Minogue began her career as a child on Australian television. From the age of seven, she appeared in several soap operas, including Skyways and The Sullivans. In 1982, she joined the successful weekly music programme Young Talent Time. Minogue recorded her first solo recordings for the programme, including a cover version of Madonna's hit single "Material Girl"; during this time, she also performed live at several sold-out nationwide concert tours. In 1988, Minogue departed from Young Talent Time to continue her acting career, appearing as the rebellious tomboyish teenager Emma Jackson on the soap opera Home and Away in 1989. Minogue remained on the programme for only a year. She proved to be popular among Australian audiences when she was nominated for a Silver Logie as the Most Popular Actress on Australian television.
In September 1988, Minogue released her own fashion range, Dannii. She became interested in fashion design while appearing on Young Talent Time. Minogue had designed the clothing she had worn on the show, and the positive response from the audience resulted in her releasing her own line. Minogue's debut line Dannii sold out across Australia in ten days and was followed by three additional summer lines in 1989.
Minogue signed a recording contract with Australian-based Mushroom Records in January 1989. Her first album, 'Dannii', was released the following year and reached #24 on the Australian albums chart. Outside Australia, the album was released in 1991, under the title 'Love and Kisses', and became a top 10 hit. Minogue's debut single "Love and Kisses" peaked at #4 on the Australian singles chart and was certified gold. In the UK, the song reached the top 10 on the singles chart. In August 1991 she embarked on an extensive promotional tour of Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taipei and the Philippines.
Minogue released 'Love and Kisses and...', a re-issue of her debut album, in November 1991. The album, a collection of dance songs, comprised tracks and remixes from 'Love and Kisses'. It peaked at #42 on the UK albums chart and sold nearly 60,000 copies in its own right. Several remixes by producer and DJ Steve "Silk" Hurley were successful in European dance clubs. She credits these remixes for providing her with a "new image and sound to work with" on future releases. Also, that year, Minogue made her feature film debut in Secrets, which co-starred Noah Taylor. The film revolved around five Australian teenagers who become stuck in the basement of a hotel in an attempt to see The Beatles. The film was not well received by audiences or critics, with Minogue's performance being described as "not all that convincing".
Minogue released her second album 'Get Into You', which included the songs "Show You the Way to Go", "This Is It" and "This Is the Way", in October 1993. The album contained uptempo dance tracks and mature poser, but despite her past chart success, failed to make the British top fifty. In mid-1994, Minogue returned to television as a presenter, co-hosting Channel 4's morning show The Big Breakfast in the UK. In 1995, Minogue released the singles "Rescue Me" and "Boogie Woogie", a collaboration with dance act Eurogroove. Released only in Japan, both songs reached #1 on the Japanese singles chart. She began recording her third album in 1995; however, Minogue and her record label, Mushroom Records, parted ways in late 1995 following a contract disagreement. The tracks recorded in 1994/1995 for Minogue's then planned 3rd album were unheard for many years, they were finally released in 2009 via Cargo Records on the compilation album 'The 1995 Sessions'.
In 1996, Minogue resumed her co-hosting duties, presenting the Eggs on Legs road show segment. That same year, Minogue briefly hosted the children's show Disney Time and co-hosted, with Gareth Jones, the teenage Saturday morning entertainment show It's Not Just Saturday for 16. In 1997, Minogue hosted Top of the Pops, a British music chart television programme, before returning to her recording career later that year. In April 1997, Minogue made her stage debut as Rizzo in the musical Grease: The Arena Spectacular. In Australia, the show sold over 450,000 tickets during its first season. The following year, Minogue resumed her role as Rizzo, performing in New Zealand. At the 1998 MO Awards, Minogue was nominated for "Best Female Musical Theater Performer" for her role.
Following the release of several remixes of her songs by Steve "Silk" Hurley, Minogue became interested in dance music. She commented that the remixes were "the first thing I did that was really cool and my love of dance music and clubbing started from there." Minogue's interest in dance music and clubbing influenced her third album, 'Girl', released in September 1997, which featured collaborations with musicians such as Brian Higgins of Xenomania. The album presented a more sophisticated and adult style of dance music, but despite generally positive reviews, failed to make the British top 50. The lead single "All I Wanna Do", which the Daily Mirror described as a "bass-bumping, shuddering return", was a success peaking at #4 on the UK singles chart. In her native Australia, the single also proved to be a success peaking at #11 and was certified gold. The album's second single "Everything I Wanted" made the top 20 in the UK and the top 50 in Australia, while the third single "Disremembrance" narrowly missed the top 20 in the UK, peaking at #21. All three singles released from 'Girl' reached #1 on the UK dance chart.
In June 1998, Minogue began The Unleashed Tour, a 22-date UK tour. Mushroom Records released two budget compilation albums in December 1998, as part of the label's 25th anniversary. Released only in Australia, 'The Singles' comprised all Minogue's single releases, while 'The Remixes' contained popular remixes. These releases were promoted with the song "Coconut" which was previously only available as a hidden track on CD versions of the 'Girl' album. In January 1999, following her performance at the 1998 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Minogue released the festival's first official theme song, "Everlasting Night". It appeared on the compilation CD 'Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras of 1999', and its music video, co-directed by Minogue, was a tribute to Australia's gay and lesbian community.
In November 2001, Minogue released the single, "Who Do You Love Now?", a collaboration with Riva. Described by Sound Generator as a "nice serene and dreamy vocal on the dance floor anthem", the song peaked at #3 on the UK singles chart, and reached #1 on the dance charts. In Australia, the song peaked at #15, while in the United States the song was released to dance clubs and reached #12 on the United States' Billboard Dance Club chart. In 2001, Minogue signed a six-album deal with London Records, a subsidiary of Warner Music International.
In March 2003, Minogue released her fourth album, 'Neon Nights', which the BBC called "a pleasant cocktail of pop sophistication, club culture and accessibility". It consisted of 1980s inspired dance-pop songs and provided Minogue with some of the strongest reviews of her career. Neon Nights peaked at #8 on the UK albums chart (her highest ranking since her debut) and produced four top 10 singles. "Who Do You Love Now?" was not officially released as the first single, however it was included on the album. The official lead single was "Put the Needle on It", a 1980s inspired dance-pop song which proved to be a top 10n hit in the UK, peaking at #7. It enjoyed top 20 success in multiple countries including Australia, where it peaked at #11 and was certified gold.
The second single, "I Begin to Wonder", was declared one of the "best things" on the album by Ireland's Radio Telefís Éireann and became her highest charting single in the UK, peaking at #2. In Australia, the single garnered Minogue another top 20 hit, peaking at #14 and was also certified gold. Third single "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling" was equally successful as its predecessors, peaking at #5 in the UK, while in Australia the single just missed the top 20, charting at #22. The album's success was equally widespread, and following extensive airplay by North American dance radio, Warner Music Group released it in the United States in late 2003. Singles "I Begin to Wonder" and "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling" were also substantial successes on the US dance charts.
In June 2004, Afterlife released the album 'Speck of Gold,' which featured Dannii on the single "Take Me Inside." The album was released in Australia in 2008, featured two different versions of the song, both featuring Danni. In October 2004, Minogue released the single "You Won't Forget About Me", a collaboration with the dance act Flower Power. Described by MSN Entertainment as a "real grower" and noted for its "snip snapping house beats and '80s flecked synths", the song peaked at #7 on the UK singles chart and also made the top 20 in Australia. "Perfection", a collaboration with the Soul Seekerz, followed in October 2005 where it reached the top twenty in both the UK and Australia.
Minogue released 'The Hits & Beyond', a greatest hits album, in June 2006. The album consisted of new songs alongside singles from her four studio albums. It debuted at #17 on the UK albums chart. In Australia, 'The Hits & Beyond' became one of Minogue's lowest charting albums, peaking at #67. The album introduced a new single, "So Under Pressure", inspired by the cancer diagnoses of her sister Kylie as well as that of an unnamed friend. On 11 December Minogue performed "Kids" with her sister Kylie during Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour in Melbourne and "Celebration" on 31 December in London at Wembley Arena. The single made the top 20 in Australia and the UK and also became her 10th consecutive song to reach the #1 spot on the UK Upfront Club chart. Minogue has described the recording of "So Under Pressure" as a "real achievement" as she was "brave enough to put all her feelings into words". In September 2006, Minogue's cover of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" appeared on Spirit of Christmas, a compilation album of holiday songs available through the Myer department store chain across Australia.
In November 2006, Minogue performed Sister Sledge's 1979 song "He's the Greatest Dancer" on BBC One's Children in Need telethon. A studio version of the song, remixed by Fugitive, appeared on the dance compilation Clubland 10, which was released in November 2006. The following month, "He's the Greatest Dancer" was released to UK dance clubs and reached #1 on the Upfront Club chart. It also charted in the top 40 on the Australian singles chart.
