Spinning Around

"Spinning Around"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Light Years
B-side	"Cover Me with Kisses" "Paper Dolls"
Released	13 June 2000 (Germany) 19 June 2000 26 June 2000 (UK vinyl)
Format	CD single, Cassette single, Vinyl single
Genre	Dance-pop, disco, house
Length	3:26
Label	Parlophone, Mushroom
Writer(s)	Ira Shickman, Osborne Bingham, Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul
Producer	Mike Spencer
Certification	Platinum (Australia)[1] Silver (UK)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"GBI: German Bold Italic" (1998) "Spinning Around" (2000) "On a Night Like This" (2000)

"Spinning Around" is a song by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was written by Ira Shickman, Osborne Bingham, Kara DioGuardi, and Paula Abdul, and produced by Mike Spencer. It was originally intended for Paula Abdul's "comeback" album. However, as the album never came into fruition, it was given to Minogue, who recorded it for her seventh studio album Light Years (2000). Musically, the song is a dance song with strong disco influences. Through the lyrics, Minogue declares that she is not the same person as before, and that she has reinvented herself.^{[citation needed]}

"Spinning Around" was met with favorable reviews from music critics, some of who viewed the song as one of Minogue's best. It received chart success in Australia, as it became Minogue's first number-one single there since "Confide In Me" (1994). It later won Minogue the award for theBest Pop Release at the Fourteenth ARIA Music Awards, and was also certified Platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The song topped the UK Singles Chart, her first there since "Tears on My Pillow" ten years earlier, and was certified Silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The song also gave Minogue the honor of being one of three artists (the others being Madonna and U2) to have a number-one single in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. "Spinning Around" also made the top forty in eight more countries.

The accompanying music video for "Spinning Around", directed by Dawn Shadforth, showed Minogue in hot pants, dancing in a club. Recognized as one of Minogue's most iconic videos to date,^{[citation needed]} it received rotation on many music video channels. Minogue performed the song on her "On a Night Like This Tour" (2001) and has since performed it on all her headlining tours, to date. Apart from the concert tour performances, she performed the song on the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, and the television specials An Audience with..., and later on her promotional concert "Money Can't Buy" (2003).

Background

"Spinning Around" was written by Ira Shickman, Osborne Bingham, Kara DioGuardi, and Paula Abdul, and produced by Mike Spencer. The song was originally intended for Abdul to record for her then "comeback album." Abdul had said that she wrote the song about her divorce to second husband, clothing designer Brad Beckerman. But, she did not, and Minogue later recorded the song for her seventh studio album Light Years (2000). In an interview with Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, the authors of the book 1000 UK Number One Hits, Minogue explained how she recorded the song,

"When we started talking about making the album, I met with different writers, producers, and I spent a fare bit of time with my two A&R men Miles and Jamie. [...] The song [Spinning Around] was found as a demo by Jamie Nelson, one of my A&R guys in New York, so there's a New York story. He went over there, arrived home waving his arms about saying "I've got this great song here, I think it'd be perfect for you." And we all listened to it, and loved it straightaway even in demo form, it had something."

Minogue also said that the song went through a "few processes" before it was made ready for inclusion on the album. She also said that the song sounded more American than the other songs on the album. By this time, Minogue and Deconstruction Records had parted ways. She then signed a record deal with Parlophone Records. "Spinning Around" became her first release through Parlophone, and the lead single from Light Years. It was released on 19 June 2000 in the UK.

Composition

"Spinning Around" is a moderately paced dance-pop song with disco influences.^[2] According to the sheet music for the song published at Musicnotes.com by Bug Music, the song is written in the key of F♯-minor.^[3] The beat is set in common time, and moves at a tempo of 120 beats per minute.^[3] The song has the sequence of F♯₇sus–Dmaj₇–E/B as its chord progression, and Minogue's vocals in the song spans from the note of F♯₃ to the note of C♯₅.^[3] Bryony Sutherland and Lucy Ellis, the authors of the book Kylie: Showgirl, noted that the song is an unashamed piece of sparkling "disco-pop".^[4] Larry Flick of Billboard noted that the song ended a brief "modern-rock flirtation" and revisits the dance-pop sound of her '80s heyday.^[2]

