On a Night Like This

"On a Night Like This"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Light Years
B-side "Ocean Blue"
Released 11 September 2000
17 December 2012 (The Abbey Road Sessions)
Format
Recorded 2000
Genre
Length 3:32
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Graham Stack
  • Mark Taylor
Certification Platinum (Australia)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Spinning Around"
(2000)		 "On a Night Like This"
(2000)		 "Kids"
(2000)
Music video
"On a Night Like This" on YouTube

"On a Night Like This" is a song by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, taken from her seventh studio album Light Years (2000). It was written by Steve Torch, Graham Stack, Mark Taylor, and Brian Rawling. The song was produced by Stack and Taylor. The song is a dance-pop song that talks about special moments at night time. The song employs elements of house and disco music, and was originally performed Swedish singer Pandora until giving it to Minogue. It was released as the second single from the album on 11 September 2000 by Parlophone.

Critical reception towards "On a Night Like This" were positive; many critics highlighted it as an album standout and praised the production. In Australia, the song became her seventh single to reach the top position. The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. The single also charted inside the top forty in Finland, New Zealand, Ireland, and Sweden.

A music video for "On a Night Like This" was directed by Douglas Avery and was envisioned as a tribute to Martin Scorsese's 1995 crime drama movie Casino. It features Minogue in Monte Carlo, playing at a casino and at her home, with appearances by Hollywood actor Rutger Hauer as an inferred love interest. The song was performed live by Minogue on several concert tours, including her On a Night Like This Tour, KylieFever2002, Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour, Showgirl: Homecoming Live KylieX2008, Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour, Kiss Me Once Tour and her European mini-tour Kylie Summer 2015.

Background

Kylie Minogue's track "On a Night Like This" appears on her seventh studio album Light Years (September 2000). She had signed a three-album deal with British dance label, Deconstruction Records in 1992 [2][3] and released her first album, Kylie Minogue, through that label in September 1994. It received mixed reception from music critics,[4] peaking at number three in Australia and number four in the United Kingdom.[5]

In October 1997, Minogue released her sixth studio album Impossible Princess.[6] It became the first album on which Minogue had partial creative control on songwriting and composing.[6] The album received mixed reviews, many who commended its experimental and adventurous nature, while criticism was primarily directed towards her image and the album's composition.[7] The album peaked at four on the ARIA Albums Chart and number one on the Australian Music Report chart in January 1998.[8] Impossible Princess peaked at ten on the UK Albums Chart, her lowest charting studio album to date.[9]

In late 1999, Minogue signed a contract with British label Parlophone.[10] Parlophone wanted to re-establish Minogue as the pop artist they felt she essentially was, but that had been lost.[11] The lead single from her seventh album, "Spinning Around", received critical acclaim from music critics who highlighted it as an album standout.[12] The song reached number one in both Australia and the UK, alongside top ten entries in New Zealand and Ireland.[13][14][15]

Composition and lyrics

Swedish singer Pandora (pictured) was the first musician to record the single, which led to Minogue and Vissi to re-record it.

"On a Night Like This" was written by Steve Torch, Graham Stack, Mark Taylor, and Brian Rawling, while production was handled by Stack and Taylor.[16] All four collaborators had originally written the song for Swedish recording artist Pandora, whose recorded version had appeared on her 1999 album No Regrets.[17] The writers had hoped to gain impact from the song's commercial reception, so they decided to give it to a well-established music artist; they submitted it to Parlophone, and Minogue recorded her vocals, to an identical backing track as Pandora's version, in mid-2000.[16] However, Greek singer Anna Vissi obtained rights to record the song for her album, Everything I Am but the musical arrangement was different to Minogue's and Pandora's version.[18][19]

"On a Night Like This" is a dance-pop song.[1] Influenced by house music and nu-disco elements, the song features acoustics guitar riffs, and synthesizers as core instruments.[1] According to the published music sheet at Musicnotes.com, which is owned by Fintage Music Publishing, the song is set in the key C minor.[20] The song is moderately paced with 130 beats per minute.[20] According to musicnotes.com, the song's musical styles include adult contemporary, dance music, eurodance, Europop and pop rock.[20]

For the re-released version, the song is composed as an orchestral song. According to Kitty Empire from The Guardian, the song "transforms the teenage-crush fervour of the original into a cool, big-band seduction."[21] Scott Kara from New Zealand Herald called it a sweeping and grand serenade song.[22] Annie Zaleski from The A.V. Club described the version as "romantic" while stating it turns into a brassy R&B torch song thanks to a soaring gospel choir and dramatic strings.[23]

