Better the Devil You Know

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"Better the Devil You Know"

Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Rhythm of Love
Released	April 1990: Worldwide April 1998: Australia Re-release
Format	CD single: Worldwide Vinyl single: United Kingdom Cassette single: Australia & U.S.
Recorded	London, England
Genre	Pop-dance
Length	3:54
Label	PWL/Mushroom
Writer(s)	Mike Stock Matt Aitken Pete Waterman
Producer(s)	Stock, Aitken & Waterman
Chart positions
#2 (South Africa & UK) #4 (Australia) #13 (France)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Tears On My Pillow" (1990)	"Better the Devil You Know" (1990)	"Step Back in Time" (1990)

"Better the Devil You Know" is a dance-pop song written by Stock, Aitken & Waterman for pop singer Kylie Minogue's third album, Rhythm of Love. It was released as the album's first single in April 1990 (see 1990 in music), and its music video helped Minogue break out of her early "girl-next-door" image. Minogue travelled back to Australia to film it so that Pete Waterman would not be able to censor its sexualized content. It featured Minogue in very mild sexually suggestive scenes with a black man, who played the role of her lover. It caused some controversy as it presented Minogue in a much more mature image than videos from earlier years, for example "I Should Be So Lucky" (1987), that portrayed her as more innocent.

A scene from the music video

Although it is a departure from her earlier videos, focusing on her new image rather than a plot, it is still a favorite with her fans, who often label the song itself as "BTDYK". It is also often referred to as "Kylie’s anthem". Some years later, just before Nick Cave released a duet with Minogue, he said "Better the Devil You Know" had "the saddest song lyrics" he ever heard. The song was covered by the pop group Steps in 1999 (see 1999 in music) and by Atomic Kitten in early 2000.

Backing vocals for the song were provided by Minogue, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock and Miriam Stockley. The song is played at midnight every Saturday night at the "G.A.Y." club in London's Astoria. Its also an all-time favourite with the gay community across the world.

[edit] Chart performance

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	4
European Singles Chart	6
UK Top 40	2
Belgium Singles Chart	3
Netherlands Top 40	22
Finnish Singles Chart	5
German Singles Chart	24
Irish Single Chart	4
Israel Singles Chart	1
South African Singles Chart	2
French Singles Chart	13
Swiss Singles Chart	21
Spanish Singles Chart	11