hearing "Higher", the cover for the third single from "Aphrodite" appears online (above). It looks like we're stuck with "Better Than Today". Why are they even bothering with this boring flop? I hate the cover. Kylie's face looks so severe and it sounds like a Scissor Sisters B-side from 2003. Jake & Co can't even give their music away these days - I doubt Kylie's going to do much better. The frustrating thing is that she's sitting on two or three big hits. Remix "Put Your Hands Up" to sound a little less cute and you've got a top 10 hit or unleash "Cupid Boy" and reclaim the clubs. Whatever. I'm over it. Someone wake me when the re-release is ready! In the meantime I'm going to watch this glamorous Dancing With The Stars performance on repeat. Kylie's body is rocking and I love that horse hair wig. Dannii must be so jealous that Kylie is now the pretty Minogue!

I posted Nelly Furtado's new single a couple of days ago and no one seemed to care. Which is pretty reflective of its (non-existent) chart position! Oh well, fuck you all. I still love her! Anyway, the Canadian pop diva's Spanish remix album has just been released - in Europe - and I'm counting down the days until my incredibly overpriced copy arrives in the post. Admittedly, I have most of the remixes already but the cover is pretty (below) and I'd pay 16 Euros for the Robbie Rivera mix of "Maons Al Aire" alone. Here's the tracklist:

1. Fuerte (Original English Version)
2. Manos Al Aire (Robbie Rivera Radio Mix)
3. Mas (Feat. Tony Dize) (Urban Remix)
4. Bajo Otra Luz (Humby Remix)
5. Fuerte (Twisted Dee Club Remix)
6. Manos Al Aire (Juan Magan Remix)
7. Mas (Rebirth Demolition Crew Mix)
8. Bajo Otra Luz (Dancehall Yogi Remix)
9. Fuerte (Humby Urban Club Mix)
10. Manos Al Aire (Tiesto Remix)
11. Bajo Otra Luz (Rebirth Demolition Mix)
12. Fuerte (Cajjmere Wray Hot Sweat Mix)

Last but most definitely not least is Shakira. I'm seriously obsessed with this woman. "Sale El Sol" is already one of my favourite albums of 2010 and I'm contemplating flying to the other side of the world to catch her in concert. If I totally lose my mind and decide to go, the bitch had better pull this stunt again. After a concert in America, she decided to take the party to the carpark and sing "Loca" on top of a car - Avril Lavigne "Sk8r Boi" style. I'm sure it was a well rehearsed grab for publicity but I couldn't give a shit. This performance (below) basically sums up everything I love about Shakira. She's wild, raw and more than a little bit nuts. Stay tuned for my "Sale El Sol" review in the near future. It really is well worth hunting down. Just don't hold your breath waiting for Sony Australia to release it.

Korean Diva Copies Kylie

Poor Ami Suzuki must be shaking in her stilettos. And, no. Avex hasn't kicked her to the curb - yet- for having more flops fan releases than Dannii. Rather, her cherished reputation as Asia's biggest Kylie copycat is under fire. The culprit that dares to fuck with the legendary Miss Suzuki? A newcomer from Korea called NS Yoon Ji (or NS 윤지 if you want to be fancy). As much as I want to hate this hot bitch for cutting Ami's grass, I can't. Stealing from Kylie is a sure sign of exquisite taste and her song is genuinely amazing. But before I get on to that - let's get the Minogue thievery out of the way. "X" must have left a lasting impression in Asia because the video concepts for "Wow" and "In My Arms" keep on getting recycled. NS Yoon Ji clearly believes that more is more and rips off both. The neon glow sticks and white wig (at approximately 35 seconds) are more than a little familiar, while the boxes that appear around the 1:10 minute mark will have you asking yourself - how do you describe a feeling?

Ok, so the video is less authentic than the Louis Vuitton purse you bought your least favourite aunt in China Town for $15 but that doesn't mean it's bad. Unlike the handbag. For starters, Ms Ji actually looks hot in that damn wig and dances up a storm with moves not seen since BoA's "Eat You Up" video. Extra points for paying homage to Dannii by re-enacting the telephone scene from "All I Wanna Do". You just know Ami is kicking herself for not ripping that off first! The song itself is a revelation. I haven't been this taken with a K-pop anthem since Mina released her last flop. "Dance" is a vocodered explosion of pop perfection. I love the catchy chorus and fierce production. However, the rap almost steals the show. "Shake it like a tambourine" is my new favourite saying! So where can you get NS Yoon Ji's modern classic? It's on her album (looks more like an EP to me) called "Time To Fly High". I'm not sure where to order a physical copy - I plan to ask random Koreans on the street - but it's pretty easy to find online. I think I have a new obsession...

