Archive for November 2015

Home Archive for November 2015

Pop icon and longtime LGBT ally Kylie Minogue releases Kylie Christmas, her first Christmas album, today.

It’s full of yuletide classics done in orchestral arrangements as well as fresh covers, with several outside-the-box duet partners like punk legend Iggy Pop, Late Late Show host James Corden, even the late crooner Frank Sinatra. On the album's deluxe version, you'll also hear a new holiday original, the disco-tinged "100 Degrees," recorded with Kylie's sister, Dannii Minogue.

WATCH & ENJOY:

From her home in London, the 47-year-old Aussie singer catches us up on her life.

The Advocate: On the surface, Kylie Christmas sounds very traditional. But on closer listen, there's you and Iggy Pop covering the New Wave-era gem "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses and other exciting twists.

Kylie Minogue: The weird thing is, I wasn't familiar with that song. But I loved it when I heard it. The original is so incredible in its kind of punky, junky way. ... Iggy is the sweet spot for me. The fact that he's on my Christmas album is mind-blowing. I just love his vibe. We wanted something similar to my duet with Nick Cave ["Where the Wild Roses Grow"], that kind of beauty and the beast thing.

You include nonholiday covers that somehow work for Christmas, like Yaz's "Only You."

That was James [Corden]'s suggestion. It's really great inviting someone to collaborate on an album because it's like, "What works for you?"... "Only You" is by no means a traditional Christmas song, but there are certain songs that can become synonymous with Christmas. I think James did such a beautiful, earnest job.

You're a huge Christmas fan, aren't you?
I'm really into it. I'm a sucker for fairy lights at any time of the year, but at Christmas, it's a lot. The tree — well, it depends where I am, but I definitely love to decorate. I love wrapping presents. Even as a kid, I was like, "Please let me do it!" I feel like I’m Miss Christmas this year, so I’m ready to go all out.

You've been such an ally to the LGBT community for so long. Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the U.S., we're very "in." We suddenly see same-sex couples in TV commercials —
You’re trendy now!

Exactly! And, every famous person under the sun is now our ally, but you've been with us for decades. Do you ever feel like, "Hey, I was there before it was the popular thing to do"?
I hadn't thought of it that way, but I guess that's because my relationship with my gay audience has just always been there, really. The best way I can say this in order for people to comprehend is, they have what’s called the "Pink Pound" [in th U.K.] now — it's marketing geared toward gay people — and that didn’t even exist back when they were doing Kylie shows down at the drag club.

But anyway, yes, it seems very different now. Not that [celebrities supporting the LGBT community] is not genuine, but yes, it somehow seemed more charming back in the old days when it wasn’t about getting on a bandwagon. It was just a genuine, burgeoning relationship.

You mention drag queens portraying you. What that's like?
One time I was in Melbourne and I'd just been to a Lemonheads concert — which really couldn’t be further from a gay bar. I had my hippie look on — just crazy curly hair and no makeup and a tan suede miniskirt and some kind of platforms, and — this is making it sound terrible, but it did look very cute — a kind of crocheted top. Very '90s.

Someone said, "There’s this drag show. It would be great if you came down." So I went and — there’s a picture of it somewhere floating around — and I felt the least like Kylie out of any of us! [Laughs] Of course, when they do a drag performance, it’s like — well, I almost have to get in drag to get that look! It’s a show look. But yeah, it was funny. I thought, If there’s a lineup to choose the real Kylie, it won't be me.

You have a special relationship with [Scissor Sisters front man] Jake Shears.
He’s really one of my besties. He’s just adorable. From the moment we met, from the very first day, he was like some long lost brother of mine. With us both being performers, he can unload things to me and I can do the same to him. From where I stand, it makes me feel slightly less alone. I know he’d do anything for me and I just absolutely love him.

You’ve been close to so many handsome gay men over the years. Have you ever had a crush on one of them and wished things could be different?
Oh, yeah! I won’t name any names, but yeah, you definitely go, God, if only. Sure. Of course.

The British tabloids tell us you've got a handsome someone to kiss under the mistletoe this year. Are you and (27-year-old Galavant star) Joshua Sasse now out of the closet with your relationship?
[Laughs] Yeah, we are. We didn't really think about how we would do that, but we went to the final of the Rugby World Cup and that was that. It's our first Christmas together. It's exciting.

