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Light Years (Kylie Minogue album)

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Light Years
An image of Minogue posing with the blue sky and sea in the background, wearing a blue swimsuit and raising her right hand
Studio album by
Kylie Minogue
Released25 September 2000 (2000-09-25)
Recorded1999–2000
Studio
  • Metropolis (London)
  • Angel (London)
  • Blah St. (Hampshire)
  • Studio 2 (Dublin)
  • Olympic (London)
  • Real World (Box)
  • Therapy (London)
  • Master Rock (London)
  • Sarm Hook End (London)
Genre
Length58:16
Label
Producer
Kylie Minogue chronology
Intimate and Live
(1998) 		Light Years
(2000) 		Hits+
(2000)
Singles from Light Years
  1. "Spinning Around"
    Released: 19 June 2000
  2. "On a Night Like This"
    Released: 11 September 2000
  3. "Kids"
    Released: 9 October 2000
  4. "Please Stay"
    Released: 11 December 2000
  5. "Your Disco Needs You"
    Released: 22 January 2001

Light Years is the seventh studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. Mushroom Records released it on 22 September 2000 in Australia; Parlophone released it on 25 September 2000 in the United Kingdom. Following the commercial failure of Impossible Princess (1997), Minogue left Deconstruction Records and took a hiatus from recording music. She signed with Parlophone in June 1999 and decided to return to her pop roots. She worked with various writers and producers, including Steve Anderson, Johnny Douglas, Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers, and Mark Picchiotti.

Light Years is a dance-pop, disco, and Europop album that refers to music from the 1970s. Lyrically, the album touches upon themes of women's empowerment, celebration, and sex, in a cheeky and campy approach. Music critics provided positive reviews, complimenting Minogue's return to pop despite them being ambivalent towards the lyrical content. Retrospectively, Light Years has been recognized as one of Minogue's strongest releases. The album won the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist and Best Pop Release at the 2001 ceremonies. Light Years peaked in the top position on the Australian Albums Chart, Minogue's first number-one album in her native Australia. It reached the top 10 in Scotland, New Zealand, and on the UK Albums Chart.

Five singles were released from Light Years, including the Australia number-one singles "Spinning Around" and "On a Night Like This", as well as the top 20 entries "Kids" and "Please Stay". All peaked inside the top 10 in the UK. The final single, "Your Disco Needs You" was only released in Australia and Germany. Light Years was further promoted with the On a Night Like This Tour, which visited Europe and Australia from March to May 2001. The tour was the biggest by a solo artist in Australia, grossing U.S. $5 million. The album was re-issued in Europe in 2018 and returned to the UK Albums Chart and the Scottish Albums Chart.

Background[]

"I believed that [Minogue] was still very strong vocally, and still definitely a star... I believed in her as an artist and I knew that with the right project, the right songwriters, the right producers, the right team, she would still have a fanbase out there."

—Parlophone A&R executive Miles Leonard commenting on Minogue's potential.[1]

In 1997, Kylie Minogue released her sixth studio album, Impossible Princess. The album represented a drastic change in the singer's musical direction, incorporating elements of electronica and alternative music.[2][3] The British public was unimpressed with her new musical direction, viewing it as a trend-chasing attempt, and failed to identify with her new intimate image as "IndieKylie".[4][5][6][7] The backlash resulted in Impossible Princess having little impact on British record charts—it peaked at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and sold only 18,000 copies in the first two weeks of release.[8][9] After embarking on a successful promotional tour, Minogue left Deconstruction Records and BMG in November 1998, ending their six-year relationship.[10][9][11]

Following the split, Minogue took a break from recording music to focus on her acting career.[9][12] She spent several months in Barbados performing Miranda in Toby Gough's production of The Tempest during an annual operatic festival.[13][14][15] She also starred in the Australian films Cut and Sample People, both released in 2000.[16][17] She gave several live performances in Australia, including the 1998 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the opening ceremonies of Melbourne's Crown Casino and Sydney's Fox Studios in 1999.[18][19][20] Minogue performed Duran Duran's 1984 single "The Reflex" on the tribute complication Undone: The Songs of Duran Duran (1999),[21] and collaborated with the Pet Shop Boys on a duet, titled "In Denial", on their 1999 studio album Nightlife.[22] Following "In Denial", Parlophone—a British record label the Pet Shop Boys had been with since 1985—decided to sign Minogue in June 1999.[11][12][23] She announced she would start working on a new album, saying: "I took my time in choosing a new label [...] there is much I hope to achieve with my next album and I believe that anything is possible with this new partnership."[11]

Development and recording[]

In an early meeting with Parlophone to discuss which direction Minogue intended to pursue, the singer decided to return to her pop roots, saying "I should do what I do best... [Pop music] is the kind of music that people want from me."[24][25] Minogue believed the album was "a new beginning" and things came almost "full circle" while making it, as she started singing pop music again.[26][27] Minogue was inspired by the music of the 1970s, which she discovered when she was a child via her parents' record collection, including the soundtrack from Grease (1978), Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" and "Dim All the Lights" (both in 1979).[28] The label did not want to make another Pete Waterman Limited (PWL) or "throwaway pop record", but "quality pop" with the help of great contributions and collaborations.[24] Her team approached PWL owner Pete Waterman, who had worked with Minogue earlier in her career, during the production. However, the collaboration did not happen.[25]

Photograph of Robbie Williams singing into a microphone while closing his eyes
Robbie Williams (pictured in 2016) collaborated with Minogue on "Kids" and co-wrote two more tracks on Light Years

Minogue enjoyed making Light Years, getting a chance to work with people who "came on board straight away" and were certain how they wanted her to sound.[24][27] She felt that working with different producers would help the album have a "diverse feel" with "different flavors".[29] She wanted the album to be song-driven and tried to explain the musical styles to the producers with three keywords: "poolside", "disco", and "cocktails".[30][31][32] Minogue worked on Light Years in Sydney, London, and Los Angeles, where she put the final touches on the album.[33][34] Before signing with Parlophone, Minogue spent a week with her frequent collaborator Steve Anderson at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, where most of the production of Impossible Princess was done.[35][36] Three tracks were chosen from the session: "So Now Goodbye", "Butterfly", and "Bittersweet Goodbye".[37][38] Minogue picked "Bittersweet Goodbye" when she was deep in the production process, saying it made her feel "very still... like [she] was just come out of meditation".[35] A string arrangement by Wil Malone was added to the track, while Anderson kept Minogue's vocals from the original demo.[35][37] Chicago-based DJ Mark Picchiotti flew to Los Angeles to record Minogue's vocals for "Butterfly", and then produced the track in his hometown.[39][40]

Former Take That member Robbie Williams contributed three songs with his songwriting partner Guy Chambers: "Loveboat", "Your Disco Needs You", and "Kids". Minogue shared the songwriting credit on the first two.[37][41] She found in Williams her ideal "male counterpart" based on their similar musical output; she felt the work between Williams and Chamber was "incredible".[42] Chamber co-wrote another track with Minogue titled "I'm So High".[43] They were among the earliest collaborations, which Minogue felt were a "good foundation" for the album.[44] Minogue wrote the lyrics to "Light Years" with Biffco's songwriters Richard Stannard and Julian Gallagher in 10 minutes. The demo, originally titled "Light Relief", was unexpectedly favoured by the label and was picked up for the final tracklist.[45] Minogue co-wrote "Please Stay" with Stannard and Gallagher.[37]

Minogue made several demos with a set of writers and producers arranged by Brian Rawling, including Steve Torch, Graham Stack, and Mark Taylor.[37][46] She ended up recording "On a Night Like This", a song written originally for the Swedish recording artist Pandora for her 1999 album No Regrets.[47] In New York, A&R executive Jamie Nelson pitched a demo of "Spinning Around" to Minogue and she agreed to record it.[31] The track—written by Ira Shickman, Osborne Bingham, Kara DioGuardi, and Paula Abdul—was originally intended to be featured on Abdul's studio album, but it was given to Minogue after the album failed to materialise.[31][48][49] Minogue recorded "Under the Influence of Love", a song written by Paul Politi and Barry White that Love Unlimited covered in 1974. The track reminded Minogue of her previous songs, despite having not heard it before the production of Light Years.[37][50] Johnny Douglas wrote and produced "Password", "Disco Down", and "Koocachoo"; he also produced "So Now Goodbye", a track that Minogue wrote with Anderson.[37][51][28]

Music and lyrics[]

Music critics have characterised Light Years as a dance-pop, disco, and Europop album.[52][48] The album marked a return to her signature pop style, following the experimental record Impossible Princess.[52][53][25] A reviewer from Sputnikmusic commented that Minogue "did a 180" in terms of musical direction, emphasising elements of disco and 1970s music on Light Years.[54] Nick Levine of Digital Spy wrote the album is "a shiny, sparkly early noughties disco record" that sounds "camptastic".[48] Yahoo! Music's Gary Crossing referred to the album as a "largely undemanding collection of disco, Hi-NRG, Ibizan trance, funk, 60s film and TV themes and Latin-flavoured tunes".[55] In a review published on AllMusic, Chris True called it a "great collection of disco stylings and Europop kitsch". He noted the album was released during the late 1990s teen pop movement, and the new material is "leaps and bounds better" than her previous dance-pop work with Stock Aitken Waterman.[52] Writing for musicOMH, Nick Smith pointed out its aesthetic of "camp disco fused with house, a smattering of electronica and hints of psychedelic pop".[56] Described the album as being filled with "crisp rhythm sections, melodic orchestral passages and vivid grooves", Albumism's Quentin Harrison also noted influences from Cheryl Lynn, Tina Charles, and The Hues Corporation.[57] Ian Gormely of Exclaim! felt the album for "boasting a host of kitschy dance-pop, house, Eurodisco and French Touch sounds.[58]

Minogue called Light Years a "fun and light" record, with mostly happy songs that reflect her easy nature when she was making the album. She said listening to it felt like "being on a summer holiday".[24][59] Lyrically, Minogue said that she was "really going for it... [without] holding back", with several songs containing cheekiness, a showgirl image, or camp elements.[60] The songs were written from her imagination, rather than the autobiographical style of songwriting that she had experimented with on her previous record Impossible Princess.[61][62] Minogue recalled writing each song as if "it was a scene from a film... or a video" and trying to interpret and convert the idea into a song.[61] Harrison highlighted Minogue's ability to focus on themes of flirtation, fun, and romance "without undercutting her previous growth as an artist" on Impossible Princess.[57] Betty Clarke of The Guardian identified the theme of women's empowerment and celebration. She called Light Years "an album that celebrates being a girl", and commented that "not since the Spice Girls has the capacity to fill a dress been so celebrated".[63] Writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Catherine Keenan wrote the album is "full of gay club anthems and not short on sex".[64]

Song analysis[]

The samba-infused "Password" was used as a pregap hidden introductory track.[65][57] The opening track, "Spinning Around", is a "string-laden" dance-pop song with prominent influences from disco music.[52][48][66] The lyrics declare Minogue has changed and learned from her past mistakes.[67][56] True and Smith interpreted it as Minogue's move away from her more experimental work on Impossible Princess.[52][56] Pam Avoledo of Blogcritics found the amorous song depicted a woman who is "expressing and respecting herself... [and] deciding to take control of her life".[67] "On a Night Like This" has a darker, more Europop edge,[48][56] which was compared to Spiller's "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" (2000).[68] "So Now Goodbye"—a track that blends house, disco, and electronica elements—draws inspiration from Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" (1978), Madonna's "Lucky Star" (1983) and the work of American band Earth, Wind & Fire.[61][56][55] Clarke viewed "On a Night Like This" and "So Now Goodbye" as the "[up-tempo] and disco antics" that successfully depict the notions of "grabbing the best looking man in the club, then ditching him when you feel like it".[63]

The bittersweet "Disco Down" was compared to the work of Giorgio Moroder and featured Christmassy church bells during the chorus.[56][69] Backing vocals and the arrangement of strings and fluttering flutes drive the fifth track, "Loveboat".[69][70] The song features funky light guitar and faux-French effects.[70] It is an homage to the 1970s television series of the same name, while referencing martinis, bikinis and James Bond in its lyrics.[63][68] "Loveboat" was compared to the work of Barry Manilow, Minogue's "I Don't Need Anyone" (1997), and Williams's "Millennium" (1998).[56][63][70] "Koocachoo" has elements of jazz and the 1960s music,[55][70][54] and built around a chirping synth and horn arrangement.[69] The track contains a groovy bass riff, retro guitar tone, sitar, keyboard sound effects, and "ba baba ba" harmonies in the chorus.[54] Minogue calls for the listener to join her on the dance floor on "Your Disco Needs You", a disco track that is heavily influenced by the American group Village People,[48][63][53] in particular "Go West" (1979).[68][56] Minogue sings in a serious tone, accompanied by a brass section, regal horns, a male chorus, and high soprano back-up vocals.[69][71] At one point, she delivers a military-like spoken interlude in French:[56][69] "Vous êtes jamais seuls / Vous savez ce qu'il faut faire / Ne laissez pas tomber votre nation / La disco a besoin de vous!" ("You are never alone / You know what to do / Don't let your nation down / The disco needs you!")[37][72] Cameron Adams from the Herald Sun felt that the song is a hybrid between Village People's "Y.M.C.A." (1978) and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975),[73] while Chris Charles of the BBC News described it as "ABBA and the Pet Shop Boys getting down at the hottest gay club in town".[74]

