Kylie Minogue has released her latest single, Padam, Padam, not to be confused with the Edith Piaf song with the same name, in case you’re wondering, and already it is billed as being the summer hit of 2023. But is it?
The music video, shot in LA and directed by Sophie Muller, sees the Ausie icon in an all-red ensemble, moving a little slower than some of her earlier hits (and sitting down quite a lot), but then… Age and all that… (not a criticism), as she moves rather than dances alongside a slew of talented, and much younger, dancers.
The song was first announced in early May, as being from the upcoming Tension album, her sixteenth studio album none the less, but without a release date, just a teaser, only to actually be released about a week later with maximum impact already achieved.
Kylie has now had a Top 10 hit across five consecutive decades (see, we have to mention the age thing (still not a criticism)), and let us not forget that the pop princess is also an accomplished actor.
Now, the technical bit you are no doubt hoping for… According to Wikipedia, “Padam Padam” has been described as a “hypnotic electro”, “sleek, thumping, catchy-as-hell dance-pop jam”.
Musically, the song composed in a 4/4 time signature and is built on a Phrygian dominant scale of C (a Mixolydian scale with a lowered 9th (2nd) and lowered 13th (6th)), a scale used for its hauntingly tense quality. “Padam Padam” has a tempo of 128 beats per minute.
So, is it the hit of the summer 2023? Will it be playing across the dancefloors of holiday hotspots? Well, most likely, especially as it is also no doubt set to become an anthem for her army of dedicated fans… Padam, Padam…