Kylie Christmas is available on iTunes and everywhere else. A special deluxe edition contains a six-song DVD.

BY GINA VIVINETTO (Advocate.com)

UPDATE: Kylie and Dannii Minogue to perform on TV for the first time in nearly 30 years on X Factor! The Minogues will perform 100 Degrees. Read more HERE!

UPDATE: "UK & Oz! SO excited that we have the NUMBER 1 video on @iTunes!! @DanniiMinogue #100Degrees around the 🌏!! 🎄" -Kylie via twitter

After winding up the Kiss Me Once world tour and completing a second collaborative EP with dance maestro Fernando Garibay, Kylie Minogue found herself in an unusual position. She had a some free time on her hands. Instead of taking a well-deserved rest, the pop icon decided to record a Christmas album with a group of long-time collaborators that include producer Steve Anderson (“Confide In Me”) and songwriters Karen Poole (“Red Blooded Woman”) and Richard Stannard (“Love At First Sight”).

While the line-up is familiar, Kylie Christmas (Out Now) is anything but safe. There’s a festive cover of Yazoo’s “Only You” featuring the surprisingly angelic vocals of comedian/talk show host James Corden, an unexpected collaboration with Iggy Pop and a long-overdue second duet with pop star sister Dannii Minogue. I recently spoke to Kylie about her seasonal opus, Christmas memories and next album. (She is planning a return to dance/pop).

Kylie, what inspired you to release a Christmas album?
I always thought I would do a Christmas album, it was just a case of when. This year I finished touring, did a bunch of summer concerts in the UK, and by June I had completed all those things. I actually had a bit of time in front of me, which I’m not very good at. I mentioned it to a couple of people on my team and they were saying, “What do you want to do for the rest of the year? What do you want to do next?”

I said, “I’m thinking about a Christmas album, actually.” Some of that stems from last Christmas. I was in LA, at a friend’s place for Christmas dinner, and his girlfriend and a couple of other girls had said, “Have you done a Christmas album?” They just assumed I had done one, and when I said I hadn’t done an entire album they just started, “You’ve got to do it. It would be amazing. We just want to see your little outfits.”

I guess the seed was planted there. Then in June I mentioned it to my team and we just hustled and got it done. It felt really right. We didn’t have some of the stress and anxiety that comes with doing a regular album, so it was filled with joy.

How did you choose the songs? There are a couple of quirky ones.
Initially, I just asked some friends and colleagues, “Tell me your top ten favorite Christmas songs.” Just to get a general vibe from people, and there were certain common denominators amongst those, and then others that were good food for thought. Then I worked with my producer to kind of get… not a short list, it was quite a long list. We then culled the songs and did demos.

You can interpret a lot of those songs in different ways, so before we knew we had permission from Frank Sinatra’s estate to use his voice, we might have had another song that was really swing — and then because that song had to be swing, it might have made the previous song be interpreted in another way. I probably explained that really badly, but I was just trying to get the balance you hear on the album.

It turned out great. I love that you put a festive spin on a Yazoo song.
Thank you! I have to thank James Corden for that, that was his suggestion.

How did he get into the mix?
I went to one of the very, very early meetings with my label and we were just throwing around a bunch of wish-list names, or names that might not have been right, but might have led us to someone else. One of those names was James. I’ve known him for a while, we’ve worked together before. And like the rest of the world, I’m a big fan. He’s incredibly talented.

So, I reached out to him. When I spoke to him he said that he’s Christmas crazy. He loves Christmas. He said it would be a thrill to do it, so we were on. Again, similar process, sorting through different songs, and trying to find something that would work for both of us. He came up with that suggestion, which as you said, isn’t a Christmas song. But it’s got… a Christmas feeling.

He’s getting so much attention for it because he sounds gorgeous. It’s not what people expect. They thought it might have a comedic aspect to it, but I just think it’s so sincere, and absolutely charming.

You called on a lot of old friends for this album. Steve Anderson, Karen Poole, Ash Howes and Richard Stannard. Did you have Fever flashbacks?
After Kiss Me Once, where I worked with a thousand, million different people — I’m probably underestimating, maybe it was more — I just felt I wanted to work with people I know and love and trust. I just wanted to keep it family. We only had three writing sessions. We did the first session in two days. We wrote “Oh Santa” and “100 Degrees.”

