Concert Review: Kylie Minogue’s Kiss Me Once

"Australia's national treasure" kicks off her latest tour with a living legend and a whole lot of old favourites (making up for her little-loved new album).

Where: Perth Arena

When: Sat 14 Mar 2015

The last time Kylie Minogue performed in Australia was during the lavish Aphrodite Tour (2011) and the trainspotting Anti-Tour (2012). Both were unforgettable for very different reasons, so it was always going to be interesting to see what Kylie was going to do this time round.

Her first opening act at this, the first stop on her Kiss Me Once tour, was Sydney’s Betty Who, who has had a little more success overseas than back home. (Sound familiar?) Let’s face it: opening for Kylie Minogue was never going to be easy but Who held her own and bopped around the stage in her monogrammed varsity jacket, working the crowd through a 20-minute set culminating in her most well-known track to date, “Somebody Loves You.” With a clear knack for song writing and vocal chops to boot, Betty Who deserves more hometown support than she currently gets. (I’m looking at you, radio programmers.)

A day before the show, an email announcing that the legendary Giorgio Moroder would also be opening for Kylie sent this reviewer into a frenzy. Generally known as a faceless producer, the Godfather of Electronica nonetheless emerged on stage - in the flesh, face and all - humbly thanking everyone for the opportunity to play before launching into Donna Summer’s seminal “I Feel Love.” Unfortunately, the speakers were woeful and you could have been forgiven to think that someone rented basic loudspeakers from Disco Warehouse Hire for Moroder’s set. Looking frustrated and embarrassed, he stopped the show and apologised. “I’m sorry. This is not my sound.” A technician was asked to come onstage to help and the disco train rebooted.

And so it was onto the Main Event.

The show was every bit what you would expect from Kylie and her long-time creative director, William Baker. A video prelude revved the crowd before Kylie appeared lying on a pair of red lips, launching into “Les Sex.” Ooh la la!

Kylie Minogue concerts are always bursting with colour, hot dancers and stunning costumes. This tour is evidently less extravagant than, say, Aphrodite, but no less fun. As with previous Kylie shows, the Kiss Me Once concert is broken up into themes, and with a repertoire spanning almost 30 years, much of the show was always going to be a celebration of her greatest hits.

The main highlight for me was the ‘80s section, and you might say, “That’s nothing new, she’s done songs from the ‘80s in her last few tours.” However, this time around there was a clear nod to her PWL days, and musically the sound was quintessentially Stock Aitken Waterman. From “Enjoy Yourself” to “I Should Be So Lucky’, this was Minogue (and musical director Steve Anderson) embracing her past, and fans from that era would have truly stepped back in time with these renditions.

Speaking of embracing one’s past, it was pretty special to witness Minogue covering “Need You Tonight” from INXS. More than an ode to longing, it was a nod to a love story witnessed by every Australian growing up. I’m sure her late ex-flame Michael Hutchence would have been smiling.

Another highlight was when Minogue invited Giorgio Moroder back on stage to premiere her new single “Right Here, Right Now”; a world first that you can watch here. Who knew she could reach such high notes? She then launched into an a capella version of “I Feel Love” with Moroder valiantly attempting the bassline by voice but running out of breath.  Still, not bad for a 74 year-old. A woman in the audience turned and asked who he was, not realising that if it were not for Moroder, the world would not have danced to Donna Summer, “Flashdance,” “Together In Electric Dreams” or Daft Punk’s recent, autobiographical tribute track “Giorgio by Moroder.” Kylie implored the audience to “find out more about this man.” I second it.

Any downsides of the show? Anytime Kylie sang a track from her latest album Kiss Me Once, there was a noticeable lull in the energy of the audience, presumably because many had never heard those songs; even the fiendishly provocative “Sexercize,” co-written by Sia. Unfortunately, the lack of radio support for the singles from this album have had its impact.

Vocally, she was pitch perfect, and Kylie Minogue still knows how to put on a show. Given that Perth had the privilege of being the first city in Australia to experience the Kiss Me Once Tour, the crowd could have gotten into it more. After all, as Giorgio Moroder said, Minogue is “Australia’s national treasure.” And when a legend says that, you better listen.

3.5/5

Kylie can next be seen at:

Adelaide Entertainment Centre, SA, Tuesday 17 March

Rod Laver Arena, VIC, Wednesday 18 March

Qantas Credit Union Arena, NSW, Friday 20 March

Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD, Saturday 21 March