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Dannii Minogue
Minogue performing at G-A-Y in 2004.
Background information
Birth name	Danielle Jane Minogue
Born	October 20, 1971 (age 35)
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genre(s)	Dance-pop, dance, europop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, actress, fashion designer
Years active	1979–present
Label(s)	Mushroom (Australia, 1989–present) MCA (1990–1997) Eternal Records (1997–2001) London Records (2001–2004) All Around The World Records (2004–present)
Website	www.danniimusic.com

Dannii Minogue (born Danielle Jane Minogue on October 20, 1971) is an Australian singer, songwriter and occasional actress and fashion designer. Minogue rose to prominence in the early 1980s, as a result of her role in the Australian television talent show Young Talent Time, before she commenced her career as a pop recording artist in the early 1990s.

Minogue's debut album Love and Kisses produced a string of hit records in the United Kingdom and Australia, but her popularity as a musical artist began to decline by the release of her second album, leading her to place her recording career on hold to concentrate on television presenting. In 2001, Minogue returned to popularity as a dance artist. In the UK, she has achieved ten number one dance singles and has become the best performing artist on the UK's Upfront Club Chart.^[1]

Minogue's private life, including her relationships with actor Julian McMahon and Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve, has been much-discussed in the media. She is scheduled to return to acting in 2007, and in June 2006 released The Hits & Beyond, a greatest hits album.

1 Childhood and beginning
2 Recording and performing career
3 Television and film career
4 Personal life
5 Discography
- 5.1 Studio albums
- 5.2 Top ten singles
6 See also
7 Notes
8 External links

[edit] Childhood and beginning

Minogue as a regular performer on the weekly music program Young Talent Time.

Minogue was born in Melbourne, Australia, to an Australian father, Ron Minogue, and a Welsh-born mother, Carol Jones, who had immigrated as a child from Maesteg, Wales in 1955 to Townsville, Queensland. She is the youngest of three children; her sister Kylie Minogue is a dance-pop singer and actress, and her older brother, Brendan, is a news cameraman in Australia.

Minogue began her career as a child on Australian television, and from the age of seven, had appeared in several soap operas, including Skyways and The Sullivans. In 1979, she became a regular performer on 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", and performed live during several sold-out nationwide concert tours.^[2]^[3] In 1988, Minogue departed from Young Talent Time to continue her acting career, appearing as the rebelious teenager Emma Jackson on the popular soap opera Home and Away. Minogue remained on the programme for only a year, but proved to be popular among Australian audiences when she was nominated for a "Silver Logie" for the country's "Most Popular Actress on Australian television".

[edit] Recording and performing career

[edit] Mushroom Records: 1990–1997

Cover for Love and Kisses (1991), Minogue's gold-certified debut album.

Minogue signed a recording contract with Australian-based Mushroom Records in January 1989. Her first album, Dannii, was released the following year and reached number twenty-four on the Australian albums chart. Outside Australia, the album was released in 1991 under the title Love and Kisses, and became a top ten success. Minogue's debut hit single "Love and Kisses", which All Music Guide described as "excellent"^[4], peaked at number four on the Australian singles chart and was certified gold.^[5] It was equally successful elsewhere, and reached the top ten on the UK singles chart.

Minogue released Love and Kisses and..., a re-worked version of her debut album, in April 1992. The album, a collection of dance songs, comprised tracks and remixes from Love and Kisses. It peaked at number forty-two on the UK albums chart, and sold nearly 60,000 copies.^[5] Several remixes by producer and DJ Steve 'Silk' Hurly were successful in European dance clubs. Minogue credits these remixes for providing her with a "new image and sound to work with" on future releases.^[6]

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. It contained uptempo dance tracks and more mature vocals^[7], but despite her past chart success, failed to make the British top fifty. In 1995, Minogue released the singles "Rescue Me" and "Boogie Woogie", a collaboration with dance act Eurogroove. Released only in Japan, both songs reached number one on the Japanese singles chart. She reportedly began recording her third album in 1995, however, Minogue and her record label, Mushroom Records, parted ways in late 1995 following a contract disagreement.^[8]