Critical reception

"On a Night Like This" received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Mark Edwards from Stylus Magazine said that it, along with her duet with Robbie Williams on Kids, "cemented her comeback, and then came the aforementioned mega-song."[24] Jason Shawahn from About.com gave it a positive review, saying alongside "Please Stay" and "Spinning Around", are "a blessing for domestic music consumers".[25] Scott Kara from New Zealand Herald described the original as "a swirling, late night club pop tune."[22] Matt James from Popmatters described the song as "bedroom-eyed" and "nightclubber", while stating it's still hot enough to melt large glaciers.[26]

Although Chris True from Allmusic highlighted it as an album stand out, he awarded the track two-and-a-half stars.[27][28] Nick Levine from Digital Spy said that the song is a "catchy dance-pop song".[29] A reviewer for NME compared it to Spiller's song "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)", writing that the song "works because it doesn't revolve awkwardly round a random disco beat".[30] NME's Stevie Chick said the song was lacking passion and "unremarkable".[31] PopMatters gave the album a positive review, but he was disappointed by the record label, and the public, for not releasing the single in the United States, commenting "“On a Night Like This”, a track that is meant to go right to number one on the Billboard Club Tracks list and while being completely ignored by the general public."[32]

The version from the Abbey Road Sessions was positive as well. Robert Corpsey from Digital Spy highlighted the song as an album standout, enjoying that the lyric content stood out.[33] Philip Matusavage from MusicOMH found it a "confident" highlight and "transforming the fairly-anonymous Europop of the original into a swaggering big band number which no contestant on [The X Factor] could pull off."[34]

Chart performance

The single debuted at number one on the Australian Singles Chart, making it her seventh number one in Australia.[35] It spent seventeen weeks in the top fifty, becoming one of Minogue's longest charting singles. As with her previous number one single "Spinning Around", "On a Night Like This" was also certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 70,000 units, and became the twenty-seventh most successful single of the year 2000 in Australia.[36] The song led to Minogue being honoured as the artist having the most singles debuting at number one.[36] It also gave her a record for having the largest fall from the number one position—falling to number five.[36] It was also successful in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number two, behind Modjo's "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)".

[37]

The song entered at number forty on the New Zealand Singles Chart, rising to thirty-five where it peaked.[38] The song then debuted at number thirty-three in Sweden, until it rose to thirty-one, staying there for two consecutive weeks.[39] The song stayed only one week in Finland, debuting at number twenty.[40] The song peaked at number sixty-nine in France and sixty-four in the Netherlands.[37][41] The song has sold over 170,000 units in the UK, as of March 2014.[42]

Music video

Minogue played Rutger Hauer's (pictured) mistress in the music video.

The music video for "On a Night Like This" was directed by Douglas Avery. It was filmed in Monte Carlo, and was loosely based on Martin Scorsese's 1995 crime drama movie Casino, with Kylie herself portraying a character loosely based on Sharon Stone's bored trophy wife, and Blade Runner actor Rutger Hauer portraying her mob boss partner.[31][43][44] Sean Smith, who wrote the biography Kylie, felt the video was "broody" and "atmospheric." Minogue wore three dresses in the video; a pink, green and beige see-through dress, a black dress and a blue cocktail dress.[44] While Minogue was in the last two dresses, she also wore an estimated $2 million worth of jewellery.[44]

The video starts with a mob-related scene, with the men speaking in French.[44] The video translates with subtitles "Matters are not handled in this way/Here in Monte Carlo/Things are closely watched/The authorities are extremely vigilant/The things you ask of us/Are not so easy". As the song starts, Minogue is on a diving board over a pool; she jumps in with while wearing an expensive Versace. After she sings the chorus, she undresses into her underwear, and looking at the mobsters, throws her dress across towards their window. As the second verse starts, she appears in another Versace costume, in a Limousine.[44]

As the chorus arrives, she appears in a Monte Carlo casino, and wins money. She later goes home, where her mob boss lover sees her, as she comes into the hallway and smashes a green glass vase. As the song ends she steps onto a porch, undresses again, and he can only stare. The video ends with her stepping down from the porch, and fades to black.[44] The original ending had shown footage of Minogue both full-frontal and back nude.[44] NME had reportedly published an article regarding the nude scene, but Avery had stated that no nude shots were ever created.[31][44]

Live performances

Minogue performed "On a Night Like This" on her Aphrodite World Tour.

