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Oh Dear!

Kylie Minogue, Earls Court, London

By Ludovic Hunter-Tilney
Published: May 6 2005 03:00

Divas are supposed to be capricious, emotional women with complicated private lives and powerful vocals, so how Kylie Minogue has become such a successful one is mystifying. Her manner is down-to-earth and professional; her voice is reedy but cheerful. She's more trouper than diva.

Her one diva-ish attribute is that she's a survivor, career-wise at least. Whenever she has seemed on the slide, she has managed to bounce back with a new image and an irresistibly catchy song.

She is currently sashaying around the globe in her Showgirl tour, which as its name not-so-subtly suggests is a high-camp affair. In the course of the evening Kylie appears in a tiny outfit accessorised with huge feathers, a Barbarella-style catsuit and a Bardot-esque stripy top with tight Capri pants. She sings, badly, a version of "Over the Rainbow". Her dancers perform routines themed around bullfighting and working out at the gym. This is Kylie in her latest and possibly most successful incarnation, as gay icon.

Occasionally the hi-nrg songs wilt to reveal the desperate limitations of her singing. But there are moments of pure pop genius too, such as her best-received songs "I Should Be So Lucky" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head", whose titles sum up the mix of good fortune and captivating tunes that explains Kylie's ascendancy.

Tel 020 7385 1200
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Oh dear. There was not Barberella catsuit that I saw. A black rhinestone skin tight number with a sparkly cape and the Bardot-esque stripy top was in the Money Can't Buy Concert in the Hammersmith Appollo, two years ago. The veracity of these fashion reports is indicative of the accuracy of the 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' singing evaluation. It was breathtaking actually.

Perhaps posting ones phone number with incorrect negative remarks is a way of getting attention for FT reporters or just for Ludovic? At least he's right about the diva part.