Kylie Minogue at BST Hyde Park

From her fondly remembered portrayal of Charlene on Neighbours in the mid-80s to becoming Australia’s reigning pop princess, Kylie Minogue has been a constant cultural presence for close to 40 years. The singer takes to the famous Great Oak Stage for the penultimate day of BST Hyde Park. She last performed here back in 2015. Eager, animated cheers emit from a packed and impassioned crowd. The fervour is mirrored by Minogue who appears just as thrilled to be in our company. This is someone who, despite her stratospheric heights, has remained refreshingly humble and down to earth. It is no doubt one of the factors behind her appeal and longevity. Her interactions with the audience convey her appreciation while presenting the star in an accessible light.

With over 80 million in record sales and a whopping 16 studio albums, the entertainer has an extensive back catalogue to choose from. Always knowing what her fans – or “lovers” as they are affectionally referred to – want, Minogue delights with a setlist packed with hits. We are of course more than happy to “step back in time” with her.

The hypnotic Tension from the artist’s latest album of the same name kicks things off – its contemporary dance beat galvanising an already charged crowd. Come into My World from 2001’s Fever follows and continues the dance-pop sound synonymous with the star. In Your Eyes from the same album is next and we are instantly transposed to the early noughties. The definition of playful pop and, while very much of its time, it sounds as infectious as ever. Minogue moves us to 2010 with the disco-influenced Get Outta My Way. Things We Do for Love – from Tension and performed live for the first time – concludes the first act of the concert.

Minogue is arguably at her most “indie” with the atmospheric Confide in Me. Red Blooded Woman from 2003 album Body Language is seldom performed and is well received. The contagiously catchy synth-pop beats of Slow casts a spell over Hyde Park, the sublime choreography embellishing one of the stand-out numbers of the night – shoutout to the dancers who enhance each track with their impressive performances. Better the Devil You Know is embraced by spectators who almost drown out the singer. Hold On to Now – the third single from Tension – transports us back to the present.

Monster hit Spinning Around brings back the disco vibes. It’s interesting to note that a song so associated with the star was originally intended for its writer Paula Abdul. Placing her own stamp on it, this feels definitively Kylie and has the audience belting out the lyrics. Carole King’s Locomotion from the singer’s debut album oozes nostalgia and those looking forward to I Should Be So Lucky are, well, in luck with an acapella snippet of the song relished by fans. 

One More Time morphs into Wow and I Believe in You follows. Last year’s summer anthem Padam Padam has everyone moving and Minogue’s signature hit Can’t Get You Out Of My Head refuses to age. A supreme pop song and yet another sure-fire highlight in a night teeming with smash singles. All the Lovers is feel-good and celebratory as is On a Night Like This, which pounds with an undercurrent of house music. Latest single My Oh My is another track performed for the first time with Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo joining Kylie on stage.

Love At First Sight with its sing-along-chorus serves as a fitting close to a memorable, uplifting hour and a half. As with all great gigs, it leaves us wanting more, despite the singer catering to all eras of her expansive career. The personification of pop, Minogue knows how to put on a show. Our love affair with the icon – a word all too easily bandied about these days but here well warranted – continues.

Jonathan Marshall
Photos: Sharon Lopez/JRC McCord/Phoebe Fox

For further information and future events visit Kylie Minogue’s website here.

Watch the video for the single My Oh My here: