Kylie – ‘Better Than Today’
Had I not actually bothered to check, I’d have said right away that this bears the musical fingerprint of Jake Shears out of the Scissor Sisters. It’s got that ‘Laura’ bounce, that slightly perkier-than-you-might-want electro zinginess, that strutting disco pimp-roll thing. And the bit where Kylie goes way up high? Well you’ve heard the verses to ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ right? Sonically similar, is what I am saying.
And we know they’re mates, Kylie and Jake, AND they’ve worked together before. I would be willing to go out on a limb and place (a small amount of) good money on this having a Shears co-writing credit at the very LEAST.
Or at least, I would have if I hadn’t gone to investigate a bit first. Turns out it’s a Nerina Pallot song, from last year. Bah.
(Here’s the video. “…and on lead guitar…PAC-MAN!”)
Now, I’m not here to cast aspersions on Kylie Minogue’s taste in music. As far as I’m concerned, she’s a force for good in the world of popular song, having proven herself time and again as an interpreter and deliverer of great songs. She’s basically the pizza delivery girl of quality pop, only with a bigger wardrobe of smaller clothes (and definitely no pizza).
Buut…there’s something about the relentless swaggering momentum of this song which gets a little wearing. At some point, something ELSE needs to happen, y’see. No matter how many times Kylie’s voice swoops up high and skips back down again, no matter how firmly she pushes herself into those demanding choruses; it begins like Tigger and ends like a route march around an aerobics class.
Which is great if you are a) Tiggerish or b) doing aerobics in the army, but not so brilliant if you’re more of a low-stamina Eeyore instead.
Download: Out now
(Fraser McAlpine)
Popjustice says: “We were slightly alarmed at the choice of ‘Better Than Today’ for the third single from ‘Aphrodite’ but we have now got used to the idea.”
Pink Is The New Blog says: “LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!”
Music Is My King-Sized Bed says: “Is ‘Better Than Today’ my favorite song off of Kylie’s ‘Aphrodite’ album? No. “
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