Kylie Minogue - Fabulous at Forty
02 August 2008
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After battling breast cancer and surviving three decades in the cutthroat world of pop, turning 40 this year was a breeze for Kylie Minogue. "I'm not scared. I think it's going to be quite liberating," Kylie said shortly before her big day in May. Her inner strength and ability to constantly transform herself continues to attract a wide array of fans, and earlier this year she was voted the celebrity who is growing old most glamorously - pipping Madonna to the top spot. "It's difficult to age with dignity in the pop business, but I'd like to think I've managed it so far," she says modestly.Kylie took a break from the charts last year to record her 10th studio album 'X', and marked her comeback with sultry song '2 Hearts' last November. The track reached number four in the UK singles chart, while 'X' has so far achieved platinum status in Britain and shifted a respectable one million copies worldwide. In fact, it seems the only thing she has failed to achieve is cracking America. Although she appeared on several US TV talk shows to promote 'X', Kylie failed to set the American charts alight with her brand of electropop. "It's a notoriously difficult market. To know where I fit is very difficult," she recently admitted. Despite her US disappointment, 2008 has so far proved a golden year for the Australian pop superstar. Highlights include receiving an OBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace and a knighthood from France, but the most significant landmark in her career came when Kylie embarked on 'KylieX2008' - her first full tour since her cancer diagnosis in 2005.News of the tour sparked a frenzy across Europe and having established a reputation for staging dazzling spectacles, tickets for the UK leg of her tour sold out in just 30 minutes - forcing tour organisers to add a further seven dates to cope with demand. Kylie's ambitious plans for the 53-date tour suffered various setbacks, including reports she was warned to shelve the tour because it could "seriously damage her health", as well as problems with the elaborate stage and a throat infection scare.She also shocked fans by declaring "the showgirl is behind me", insisting her latest transformation would be more sophisticated couture than feathers and glitter.However, her loyal fan base needn't have worried. 'KylieX2008' - which cost an estimated £10 million to stage - did not disappoint, and was packed with camp costumes, hotpant-wearing male dancers, acrobats, a 12-piece band and high-energy dance routines.One of the highlights saw Kylie arrive on stage perched on a giant Damian Hirst-like glittering golden skull. Wearing a full-length scarlet dress and matching military visor cap, she delivered a steamy rendition of new track 'Like a Drug'. The diminutive star, clad in outlandish costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, proved age was only a number as she donned a tight-fitting blue and white cheerleader outfit and performed 'Heart Beat Rock' while doing the splits as her hunky male dancers held her high in the air. The shows also gave Kylie a chance to show off her chameleon-like character. She incorporated Japanese geishas, Samurai-wielding dancers, sailors, fairies, showgirls, 80s shell suits and even Barry Manilow's hit song 'Copacabana' into a lively two-hour set.Despite rumours claiming she was ditching her old hits in favour of new tracks like 'Wow' and 'Speakerphone', she delighted fans by updating a host of classics, including an acapella version of 'Step Back in Time', along with the ever-popular 'Spinning Around', 'Kids', 'Slow' and 'On a Night Like This'. She finished the show with a piece of 80s pop perfection - belting out 'I Should Be So Lucky' as gold confetti and balloons fell from the ceiling. Kylie sparkled on stage and only referred to her health problems after a rendition of 'No More Rain', which she wrote during her cancer treatment. At one of her shows during her seven-night residency at London's O2 arena, a visibly moved Kylie told the audience: "When I wrote this song this is what I dreamed of doing. I thought of this moment."
Kylie sparked speculation she had rekindled her romance with French actor Olivier Martinez when he was in the audience as she kicked off the tour in Paris in May. The following month, the rumours were further fuelled as the pair were seen enjoying a meal with Kylie's parents in Olivier's native Paris. One onlooker claimed they "couldn't hide their affection" and had been gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. Despite insisting they are just friends, it has been claimed Olivier - who supported Kylie through her breast cancer battle before they split in February 2007 - has told Kylie he is ready to marry her and start a family. Kylie recently hinted she still has feelings for Olivier, adding: "We have a mutual respect for each other and a love that will always be there." Although she remains coy about her love life, Kylie is happy to discuss her feelings for Olivier's pet dog Sheba. "I did love his dog, Sheba was the love of my life," she said.
Kylie has admitted being diagnosed with cancer has made her realise how much she wants to be a mother. "I love children, but it's only since my cancer that I have given serious thought to having them," she confessed. The star is said to be so determined to start a family, she has considered adopting an aborigine baby or undergoing an operation to improve her chances of conceiving naturally.
Although Kylie has enjoyed a successful comeback since her treatment, she hasn't emerged unscathed and admits she lives in fear of the cancer returning. "Your body has a memory of the way it was when you were sick, and there are definitely times when I float back to that place," she recently revealed. The singer has also accepted that after undergoing gruelling chemotherapy treatment, she has to cut down her workload. Shortly before '2 Hearts' was released Kylie promised to "be a little more reasonable with myself" but she still shows no signs of slowing down. Despite previously vowing to take a break from music and go backpacking or buy a house in the country, Kylie clearly isn't ready to give up her pop princess crown just yet. "I never had the feeling I was made for a conventional marriage in the suburbs. There are artists who have managed to have an unbelievable career without a family. I am not finished yet, I'm ready to go on," she vows.
So for now it seems Kylie will continue to be married to her highly successful career.
By Lucy O'Loughlin
Comments
by barry 10 August 2008
the show was FLAWLESS at O2 arena, i went to london with my best friend to see Kylie and she doesnt disappoint. absolutely the best concert ever and I see alot of concerts. she is fanta... Read More