Rise Above

Traded in my sorrows
For some joy that I borrowed
From back in the day
Threw away my old clothes
Got myself a better wardrobe
I got something to say
I'm through with the past
Ain't no point in looking back
The future will be
And did I forget to mention
That I found a new direction
And it leads back to me

I'm spinning around
Move out of my way
I know you're feeling me
Cause you like it like this
I'm breaking it down
I'm not the same
I know you're feeling me
Cause you like it like this


This morning I got to work & for 6 months now I've done my daily ritual of taking my medication. As you may have known before I got the great news that that was all over. All I needed to do was slow the medication down. Today, my friends, is the last day. So when I popped the pill in my mouth at first it was like 'hmm ok this is it...ho hum!' I guess I was somehow thinking the moment would be more significant. I then thought about all the feelings & songs that had inspired me for months now. The ones that inspired me to know that everything was going to be good. Only then did I get semi-emotional. In so many ways, it's hard to fully digest & I think like all the other things it will hit me down the road.

As I said before, over the next few blogs I'm paying tribute to all my pop divas. Which brings me to Kylie Minogue. Some of you either know her as the 'Loco-Motion or La-La-La Girl'. This is tragic because the woman is huge in all other parts of the world. She had a bit of success here in the late 80's & then early 2000's. Then a few yrs ago she put everything on hold when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She stopped her Showgirl World Tour & went into treatment. Luckily for her, everything came out ok. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women & it's truly sad that so far there is no cure. Around the same time she was diagnosed my own aunt had her cancer scare. Much like a brain tumor this I imagine is a frightening experience. Months ago, they gave me a medication that is prescribed to cancer patients. A medication that is suppose to give you an appetite. Hence, why I put on 20 lbs. Kylie has described her whole ordeal & she talked about what it was like having to undergo the treatment. What it was like losing all her hair & then having to wait for everything to grow back (including eyelashes). I do understand that feeling. I felt the ugliest I have ever looked when I had to shave my head. The thought of the scar terrified me. Walking around in hats, hoping that it would grow out right. The weight gain that body was NOT ready for. It was like my body was saying 'Bitch what r u doing to me?!' All I could do was wait. This whole experience was like a waiting game.

Recently, Kylie was here in the US doing promo's for her album X that was just released here. She made an appearance on Ellen & it was a really good one. She talked about how initially she was mis-diagnosed & that she had to go to a second dr to find out for sure that is was breast cancer. After discussing this further Ellen asked her what her advice would be to other people in the same situation. She then said, "Rise Above." In that moment, I thought this is another reason why she is one of my girls. I thought about how even when I was at my most down I tried to stay determined. It was constantly something looking forward to. Something to strive for, being able to lift a Britta, able to take a shower, able to wash my head, eagerly awaiting hair growth & able to go back to the gym. I'll never forget the time when I was on the elyptical machine & I got so motivated that the machine started moving away from it's spot & then I was right behind another lady & she turned around & freaked out. I also think about what started to make me truly happy while I played the waiting game. Being on a dancefloor. For as long as I can remember that has brought me real happiness & when Kylie returned to the music scene she did that with the same intention.

In 1988 I was 10 & one of my favorite things to do was go to the skating rink with my friends. I would get all amped up & start skating my lil ass off when the dj would play Pump Up The Volume but what would REALLY get me going is when I would hear the beginning of the Loco-Motion. I bought the 45 for that single (which I STILL have) & I almost wore out my copy of her first album titled Kylie. To this day I can listen to each track on it with childhood glee. Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, all tracks were upbeat pop & became huge all around the world. SAW also did tracks for Bananarama, Rick Astley & Donna Summer. The album sold 7.5 million globally & 6 singles were released internationally.

1. I Should Be So Lucky #1 Australia/UK #28 US
2. Got To Be Certain #1 Australia #2 UK
3. The Loco-Motion #1 Australia #2 UK #3 US
4. Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi (I Still Love You) #11 Australia #2 UK
5. It's No Secret #37 US
6. Turn It Into Love #1 Japan

A year later SAW churned out more pop hits for her in the album Enjoy Yourself. While it was released here in the states, I must have been the only one that bought the tape because it bombed here. I loved many songs on it because it kept the same pop formula & she even did a cover of Tears On My Pillow for a film called The Delinquents that she was in. The album went onto sell 6 million around the world.

