slowdown and dance with.me.uk

Kylie is today's Featured Artist at Billboard.

Edited By Barry A. Jeckell. February 02, 2004, 12:00 AM

Kylie's Slow Burn

By Michael Paoletta

It is judgment day in the U.S. for Kylie Minogue.

With her previous album, the worldwide smash "Fever," and its indefatigable single "Can't Get You out of My Head," the global superstar made great strides in America.

Now, two years later, on the eve of the Feb. 10 U.S. release of her new Capitol album -- the mature, '80s-spackled "Body Language" -- the Australian singer acknowledges that the pressure is indeed on.

"It's on, but I don't want to admit it to myself," Minogue says of her ninth studio album (her fourth U.S. release). "In the end, I can only do what I'm going to do."

Pausing for a moment, she continues, "I'm not even sure if I've actually broken America. I think I now have a foot in the door. I haven't completely hypnotized them yet."

True. But Minogue's celebrity factor is rising here -- just as it has internationally. "The paparazzi know who I am. My days of shopping anonymously in New York are coming to an end," she says with a chuckle.

In the U.S., the lead single from "Body Language" -- "Slow" -- is gaining momentum at radio (just as the album's second international single, "Red Blooded Woman," is being readied for release).

The electro-steeped, erotically charged "Slow" is being played on more than 80 mainstream and rhythmic top 40 stations, including KIIS Los Angeles and WKTU New York.

In the U.K., "Slow" debuted in the pole position of the Official U.K. Charts Co.'s singles chart in November. One month later, "Body Language" debuted at No. 6 on its album chart.

It is safe to say that Minogue and her U.K. label, Parlophone, were hoping for a higher album debut -- especially since Minogue's previous album, "Fever," was her most successful to date. "Fever" debuted at No. 1 in Germany, Australia and the U.K.; it is certified platinum or multi-platinum in 18 countries and gold in another 17.

The album debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200, selling 115,000 units in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It has since amassed U.S. sales of 1.1 million and has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide, according to the label.

The album's lead single, "Can't Get You out of My Head," sold 3 million copies globally -- and topped the charts in 21 countries. On Billboard's Hot 100, the track peaked at No. 7, while follow-up singles "Love at First Sight" and "Come Into My World" reached No. 23 and No. 91, respectively.

Which brings us back to the new album's U.K. bow.

"Would I have liked 'Body Language' to have a higher debut?" Minogue asks. "Of course, but I had to look at it realistically."

To illustrate, she points to greatest-hits sets from Michael Jackson, R.E.M. and Red Hot Chili Peppers -- as well as the debut from English teen phenomenon Busted -that were also released during the pre-Christmas rush alongside "Body Language."

Given the competition, Minogue adds, "I figure I did pretty well. If I didn't understand the marketplace, I would be rather upset right now."

Elsewhere, "Body Language" enjoyed top 10 debuts in Australia, Switzerland, Argentina and four other countries. Additionally, the album debuted in the top 20 of 13 countries. According to the label, it has amassed global sales of 1.5 million.

Not focusing entirely on sales figures, London-based Mark Collen, senior VP of global marketing for the Capitol stream at EMI, says that EMI looks at Minogue's career as a whole as a barometer of her success.

For Minogue, this extends to her "side jobs" as author ("Kylie: La La La" with William Baker) and fashion entrepreneur (her Love Kylie lingerie line).

So, Collen says, it is imperative that Minogue gets to the next stage in the U.S. "We don't want her seen as the artist with one hit song," he says. "We must re-establish Kylie as an artist, which is precisely what has been happening throughout Europe with the new album."

Minogue will spend the bulk of February in the U.S. While in Los Angeles, she will do press, radio and TV, as well as attend the Grammy Awards. "Come Into My World" has been nominated in the best dance recording category.

In New York during the week of the album's release, Minogue is confirmed to appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," among other shows.

VH1 is airing the video for "Slow," and the Ballie Walsh-directed video is nominated in the best video category of the third annual DanceStar USA Awards, which take place March 9 in Miami Beach.

In a perfect match, Minogue -- who is an icon in the gay community -- will appear on the first episode of the new season of Bravo/NBC's hit reality show, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

This is timed to coincide with the releases of "Body Language" and "What's That Sound," the "Queer Eye" soundtrack that Capitol is also issuing Feb. 10. The Chemical Brothers' remix of "Slow" appears on the collection.
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Excerpted from the Feb. 7, 2004, issue of Billboard. The full original text of the article is available in the Billboard.com Premium Services section.

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