Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue | |
|---|---|
| Dannii Minogue Minogue in a promotional photo in support of her 2003 album, Neon Nights. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
| Years active | 1979–present |
Danielle Jane Minogue (born October 20, 1971) is an Australian singer/songwriter, actress and an occasional model and fashion designer. She rose to prominence in the early 1980s as a result of her role in the Australian television talent show Young Talent Time, before commencing her career as a pop singer and recording artist.
Childhood and beginning
Dannii Minogue was born in Melbourne, Australia, to an Australian father, Ron Minogue, and a Welsh-born mother, Carol Minogue (neé Jones) who had immigrated as a child from Maesteg, Wales in 1955 to Townsville, Queensland. Minogue is the youngest of three children; her sister Kylie Minogue is a pop singer and actress, and her older brother, Brendan, is a news cameraman in Australia.
Minogue began her career at the age of seven on Australian television, appearing in soap operas such as Skyways and The Sullivans. In 1979 she was invited to be a regular member of the Australian talent show Young Talent Time, quickly becoming one of the most popular and highest profile members in the show’s twenty year history. Minogue recorded on two albums for the show, which featured her first solo songs as a recording artist, and she also was featured on several sold-out Australian tours with the show. The first song Minogue recorded was a cover version of the Madonna hit "Material Girl" which appeared on the 1985 album Now and Then.
In 1988, Minogue's interest in fashion turned her into a successful designer, launching her own fashion line simply titled Dannii. The line was an immediate success selling out in tens days across Australia. During the next year she would release three additional lines, which were also successful.
In 1988, Minogue left Young Talent Time to further her career as an actress. Her first role after the talent show was on the Channel Nine mini-series All The Way as Penny Seymour. This role was followed up by the role as Emma Jackson, a teen rebel, on the hit soap opera Home and Away. The show was seen by fifty million people per week and gained Minogue a large fan base in Australia and in Europe. By the end of 1989, Minogue was voted by Australia’s TV Hits Magazine as the Best New Star of Year and as the Best Female Personality.
Recording and performing career
Love and Kisses: 1990-1992
In 1989 Minogue signed a record deal with Australian based music label Mushroom Records. Released in November 1990, Minogue's debut album, titled Dannii in Australia, was released to great success, peaking at number four on the albums chart. In June 1991, the album was released in Europe under the title Love and Kisses, like in Australia the album was a hit, reaching the top ten and was certified gold on its release. Since its release, the album has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide.[1]
The first single from the album, "Love and Kisses" was recorded by Minogue in New York City, and became a hit in both Australia and the UK, going top ten in both countries. The single was then followed up by "Success", a song co-written by Minogue. The single did not perform as well as "Love and Kisses" did, but it was still a hit, peaking at number eleven in the UK and at number twenty-nine in Australia. "Jump To The Beat", a cover of the Stacey Lattisaw song, was released as the album's third single. The song was a hit in the UK, going top ten, but in Australia it failed to get much attention, barely peaking within the top fifty. "Baby Love", a song co-written by Madonna's collaborator Stephen Bray, was released as the fourth single from the album, and was a top fifteen hit in both Australia and the UK. "I Don't Want To Take This Pain" was released as the album's fifth and final single. Minogue is most proud of this song, calling it "the first mature song I ever did" and it remains one of her personal favourites. The song was not a chart success, peaking at number fifty in the UK and at number ninety-two in Australia.
At the end of 1990 Love and Kisses was re-released as Love and Kisses and.... The re-release was a minor success, reaching number forty-eight on the UK album charts. The re-release contained the original album tracklisting, but included four 12" remixes of "Baby Love", "Success", "Love and Kisses" and "Jump To The Beat".
Minogue's music and the songs accompanying videos were popular with nightclubers in Europe, and in turn made Minogue a gay culture icon. Her music videos of the time usually revolved around going out to a club and dancing with her dancers.
In 1990, after only a season on the hit television series Home and Away, Minogue quit the show and moved to London, England to focus on her successful recording career.
Get Into You: 1993-1996
In 1993 Minogue followed up her debut album with the release of Get Into You. The album was less successful than its predecessor, only reaching number fifty-two in the UK and fifty-three in Australia. To many the album was seen as a disappointing follow up to such a successful debut, but it did produce the top ten hit "This Is It", a cover of Melba Moore hit. Three additional singles were released from the album, but did not chart well, especially in Australia where the album's lead-off single "Show You The Way To Go" failed to chart in the top 100.
Due to the commercial failure of "Get Into You", Minogue decided to put her music career on hold to concentrate on her passion for television presenting.