"Please Stay" features Latin pop, soft acoustic, and flamenco elements.[55][56][63] "Bittersweet Goodbye", the album's only sentimental ballad, is a stripped-back ode to love.[63][35] Smith viewed the track as a tribute to her former lover Michael Hutchence, who passed away in November 1997.[56][75] Crossing found it to be a "strange concoction" of Olivia Newton John, Kate Bush and Cocteau Twins.[55] Michael Dwyer of The Age found Minogue goes "hardcore Mardi Gras" on the contemporary house and electronic dance track "Butterfly".[53][56] It is followed by Minogue's cover of "Under the Influence of Love" (1967), in which her vocals are double-tracked for the bridge.[50] Smith referred to the track as "Saint Etienne meets the best of the Nolans".[56] The guitar-driven pop track "I'm So High" contains a subtle and slowly building melody.[70][56][54] Dwyer wrote songs like "I'm So High" help Minogue "leave the club floor for car radio with equally enjoyable results".[53]

The penultimate track is "Kids", a joyous pop duet with Williams.[68] It has funky groove rhythms and a distorted, guitar-driven euphoric chorus with soft guitars, synths, and vocal crescendos.[55][54][56] Lyrically, it references to the careers of both Minogue and Williams, with Minogue singing the line: "I've been dropping beats since Back in Black."[56][73][76] The Village Voice's Emma Pearse felt that the song helps Minogue transport her energy "into Prince and Beck territory".[71] It is followed by the title track, which serves as the album closer.[55] The post-disco track is an homage to Summer's "I Feel Love" (1977),[73][55] featuring harmonies and electronic touches.[56] On the track, Minogue plays an air hostess on a fictional KM-Air flight.[55] The track reminds Clarke of Brotherhood of Man's "Angelo" (1977).[63] Adams found Minogue devoted to the "erotic anthem".[73]

Packaging and release[]

German fashion photographer Vincent Peters shot the artwork for Light Years, while Mark Farrow was selected to design the cover.[77][37][78] The shoot took place in Ibiza, a place that Minogue felt "has a magical quality" to it.[77][79] On the cover, wearing a blue chiffon swimsuit, Minogue stares into the distance.[79] The cover has a backdrop of the sky and the sea, with a glimpse of a golden sunset filtering through.[77][80] Parlophone dropped Minogue's surname on the cover, brand it as a "Kylie" album.[81] Another picture from the photoshoot saw a head-to-knees Minogue wearing nothing but a towel.[63] Minogue wanted the cover to capture the music's essence: sunshine, beach, fun, and glamour.[79][77] She thought the photoshoot was extraordinary, and the "lightness of the chiffon matched [her] mood and desire".[79] Peters felt Minogue has a strong sense of self, which sets her apart from other celebrities he had worked with.[82] William Baker, who helped through the album process, said that he wanted a cover that was "a visual statement about [Minogue] reclaiming the throne of the Princess of Pop" and the result shows she has "returned to her rightful place!"[79]

Photograph of the Eivissa Beach, a beach in Ibiza, with tall buildings fronting on it
The artwork for Light Years was shot in Ibiza

Crossing found the glossy sleeve artwork "leaves very little to the imagination" and that Minogue is "unashamedly playing [her] 'never mind the book, have a gander at the cover' card".[55] Clarke wrote Light Years was packaged "with male hormones in mind".[63] Charles found it tacky,[74] while John Earls of Classic Pop noted its commercialized nature, commenting that the artwork is better suited for a Ministry of Sound compilation and the cover is the "only ho-hum aspect" of Light Years.[77] From the same publication, Christian Guiltenane wrote Minogue created "a stunning fantasy figure" with the sunset's "heavenly glow behind her".[80] Writing for Idolator, Mike Wass commented that the "camp, fun and flirty" cover successfully captured the music of Light Years.[83]

Minogue titled the album Light Years describing her career journey, which she believes will continue as she has just begun to discover herself.[27] She said: "I feel like I've come a long way... I think some other forces know where I'm going, but I'm not meant to know–that would've ruined it."[27] Clarke felt the title was Minogue's response to Ray of Light, a similarly named 1998 album by Madonna.[63] The album includes "Password", a hidden introductory track in the pregap portion of the CD.[65][57] The listener can only hear the track by rewinding the opening song "Spinning Around".[65] Robbie Williams, who usually has hidden tracks at the end of his albums, inspired this.[84] Minogue said that although she was making "a grown-up record", she wanted to keep "a sense of fun and enjoyment".[84] She admitted the method is "a bit odd and silly, but that's the fun of it".[84] Smith discovered the track was "a bugger to find",[56] while Earls commented the decision was made "at the peak of the CD boom" and "Password" is a song that "rewards discovery".[65]

Mushroom Records first released the album in Australia on 22 September 2000.[85] Parlophone released it on 25 September 2000 in the UK.[37] On the German, Spanish and Japanese versions of the album, the original French spoken interlude of "Your Disco Needs You" was translated into their respective languages.[86][87][88] A special tour edition package was released in the UK on 5 March 2001, containing a second disc featuring various remixes.[89] For the Australian tour edition, additional remixes were included as well as Minogue's cover of Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" (1981), which she performed during the tour.[90] The album was re-issued by Parlophone in Japan in 2003,[91] 2007,[92] 2009,[93] and 2011.[94] In 2018, Light Years was re-released by BMG as a blue vinyl exclusively through Sainsbury's supermarket chain in Europe, limited to 2500 copies.[95][96]

Promotion[]

See also: On a Night Like This (concert tour)
Photograph of Minogue looking off to her right, smiling and wearing a yellow shirt
Minogue at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Summer Paralympics, where she performed the album's lead single, "Spinning Around"

Shortly after signing with Parlophone, Minogue and Baker released an elaborate art book titled Kylie.[97] The photography-only book celebrates fan memorabilia, commentary, and Minogue's life.[98][99] The book contains a nude sketch of Minogue, and several celebrities such as Elle MacPherson, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, actor Barry Humphries, and singer Boy George.[98][99] Minogue appeared on the controversial cover of the June issue of GQ shot by Terry Richardson, wearing a white tennis dress showing her naked bottom with the banner "Kylie: At Your Service".[100][101][102]

Minogue did an extensive promotion campaign for the album, appearing on various television programs and at music festivals.[81] On 17 June 2000, before the album's release, Minogue appeared specially at London's G-A-Y nightclub where she performed "Spinning Around", "Light Years", "Your Disco Needs You", "Butterfly", as well as her hits "Better the Devil You Know" and "Step Back in Time".[47] In July, she performed at Party in the Park in Hyde Park and Mardi Gras London in Finsbury Park.[47] Wearing a pink showgirl costume, she performed "On a Night Like This" and ABBA's "Dancing Queen" (1976) to an audience of 100,000 people at the 2000 Sydney Olympics closing ceremony in October.[103][104][105] Later in October, she sang "Waltzing Matilda", "Celebration" (1992), and "Spinning Around" at the 2000 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.[103][106]

Minogue promoted the album with her sixth concert tour, called On a Night Like This Tour. She performed in Europe in March 2001, before visiting Australia in April and May.[107] Broadway shows and the musicals of the 1930s inspired the tour's style.[108] In the United Kingdom, the tour sold 140,000 tickets in one weekend.[109] In Australia, Minogue played a record-breaking nine concerts at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, beating the previous record held by AC/DC for the most dates performed at the venue in a single tour.[110] It was the biggest tour by a solo artist in the country, grossing U.S. $5 million from sales of 200,000 tickets.[110] Minogue's concert on 11 May 2001 was filmed and released on home video under the title Live in Sydney.[111]

Singles[]

"Spinning Around" was released as the lead single from Light Years in June 2000.[112] Two previously unreleased tracks, the alternative dance "Cover Me With Kisses" and acoustic track "Paper Dolls", were included on the single's B-side.[112][56] Liz Collins shot the single's artwork, which captured Minogue dressed in pastel pink clutching a hula hoop.[80] Directed by Dawn Shadforth, the music video features Minogue in revealing gold hotpants, which came to be regarded as a "trademark" and led to her bottom gaining extensive coverage in the media.[113][80][114] The song entered the Australian Singles Chart at number one, becoming the singer's first chart-topper since "Confide in Me" (1994).[115][116] The song debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, making her only the second artist to have a number-one single in three consecutive decades (after Madonna).[112][117][101] It was her fifth number-one single in the UK and her first in a decade, following "Tears on My Pillow" (1990).[117]

Photograph of Minogue singing into a microphone while wearing a golden dress, surrounded by male dancers
Minogue performing Light Years' second single, "On a Night Like This", during her Golden Tour (2018―2019). The song became her sixth number-one single in Australia

The second single, "On a Night Like This", was released in September, with the ballad "Ocean Blue" as the B-side track.[118][56] It debuted at number one in Australia, making it her sixth number-one in that region; it also gave her the record for having the most singles debuting at number one with five entries.[115][118][119] On the UK Singles Chart, the single debuted at number two.[117] An accompanying music video, directed by Douglas Avery, was filmed in Monte Carlo in July.[120] The plot is loosely based on Martin Scorsese's 1995 crime drama movie Casino, with Minogue portraying a trophy wife; Dutch actor Rutger Hauer served as her on-screen husband.[120] An accompanying cover sleeve was taken from the booklet of Light Years, featuring Minogue lying on a marble surface before a sea front.[79]

"Kids" was released as the third single from Light Years and as the second from Williams' album Sing When You're Winning in October.[76][121] Four original tracks by Williams appeared as B-side tracks: "John's Gay", "Often", "Karaoke Star", and "Kill Me or Cure Me".[122] The music video, directed by Simon Hilton, contains choreography taken from Grease and references to Busby Berkley.[123] The single peaked at number fourteen in Australia and at number two in the United Kingdom.[115][117] Released on December, the fourth single "Please Stay" peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, her 20th top 10 entry, and number 15 on the Australian Singles Chart.[115][117][124] It was the final release from Light Years in the UK, and was backed by two B-side tracks: a cover of "Santa Baby" and the previously unreleased track "Good Life".[124] The music video saw Minogue sliding down a fireman's pole and dancing on top of a pool table.[125]

"Your Disco Needs You" was chosen as the final single, released only in Australia and Germany.[126][127] It includes specially commissioned mixes of the track and "Password".[126][57] Hugely popular as an album track, it was never released as a single in the UK because the content was considered "too gay" and "too camp".[128] The decision sparked protests and petitions from fans lobbying for its release.[126][127] A music video featuring scenes of Minogue dancing in formation accompanied the single's release in Germany.[127] The track peaked at number 20 in Australia and number 31 in Germany.[115][129] "Butterfly", a track that was in the running to be the fourth single, was remixed and issued in the US as a promotional single by Pichotti's Blue Plate Records in November 2001.[130][39][40] It sold 15,000 double-12" vinyl sets in the first week of release and peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[39][131]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Age3.5/5 stars[53]
AllMusic4/5 stars[52]
Digital Spy5/5 stars[48]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music4/5 stars[132]
entertainment.ie3/5 stars[133]
The Gazette2/4 stars[134]
The Guardian4/5 stars[63]
NME6/10[68]
Select4/5 medals[135]
Yahoo! Music5/10 stars[55]

Light Years received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics.[57][136] The Guardian assigned a normalized rating out of 10 to reviews from UK mainstream critics—the album has an average score of 5.8 based on 6 reviews.[137] NME wrote the album sees Minogue "bouncing back to her disco-pop roots", adding that "Light Years is all you need to know about Kylie in less than an hour: fun, perfectly-formed, not too taxing and occasionally annoying".[68] Dorian Lynskey of Select praised the album, calling it "an unrelenting hoot" that is filled "with potential singles and brazenly derivative".[135] Clarke credited Minogue for "recreat[ing] disco for the new century", noting she has "her tongue firmly in her cheek for this camp slice of epic disco".[63] Dwyer praised the "breezy disco hedonism" nature of Light Year, calling it a "shockingly enjoyable romp",[53] while Pearse wrote the album is among "some decidedly classy classic pop creations".[71]

Several reviewers were displeased with the album's non-substantive production.[57] Andrew Lynch of entertainment.ie viewed the album as "inconsequential" and "disappointingly uneven", although he considered it "a much better record [as a whole] than most critics would like to admit".[133] Gart Crossing found the album "polished" and "well-produced", but was critical of the songwriting effort and its cheeky content.[55] Charles thought that Minogue "has become a parody of herself" with an album filled with "catchy, throwaway pop songs [that would be] enough to make any serious Radiohead fan choke on their organic oatmeal".[74] Sandra Sperounes of Edmonton Journal commented the "ultra-lite" album "won't earn her any points for originality".[138] Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote Williams and Chambers' contributions keep Light Years from being completely "disposable".[70] In a negative review, T'Cha Dunlevy of The Gazette dismissed the record as "lightweight" and "rubbish", and said that Minogue "is still doing her best Madonna's impression."[134]

Retrospectively, Light Years is generally considered to be one of Minogue's strongest releases.[69][132] It was one of three of Minogue's studio albums to receive a four-star rating from British writer Colin Larkin in the Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2011) with Rhythm of Love (1990) and Fever (2001). He classified it as "high standard".[132] Smith praised Minogue's confidence, calling the album "her most accessible work since Rhythm of Love" and "nothing less than a game changer".[56] Levine commented that "as far as fruity little party records go, Light Years is an absolute peach".[48] Harrison praised Minogue's spirited vocal performance as one of her finest moments as a vocalist. He concluded that besides its carefree appeal, Light Years has an "unrecognized compositional breadth and vitality that affirms Minogue's ongoing commitment to music excellence".[57] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine ranked Light Years as Minogue fourth-best studio album, claiming house tracks "On a Night Like This" and "Butterfly" predicted the rise of EDM music and created the template for Minogue's releases over the next 15 years.[69]

True commented Minogue is finally "comfortable with who she is" and "re-enter[s] the territory that made her great". He concluded by praising the album as "arguably one of the best disco records since the '70s".[52] A reviewer from Sputnikmusic viewed Light Year as "an utterly weird entry in Minogue's discography", one that stands out as a "polar opposite" project from its two predecessors. The reviewer also credited the album for bringing nu-disco to the public, predicting the direction for her later releases, and influencing pop projects for two decades—namely Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), Arcade Fire's Reflektor (2013), and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Julien" (2019).[54] In a 2010 article, Karina Halle of Consequence complimented "Kids" as a fun track that helped her "open up to the carefree Australian lifestyle". She felt the album is "still as catchy and relevant as ever" and noted Minogue's flamboyant musical style "has certainly been passed down" to contemporary pop stars like Lady Gaga.[139]

Accolades[]

"Spinning Around" earned nominations for Best Female Artist and Best Pop Release at the 2000 ARIA Music Awards show, winning the latter.[140] In the following ceremony, Light Years garnered four nominations, winning Minogue's first Best Female Artist and the second-consecutive Best Pop Release, while losing both Highest Selling Album and Album of the Year to Powderfinger's Odyssey Number Five (2000). That same year, "On a Night Like This" was also nominated for Highest Selling Single and Single of the Year.[141] Phonographic Performance Company of Australia recognized Minogue as the seventh-most broadcast artist of 2001, while three tracks from Light Years appeared on the top 100 Most Broadcast Recordings of 2001: "Spinning Around" (number 12), "On a Night Like This" (number 15), and "Kids" (number 163).[142]

Commercial performance[]

Upon its release, Light Years debuted in second position on the ARIA Charts the week of 8 October 2000, denied the top position by The Games of the XXVII Olympiad: Official Music from the Opening Ceremony, the official album of the 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.[143][144] In its third charting week, it rose to number one, becoming Minogue's first number-one album in her home country, 12 years after her debut album was released.[143][77][57] The album remained within the top 20 for over 30 consecutive weeks, from October 2000 to June 2001.[143] It fell off the chart for the first time in July 2001, before re-entering at number 40 in October when Fever was released.[143] In total, Light Years spent 43 weeks on the top 50 chart, beating Impossible Princess as Minogue's longest-charting album at the time.[143] Within the year 2000, the album was certified quadruple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales exceeding 280,000 copies.[145] It appeared on the ARIA year-end album charts for 2000 and 2001 at number seventeen on both,[146][147] and the decade-end chart at number 69.[148] In New Zealand the album debuted and peaked at number eight the week of 22 October; Light Years remained on the chart for a total of five weeks.[149]

The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart during the week of 7 October 2000, behind Madonna's Music.[150][77] On 9 February 2001, it was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of more than 300,000 units.[151] It was Minogue's most successful album sales-wise since Enjoy Yourself (1989).[56] When Fever was released in October 2001, Light Years had remained in the top 100 for 27 non-consecutive weeks.[117] From January to May 2002, the album re-entered the chart, staying for 11 weeks.[117] In 2018, the reissue of Light Years peaked at number 36 on the UK Albums Chart on 7 June; it was the third best-selling vinyl album of the week.[152][153] That same week, the reissue also appeared on the Scottish Albums Chart, reaching number 21—Light Years had previously peaked at number 3 there after its original release in 2000.[154][155] In Ireland, the album spent five weeks on the chart and peaked at number 13.[156] Light Years had sold 498,337 copies in the UK by October 2020.[157]

According to Music & Media, Light Years peaked at number 10 on the European Top 100 Albums chart.[158] The album peaked within the top 40 in several European countries, including Belgium,[159] Finland,[160] Germany,[161] Hungary,[162] Poland,[163] Sweden,[164] and Switzerland.[165] Light Years also reached number 50 in France,[166] and number 71 in Netherlands.[167] In South Africa, the album peaked at number 11 and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa for shipments of 100,000 copies.[168]

Track listing[]