It was a hundred degrees outside and went right to work on that, Steve and I. Actually, I think it was thirty-six degrees celsius outside. Then I had a couple of sessions with Karen and Matt Prime. I hadn’t worked with Matt before, so that was fun. Every session was fruitful. It felt very natural and easy. I really can’t say that about too many albums. I think it helps that you’ve got the boundaries of it being a Christmas album.

There are certain rules to follow or lanes that you have to stay in. With the split of old songs and new songs, it was pretty much agreed that you need to have more standards and more classics, and perennials, and then see how your new songs fit into that. I think all of the new songs, with the exception of “100 Degrees,” because that’s a different vibe, but they all sound strangely familiar because of the Christmas element.

You mentioned “100 Degrees.” As Dannii’s official number one fan, I’m particularly excited about that. What was it like working with her again?
We realized we hadn’t been in the studio together for years. I don’t even know how long, but forever. We sang together on stage more recently, but to be in the studio and committing something to, not to vinyl anymore [laughs]… committing something to the album was really fun for us. We knew it was something different, and something that was very much her and I.

On the Deluxe album there are a few videos of the recording process, behind the scenes stuff. Basically we just look like normal sisters. It was just really fun.

You have very similar voices.
Yes. There’s a Minogue tone, that’s for sure. She has a deeper tone, and I would say that we tried to — not exaggerate that — but just we wanted people to know who was singing where. As a fan, you would probably be able to tell straight away. But when we were first singing, it was like, “Who? Who was that? Wait, wait.” I think things worked out really nicely.

Earlier you alluded to the Kiss Me Once sessions being a little… stressful. Was it a relief to dial it back a notch?
That was certainly more hectic! Yes, it was a relief. I think that’s part and parcel of what the vibe should be for Christmas. That’s why I didn’t want to be racing all around the place and experimenting and trying new things. I just wanted it to feel loving and familiar. Not boring by any means, but work with people who I felt could get the best out of me in a nice way.

Steve Anderson and I, we were just like, “Well, great. Here we are!” We were pleased as punch. He did such great work on this, and he’s already got some Christmas experience in with some other artists, so I knew that he basically knew every Christmas song there was. I did not. I had never heard of “Christmas Wrapping” before, for example. For me, there was a bunch that were obviously familiar and then a couple of ring ins that I had just never heard before.

I recently interviewed Fernando Garibay…
How nice!

About your collaborative EP. That was such a great sound for you, have you already thought beyond the Christmas album?
I’m pretty much locked in festive mode, but… you’re thinking of something that makes sense to me. I could see myself going full pop after this. Getting back to my dance/pop roots. I don’t even know how they know, but fans post messages when it’s the birthday of this song or that song. I don’t keep track of it, but recently it was the twelfth anniversary of “Slow.”

A classic.
I think back to songs like that and I go, “Yeah, I’d like to do that again.” Right now I’m just so excited about Christmas in general, but I imagine with the new year, I could see myself going in and just getting back in my usual dance/pop lane. It would be a lot of fun.

Do you have a wish list of producers you’d like to work with?
No, I don’t. I do think there’s a lot to be said for… I would definitely love to go in with Richard Stannard again. We actually tried to do it already but we didn’t have time. This time was for Christmas, but there are certain people that you just love working with. Karen Poole, we also work well together. So if that opportunity was to arise, which I guess I could just make happen, I’d be very pleased!

I know this is off topic, but I have to ask. Will you ever release a deluxe version of X with all the demos from that infamous 3-disc CDR? It’s my personal holy grail.
Oh my God! [Shrieks]. Well, maybe if I do get back in with Richard, maybe we can revisit some of them. There were some tracks that we were really fond of. We weren’t excited that they were released because they weren’t finished, but we’d love to finish them, so that’s interesting that you say that. If fans are still…

Trust me, we still want to hear them.
Interested, that would be fun. Half of the work is already done! I’d just have to fix it and finish it. Apply a buff of polish. [Laughs]. I’m taking notes.

Thank you! Are there any Christmas memories that linger in your mind?
The one that I keep going back to is being kids in suburban Melbourne. Out in suburbia. We were probably five, seven, and nine, or maybe four, six, and eight… something like that. Dannii would have been four, four and a half, my brother six, and I was eight. There’s a picture of the three of us so that’s kind of imprinted on my brain. I was given a collapsible doll’s pram.