Girl: 1997-2001
After a long break from music, Minogue signed a multi-million dollar contract with Eternal Records. In September 1997 she released her third studio album, Girl. Like her previous effort the album was only a minor success, reaching number fifty-seven in the UK and number sixty-nine in Australia.
The album's first single, "All I Wanna Do" became one of Minogue's biggest hits, peaking at number four in the UK and at number eleven in Australia. The song was also a club hit, with the Trouser Enthusiasts remix becoming a favourite of clubbers. The album's second single "Everything I Wanted", was co-written by Minogue and was a top fifteen hit in the UK. In Australia the song did not fair as well, barely peaking in the top fifty. The dance anthem "Disremembrance" was released as the third single and did not chart well either in Australia, charting outside the top fifty. In the UK it peaked at number twenty-one. Australia received a fourth single, "Coconut", which was included on the album as a hidden track.
In 1998 Minogue headed out on her first solo tour. Unleashed '98 included songs from Minogue's three albums and some disco classics. The tour was a success and included twenty-three shows across the UK.
Mardi Gras Records in Australia asked Minogue to launch the first ever gay and lesbian record label. "Everlasting Night" became the official anthem of 1999 and she was asked to perform at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
In 2001 Minogue lent her vocals to the song "Who Do You Love Now?", a song by Dutch dance act Riva. The song was a huge hit, reaching number three in the UK, becoming her thirteenth top forty hit the UK. In the United States the song became a number one dance hit, knocking Justin Timberlake and Beyonce from the top of the dance charts.
Neon Nights: 2002-2003
Following the success of "Who Do You Love Now?", Minogue signed a six album deal with London Records. In 2003 Minogue released her fourth studio album Neon Nights to much success. Peaking at number eight in the UK, the release saw Minogue gain greater control over her recordings and she is credited with co-writing and co-producing all the tracks on the album.
Minogue's first single release on London Records was the 2002 hit "Put The Needle On It", which went top ten in the UK and was later included on the 2003 album Neon Nights. In November 2003 the lead-off single from Neon Nights was released. "I Begin To Wonder" is Minogue's most successful single release to date, peaking at number two in the UK. The song was also a club hit, especially the mash-up version of the track with Dead Or Alive's 80s hit "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling" was released as the next single in June 2003. The song was also a hit, especially in the clubs when it was mashed-up with the Madonna hit "Into The Groove". Minogue become one of only a few artists to receive permission from Madonna to sample her music.
Although Neon Nights is Minogue's most successful to date, management restructuring within London Records led to Minogue leaving the company and ending her six album deal. The follow-up album to Neon Nights, which was expected to be released in 2004 was put on hold due to the moving of record companies.
For six weeks starting in June 2003, Minogue hosted her own radio program called Neon Nights. The show was broadcast throughout the UK on the Capital Radio Network and the Austereo Network in Australia. Throughout the hour show Minogue played songs from her own record collection as well as a song from Neon Nights. The show was named after the album because Minogue wanted it to be a mix of retro songs, current songs and bootlegs like Neon Nights, which was about mashing old retro sounds and samples with modern dance beats.[2]
Upcoming album: 2004-Present
In late 2004, Minogue signed with Around The World Records, an independent dance label. In October of that year Minogue released the song "You Won't Forget About Me", which was based on the instrumental track "Flower Power" by Flower Power and features new lyrics written by Minogue. Originally dubbed as the first single from Minogue's follow-up to Neon Nights, the song was a chart hit, reaching number seven on the UK singles chart.
In October 2005, Minogue released the song "Perfection", which went to number eleven in the UK. As with "You Won't Forget About Me", "Perfection" featured Minogue singing new lyrics to an instrumental dance track, "Turn Me Upside Down" by Soul Seekerz. The song also sampled Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 hit "Turn The Beat Around".
Minogue's follow-up album to 2003s hit Neon Nights is due in April 2006, with a new single being released in March.
Acting career
Film
In May 1991, Minogue signed on to star in her fist feature film Secrets, as Didi. Filming began the following month in Australia and the film was released that November. In 2005 it was announced that Minogue had signed on to star in the Australian thriller movie Except East Richmond alongside Costas Mandylor, the film is scheduled to be filmed in late 2006.
Stage
After appearing in television shows, Minogue moved her focus to the stage, beginning in 1997 with her role as the rebel Rizzo in Grease: The Arena Spectacular. The tour, performed in Australia, was a huge hit. Minogue was originally offered the role of Sandy, but turned it down because she wanted to play Rizzo, her favourite character.