Light Years – Standard version[37]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
0."Password" (hidden pregap track)
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Johnny Douglas
Douglas3:50
1."Spinning Around"
3:27
2."On a Night Like This"
  • Stack
  • Taylor
3:33
3."So Now Goodbye"
Douglas3:37
4."Disco Down"DouglasDouglas3:57
5."Loveboat"
  • Minogue
  • Guy Chambers
  • Robbie Williams
4:10
6."Koocachoo"
  • Minogue
  • Douglas
Douglas4:00
7."Your Disco Needs You"
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Power
3:33
8."Please Stay"
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard
  • Gallagher
4:08
9."Bittersweet Goodbye"
  • Minogue
  • Anderson
Anderson3:43
10."Butterfly"
  • Minogue
  • Anderson
Mark Picchiotti4:09
11."Under the Influence of Love"
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
3:24
12."I'm So High"
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Megan Smith
  • Chambers
  • Power
3:33
13."Kids" (with Robbie Williams)
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Chambers
  • Power
4:20
14."Light Years"
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
4:47
Total length:58:16
Light Years – Japanese edition bonus track[88]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Your Disco Needs You" (Japanese version)
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Power
3:33
16."Password" (hidden track)
  • Minogue
  • Douglas
Douglas3:50
Light Years – Spanish edition bonus track[87]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Your Disco Needs You" (Spanish version)
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Power
3:33
16."Password" (hidden track)
  • Minogue
  • Douglas
Douglas3:50
Light Years – German edition bonus track[86]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Your Disco Needs You" (German version)
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Power
3:33
16."Password" (hidden track)
  • Minogue
  • Douglas
Douglas3:50
Light Years – Special tour edition bonus disc[89]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Spinning Around" (7th District Club Mental Mix)
  • Shickman
  • Bingham
  • DioGuardi
  • Abdul
  • Spencer
  • Lorenzo Al Dino Pizzileo[a]
  • Sergio Flores[a]
6:33
2."Spinning Around" (Sharp Vocal Mix)
  • Shickman
  • Bingham
  • DioGuardi
  • Abdul
7:04
3."On a Night Like This" (Rob Searle Mix)
  • Torch
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Rawling
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Rob Searle[a]
7:58
4."On a Night Like This" (Bini & Martini Club Mix)
  • Torch
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Rawling
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Bini & Martini[a]
6:33
5."Please Stay" (Hatiras Dreamy Dub Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Themis
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Hatiras[a]
7:02
6."Please Stay" (7th District Radio Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Themis
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Pizzileo[a]
  • Flores[a]
4:00
7."Please Stay" (7th District Club Flava Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Themis
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Pizzileo[a]
  • Flores[a]
6:33
8."Butterfly" (Sandstorm Dub)
  • Minogue
  • Anderson
Picchiotti9:03
9."Your Disco Needs You" (Casino Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Power
  • Casino Brothers[a]
3:38
Light Years – Australian tour limited edition bonus disc[90]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Spinning Around" (7th District Club Mental Mix)
  • Shickman
  • Bingham
  • DioGuardi
  • Abdul
6:33
2."Spinning Around" (Sharp Vocal Mix)
  • Shickman
  • Bingham
  • DioGuardi
  • Abdul
7:04
3."On a Night Like This" (Rob Searle Mix)
  • Torch
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Rawling
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Searle[a]
7:58
4."On a Night Like This" (Bini & Martini Club Mix)
  • Torch
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Rawling
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Bini & Martini[a]
6:33
5."On a Night Like This" (Bini & Martini Dub Mix)
  • Torch
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Rawling
  • Stack
  • Taylor
  • Bini & Martini[a]
6:34
6."Please Stay" (Hatiras Dreamy Dub Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Themis
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Hatiras[a]
7:02
7."Please Stay" (Metro Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Themis
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Metro[a]
5:50
8."Please Stay" (7th District Club Flava Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Themis
  • Stannard
  • Gallagher
  • Pizzileo[a]
  • Flores[a]
6:33
9."Butterfly" (Sandstorm Dub)
  • Minogue
  • Anderson
Picchiotti9:03
10."Your Disco Needs You" (Casino Radio Mix)
  • Minogue
  • Chambers
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Power
  • Casino Brothers[a]
3:38
11."Physical"
  • Alexis Smith
  • Josh Abrahams
  • Marius de Vries
4:42

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional vocal producer

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Light Years.[37]

Recording locations[]

  • Metropolis Studios, London (tracks 5, 7, 12)
  • Angel, London (tracks 5, 7)
  • Blah St., Hampshire, England (tracks 5, 12)
  • Studio 2, Dublin (tracks 8, 11, 14)
  • Olympic, London (track 9)
  • Real World, Box, England (track 9)
  • Therapy, London (track 9)
  • Master Rock, London (track 13)
  • Sarm Hook End, London (track 13)

Musicians[]

  • Kylie Minogue – lead vocals (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 4–7, 12)
  • Big G. – additional guitar (track 1)
  • Johnny Douglas – beats (tracks 3, 4, 6); keyboards, guitar (tracks 4, 6); backing vocals (track 6)
  • Dave Clews – keyboards (tracks 3, 4, 6); programming (tracks 3, 4)
  • Alan Ross – guitar (track 3)
  • Simon Hale – strings, horn arrangement (tracks 3, 4); keyboards, string arrangements, conducting (track 11)
  • Andy Caine – backing vocals (track 4); male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Miriam Stockley – backing vocals (track 4)
  • Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (tracks 4, 9)
  • Steve McNichol – programming (tracks 5, 7, 12)
  • Andy Duncan – drum programming (tracks 5, 7, 12, 13); percussion (track 5)
  • Tracy Ackerman – backing vocals (tracks 5, 7, 12)
  • Phil Spalding – bass guitar (tracks 5, 7, 12); fuzz bass (track 13) electric rhythm guitar and wah-wah (track 5)
  • Guy Chambers – keyboards (tracks 5, 7, 12, 13); (track 5); piano (track 7); electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric sitar (track 12); arrangement (track 13)
  • Lance Ellington – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Rick Driscoll – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Clive Griffith – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Pete Howarth – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Mick Mullins – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Dan Russell – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Jon Savannah – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Tony Walthers – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Carl Wayne – male choir (tracks 5, 7)
  • Paul Turner – bass, guitars (track 6)
  • Robert Williams – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Sharon Murphy – backing vocals (tracks 8, 11, 14)
  • John Themis – guitars (track 8)
  • Wil Malone – orchestra arrangement, conducting (track 9)
  • London Session Orchestra – orchestra (track 9)
  • Craig J. Snider – additional keyboards (track 10)
  • Dem Girlz – backing vocals (track 10)
  • Natural – guitars, additional arrangements (track 10)
  • Kraig McCreary – guitars (track 10)
  • Resin Rubbers – strings (track 10)
  • Paul Mertens – flute (track 10)
  • Dave Sears – additional arrangements (track 10)
  • Steve Lewinson – bass (track 11)
  • Steve Power – additional keyboards (track 12)
  • Robbie Williams – vocals (track 13)
  • Winston Blissett – bass guitar (track 13)
  • Neil Taylor – guitars (track 13)
  • Chris Sharrock – percussion (track 13)
  • Gary Nuttall – backing vocals (track 13)
  • Katie Kissoon – backing vocals (track 13)
  • Sylvia Mason-James – backing vocals (track 13)
  • Tessa Niles – backing vocals (track 13)
  • Paul "Tubbs" Williams – backing vocals (track 13)
  • Claire Worrall – backing vocals (track 13)
  • Biff – backing vocals (track 14)