According to Chris True of allmusic, "Spinning Around" is a fun and string-laden declaration that she may have made a mistake back in 1997.^[5] Pam Avoledo of Blogcritics noted that the song begins with lush keyboards.^[6] In the chorus, Minogue sings she says that she's demanding attention, while in the bridge, she repeats that people can't help but like her now.^[6] The phrase "you like it like this" is also funkified by a vocoder.^[6] After the chorus, Minogue adlibs the part of the chorus — "Oh, I'm not the same / You like it like this / Ooh-oh."^[6]

Music video

Minogue shown dancing on the top of a table on the "Spinning Around" music video

The accompanying music video for "Spinning Around", directed by Dawn Shadforth,^[4] was shot in two days. The video, often considered a metamorphosis in Minogue's career,^{[citation needed]} portrays her accented by a tiny pair of gold lamé hot pants, dancing at a nightclub. The pants were found by Minogue's friend at a market, and were bought for about 50p.^[4] Minogue later revealed the inspiration and idea behind the music video:

"One of my producers said he really liked [the] video for 'Some Kind of Bliss' and when I asked why, he said, 'Well, it was the little denim hot pants.' So I made a mental note. The concept for the 'Spinning Around' video is basically people having fun in a night-club and I just thought: 'Hot Pants!'"^[4]

Synopsis

The video starts with showing Minogue at a party on the dance-floor. It then moves to show her on top of a table at a bar, seducing the men that are there. It then moves back to Minogue dancing with a man whom she picked up at the bar. As the second chorus ends, she is shown in a dark room with a floor covered in multi-colored, sparkling lights, writhing on the floor. As the bridge starts, she is shown dancing seductively around a bar stool with two background dancers. The video progresses to show Minogue back on the dance floor performing a dance routine with all of the party guests. The video ends with the camera moving up to show bright lights on the ceiling and cutting black.

Reception

Sutherland and Ellis wrote that the video provided "excellent tabloid fodder," yet also made Minogue feel insecure about her appearance. She started feeling that she might be exposing too much of her body to the extras.^[4] She said, "I just knew, being in those hot pants, and with the focus on me all day for two days, there was bound to be a minute when I just didn't feel like being on camera any more."^[4] She reached a point where she became conscious about what she was wearing, and asked for clothes to cover her up, temporarily.^[7]

The video received widespread television rotation. It has become one of Minogue's most iconic videos to date.^{[citation needed]} Virgin Media wrote "pop pixie [Minogue] in gold hot pants, successfully reinvents herself as a disco babe in her most luminous of incarnations."^[8] They also ranked it at number eighteen on their list of "Sexiest Videos Ever." The video is often considered a "trademark" in her career,^[9] and received widespread coverage from many magazines and newspapers.^[10]

Influence

I happened to write [a song called] "Spinning Around," that I gave to [Australian singer] Kylie Minogue. She hadn't done a record in seven years and was looking for a great dance number.[...] It literally re-launched her career, and when all these kids came into audition for Pop Idol, they sang "Spinning Around."

—Paula Abdul on the song, to Ocala Star-Banner.^[11]

Due to the title of the song it has been used regularly in reference to politics, for example BBC Radio Five Live's coverage of the 2000 US presidential election and Andrew Marr's news report on Tony Blair's resignation speech.

Formats and track listings

UK / AUS CD 1[12] "Spinning Around" – 3:28 "Spinning Around" (Sharp Vocal Mix) – 7:04 "Spinning Around" (7th Spinnin' Dizzy Dub) – 5:23 "Spinning Around" (Video) UK / AUS CD 2[13] "Spinning Around" – 3:28 "Cover Me with Kisses" – 3:08 "Paper Dolls" – 3:34

EU CD 1[14] "Spinning Around" – 3:28 "Cover Me with Kisses" – 3:08 "Paper Dolls" – 3:34 "Spinning Around" (Sharp Vocal Mix) – 7:04 "Spinning Around" (Video) UK 12" Vinyl (12R6542) Side A: "Spinning Around" (Sharp Vocal Mix) — 7:04 "Spinning Around" (7th District Club Mix) — 6:33 Side B: "Spinning Around" (7th District Dub Like This Mix) — 5:23 "Spinning Around" (7th District Club-Mental Mix) — 6:33

• Released 26 June 2000. The label incorrectly lists the track listing as "Sharp Vocal Mix," "Sharp Double Dub," "7th Spinnin' Dizzy Dub," "7th District Club Mix."