[edit] Eternal Records: 1997–2001

In September of 1997, Minogue released her third album Girl, which featured collaborations with musicians such as Brian Higgins of Xenomania, and Minogue contributed the majority of the lyrics. The album presented a more sophisticated and adult style of dance music, but despite generally positive reviews it failed to make the British top fifty, although the Unleashed Tour in late 1998 sold out in Britain.^[9]^[10] Minogue's single "All I Wanna Do", which the Daily Mirror described as a "bass-bumping, shuddering return",^[11]peaked at number four on the UK singles chart and was certified gold in Australia.^[5] The album's follow-up singles, "Everything I Wanted" and "Disremembrance", failed to match the chart success of "All I Wanna Do", but were successful on the UK dance charts, reaching number one.

Mushroom Records released two budget compilation albums in December 1998 as part of the label's twenty-fifth anniversary. Released only in Australia, The Singles comprised Minogue's most popular single releases, while The Remixes contained popular remixes. 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.^[12]

In November of 2001, Minogue released the single "Who Do You Love Now?", a collaboration with Ducth dance act Riva. Described by Sound Generator as "a nice serene and dreamy vocal on the dance floor anthem"^[13], the song peaked at number three on the UK singles chart, and reached number one on the dance charts. In the United States, the song was released to success on Billboard dance charts, reaching number one on the Dance Club chart. In 2001, Minogue signed a six album deal with London Records, a subsidary of Warner Music International.^[7]

[edit] London Records: 2002–2003

Neon Nights (2003), Minogue's most successful album to date.

In March of 2003, Minogue released her fourth album Neon Nights, which the BBC called a "a pleasant cocktail of pop sophistication, club culture and accessibility".^[14] It consisted of 1980s inspired pop–dance songs and provided Minogue with some of the strongest reviews of her career. Neon Nights peaked at number eight on the UK albums chart (her highest ranking since her debut), and produced three top ten singles. The second single, "I Begin to Wonder", declared one of the "best things" on the album by Ireland's Radio Telefís Éireann, became her most successful single, peaking at number two on the UK singles chart.^[15] 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 substantial successes on the U.S. dance charts, and established Minogue's presence in the mainstream North American market.

In June 2003, Minogue hosted her own radio programme, Dannii Minogue's Neon Nights. Broadcast in Australia and the UK, Minogue played songs by up-and-coming DJs, as well as her own music.^[16] Because of low sales, London Records dropped Minogue. She signed a new contract with independent dance label All Around the World Records in 2004.^[17]

[edit] All Around the World Records: 2004–present

In October of 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",^[18] the song peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart and continued Minogue's success on the U.S. dance charts. "Perfection", another collaboration, this time with the Soul Seekerz, followed in October of 2005.

Minogue released The Hits & Beyond, a greatest hits album, in June 2006. The album comprised new songs alongside tracks from her four studio albums. It debuted at number seventeen on the UK albums chart, but was met by disappointing sales. In Australia, The Hits & Beyond became one of Minogue's lowest charting albums, peaking at number sixty-seven. The album introduced a new single "So Under Pressure", inspired by the cancer diagnoses of her sister Kylie Minogue and an un-named friend^[19], which became her tenth consecutive song to reach number one on the UK Upfront Club chart. In September 2006, Minogue's cover of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" appeared on Spirit of Christmas, a compilation CD of holiday songs available through Myer department stores across Australia.^[20]

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, released in late 2006.^[21]

[edit] Television and film career

See also: Dannii Minogue filmography

In 1992, Minogue made her feature film debut in Secrets, which co-starred Noah Taylor. The film revolves 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".^[22]

In the summer of 1994, Minogue returned to television as a presenter, co-hosting Channel 4's popular morning show The Big Breakfast in the UK. In 1996, she resumed her co-hosting duties, presenting the Egg's on Legs road show segment. That same year, Minogue briefly hosted the childrens show Disney Time and co-hosted, with Gareth Jones, the teenage Saturday morning entertainment show, It's Not Just Saturday, for sixteen weeks. The show achieved high ratings, averaging over 1.5 million viewers in the UK.^[10] In 1997, Minogue hosted Top of the Pops, a British music chart television programme, before returning to her recording career later that year.