Technical[]

  • Mike Spencer – production (track 1)
  • 7th District – additional production, mix (track 1)
  • Big G. – additional vocal production, engineering, mixing, mastering (track 1)
  • Graham Stack – production, mixing (track 2)
  • Mark Taylor – production, mixing (track 2)
  • Johnny Douglas – production (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Ren Swan – engineering, mixing (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Tom Hannen – engineering assistance, mixing assistance (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Guy Chambers – production (tracks 5, 7, 12, 13)
  • Steve Power – production, mixing (tracks 5, 7, 12, 13); engineering (tracks 5, 7, 12)
  • Tony Cousins – mastering (tracks 5, 13)
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard – production (tracks 8, 11, 14)
  • Julian Gallagher – production (tracks 8, 11, 14)
  • Ash Howes – recording, mixing (tracks 8, 11, 14)
  • Alvin Sweeney – recording assistance, mixing assistance (tracks 8, 11, 14)
  • Dave McCracken – Pro Tools (tracks 8, 14)
  • Steve Anderson – production (track 9)
  • Adam Brown – recording, mixing (track 9)
  • Mark Picchiotti – production, mixing (track 10)
  • Tom Carlisle – mix engineering (track 10)
  • Pete Davis – Pro Tools (track 11)
  • Richard Woodcraft – additional engineering (track 13)
  • Savvas Iossifidis – additional engineering (track 13)
  • Dave Naughton – mix engineering assistance (track 13)
  • Richard Flack – Pro Tools (track 13)
  • Jim Brumby – Pro Tools (track 13)

Artwork[]

Charts[]

Certifications and sales[]

Certification and sales for Light Years
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[145] 4× Platinum 280,000^
South Africa (RISA)[168] 2× Platinum 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[151] Platinum 498,337[157]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for Light Years
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
Australia 22 September 2000
Mushroom [85]
United Kingdom 25 September 2000 Parlophone [37]
Germany [86]
Spain [87]
Japan [88]
United Kingdom 4 March 2001
  • CD
  • LP
 [89]
Australia Mushroom [90]
Japan 2003 CD Parlophone [91]
2007 [92]
2009 [93]
2011 [94]
United Kingdom 2018 LP [95]

See also[]