In 1999, she appeared in MacBeth, performing outside at the Royal Botanic Gardens for Edinburgh's Fringe Festival as Lady MacBeth. Minogue performed the part for three weeks, and received mixed reviews from critics. Matt Grant, the BBC's News Online's festival correspondent, gave Minogue poor reviews saying that "she swaggers and staggers around the grass stage acting like a low rent Jim Morrison" and that "she lacks true conviction as she ploughs through the lines without capturing their full force."[3] In a review for the Guardian Unlimited, Fiachra Gibbons gave Minogue credit for her role in Macbeth, calling her not bad and crediting her for being able to "hold her own against the go-go girls in the song-and-dance numbers" that were apart of the play.[4]
In 2000 Minogue auditioned for the lead role in Notre-Dame De Paris in London's West End. Having secured the part as gypsy girl Esmeralda, Minogue took to the stage in February 2001, playing to over 2,000 people a night at the Dominion Theatre. The play has received critical acclaim in France and Canada, breaking both box office and soundtrack records, but success in the UK has so far eluded the production.
She later went on to win Best Stage Performance at the Maxim Awards for her performance. That same year Minogue gained critical acclaim for her role in the controversial play The Vagina Monologues.
Television presenter
After taking a break from her musical career in 1994, Minogue turned her focus to working as a television presenter. From July to August 1994, Minogue co-hosted Channel 4's morning show The Big Breakfast in the UK. In September, she then hosted the BBC's television show Fan TC.
The next year in 1995, Minogue briefly hosted the Disney television series Disney Time. Also that year she co-hosted MTV's Hanging Out.
In January 1996, Minogue hosted the sixteen week teenage style show It's Not Just Saturday, which was a hit with audience figures peaking at over 1.5 million. Throughout April, May and June Minogue filmed the kid adventure series Scoop. She also returned to The Big Breakfast for six weeks, presenting the Egg's On Legs road show. In November Minogue began hosting Electric Circus on the BBC, a show involving videos, computers and movies, during the run of shows she interviewed celebrities including Val Kilmer, Diana Ross, Cliff Richard and Chris O'Donnell. She closed the successful year by hosting the Children's Television Awards in December.
In May 1997, Minogue hosted the BBC show Top of the Pops, ending her run as a television presenter, as she turned back her focus to her music career in 1997.
Personal life
Relationships
Throughout Minogue's professional life, she has be the subject of great media attention especially concerning her private life. In January 1994 Minogue married Australian actor Julian McMahon, after announcing their engagement in late 1993. The couple met after appearing in the television show Home and Away together. The wedding was dubbed the "Australian Wedding of the Year", spinning Australian media and paparazzi into a frenzy. The couple later divorced for undisclosed reasons, although it is believed that McMahon was unfaithful. In October 1999, Minogue became engaged to Quebecois Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve, however the relationship would not last and ended in early 2001. Since her break-up with Villeneuve, Minogue's private life has been under intense media interest speculating about who she is romantically involved with.
Minogue began to change her image after her divorce from McMahon and became noted for several provocative publicity photographs, including a nude appearance in the Australian edition of Playboy magazine in 1995, which became the quickest selling edition in the magazine's Australian history. On posing for the magazine Minogue said: "I'd just had a marriage break-up. Most women go to the hairdressers - I did Playboy. I chose the photographer, the location, what I did or didn't want to wear and everything else about the pictures. I found it a really liberating, empowering experience."[5]
Kylie's shadow
Throughout her career Minogue has been often compared to her older and more commercially successful sister, Kylie Minogue. Due to her sister's success it has often been hard for Minogue to find respect from critics, fans and the media who have always compared her to Kylie. "It is hard to be compared all the time to Kylie," she said. "On the other hand, however, people will always try to compare you to somebody. Look at Britney and Christina." Contrary to media reports Minogue has said multiple times that there is not a rivalry between her and Kylie saying, "I really respect what Kylie is doing at the moment. We were raised in a family of love and support and that has not changed."[6]
Gay Icon
Minogue is regarded as a gay icon, which she embraces and credits for much of her success. "Gays have always been a part of my music," says Minogue. “I have never jumped on the pink bandwagon to increase my popularity. It just came naturally." Minogue believes that the gay community has connected with her and her music because her music is about "having fun and going out dancing", which Minogue says the gay culture loves to do. She is a strong supporter of social equality for gays, but believes that the struggle for equal right such as marriage is not a black and white issue. "Some kind of certificate of commitment is important. It doesn’t have to be a marriage," said Minogue. "Something official that is accepted by all government bodies would be sufficient. As long as you can have a special day together that is recognized by the government is what counts."[7]
Puss 'N Boots incident
In February of 2006, Minogue, while patronizing the Puss 'N Boots strip club, allegedly engaged in sexually explicit, and possibly illegal, activities with one of the establishment's lap dancers. Surveillance tape stills made their way to the internet, where the pictures allegedly show Minogue kissing and fondling the dancer, breaking the club’s strict "no-touching" rules, and it later appears that the dancer performs oral sex on Minogue. A spokesman for Minogue, downplayed the event as a "harmless girls' night out," according to the Brit tabloid The Sun. A London tabloid is reporting that Minogue is considering legal action against the club for the release of the stills.