1. Especially For You duet w/Jason Donovan #1 UK #2 Australia
2. Hand On Your Heart #1 UK #4 Australia
3. Wouldn't Change A Thing #2 UK #6 Australia
4. Never Too Late #4 UK #14 Australia
5. Tears On My Pillow #1 UK #20 Australia

Rhythm of Love was released in 1990 & saw Kylie going in the early 90's dance mode. While it only sold 1 million globally I still think it's a good dance album for that time period.

1. Better The Devil You Know #2 UK #4 Australia
2. Step Back In Time #4 UK #5 Australia
3. What Do I Have To Do? #6 UK #8 Australia
4. Shocked #6 UK #7 Australia

Let's Get To It was churned out in 1991 & literally by this point SAW had definitely reached it's peak of pop potential. While it had quite a few singles, it became one of her lowest selling albums to date.

1. Word Is Out #10 Australia #16 UK
2. If You Were With Me Now duet w/Keith Washington #4 UK #23 Australia
3. Give Me Just A Little More Time #2 UK #24 Australia
4. Finer Feelings #11 UK #60 Australia

Her first Greatest Hits was released in 92 & found her parting ways with SAW. The album contained a couple Tp 20 tracks What Kind Of Fool & a cover of Celebration. 2 years later the self titled Kylie Minogue was released on another label & found her going further into a dance area. In 95 her massive hit Confide In Me was released here in the states & I did manage to locate the single & it's to date one of my favorite Kylie songs. During this time she also did a rock collaboration with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds that found massive success as well.

1. Confide In Me #1 Australia #2 UK #39 US Dance
2. Put Yourself In My Place #11 Australia & UK
3. Where Is The Feeling? #16 UK #31 Australia
4. Where The Wild Rose Grow w/Nick Cave #2 Australia #11 UK from the album Murder Ballads

1997 saw the release of what was suppose to be titled Impossible Princess. But when the death of Princess Diana happened that plan was scrapped at the last minute & they retitled it Kylie Minogue, which was odd since that was her last album's title. Musically, it was also a change from dance to a a more rock & indie sound. Which found the media labeling her Indie Kylie. In a video from one of the singles she played different versions of herself & it's actually one of my favorite video's ever. Dance Kylie, Indie Kylie, Sexy Kylie & Cute Kylie all battled each other. Who won in the end? Youtube it & find out.

1. Some Kind Of Bliss #22 UK #27 Australia
2. Did It Again #14 UK #15 Australia
3. Breathe #14 UK #23 Australia
4. Cowboy Style #39 Australia

As I stated before I moved to NYC in 2000 & in the summer I was working at HMV. Which was a massive music chain of stores that rivaled Virgin & Tower. Sadly, only Virgin remains. I remember the excitement I had when I heard that Kylie was coming out with a new album & the single kicking it off was a return to her dance pop roots. Spinning Around was actually meant to be Paula Abdul's comeback single & she even had a hand in writing it. But unfortunately for her, her music career was going to stay on hold until a little unknown show called American Idol would restart her career. Light Years became pure pop perfection. Churning out 6 singles that were released globally, it became her first album to go to #1 in her homeland Australia. She even made an appearance at the 2000 Summer Olympics since they were held that year in Sydney. I remember being all excited to actually see her on tv, but then the station here did not air her performance of On A Night Like This & instead showed her performance of Dancing Queen. This would have been extra lovely if the commentators hadn't talked throughout the whole thing. Either way Kylie was back & it was only the beginning of her musical resurgence.

1. Spinning Around #1 UK & Australia
2. On A Night Like This #1 Australia #2 UK
3. Kids duet w/Robbie Williams #2 UK #14 Australia
4. Please Stay #10 UK #15 Australia
5. Your Disco Needs You #20 Australia
6. Butterfly #14 US Dance