Live performances

To date, Kylie performed the song on every single concert tour she's done since the release:

• On A Night Like This Tour
• KylieFever2002
• Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour (as part of the Smiley Kylie Medley)
• Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour (as part of the Everything Tabboo Medley)
• KylieX2008 (as a mash-up with Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real")
• For You, For Me Tour (as part of the Everything Tabboo Medley)
• Aphrodite World Tour

The song was also performed on:

• Opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Paralympics^[15]
• An Audience with Kylie 2001 TV Special
• Money Can't Buy 2003 TV Concert

Charts and certifications

Charts Chart (2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[16] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 35 Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[18] 39 France (SNEP)[19] 28 Germany (Media Control AG)[20] 62 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 30 Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[23] 31 New Zealand (RIANZ)[24] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 42 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 34 UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[27] 1

Year-End charts Year Country Position 2000 Australian Singles Chart[28] 28 New Zealand Singles Chart[29] 24 Certifications Country Certifications (sales thresholds) Australia Platinum[30] United Kingdom Silver[31] RIANZ Gold[32]

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "You See the Trouble with Me" by Black Legend	UK Singles Chart number-one single 25 June 2000 – 2 July 2000	Succeeded by "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem
Preceded by "Who the Hell Are You" by Madison Avenue	Australian Singles Chart number-one single 2 July 2000 – 9 July 2000	Succeeded by "Freestyler" by Bomfunk MC's

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade[33]	Year	Rank
Q	United Kingdom	"The 1001 Best Songs Ever"	2003	90

References

1. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b} Billboard
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Bug Music. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Sutherland & Ellis, p. 102
5. ^ "Light Years > Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/light-years-r512306. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Avoledo, Pam (5 August 2005). "Single Review: Kylie Minogue 'Spinning Around'". Blogcritics. Technorati. http://blogcritics.org/music/article/single-review-kylie-minogue-spinning-around/. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
7. ^ Sutherland & Ellis, p. 102–104
8. ^ [1]
9. ^ "Style icon Kylie's hotpants go on show at the V&A museum". Daily Mail (London). 15 January 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-428767/Style-icon-Kylies-hotpants-V-A-museum.html. 
10. ^ [2]
11. ^ News
12. ^ (2000) "Spinning Around" (UK / AUS CD 1 Single liner notes). Release notes for "Spinning Around" by Kylie Minogue. Parlophone (CDRS6542).
13. ^ (2000) "Spinning Around" (UK / AUS CD 2 Single liner notes). Release notes for "Spinning Around" by Kylie Minogue. Parlophone (CDR6542).
14. ^ (2000) "Spinning Around" (Europe CD 1 Single liner notes). Release notes for "Spinning Around" by Kylie Minogue. Parlophone (8881005).
15. ^ [3]
16. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
19. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
20. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
21. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
22. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.
23. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
24. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
26. ^ "Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
27. ^ "Chart Stats – Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
28. ^ Australian Recording Industry Association (2000). "End of year charts". ARIA Charts. http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2000.htm. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
29. ^ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (2000). "End of year charts (searchable database)". RIANZ Charts. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
30. ^ Australian Recording Industry Association (2000). "2000 Accreditations". ARIA Charts. http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2000.htm. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
31. ^ British Phonographic Industry (13 July 2000). "BPI Certified Awards (searchable database)". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
32. ^ RIANZ Recording Industry Association Of New Zealand
33. ^ "Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around". AcclaimedMusic.net. Retrieved 14 January 2008.

External links

• "Spinning Around" official music video on YouTube posted by EMI.