May 22, 2008. Copyright 2008, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Australian pop phenomenon Kylie Minogue turns 40
By Susan Shepherd

LONDON, May 22, Graphic News:  Twenty two years ago, when Kylie Minogue was just coming up to another milestone birthday -- her 18th -- the then-schoolgirl actress landed the part of one Charlene Mitchell in a soap opera called Neighbours. Thus it was that she was first seen, outside her home country, sporting dungarees and axle grease as ErinsboroughÕs newest apprentice car mechanic.

Today, the image could hardly be more different. As an internationally recognised performer, glamour is her watchword. Her dazzling ÒShowgirlÓ tour sold out around the world and, far from having a mid-life crisis, she is currently taking her 2008 KylieX concert all over Europe. The little girl from Melbourne, whose younger sister, Dannii, looked more likely to be the star of the family in the early days, now has all the trappings of the 21st century pop celebrity, including her own range of lingerie and a brace of designer perfumes. Then there is the ÒKylie effectÓ. In speaking openly about her treatment for breast cancer, doctors have credited her with raising awareness of the disease among millions of young women. The French governmentÕs Minister for Culture, bestowing upon her, earlier this month, FranceÕs highest Arts honour, claimed she had the Midas touch. Frequently compared with Madonna, Minogue prefers to acknowledge their differences:  ÒSheÕs the Queen and IÕm the PrincessÓ, she has said.

With an OBE in the British New YearÕs Honours list this year and named Best International Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards in February, MinogueÕs record sales are now put at more than 60 million. But her career has not always been the unstoppable success it now appears. In the early 1990s, after a number of hits with the British record producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman -- notably, ÒI Should Be So LuckyÓ -- Kylie struggled to move beyond the bubbly, clean-living kid who sang catchy chart-toppers. She tried switching to the funkier, dance label, Deconstruction, and took up with fellow Australian rock star Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS who would later commit suicide after his involvement with Paula Yates. For Kylie, Hutchence was a far cry from the wholesome Jason Donovan, her boyfriend on and off-screen during Neighbours. Still, her new-found independence did not yield high record sales.   

The turning point came with her decision to concentrate on spectacular, high-energy stage performances. As the new millennium dawned, Kylie stormed back into the spotlight, re-entering the public consciousness with memorable live sets and stunning music videos. Now with Parlaphone, she released the album ÒLight YearsÓ and its single, ÒSpinning AroundÓ, followed by ÒCanÕt Get You Out of My HeadÓ and the album, ÒFeverÓ. The latter finally won acclaim in the United States, which had never quite taken to her in the way that Australia and Europe had. Something of an icon for the global gay community, Minogue says she still dreams of marrying and having children, despite the ending of her relationship with Gallic actor Olivier Martinez. Back on Ramsay Street, two decades ago, CharleneÕs wedding to Scott Robinson sent television ratings into orbit. Her legions of fans are still waiting for the real-life equivalent.
/ENDS