Recorded in Sydney, on the second night of the Showgirl tour, Kylie’s first live album is the perfect pop-tastic antidote to the January greys and blues, says Julia Rebaudo
You’ve got to hand it to Kylie, getting straight back on tour as fast as humanly possible it would seem after being treated for breast cancer. Work-aholic or what!? But there you go, if it makes her happy. And much against my usual oh-so discerning music judgement, ahem, it made me very happy putting on a bit of Kylie to brighten a grim, grey January morning.
Within minutes I had given myself up entirely to the magical world of a Kylie concert. Immersing myself in her more than capable handling and novel interpretation of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I wondered, why, just like Madonna, Kylie’s voice is never given that much coverage. Like Madonna, we just assume that she can hit all the right notes in all the right places, and pleasantly enough. And that’s all that needs to be said really.
First and foremost, like good ol’ Madge, Kylie is a performer. It’s all about dressing up, tinselly tops and gold lamé hotpants. Sky high pink headdresses and leopard print outfits complete with ears make you realise she’s still indulging in every little girl’s dressing up dreams, albeit with the best dressing up box ever, ever!
So from a few less familiar Kylie tracks (Cowboy Style and Dreams anyone?) to backlist favourites, I Should Be So Lucky and The Loco-Motion, and dance floor über-hits Can’t Get You Out of My Head, In Your Eyes and I Believe in You, you’ve pretty much got all the Kylie you could ever need. Oh, and there’s an appearance by Bono who duets with Kylie on Kids (move over Robbie) and new song which she co-wrote with the Scissor Sisters called White Diamond – vintage stuff.
Kylie Showgirl – Homecoming Live was released on January 8 2007. The Showgirl tour comes to an end in Manchester on January 19th.
