Kylie Minogue’s ‘Body Language’ 20th Anniversary Factfile

In 2022, Kylie Minogue was riding the crest of a wave with a second career peak thanks to the global success of her eighth studio album ‘Fever’ and the supporting tour. So how would she follow up that success? She would surprise us all with the more experimental ‘Body Language’ which was influenced in the main by 80s funk, R&B and electro.

I’ve compiled 20 things about the ‘Body Language’ era in honour of its 20th anniversary. Read my…body language…facts, below!

1. ‘Slow’ was released on 3 November 2003 and is, to date, Kylie’s only UK no.1 on which she has a writing credit (alongside Dan Carey and Emiliana Torrini).   It is the seventh of Kylie’s seven UK no.1 singles and has since been a live favourite appearing in numerous guises including mash ups with Donna Summer’s ‘Love To Love You Baby’, Human League’s ‘Being Boiled’ and David Bowie’s ‘Fashion’.
2. The video to ‘Slow’ was shot at the Montjuïc Municipal Pool with stunning views across Barcelona. The pool was built especially for the 1992 Olympic Games and there’s a nod to this with a diver somersaulting through the air to start the video.
3. To celebrate the launch of the album, Kylie put on a one-off album ‘Money Can’t Buy’ concert on Saturday 15th November in London.  Kylie opened sat on a black girder raised high off the stage, to recreate the iconic album cover, whilst singing ‘Still Standing’. It reportedly cost over £1million to stage, with fans having to win tickets to join invited music industry types and VIPs.
4. Speaking of the iconic album cover, Kylie looked stunning in the various promo shots taken for the campaign, channeling Brigette Bardot in her “period that was the perfect blend of coquette and rock n roll.” As explained by Kylie at the album’s press conference.
5. The album ‘Body Language’ was released on 17 November 2023 in the UK and peaked at No.6 on the Official UK Albums chart. It went to No.2 in her native Australia and reached No.42 on the US Billboard Album chart. It has gone on to be certified platinum in the UK and double platinum in Australia.
6. Track 2 on the album, ‘Still Standing’ is a Prince-esque number that was originally written and recorded by upcoming singer of the time, Alexis Strum. When her music career hit a roadblock before she could even release her debut album, this song found its way to Kylie. Today, 20 years on and Alexis’ album ‘Addicted’ has finally been released on streaming and includes her version of this song.
7. Pop girls rapping seemed to be a bit of a trend in 2003; Madonna told us about yoga and pilates on ‘American Life’, Dannii told us how she likes to ride speakers like ponies on ‘Neon Nights’ cut ‘Vibe On’ and now Kylie was asking us to ‘buckle up baby’ on ‘Secret (Take You Home)’. One of the song’s writers was none other than Ms Dynamite who is no stranger to rapping herself.
8. ‘Secret (Take You Home)’ also features a sample of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam’s 1985 UK Top 15 hit ‘I Wonder If I Take You Home’ with Kylie singing the line ‘I Wonder If I Take You Home’ as part of the song’s chorus. This track is rumoured to have been in the running to be the second single and a promo single version was issued in Taiwan.
9. Carrying on with the 80s inspiration for the album’s soundscape, one of the most experimental tracks is ‘Someday’ which includes vocals from Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside.
10. Another 80’s name appears on the writing credits for the album with producer (Kurtis) Mantronix of ‘Got To Have Your Love’ fame writing and producing on the tracks ‘Promises’ and ‘Obsession’.
11. Karen ‘Kaz’ Poole formerly of Alisha’s Attic had switched to writing songs for other artists, and just a year earlier she cowrote Dannii’s ‘Put The Needle On It’ (and several other album tracks on ‘Neon Nights’).  Kylie must’ve been impressed, choosing to work with Kaz on ‘Sweet Music’, ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Red Blooded Woman’. Johnny Douglas joined them writing and producing on the latter two which of course, went on to be singles.  He had previously worked with Kylie on tracks on 2000’s ‘Light Years’ album including fan favourite ‘Disco Down’ as well as working with the likes of George Michael.
12. Both the ‘Slow’ and ‘Chocolate’ videos (as well as the Money Can’t Buy concert) were choregraphed by Michael Rooney who is also responsible for the dance moves on Fatboy Slim’s ‘Weapon of Choice’ and ‘Praise You’ and Bjork’s ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ to name just a few. He is also behind the iconic moves in Kylie’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ video.
13. Speaking of CGYOOMH, Cathy Dennis who co-wrote that song also contributed the slinky ‘After Dark’ for ‘Body Language’ alongside Chris Braide who’s credits to that point included Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham amongst many other pop stars of the Noughties.
14. Cathy also wrote ‘Toxic’ with Kylie in mind, but it was thought to not be right for the direction that ‘Body Language’ was taking; it went to Britney Spears for her ‘In The Zone’ album. Interestingly, Kylie’s musical director (and oft co-writer/producer) Steve Anderson, co-wrote the track ‘Breathe on Me’ on Britney’s ‘In the Zone’ album, and it’s always felt like it could have been a great Kylie track to me. In November 2003, ‘In The Zone’ and ‘Body Language’ were released on the same week with the former entering at No.14 and Kylie at No.6 (as mentioned above) on the Official UK Album Chart.
15. All is fair in chart wars though and Britney would have her revenge in March 2004 when ‘Red Blooded Woman’ became the second single release from BL, entering the UK chart at 5. Meanwhile, No.1 on the UK Official Singles Chart was a new entry for ‘Toxic’.
16. Third single ‘Chocolate’ was reportedly due to include a rap by Ludacris, but this was never officially released, although a version has since leaked online with his rap included.
17. Like most of her albums (after the PWL era) Kylie records many more tracks than are released and this era was no exception. In a slightly karmic moment, one of those unreleased tracks, ‘I’m Just Here For The Music’ ended up being recorded by Paula Abdul. She of course co-wrote Kylie’s No.1 single ‘Spinning Around’ which she was going to release herself before her plans changed.
18. Another unreleased BL era track ‘Boombox’ got teased some 5 years later on Kylie’s X2008 tour and an official release (albeit in a new remixed version) on the remix compilation simply called ‘Boombox’ and featuring remixes of all Kylie’s singles from 2000 – 2008.
19. Biff Standard co-wrote and co-produced the beautiful ballad ‘Loving Days’ on this album; a euphoric track that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on ‘Impossible Princess’.  They first worked together on ‘Light Years’ and their creative relationship is still going strong today with Biff having seven writing/production credits on Kylie’s current album ‘Tension’.
20. Ahead of the official BL album announcement a leaked track list with the album title ‘City Games’ was posted online with 12 tracks complete with writer/producer credits. It was obviously debunked when the official title and track list for ‘Body Language’ were revealed. However, as well as the track ‘City Games’ later being released as a b-side to ‘Chocolate’, two other tracks have since been confirmed, and the list of credits for tracks on the rumoured ‘City Games’ album includes many of the writers and producers who did contribute to the actual BL album, albeit with different tracks. It remains one of the mysteries in Kylie folklore!

Buy ‘Body Language‘ and ‘Body Language Live’ DVD now. Listen to ‘Body Language’ below:

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