Kylie & Taio Cruz - Higher

I have a sickness for Taio Cruz. His songs all sound the same and he's only slightly less derivative than Jason Derulo (another favourite of mine) but I haven't stopped playing his album all year. Speaking of "Rokstarr", one of the highlights of that stunning opus has just been recycled into a duet with Kylie. The new and improved version of "Higher" leaked late last week and any hesitations I had about this most unlikely of collaborations disappeared instantly. Unlike the vast majority of "Aphrodite", I can actually imagine this on Australian radio. Taio is so hot right now and hopefully some of that popularity will rub off on Kylie. Don't worry - this isn't a re-repeat of the Ludacris version of "Chocolate" (even though I secretly love that hot mess!) - "Higher" is a dance track and is a surprisingly good fit for the elderly Minogue's voice. I'm particularly glad she gets the best line in the song: "I got this high without taking a pill". Scandal! Only one question remains. What is this actually for? The latest re-release of "Rokstarr" or the planned re-release of "Aphrodite"? I just hope Parlo and/or Warner have to sense to release "Higher" as a single over the three and a half minute cure for insomnia otherwise known as "Better Than Today". On past performance, I won't be holding my breath.

Luciana On Kylie, Sarah Harding & Australia

On Saturday Luciana returns to Australia for the fourth time in 2010. It's another lightening fast trip for the dance icon but I'm hoping to catch up with her again at the Fat As Butter music festival in Newcastle. Last time she was here I managed to pin her down for an interview but held off posting it until the article was published. A couple of weeks ago it unexpectedly turned up on the cover of the Southern Star Observer in Melbourne - so I guess it's about time I shared it with you! I'm really proud of how it turned out. Luci spills the beans on her US record deal, talks about writing for Kylie and comments on her ongoing love affair with Australia. Oh and she mentions that lady boy from Girls Aloud but I won't hold that against her. Enjoy!

2010 is turning into something of a banner year for Luciana.

After years of lending her signature ‘shouty’ vocal to a seemingly endless string of underground dance tracks, the UK’s reigning club queen has finally crossed over to the mainstream and carved out a niche as the go to woman for dance music’s hottest producers.

In the past twelve months Luciana has scored 4 big hits on the ARIA club chart – she currently has two (“Go Go Go” and “I’ve Got My Eye On You”) in the top 50 - including her double platinum top 5 smash hit collaboration with Static Revenger and Richard Vission, “I Like That”.

The prolific diva is still shocked by the song’s popularity in Australia.

“It got to #2 or #3. We got platinum discs. It’s crazy. Australia was the first place to take it and now America is just starting. So hopefully that will happen and England has just signed it as well,” she told Star Observer.

The local success of “I Like That” even helped Luciana score a record deal with Interscope Records – the home of pop heavyweights like Lady Gaga and Gwen Stefani.

“The funny thing is we went to Interscope… a year ago and nothing happened. I was like ‘that’s a bit weird’. Flew us out there, wanted to meet me, nothing happened and now here we are. [I] just got signed and am working on an EP and writing for other artists.”

One of those artists is Australia’s own Kylie Minogue. Luciana wrote the track “Cupid Boy” for the pop icon’s latest album “Aphrodite” – a career highlight for the self confessed Kylie fanatic.

“Oh my god! [I’m] an ultimate Kylie fan! I absolutely love her. And I wanted to get on the last album and that didn’t happen,” she explains.

Happily, she had more luck this time around.

“We got [“Cupid Boy”] from Sebastian Ingrosso from Swedish House Mafia and we were like ‘this is such a fabulous backing track that we need to make sure that what we do over it is amazing’ and we worked and worked and edited and edited… and then right at the last minute they chose the song. Oh god it was a moment. Honestly, I cried and called my mum. My mum was crying with me!”

Luciana has even been called back to write songs for the impending re-release of “Aphrodite”.

“We submitted a song called “If I Ruled The World”,” she reveals.

Apart from Kylie, the hit songwriter has been busy collaborating with some of the biggest pop stars in America and the UK.

“I’m actually writing with Sarah Harding at the moment from Girls Aloud. She’s down the studio. And she’s lovely. A good time girl. She’s got a great voice and we’re just writing some tracks together. And when we go to America we’re gonna do some stuff with Nicole Scherzinger.”

Given the way “I Like That” is catching on in America (already a top 40 hit on pop airplay and rapidly the iTunes top 200 countdown), Luciana could be spending a lot of time stateside.

“I’m moving to LA at the beginning of September for 3 months to write and hopefully promote the single. You know depending on what’s happening. It’s just got added to MTV Hits, so that’s a really amazing thing. These little things are starting to happen but fingers crossed it’s all going to work out.”

That doesn’t mean that Luciana has forgotten about her Australian fans. She is returning to Australia – for the fourth time in 2010 – for a tour in December and even plans to move here permanently.

“Yeah what I’m thinking is – have an album out, then a child, then move to Australia. Put some flip flops on. Hang. It’s all good!”