In 1997, Minogue made her stage debut as Rizzo in Grease: The Arena Spectacular.

[edit] Personal life

Minogue (right) and sister Kylie on the cover of Esquire in July 1999.

In January 1994, Minogue married Australian actor Julian McMahon, whom she met at while working on the television series Home and Away in 1991.^[23] Minogue and McMahon were married for less than two years when the divorced in 1995. She refuses to discuss the divorce, but the media reported that McMahon had been unfaithful. Referring to the marriage, Minogue said that it was her "biggest regret and biggest downfall."^[24] In October 1995, Minogue posed nude in the Australian edition of Playboy magazine. Commenting on the reason she posed nude, Minogue said she "just had a marriage break-up. Most women go to the hairdressers - I did Playboy. I chose the photographer, the location, what I did or didn't want to wear and everything else about the pictures. I found it a really liberating, empowering experience."^[25] The edition featuring Minogue sold out in under four days and became one of the best selling editions in Australia.^[5] In October 1999, Minogue became engaged to Canadian Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve, but their relationship ended in 2001.^[26]

In 2002, the British National Party, far right and anti-immigration political party, claimed that Minogue supported their cause following comments she had made in an interview with Britain's GQ magazine. In the interview, Minogue was quoted saying that French National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen had "struck a chord with people", and that "even the street signs [in Australia] are written in Asian."^[27] Minogue responded to the British National Party's claims in Gay Times magazine saying, "I am not a racist. That is not how I live my life. I have a Jewish manager, I perform in gay clubs, I come from a multi-cultural background and I am very proud of that."^[28] Minogue made headlines again in February of 2006 when surveillance tape stills from London strip club Puss 'N Boots were published by News Of The World, a British tabloid newspaper. The stills showed her kissing and fondling a female lap dancer. A spokesman for Minogue, downplayed the event, and called it a "harmless girls' night out".^[29]

Throughout her career, Minogue has often been compared to her more commercially successful sister, Kylie Minogue. She has struggled to find respect from critics and is often portrayed as a "wannabe" by the media.^[30] Referring to the comparision, Minogue said "it is hard to be compared all the time to Kylie. On the other hand, however, people will always try to compare you to somebody. Look at Britney and Christina."^[31]

Minogue is regarded as a gay icon, and credits her gay following for her success.^[31] While part of her appeal lies in her upbeat dance music and her confident sexual posturing, she acknowledges the gay community throughout the world by performing at gay events, and by openly supporting AIDS and gay rights causes.

Minogue is an ambassador for the Terence Higgins Trust, which works to increase the awareness of AIDS. In 2004, she posed nude, wrapped only in a red ribbon, to promote World AIDS Day in Australia and the UK.^[32] Shw has been a long supporter of breast cancer research and in October of 2003, she performed in a London comedy show, titled Funny Women, which raised money for breast cancer research, as well as awareness of domestic violence.^[33]

In September of 1988, Minogue released her own fashion range entitled 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 one line.^[34] Minogue's debut line Dannii sold out across Australia in ten days, and was followed by three additional successful summer lines in 1989.^[5]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

The following list includes all Dannii Minogue albums with the exception of compilations and remix albums. For a complete album list, see Dannii Minogue discography.

1991: Love and Kisses
1993: Get into You
1997: Girl
2003: Neon Nights

[edit] Top ten singles

The following singles reached the top ten in the United Kingdom and/or Australia. Their peak positions are shown, along with the peak positions for the UK Upfront Club Chart and Ireland. For a full singles discography, see Dannii Minogue discography.

Year	Single	Peak positions
Year	Single	UK	AUS	UK Club	IRL
1991	"Love and Kisses"	8	4	-	22
1991	"Jump to the Beat"	8	48	-	5
1993	"This is It"	10	17	-	13
1997	"All I Wanna Do"	4	11	1	-
2001	"Who Do You Love Now?" (with Riva)	3	15	1	20
2002	"Put the Needle on It"	7	11	1	20
2003	"I Begin to Wonder"	2	14	1	22
2003	"Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling"	5	22	1	-
2004	"You Won't Forget About Me" (with Flower Power)	7	20	1	22