Once I saw that Butterfly was commercial released here I scooped it up & then I heard that she was coming out with new material to follow up her previous success. I had no idea that she would blow up the way she did. Cathy Dennis found success in the US dance market & top 10 success in the early 90's with classics like Touch Me & Just Another Dream. She had went on to release a few other albums but then completely dropped out of the scene & focused on writing. It was then in 2001 that she wrote Can't Get You Out Of My Head which became the biggest hit of Kylie's career. It went to #1 in countries all around the world & finally found a release here. I managed to get on TRL & they had a dance competition. The prize was you got to meet Kylie & see her tour live. Fatima something something was the judge & somehow did not pick me & picked this blonde girl who barely knew who Kylie was. I was livid & to this day I hold a semi grudge against that beyotch. But then, things got sooo much better when I found out that Kylie was coming to NYC to do a signing for Fever at Virgin. So in February of 2002 I was ecstatic to be able to meet her & have her sign my cd. I don't know what it is about my diva's but they get me all silent & nervous. She was incredibly petite but looked absolutely gorgeous. I told her I had been a fan since 88 & that it had been hard to keep track of her music here but I was a diehard fan. She smiled & said thank you & that she appreciated all the love from her US fans. Fever went on to be her biggest seller, 9 million world wide & achieved a peak of #3 here. Come Into My World also won her a Grammy for Best Dance Recording.

1. Can't Get You Out Of My Head #1 UK/Australia #7 US #1 US Dance
2. In Your Eyes #1 Australia #3 UK
3. Love At First Sight #2 UK #3 Australia #23 US #1 US Dance
4. Come Into My World #4 Australia #8 UK #91 US #20 US Dance

Body Language was released in 2003 & found her changing up her music style going for a more R&B but still dance approach. Some say it was an appeal to the US market but unfortunately it didn't find the massive amount of success that Fever had done before it. In one song it found her doing a cheeky rap which was 10 million times better then Madonna's attempt in American Life. But that's just my opinion. That track Secret is still a stand out & I always found it funny that Black Eyes Peas used the same sample to create their monster hit Don't Phunk With My Heart. Unfortunately no record companies are listening to me about what songs are better to release. So oh well.

1. Slow #1 UK & Australia #91 US #1 US Dance
2. Red Blooded Woman #4 Australia #5 UK #24 US Dance
3. Chocolate #6 UK #14 Australia

Over a decade her record companies released a plethora of Greatest hits & remixes. Probably more then any other current artist. So in 2004 it was kind of a shock to see the release of Ultimate Kylie. But what this album did was pull singles from the SAW, Deconstruction & Parlophone releases. A DVD with all the videos was released as well & of course I had to have both. This also saw the pairing of her with the Scissor Sisters. Another reason for me to be jealous of sexy Jake. The album sold 3 million globally.

1. I Believe In You #2 UK #6 Australia #3 US Dance
2. Giving You Up #6 UK #8 Australia

After all the success of the treatment & a return to the stage for the rest of the Showgirl Tour, Kylie went back into the studio for her 10th studio album. Appropriately titled X, Kylie said she wanted to get back on the dancefloor & I'm so glad she did. The tracks on this album are perfect for dancing but unfortunately I think they are lost on the American audience. Why I don't know. I was originally appalled to hear that her record company put Mims on the remix to her single All I See. I never cared for This Is Why I'm Hot, but most of the hip-hop crap is lost on me these days. Somehow the version grew on me but I don't think it's going to grow on anyone else here. If someone had been listening to me & my gays & Perez, then Speakerphone would have been released. The album debuted at a very disappointing #139 here & I see no signs of a chart rebirth. I did notice on a new episode of Gossip Girl they had Ripping Up The Disco playing in a club scene. Which actually, isn't even a track on the album. It's an extra digital download. Oh well, Kylie can you here me? I guess not, you're too bizzy rehearsing for your tour that's going to kick off soon & there is a performance scheduled in London right before my birthday in July. Ahhhhhh, in a perfect world kids I would be there. But, I highly doubt that's going to happen. Oh well, a guy can dream right?

1. 2 Hearts #1 Australia #4 UK
2. Wow #5 UK #11 Australia #19 US Dance Airplay (but guess what it is still climbing so let's hope)
3. In My Arms (scheduled to be released in the UK next month)
4. All I See #43 US Dance (but also moving up)

Well if you're still with me through all this then you MUST be interested in Kylie. AND IF NOT, then look it up. It's all good music to dance to. Now that there's no more rain in my life I definitely think it's time to shine. This is how it feels in my arms. And to all my boys........meet me out because YOUR DISCO NEEDS YOU!