The pram collapsed on my finger and I ended up screaming. That was a bit traumatic. My sister got a little bike with training wheels, possibly with streamers on the handle bars. I’d like to think it had streamers. The photo is kind of orange and ’70s and grainy. My sister and I have got matching dresses on. Just a normal family Christmas. We would have gone out after that and splashed about in the above ground swimming pool.

Are you doing the Aussie Christmas again this year?
I can’t because I’ve got work here, then I go back and do promo in Australia. Then I come back here to do my Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall, which is going to be amazing fun. I’m not rushing back to Australia again, so I’m having a cold Christmas.

Thanks for the chat. It’s been a thrill.
Thank you. It’s nice to hear an Aussie accent. I wasn’t expecting that.

by Mike Wass (Idolator.com)

'I Hate Feeling That I'm Restricted In Any Way, and Definitely When It Comes to Love'

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

How does Kylie Minogue make the yuletide gay? "By singing about it," she says, giggling the cutest Kylie giggle. And then she does just that - she sings.

The song? "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," which the Aussie icon spontaneously launches into via phone, putting special emphasis on those "gay happy meetings." Opening her first holiday album, "Kylie Christmas" (out Nov. 13), the frosty favorite is one of 13 songs bound to bring a little extra joy to the world.

"Christmas is a fun time to be over the top, that's for sure," Minogue says, before stating what every gay man from here to the North Pole already knew: "I deal in glitter."

First things first: Have you been naughty or nice this year?

Good question! I'd like to think I've been - how can I say this? (laughs) ... the right percentage of both.

How about that time you writhed on a medicine ball during your video for "Sexercise"?

(Laughs) That was a little bit naughty. But a lot of nice. We want nice.

What were your Christmases like as a kid?

Hot! Over the years, my family has embraced Christmas more so in Australian fashion - we haven't totally let go of European or British tradition, which most people have a link to in that there is still a roast - even if it's roasting outside, there's still a roast in the oven. But I would say, same as the rest of the world. Get up, open your presents, run around. Eat too much. The only difference is, we end up in our swimming suit, jumping in the pool, standing around a barbecue.

Do you like a hot or cool Christmas?

I like them both. They're so different. I don't remember when my first cold Christmas was, but that I found it very weird. People who've never had a hot Christmas - because most of the world associates Christmas with the cold - just cannot get their head around it. Even when we were recording, all the Brits are going, "Don't you think it's weird recording in June, July, August? It's summer." I'm like, "Not really - makes sense to me." I love it.

How did you make it feel like Christmas in the studio?

Basically we just decorated the studio. The studio was full of fairy lights and Santa hats and Christmas candles. We did not hold back.

Did you get dressed up for the occasion?

I went Christmas vibes - I didn't go for full "sexy snow sleigh" album cover. We did have a sleigh in the studio. We had about five huge Christmas trees, giant crackers, toy soldiers and tinsel. Every day we were in there, it was more and more. It was really festive. It felt like Christmas. And I'm glad the world's catching up - it's been Christmas since June!

When it comes to presents: giving or getting?

Giving. I know it sounds cliche, but I love when you've got something for someone and they're gonna understand your humor or get it, or it's something they wouldn't get for themselves. I especially like the wrapping.

Who are some of the gays in your life that you spend the holidays with?

There's normally a few around. I mean, my Christmas is different every year. Last year I was in Los Angeles. I feel really odd answering this question... like numbering them! (Laughs) Let's just say there's a smattering. More sparkle!

What is the craziest Christmas gift you've ever received from a fan?

Oh, I don't know. I can't think of one. Nothing that alarmed me. Maybe this year will be different now that I'm Miss Christmas.

If you could kiss anyone under the mistletoe, who would it be?

Awww - that would be my boyfriend (actor Joshua Sasse), for sure! It will be our first Christmas together, so Christmas is even more special for me this year. I better order the mistletoe!

Get on that, Kylie.

Note to self: mistletoe.

What do you make of headlines that draw attention to the fact that he's 20 years younger than you?