On 22 September 2000, Minogue debuted the first live performance on the Top of the Pops, wearing the same pink and beige dress from the music video.[45] On 6 October 2000, Minogue performed "On a Night Like This" as part of her An Audience with Kylie Minogue.[46] In November 2012, Minogue performed the song as part of the Royal Variety Performance.[47] At the 2000 Sydney Olympics closing ceremony, Minogue performed ABBA's "Dancing Queen" and her single "On a Night Like This".[48] Minogue had performed the song at the TMF Music Awards that same year.[49] Kylie had advertised the video and single in a Pepsi advert in 2001.[50] In December 2012, Minogue performed the orchestral version as part of the BBC Proms in the Park London 2012.[51]

Since its release, "On a Night Like This" has been featured on nearly all of Minogue's concert tours, except the Anti Tour and For You, For Me North American tour. It was one of the headlining songs of the On a Night Like This Tour, which was launched to promote Light Years in 2001. Minogue had been lowered from an anchor up until performing the song.[52] The song was performed during the "Sex in Venuce" act of the KylieFever2002 tour.[53] In 2005, she performed the song on her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour.[54] Minogue was unable to complete the tour as she was diagnosed with early breast cancer and had to cancel the Australian leg of the tour.[55] After undergoing treatment and recovery, she resumed the concert tour in the form of Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour in 2007, and performed "On a Night Like This" on the "Homecoming" segment.[56] The song was performed as part of the "Black Versus White" act of the KylieX2008 tour. Minogue performed "On a Night Like This" during her Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour in 2011, which contained elements of DJ Sammy's single "Heaven".[57][58] More recently, the song was performed on Minogue's Kylie Summer 2015 Tour in 2015, which featured her in a glittery black and white dress.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "On a Night Like This."[59]

Australia CD 1[60]

  1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
  2. "On a Night Like This" (Rob Searle Mix) — 7:58
  3. "On a Night Like This" (Motiv8 Nocturnal Vocal Mix) — 7:31
  4. "On a Night Like This" (Bini and Martini Club Mix) — 6:34
  5. "On a Night Like This" (Music video)

UK CD 1 [16]

  1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
  2. "Ocean Blue" — 4:22
  3. "Your Disco Needs You" (Almighty Mix) — 8:22
  4. "On a Night Like This" (Enhanced Video)

Australian CD 2 [61]

  1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
  2. "On a Night Like This" (Halo Mix) — 8:05
  3. "Ocean Blue" — 4:22
  4. "Your Disco Needs You" (Almighty Mix) — 8:22

UK CD 2[62]

  1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
  2. "On a Night Like This" (Rob Searle Mix) — 7:58
  3. "On a Night Like This" (Motiv8 Nocturnal Vocal Mix) — 7:31

Europe 2012 (Abbey Road Version) CD Single[63]

  1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:03
  2. "On a Night Like This" (Instrumental) — 3:01

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[64] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[65] 29
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[66] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[67] 20
France (SNEP)[68] 69
Germany (Official German Charts)[69] 72
Ireland (IRMA)[70] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[71] 64
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[72] 35
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[73] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[74] 31
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[75] 51
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[76] 2
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[77] 3

Year-end charts

Year Country Position
2000 Australian Singles Chart[78] 27
UK Singles Chart 129

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[79] Platinum 70,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"Music" by Madonna
"Most Girls" by Pink		 Australian Singles Chart number-one single
24 September 2000 – 1 October 2000
15 October 2000 – 22 October 2000 		Succeeded by
"Music" by Madonna
"Beautiful Day" by U2