References[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Bouwman, Kimbel (21 February 2002). "Interview with Miles Leonard, A&R for Gorillaz, Kylie Minogue, Coldplay". EMI/Parlophone UK: HitQuarters. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2002.
  2. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (18 November 2003). "Review: Kylie Minogue – Impossible Princess". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. ^ BSX (17 July 2009). "Kylie Minogue – Impossible Princess". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. ^ Smith 2014, p. 148
  5. ^ Goodall & Stanley-Clarke 2012, p. 105
  6. ^ Goodall & Stanley-Clarke 2012, p. 106
  7. ^ Flynn 2019, p. 49: Cover Story from "Classic Album: Impossible Princess" by Lindores, Mark
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c The Newcastle Herald 1998
  10. ^ Flynn 2019, p. 43: "Non-Stop Dancing" by Hurley, Oliver
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c The Newcastle Herald 1999
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b The Age 1999c
  13. ^ Baker & Minogue 2002, p. 146
  14. ^ The Age 1999a
  15. ^ "Edinburgh festival: 'Have I got a part for you'". The Guardian. 9 August 1999. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  16. ^ Haflidason, Almar (5 February 2001). "Cut (2000)". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2001.
  17. ^ Anderson, Doug (13 February 2006). "Sample People". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  18. ^ Baker & Minogue 2002, p. 125
  19. ^ Baker & Minogue 2002, p. 129
  20. ^ Hunter, Tim (May 2008). "Kylie: Top 10 Live Performances". Citysearch. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  21. ^ The Age 1999b
  22. ^ Munson 1999
  23. ^ Flynn 2019, p. 51: "Come into My World" by Earls, John
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Flick 2000
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c Quinn 1999
  26. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 0:48–1:21
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Parlophone 2000a, band 3: Light travels an awful long way in a light year. Does your journey seem to have been over a vast distance, going back through early teen TV in Australia, Neighbours, and the pop career with Stock Aitken and Waterman? After all, you've been doing this for 23 years now...
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b Parlophone 2000a, band 11: As we said just now, the album is mostly four on the floor dance stuff, with sounds from the late 70s that must be rave faves for you and producer Johnny Douglas, especially on tracks like 'Disco Down'...
  29. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 2:47–3:18
  30. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 2:12–2:25
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b c Parlophone 2000a, band 5: You have co-written 11 of the tracks on this new CD. But the first hit is by a group of New York writers, including Paula Abdul. How did you get hold of that song?
  32. ^ Smith 2014, pp. 177–178
  33. ^ Goodall & Stanley-Clarke 2012, p. 121
  34. ^ Oddy 2000
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Parlophone 2000a, band 10: There's only one ballad on the album, 'Bittersweet Goodbye'. But it's a very effective contrast to the rest of the material and uses orchestral strings beautifully.
  36. ^ Smith 2014, p. 134
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Parlophone 2000c
  38. ^ "Kylie – Light Years (Album)". Steve Anderson Productions. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bent 2009
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b Molinari 2021, 43:39–47:10
  41. ^ Smith 2014, p. 176
  42. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 3:48–4:31
  43. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 4:55–5:05
  44. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 4:33–4:45
  45. ^ Parlophone 2000a, band 13: More sounds from the Disco Drawer in 'Light Years', the title track. And Kylie as Cabin Crew. Very sexy...
  46. ^ Parlophone 2000a, band 6: The track 'On a Night Like This' is by the new London production and writing set up run by Brian Rawlings. Did that work out OK?
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b c Smith 2014, p. 174
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Levine, Nick (21 June 2010). Copsey, Robert (ed.). "Kylie: Revisited #7: 'Light Years'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  49. ^ Donahue, Ann (5 January 2010). "Kara DioGuardi: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  50. ^ Jump up to: a b Parlophone 2000a, band 15: There's one cover on the album, the Barry White song, 'Under the Influence'. A favourite?
  51. ^ Flynn 2019, p. 63: Johny Comes Home from "Classic Album: Light Years" by Earls, John
  52. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h True, Chris. "Light Years – Kylie Minogue". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  53. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Dwyer 2000
  54. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Kylie Minogue – Light Years". Sputnikmusic. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  55. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Crossing, Gary (25 September 2000). "Kylie Minogue – 'Light Years'". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  56. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Smith, Nick (25 September 2020). "Spotlight: Kylie Minogue – Light Years". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  57. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Harrison, Quentin (22 September 2020). "Kylie Minogue's 'Light Years' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  58. ^ Gormely, Ian (5 June 2018). "Kylie Minogue Is the Soccer of Pop Artists: Huge Worldwide, Never Caught on in North America". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  59. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 2:26–2:41
  60. ^ Parlophone 2000b, 5:38–6:00
  61. ^ Jump up to: a b c Parlophone 2000a, band 9: There's a track on the new CD called 'So Now Goodbye'. If ever a song was destined to take over from Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' in karaoke bars (gay and straight), this must surely be it!
  62. ^ Smith 2014, p. 134–135
  63. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Clarke 2000
  64. ^ Keenan 2000
  65. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Flynn 2019, p. 56: X of the Best from "Come Into My World" by Earls, John
  66. ^ Grogan, Siobhan (12 September 2005). "Minogue, Kylie : Spinning around". NME. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2005.
  67. ^ Jump up to: a b Avoledo, Pam (2 August 2005). "Single Review: Kylie Minogue 'Spinning Around'". Blogcritics. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
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  70. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Zuel 2000
  71. ^ Jump up to: a b c Pearse, Emma (3 April 2001). "Keep Your Glass Topped Up". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  72. ^ Crothers, Jen (8 September 2016). "9 famous 'foreign' lyrics from huge pop hits translated". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  73. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Adams, Cameron (18 May 2018). "For her 50th birthday, we rank Kylie Minogue's 50 best songs". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  74. ^ Jump up to: a b c Charles, Chris (24 September 2000). "CD Review: Kylie Minogue". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  75. ^ Goodall & Stanley-Clarke 2012, p. 103
  76. ^ Jump up to: a b "Rob's Bum Rap". NME. 25 July 2000. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  77. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Flynn 2019, p. 63: "Classic Album: Light Years" by Earls, John
  78. ^ Royster, Fredrick (12 December 2020). "Mark Farrow, The Other Rock Star Designer". Medium. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  79. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Minogue & Baker 2012, p. 61
  80. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Flynn 2019, p. 117: "Dress Me Up 100 Ways" by Guiltenane, Christian
  81. ^ Jump up to: a b Flynn 2019, p. 62: "Classic Album: Light Years" by Earls, John
  82. ^ Minogue & Baker 2002, p. 151
  83. ^ Wass, Mike; Daw, Robbie (24 January 2014). "Some Thoughts on Kylie Minogue's Exquisite Album Covers: Big Hair, Sex Appeal & That Gold Hat – Light Years". Idolator (Photo gallery). Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  84. ^ Jump up to: a b c Parlophone 2000a, band 17: And finally, Password, the last track, and it's 'hidden', so that the listener has to 'find' it. Why do that?
  85. ^ Jump up to: a b Mushroom 2000a
  86. ^ Jump up to: a b c EMI 2000b
  87. ^ Jump up to: a b c EMI 2000a
  88. ^ Jump up to: a b c Parlophone 2000d
  89. ^ Jump up to: a b c Parlophone 2001
  90. ^ Jump up to: a b c Mushroom 2001
  91. ^ Jump up to: a b EMI 2003a
  92. ^ Jump up to: a b EMI 2007
  93. ^ Jump up to: a b EMI 2009
  94. ^ Jump up to: a b EMI 2011
  95. ^ Jump up to: a b EMI 2018
  96. ^ Flynn 2019, p. 129: "Long Live Vinyl" by Flynn, Rik
  97. ^ Rocca 1999, p. B1
  98. ^ Jump up to: a b Rocca 1999, p. B3
  99. ^ Jump up to: a b Goodall & Stanley-Clarke 2012, p. 113
  100. ^ Smith 2014, p. 172
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Media notes[]

  • Kids (Liner notes). Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. United Kingdom: EMI. 2003. ASIN B00004ZE9O. CDCHS/S5119. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Australia: Mushroom. 2000. ASIN B00004WLAM. MUSH332832. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. United Kingdom & Europe: Parlophone. 2000. ASIN B00004YRZB. 7243 5 28400 2. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Japan: EMI. 2000. ASIN B0000584TL. TOCP-65488. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Spain: EMI. 2000. ASIN B00004YRZB. 7243 528456 2 0. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. German: EMI. 2000. ASIN B00004YRZB. 7243 528457 2 9. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Japan: EMI. 2003. ASIN B0000D8RYJ. 7243 5 28400 2. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue (Special tour ed.). United Kingdom: Parlophone. 2001. ASIN B01KAW48NM. 7243 532129 2 6. Archived from the original on 15 February 2006 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue (Australian tour limited ed.). Australia: Mushroom. 2001. ASIN B00005A7E6. 333602. Archived from the original on 15 February 2006 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Japan: EMI. 2007. ASIN B000VZE13Q. TOCP-53971. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Japan: EMI. 2009. ASIN B0029PY45Q. TOCP-54133. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Japan: EMI. 2011. TOCP-54133. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Liner notes). Kylie Minogue. United Kingdom: EMI. 2018. ASIN B07F9G7T87. 0190295680855. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Eil.com.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Light Years (Making The Album) (Interview). Kylie Minogue. Parlophone (published 23 June 2019). 2000 – via YouTube.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Live in Sydney (Media notes). Kylie Minogue. Europe: Warner Music Group. 2001. 0927 40553-2. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2008.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Halle, Tony (2000). Interview (CD Interview). Kylie Minogue (artist); Kevin McCabe (co-editor). UK: Parlophone. MININT001. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021 – via 911.com.
  • Molinari, Robbie (15 January 2021). "Mark Picchiotti Interview". Turn The Beat Around (Podcast). Melbourne: Joy 94.9. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.

Print sources[]

External links[]

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