I understand it's bound to happen because that's a fact, but I just cannot express to you enough that it just doesn't factor - it really doesn't. I mean, I was surprised myself, but who you're attracted to or who you fall in love with is beyond any kind of boxes that society puts you in.

And you know what, I hate boxes. I hate feeling that I'm restricted in any way, and definitely when it comes to love. You should love who you love.

Of course there's been those headlines, but people seem to also think that we look like we should be together, so it's not been as bad as it could've been... let's put it that way.

As a public figure, do you feel people are more prone to put you in a box?

Oh, definitely. I remember it happening from quite a young age, and it would drive me crazy. I started in TV as an actress and began singing, and they're so sort of close-minded: You're an actress, not a singer, and then I was known for singing and finally I am a singer and they don't understand that I still act. That was definitely the first time that that kind of notion hit me, and it just made no sense to me whatsoever.

In a broader sense, I hate being stuck in clothes, I hate being stuck in ideas. Maybe it's being a Gemini - I need freedom! It's like with the pony in the yard: If you close the gate, I will go wild; if you leave the gate wide open, I'm probably not going to leave. I just need to know that you're not closing me in with anything physical or mental. It's a very deep issue for me.

Christmastime evokes different emotions for different people. For you, what kind of emotions do the holidays trigger?

Excitement, then sheer panic because you think you're ready but you're not ready and then it all kind of creeps up on you. I think part of that panic is part of tradition, I guess. I would like to think this year I am officially ahead of the game. Also, wanting to be with family, if possible. And holiday - having a break. I would have to say one of the big pluses about a Christmas album is: At least I know when I'll be finishing with promotion. December 25 I'm done! My work here is done!

How are some of these emotions presented on the album?

On the album, there's the kind of toasty just-wanna-cuddle-and-wear-cashmere-sweaters vibe, which I didn't have the last couple of years because I didn't have a boyfriend, so that's exciting. Then there's the more emotional, bittersweet ones where you're thinking about someone you love and you're not with them, and I have that pretty much every year because I haven't had a family Christmas in Australia for about six years and I'm not having one this year either. Then there's the ones where everyone's had a few drinks - Nana's had a couple sherries - and everyone's feeling very merry. Then it's nap time, and you start again.

Earlier this year, and after releasing "Kiss Me Once," you left your former management firm, Jay Z's Roc Nation.

I was getting used to a new situation, and I loved it for all of those reasons. If I compare ("Kiss Me Once") to making this album, it's an unfair comparison. Within the confines of Christmas, you can't do whatever you want - it's a Christmas album - but I did learn some extremely valuable lessons through that, and my time there was well spent.

How will what you learned from that experience influence your approach to the next mainstream pop album you do? Assuming it's pop...

Oh, it will be. I think when Christmas is done, the pop drug will come back... gosh, I mean, this album is pop-y anyway. But with "Impossible Princess," I got that out of my system and then I did "Light Years" which had "Spinning Around," and then to "Fever," which was not quite as camp - it was more icy-pop. What I'm trying to say is that, after "Kiss Me Once" with Roc Nation, yes, I'll do things differently, but I kind of do that after every album anyway. But I wouldn't go around and work with so many people. I would try to be a little more streamlined. And I can say that because I did it and I learned a lot. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

When it comes to your career, your gay audience has been there every step of the way. It's clear we have a special relationship. After all this time, how would you describe that relationship?

Strong. Genuine. Definitely funny at times. (Laughs) We get the same jokes, put it that way. And I never take it for granted. But you, for a long time, have been very loyal, and I feel like we've had a relationship for such a long time - and it's a true relationship.

Thanks to pridesource.com!

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LISTEN: Kylie Minogue ft. Dannii Minogue - 100 Degrees (7th Heaven Club Mix)

WATCH: Kylie and Dannii Minogue reunite on The X Factor Australia to perform their first TV duet in 29 years

WATCH: Kylie Minogue - 100 Degrees with Dannii Minogue (Studio Video)

Kylie Minogue Talks Christmas Album, Festive Memories And Returning To Dance/Pop

WATCH: Kylie Minogue - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Studio Video)

WATCH: Kylie Minogue and James Corden just released their Christmas duet and it’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

Kylie Minogue Talks First Christmas Album & Her Mistletoe Man

FIRST LISTEN: Kylie Minogue - Kylie Christmas (Standard Album Sampler)