October onwards saw a total of five releases from Minogue; first, on 29 October, reissues of her 1997 and 2003 albums 'Girl' and 'Neon Nights', each containing a double-disc, the second disc of which includes remixes. On 5 November, she released 'Unleashed', a collection of previously unheard material from her time with London Records, and The Video Collection, which includes every one of her music videos as well as bonus features. Digital album Club Disco was released on the same date, featuring several previously released singles, such as "You Won't Forget About Me", "Perfection" and "So Under Pressure", cancelled single "I Can't Sleep at Night" and covers of "Xanadu" and the disco classic "He's the Greatest Dancer". Finally, on 3 December, a new single was released, entitled "Touch Me Like That" which peaked at #1 on the UK Dance Chart.
In early 2008, Minogue was hired as the headline performer at Australian Fashion Week. In particular she was booked to make an appearance as the opening party hosted by MAC Cosmetics. She also released 'Club Disco 'as a double album in Australia with some changes to the tracklisting. At the start of 2009, a digital compilation album, 'The Early Years', was released online that featured songs from Minogue's first two studio albums.
On 7 December 2009, Minogue released 'The 1995 Sessions', an album full of previously unreleased recordings made for what would have been her then third studio album, which never materialized due to differences with her then label. On the same date, Dannii re-released remastered editions of her first two albums with MCA Records, her debut 'Love & Kisses' and the follow-up 'Get Into You'. In total Minogue's music has achieved more than 200 weeks on the UK Sales Chart and she has sold more than seven-million records worldwide. On 23 June 2010, ITV2 announced Dannii Minogue: Style Queen, a three-part documentary about Minogue's fashion line "Project D", The X Factor, motherhood, her partner Kris Smith, and her return to music as well as writing her autobiography – My Story, which was produced by Steve Vizard and broadcast in Australia on Foxtel.
In January 2012, Minogue appeared in the ITV documentary The Talent Show Story where she talked about her time on The X Factor UK and working on talent shows. Other talent show judges interviewed included Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos, Amanda Holden, Piers Morgan, Carrie Grant, and Simon Cowell, as well as The X Factor host Dermot O'Leary, and Britain's Got Talent hosts Ant & Dec. In February 2012, Minogue officially opened Madame Tussauds Sydney, unveiling a waxwork of herself at the launch.
In September 2013, Minogue teamed up with Ronan Keating to record a duet of the Christmas classic "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" for department store chain Myer's 'The Spirit of Christmas 2013' compilation. In late 2014, Minogue recorded a cover version of "That's How You Know" for the Australian 'We Love Disney' album.
In February 2015, Minogue announced that, after a long hiatus, she planned to make her musical comeback at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Minogue also revealed she had been working on new music. Following the announcement, Minogue, British rapper Reece Robertson and the official Sydney Mardi Gras profiles launched a mysterious online campaign on social media featuring the #pressplay hashtag. At the end of February, Sydney Mardi Gras shared a YouTube link to a video called #pressplay featuring the extended mix of "Summer of Love". On 2 March, the extended mix of "Summer of Love" was made available to pre-order on iTunes.
SINGLES
Love and Kisses
| 11 MAR '90 | #4 |
Success
| 16 SEP '90 | #28 |
I Don't Wanna Take This Pain
| 23 DEC '90 | #92 |
Jump to the Beat
| 13 OCT '91 | #48 |
Baby Love |
| #26 |
This is It
| 22 AUG '93 | #13 |
This is the Way
| 21 NOV '93 | #45 |
Get Into You
| 3 JUL '94 | #79 |
All I Wanna Do
| 7 SEP '97 | #11 |
Everything I Wanted
| 30 NOV '97 | #44 |
Disremembrance
| 27 APR '98 | #53 |
Coconut
| 22 NOV '98 | #62 |
Everlasting Night
| 25 JAN '99 | #42 |
Everlasting Night
| 25 JAN '99 | #42 |
Put the Needle on It
| 2 DEC '02 | #11 |
I Begin to Wonder
| 31 MAR '03 | #14 |
Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling
| 21 JUL '03 | #22 |
You Won't Forget About Me
|
Dannii Minogue vs. Flower Power
| 29 NOV '04 | #20 |
Perfection
|
Dannii Minogue & Soul Seekerz
| 6 FEB '06 | #13 |
So Under Pressure
| 7 AUG '06 | #16 |
He's the Greatest Dancer
| 23 APR '07 | #37 |
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dannii_Minogue
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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