You can’t have failed to notice that Australian Pop Princess Kylie Minogue experienced something of a resurgence in 2023. ‘Padam Padam’, the lead single from her number one album ‘Tension’, gave the star her first Top 10 hit in years and it proved to be a hit across the globe. Following that Kylie embarked on a sold-out Las Vegas residency, and enjoyed another Top 20 hit with ‘Tension’. Thanks to the pandemic, it’s been a long time since Kylie toured in the UK so fans have had to make do with one-off shows. Last night, the singer made a return to Hyde Park for BST, 9 years after she last headlined the event.
Just days before her BST show, Kylie debuted new track ‘My Oh My’ featuring Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo and fans feverishly debated what songs she might perform in her BST show. For the most part the set list consisted of her greatest hits so all the songs you’d hope to hear were in there. Opening the show with ‘Tension’, wearing a red latex outfit, Kylie kicked off an incredibly energetic 90-minute show where she seemed to be having as much fun as her fans were. Making full use of the expansive Great Oak Stage, Kylie was in her element as she took fans on a trip through her impressive catalogue.
While she did deliver the expected hits such as ‘Spinning Around’, ‘The Loco-Motion’ and of course, ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ with a guest appearance from Brazilian star Anitta, Kylie managed to sneak in some unexpected songs too. A performance of ‘Body Language’ single ‘Red Blooded Woman’ was a nice surprise as was the live debut of ‘Tension’ album track ‘Things We Do For Love’. Later in the set Kylie did a medley of ‘One More Time’, ‘Wow’ and ‘Shocked’, which went down an absolute storm and she took fan requests for an a cappella medley that included classics such as ‘Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi’ and ‘I Should Be So Lucky’.
Of the newer material, ‘Hold On to Now’ resonated strongly with the crowd (it really should have been a hit) as did the Orville Peck collaboration ‘Midnight Ride’, which featured video screens of Orville who sadly wasn’t able to make the show in person. ‘Padam Padam’, which surprisingly wasn’t the encore, sounded magnificent as it blasted out in Hyde Park with 50,000 fans singing along. For the encore, Kylie kicked off with the mighty ‘Light Years’ single ‘On a Night Like This’, before bringing out Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo for the live debut of new single ‘My Oh My’. She brought things to a close with a rousing rendition of ‘Love at First Sight’, which was a fitting end to a set that felt celebratory for both Kylie and her fans.
Kylie proved once again why she’s still at the top of her game during her BST Hyde Park show. The star performed with more energy than I’ve seen in a while and it feels like she’s re-energised. Beaming from ear to ear throughout the set, Kylie just radiated joy and her she delivered a set that perfectly balanced fan service and Kylie favourites. Perhaps the most shocking thing about the night was that she didn’t perform ‘Kids’, her Robbie Williams duet which is as loathed as it is loved by her fans. With a ‘Tension’ repack widely expected and new music on the horizon, it surely can’t be too long until Kylie heads out on a major UK tour again?
Set list: 1. Tension 2. Come Into My World 3. In Your Eyes 4. Get Outta My Way 5. Things We Do For Love 6. Confide in Me 7. Red Blooded Woman 8. Slow 9. Better the Devil You Know 10. Hold On to Now 11. Midnight Ride 12. Spinning Around 13. The Loco-Motion 14. Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi / Got to Be Certain / Step Back in Time / 2 Hearts / I Should Be So Lucky (a cappella medley) 15. One More Time / Wow / Shocked 16. I Believe In You 17. Padam Padam 18. Can’t Get You Out of My Head (with Anitta) 19. Where the Wild Roses Grow (a cappella) 20. All the Lovers 21. On a Night Like This 22. My Oh My (with Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo) 23. Love at First Sight Performance date: 14th July 2024