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pandora Radio - Kylie Minogue, On a Night Like THis". Pandora Radio, pandora.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  2. ↑ Murphy, Ben (28 July 2007). "Second Coming". DJ Mag. Thrust Publishing. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  3. ↑ St. Clarke, Jenny (2002). Kylie: Naked. London, United Kingdom: Edury Press. pp. 155, 172. ISBN 978-0091880965. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie (Album liner notes, provided by Paul Lester). Kylie Minogue. Music Club. July 2007. MCDLX043.
  5. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Kylie Minogue". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. 1 2 Impossible Princess (2xCD) (Liner notes of Special Edition). Kylie Minogue. Deconstruction Records. 2003. 82876511152.
  7. ↑ Smith, Sarah (20 March 2015). "The Most Underrated Pop Albums of All Time". FasterLouder. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "Impossible Princess". kylie.com. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  9. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top Top 100 - Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Baker, William (7 November 2002). Kylie: La La La. London, United Kingdom: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 145. ISBN 0-340-73439-6.
  11. ↑ "Interview with Miles Leonard". Hit Quarters. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  12. ↑ True, Chris. "Light Years - Kylie Minogue". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around". New Zealand Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around". Australian Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top Top 100 - Kylie Minogue - 25 June 2000". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 On a Night Like This (CD single liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Parlophone. September 2000.
  17. ↑ No Regrets (Album). Pandora. Unknown. 1999.
  18. ↑ Everything I Am (Album). Anna Vissi. Unknown. October 2000.
  19. ↑ "Λεπτομέρειες για το "Everything I Am"!!!". MAD TV (in Greek). 16 October 2000. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  20. 1 2 3 "On a Night Like This Music Sheet, By Kylie Minogue". Musicnotes.com. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  21. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (25 October 2012). "Kylie: The Abbey Road Sessions – review". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Album review: Kylie Minogue, The Abbey Road Sessions". New Zealand Herald. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  23. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (6 November 2012). "Kylie Minogue: The Abbey Road Sessions | Music | MusicalWork Review". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  24. ↑ Edwards, Mark (6 December 2004). "Kylie Minogue - Ultimate Kylie - Parlophone". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  25. ↑ Shawashn, Jason. "Kylie Minogue - Ultimate Kylie". About.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  26. ↑ James, Matt (25 July 2012). "Kylie Minogue: The Best of". PopMatters. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  27. ↑ True, Chris. "Light Years – Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  28. ↑ True, Chris. "On a Night Like This – Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  29. ↑ Levine, Nick (21 June 2010). "Kylie: Revisited #7: Light Years". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  30. ↑ "Light Years". NME. IPC Media. 25 September 2000. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  31. 1 2 3 Chick, Stevie (12 September 2005). "Kylie Minogue - 'On a Night Like This'". NME Music Reviews. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  32. ↑ Felt, Hunter (21 March 2005). "Kylie Minogue: The Ultimate Kylie". PopMatters. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  33. ↑ "Kylie Minogue: The Abbey Road Sessions - Album review - Music Album Review". Digital Spy. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – The Abbey Road Sessions | Album Reviews". musicOMH. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  35. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Kylie Minogue - On a Night Like This". Australian Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  36. 1 2 3 "On a Night Like This". Kylie.com. 2 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  37. 1 2 Hung, Steffen. "Chart week of 8 October 2000". Swiss Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  38. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Chart Week of 12 November 2000". New Zealand Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  39. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Chart week of 11 November 2000". Swedish Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  40. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "40 Week: Finnish Singles Chart". Finnish Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  41. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "CHart week of 25 November 2000". Dutch Chart Portal. Hung Median. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  42. ↑ "Kylie Minogue's Official number 2 singles!". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  43. ↑ Baker, William (7 November 2002). Kylie: La La La. London, United Kingdom: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 223. ISBN 0-340-73439-6.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Smith, Sean (13 March 2014). Kylie. London, United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster Ltd. p. 175. ISBN 978-147-113-5804. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - On a Night Like This (Top of the Pops)". Youtube. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  46. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - On a Night Like This (An Audience with Kylie Minogue)". Youtube. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  47. ↑ "Live for Royal Variety Performance set list and artists". Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "Sydney says goodbye". BBC News. 1 October 2000. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  49. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - On a Night Like This (TMF Awards)". Youtube. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  50. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Pepsi - Commercial". YouTube. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  51. ↑ "BBC News- Kylie Minogue to headline Proms in the Park concert". BBC News. 27 April 2012.
  52. ↑ Robinson, Peter (5 March 2001). "Kylie Minogue: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  53. ↑ "Kylie Minogue Setlist at Wembley Arena, London, England". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  54. ↑ Hogwood, Ben. "Kylie Minogue - Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  55. ↑ "Kylie diagnosed with breast cancer, cancels aussie leg of showgirl tour". Fridae. 18 May 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  56. ↑ Mawer, Sharon. "Showgirl Homecoming Live- Kylie Minogue". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  57. ↑ Nygaard, Kristian (19 February 2011). "Kylie Minogue Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning". Gaffa (in Danish). Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  58. ↑ Sjørvad, Rune Melchior (20 February 2011). "Kylies kedelige kostumefest" [Kylie's boring costume party]. Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). JP/Politikens Hus. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  59. ↑ Discography – 2000-2001. MixKylie.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2006.
  60. ↑ On a Night Like This (Oceanic CD 1 single liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Mushroom. September 2000.
  61. ↑ On a Night Like This (Oceanic CD 2 single liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Mushroom. September 2000.
  62. ↑ On a Night Like This (UK CD 2 single liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Parlophone. September 2000.
  63. ↑ On a Night Like This (UK CD single liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Parlophone. 2012.
  64. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  65. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  66. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This" (in French). Ultratip.
  67. ↑ "Kylie Minogue: On a Night Like This" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  68. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This" (in French). Les classement single.
  69. ↑ "Musicline.de – Minogue,Kylie Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  70. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 37, 2000". Irish Singles Chart.
  71. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  72. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This". Top 40 Singles.
  73. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2000-09-23". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  74. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This". Singles Top 100.
  75. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kylie Minogue – On a Night Like This". Swiss Singles Chart.
  76. ↑ "Kylie Minogue: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  77. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – United Dj's vs. Pandora – On a Night Like This". Singles Top 100.
  78. ↑ Australian Recording Industry Association (2000). "End of year charts". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  79. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.