Slow (song)

"Slow"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Body Language
B-side	"Soul on Fire", "Sweet Music"
Released	3 November 2003 (2003-11-03) (see release history)
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	2003; London, England
Genre	Electropop, synthpop
Length	3:15
Label	Parlophone, Mushroom, Capitol
Writer(s)	Kylie Minogue, Dan Carey, Emilíana Torrini
Producer	Sunnyroads
Certification	Platinum (ARIA)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Come into My World" (2002) "Slow" (2003) "Secret (Take You Home)" (2004)
Audio sample file info · help

"Slow" is an electropop song written by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, Dan Carey and Emilíana Torrini for Minogue's ninth studio album, Body Language (2003). It was produced by Sunnyroads (Carey and Torrini) and received a positive reception from music critics. The song was released as the album's lead single in late 2003 and reached number one in Australia, Denmark, Romania and the United Kingdom, where it became Minogue's seventh number-one single. In the United States, "Slow" was released to success on the Billboard dance charts, reaching the top position on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, the song earned Minogue her third consecutive Grammy Award nomination in the Best Dance Recording category, but lost out to "Toxic" by Britney Spears.

Critical reception

"Slow" was greeted to positive reviews by a variety of critics. New York magazine's Ethan Brown described the song as a "template" for pop stars to follow that has electric beats that are "warm, even radiant." Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone called "Slow" a "Prince-style electro-glitz disco gem." Adrien Begrand of PopMatters, claimed that the song was the focal point of the album and wrote that it was Minogue's most seductive piece to date.

Chart performance

On 3 November 2003, "Slow" was released in the United Kingdom. The song became Minogue's seventh number-one single when it debuted at the top spot on the singles chart, and spent a total of ten weeks in the top seventy-five. However, even though "Slow" became a number one in the UK, it only sold 43,000 copies, her lowest-selling number-one single in the UK and to date is one of the lowest-selling number-one singles in UK chart history second only to George Michael's "Faith". Outside of the UK, the song was also successful. It debuted at number one in Australia and became Minogue's ninth number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. In addition, "Slow" was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments of over 70,000 copies. In continental Europe the single peaked at number one in Denmark, Spain and Romania and attained top five and top ten success in most nations, including Belgium, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway, resulting in a peak position of number two on the pan-European chart. In Canada, the song was released on 13 January 2004, and it peaked at number six, becoming one of Minogue's most successful singles there.

Due to favourable reception of Minogue's previous releases, "Slow" was released in the United States. Initially, Capitol slated "Cruise Control" as the first U.S. single. Plans were scrapped due to Minogue's choosing "Slow" instead.^{[citation needed]} When the song did not meet both sales and chart expectations, "Slow" was quickly scrapped in place for "Red Blooded Woman".^{[citation needed]} "Slow" became her third release to reach the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Chart Play chart. It also performed well on the Hot Dance Airplay chart, where it reached number seven. The song however was not a success on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number ninety-three before peaking at number ninety-one, spending only three weeks on the chart.

Music video

The music video for "Slow" features Minogue laying barefoot in a Balenciaga mini dress.

The single's music video, directed by Baillie Walsh, was shot over a three-day period in the Spanish city of Barcelona, at the Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc. The first two days of shooting were postponed due to heavy rain, but the video was completed by the end of the third day. The video opens with a man diving into a swimming pool from a diving board from where the skyscrapers of Barcelona can be clearly seen. After the man gets out the pool, the rest of the video focuses on Minogue, who is amongst a crowded poolside of swimwear-clad men and women. There are various side-views and bird's-eye views of Minogue as she sings the song.

Live performances

Minogue performed the song on the following concert tours:

• Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour
• Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour
• KylieX2008
• North American Tour 2009
• Aphrodite World Tour (Jazz version/Chemical Brothers Remix medley)

The song was also performed on the 2003 TV concert Money Can't Buy.

Cover versions

• Bell X1 on Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 2
• Mayer/Aguayo on Kompakt: Total 6
• Tricky on Knowle West Boy

• Russian trance producer Bobina remade this track in 2008, and it was remixed by Cosmonaut, Feel, 4Mal, Grad, Shifted Reality, and Ørjan Nilsen.

Track listings

CD single 1
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Slow"	3:15
2.	"Sweet Music"	4:08
3.	"Slow" (Medicine 8 Remix)	6:57

CD single 2
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Slow"	3:15
2.	"Soul On Fire"	3:32
3.	"Slow" (Radio Slave Mix)	10:27
4.	"Slow" (Synth City Remix)	5:50

Japanese CD single
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Slow"	3:15
2.	"Soul On Fire"	3:32
3.	"Slow" (Medicine 8 Remix)	6:57
4.	"Slow" (Radio Slave Remix Edit)	6:34
5.	"Slow" (Extended Mix)	6:25

US Digital EP
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Slow" (Acapella)	3:01
2.	"Slow" (Chemical Brothers Remix)	3:55
3.	"Slow" (Extended Instrumental)	6:25
4.	"Slow" (Extended Mix)	6:25
5.	"Slow" (Medicine 8 Remix)	6:56
6.	"Slow" (Radio Slave Remix)	6:34
7.	"Slow" (Synth City Remix)	5:49

Charts

Chart (2003/2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)	20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	9
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)	26
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	6
Denmark (Tracklisten)	1
European Hot 100 Singles	2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	3
France (SNEP)	45
Germany (Media Control AG)	8
Hungary (Single Top 10)	4
Ireland (IRMA)	5
Italy (FIMI)	6
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)	13
New Zealand (RIANZ)	9
Norway (VG-lista)	4
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	18
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	1
US Billboard Hot 100	91
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	1
US Pop Songs (Billboard)	35

Year-End charts

Year	Country	Position
2003	Australia	59
	United Kingdom	74

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "Be Faithful" by Fatman Scoop featuring The Crooklyn Clan	UK Singles Chart number-one single 9 November 2003	Succeeded by "Crashed the Wedding" by Busted
Preceded by "Rise Up" by Australian Idol - The Final 12	Australian Singles Chart number-one single 9 November 2003	Succeeded by "Me Against the Music" by Britney Spears featuring Madonna
Preceded by "Hole in the Head" by Sugababes	Danish Singles Chart number-one single 14 November 2003
Preceded by "Where Is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake	Romanian Top 100 number-one single 12 January 2004 – 26 January 2004	Succeeded by "Breathe" by Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul
Preceded by "Give It Up" by Kevin Aviance	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single 28 February 2004	Succeeded by "Love's Divine" by Seal

Release history

Country	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United Kingdom	3 November 2003	Parlophone	CD single	553 3622
Japan	10 November 2003			553 3832
France				7243 553382 2 8
Canada	13 January 2004	Capitol		553 3832

External links

"Slow" music video on YouTube