Awareness campaigns and charity
In 2004 Minogue posed nude with just a long red ribbon covering up parts of her body to help the fight against AIDS. She is an ambassador for the Terence Higgins Trust, which raises awareness about the disease. Personal experiences made Minogue want to educate people about AIDS since she has known many people within the entertainment industry and close personal friends who have been affected by the disease. Minogue's main mission with the trust is to "break down myths" such as that AIDS is a gay disease saying, "HIV doesn't discriminate - somewhere in their minds young people still think it is a gay disease."[8]
She also had been a longtime supporter of breast cancer research. In 2003 she through her support behind the Funny Women charity which put of comedy acts to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research as well as other women related issues such as domestic violence.
In addition to her work with the Terence Higgins Trust, Minogue also supports The Lighthouse Foundation (another AIDS charity) and the Young Homeless.
Discography
- For complete discography and chart information see: Dannii Minogue discography
Studio albums
- 1990 Dannii (Australia only)
- 1991 Love and Kisses
- 1991 Love and Kisses and...
- 1993 Get Into You
- 1997 Girl
- 2003 Neon Nights
- 2006 Untitled
Hit singles
The following singles reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, Ireland and/or Australia.
Key to chart headings: UK (United Kingdom), AU (Australia) and IR (Ireland).
| Single | UK | AU | IR |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Love and Kisses" (1991) | 8 | 4 | 22 |
| "Jump To The Beat" (1991) | 8 | 48 | 5 |
| "This Is It" (1993) | 10 | 13 | 17 |
| "All I Wanna Do" (1997) | 4 | 11 | - |
| "Who Do You Love Now?" with Riva (2001) | 3 | 15 | 20 |
| "Put The Needle On It" (2002) | 7 | 11 | 20 |
| "I Begin To Wonder" (2003) | 2 | 14 | 22 |
| "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling" (2003) | 5 | 22 | - |
| "You Won't Forget About Me"(2004) | 7 | 20 | 22 |
| "Perfection"(2005) | 11 | 13 | - |
See also
Sample
Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end
Vocal Profile
- Highest Note - B5
- Lowest Note - D#3
- Octave Range - 3 (D#3-B5)
- Voice Type - Lyric Soprano
Notes
- ^ Dannii Minogue 1. Destination Dannii. Sept. 2005. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2006.
- ^ DJ Ron Slomowicz. "Dannii Minogue Interview".Dannii Minogue 2. About.com. 2004. Retrieved Feb. 2, 2006.
- ^ Matt Grant. "Is this a Dannii I see before me?". Dannii Minogue 3. BBC News Online. Aug. 29, 1999. Retrieved Feb. 1, 2006.
- ^ Matt Grant. "Journey To Macbeth". Dannii Minogue 4. The Guardian.co.uk. Aug. 16, 1999. Retrieved Feb. 1, 2006.
- ^ Jonathan Thompson. "Q: The Interview - Dannii Minogue". Dannii Minogue 5. The Independent on Sunday. Nov. 3, 2002. Retrieved Feb. 1, 2006.
- ^ "Interview with Dannii Minogue". Dannii Minogue 6. Arjan Writes. Dec. 13, 2002. Retrieved Feb. 1, 2006.
- ^ "Interview with Dannii Minogue". Dannii Minogue 7. Arjan Writes. Dec. 13, 2002. Retrieved Feb. 1, 2006.
- ^ "You won't forget about me - naked". Dannii Minogue 8. SMH Online. Dec. 8, 2004. Retrieved Feb. 2, 2006.
References
- Nathan Smith and Krzysztof Pilarek. "Biography". A Piece of Dannii: Your Best Source for Everything Dannii. link - last accessed on January 25, 2006.
- "Acting". Official Dannii Fan Site. link - last accessed on January 29, 2006.
- "Music". Official Dannii Fan Site. link - last accessed on January 29, 2006.
- "Dannii Minogue". IMDB: Internet Movie Database. link - last accessed on January 29, 2006.
External links
- Official Website
- Official Fan Site
- Official Online Forum
- All Around The World Records: Minogue's Current Record Label
- Dannii's Den forum
- Destination Dannii
- Destination Dannii gallery - largest Dannii Minogue gallery on whole wide web
- A Piece of Dannii
- Dannii Minogue Brasil
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