(photos by Brian Lloyd)
As an out gay man for over 10 years, I've seen a lot of gay things in my time. But, none have ever been as gay as Kylie Minogue's current world tour "Aphrodite Live: Les Folies", which made a stop in Montreal last Thursday.
Since the Aussie princess was avoiding Toronto this time, this meant one thing. Gay road trip. Dave, Nuno, Kevin and I piled into a car and trekked to La Belle Province for our pop icon.
Before the show even started, I was mesmerized by this guy, who was rocking out to the pre-show DJs:
He was the definition of "waving your hands like you just don't care"... and he wasn't even waving his hands! I know that's going to be me in 20 years.
Anyway, back to the concert...
True to the Aphrodite album's theme, the concert was one big Greek motif. The set was modeled after an ancient Parthenon, which also served as the show's three big screens. The dancers were dressed in their finest Greek togas and barely there leather gladiator outfits. And, Kylie herself rose to the stage on a golden shell. A disco Venus de Milo, if you will.
On top of it all, there were Cirque-du-Soleil style trapeze routines for some of the numbers, which really was something I'd never seen before in a concert. It was all so excessive, yet some how necessary. Especially when you consider that in Europe, there was also a water fountain catwalk that extended from the stage.
But, at the center of it all was Kylie, the tiny singer with the surprisingly competent voice who sang live, busted out a few moves, and generally looked like she was having the best time of her life from start to end.
To say that Kylie knows her audience (that is, mostly gay men), is an understatement. Her costumes were elaborate, the male dancers were pretty much topless the whole time, and the setlist was one dance hit after the other.
Obviously, she focused on songs from her latest album, but it was well balanced with her big hits from the 90s-onward, including "Better The Devil You Know", "On A Night Like This", a blues take on "Slow" and an amazing rock version of "Can't Get You Outta My Head".
My only complaint is that, other than the Aphrodite tracks, I heard all these songs before on her last tour, which was a bit of a Greatest Hits package. Right down to the requested song "Your Disco Needs You." But, other than that, it was an extravagant over the top night that I just can't get out of my head.
1. Aphrodite
2. The One
3. Wow
4. Illusion
5. I Believe In You
6. Cupid Boy
7. Spinning Around
8. Get Outta My Way
9. What Do I Have To Do?
10. Everything Is Beautiful
11. Slow
12. Confide In Me
13. Can’t Get You Out of My Head
14. In My Arms
15. Looking For an Angel
16. There Must Be an Angel (Playing With My Heart)
17. Love At First Sight/ Can’t Beat the Feeling
18. If You Don’t Love Me
19. Better the Devil You Know
20. Your Disco Needs You
21. Better Than Today
22. Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)
23. On a Night Like This
24. All the Lovers
I'm very excited to see Kylie Minogue's new concert "Aprhodite Les Folies" when it swing through Montreal in April.
It was opening night over the weekend and, judging from what I've seen, I'm about to get a whole lot gayer after seeing the show.
Can we say "extravagance"? The set looks like a Greek temple. There are aerial performers. There is a water fountain. There is a golden horse. There is an angel (or maybe it's Cupid?). There are many over-the-top costumes by Dolce & Gabbana, including one that looks just like She-Ra!
I don't think I can handle so much gay concentrated into 2 hours.
It's a shame Kylie isn't as big in the USA as she should be, because she was made for a Vegas residency. I guess Celine Dion can rest assured...for now.
So, everyone's been going on about the similairites between Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Madonna's "Express Yourself" ad nauseum.
But, while everyone is hating, at least one person has used this as an opportunity to create a very well-executed cover mash-up of the songs, with a sprinkling of Madonna's "Jump" and Kylie's "Better Than Today".
Omar Afuni is a new dance artist who has his album available for free online and he's done a created a really great track that combines all of these great pop songs that share a similar message of empowerment.
He kinda put me in my place. Instead of getting my hate on, I should have just celebrated the music.
But, then again, that's not as fun. ;)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
I was all excited when I saw that Taio Cruz's next single and video "Higher" featured Kylie Minogue. I thought it was a brilliant move to re-re-introduce Kylie to North American audiences. And, as a bonus, the song is actually a pretty decent dance song.
Then, I learn today, that Taio has a DIFFERENT version with Travie McCoy of all people doing a pointless rap, for North American audiences.
Okay, I know this isn't a new practice for international artists. And really, I don't care when it happens.
But, just look at both videos and listen to both songs. As unbiased as I can be regarding Kylie, I just think her version works better. The video is a fun dance showdown in the parking lot, as opposed to Travie just standing there, awkwardly mugging for the camera. And the song just sounds better as a duet, instead of Travis randomly interjecting with his "Let's go" comments.
And really? Travie McCoy??? Couldn't Taio find someone just a smidge cooler?
Anyway, check them out and sound off on which version you prefer.
With 9 days left in 2010, it's time to count down my 10 favourite albums of the year. Please keep in mind, this is not intended to be a "best of" list. These are the albums that impressed me the most and that got regular play on my iPhone. Check back every day at 6 PM ET for to see who made my playlist.
9. KYLIE MINOGUE - APHRODITE
The pop diva has been in the business for over 20 years, but aside from her smash hit Fever back in 2001, she’s failed to get any loving from North America. Aprhodite, her 11th studio album, is a fine return to form. Not only is it her most cohesive album since Fever, but it’s a non-stop dance party featuring 12 tracks about all the warm and fuzzy feelings that come from being in love.
From the slow whisper of "All The Lovers" to the urgency of "Closer" to the euphoric bliss of "Too Much" (which completes the trilogy of "Love At First Sight" and "Wow"), it's just an feel-good album.
If you like your divas served with a little less ego, Jessica Mauboy might be for you.
The Australian beauty has been getting lots of attention down under for her brand of R&B and pop. In fact, she released her second album Get 'Em Girls earlier this year, which features guest spots by some big names like Ludacris, Iyaz, Jay Sean and the ubiquitous Snoop Dogg.
Sure, it isn't anything that Beyoncé or Mariah haven't done before. But what's refreshing is how unaffected she seems by stardom. She seems accessible and charming and looks like she'll work hard to crack into the mainstream. Kinda like Kylie Minogue is doing. Must be something in the Australian water.
Check out her colourful video for "Saturday Night" below!
Thanks to Ryan for introducing me to Jessica :)
Kylie Minogue unveiled her holiday track "Let It Snow" on . It's pretty standard fare. No crazy rearrangement of the music or anything like that. Just Kylie singing demurely over the sweet music.
She's set to perform it live on NBC for the tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center tonight at 7 pm.
I'd just like to take a moment and wonder if Kylie has hired a whole new management team, but the bitch has been all over the US tv shows like crazy for the past month or so! I think she's done Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and she performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and now the Treelighting Ceremony.
Work it out, girl. It's like she's pulling out all the stops to finally get some American love and success. And I hope it works.
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