Confide in Me

For other uses, see Confide in Me (disambiguation).
"Confide in Me"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Kylie Minogue
B-side
  • "Nothing Can Stop Us"
  • "If You Don't Love Me"
Released 29 August 1994
Format
Recorded London, England
Genre Trip hop, dance-pop
Length 5:51
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Brothers in Rhythm
Certification Platinum (Australia)[1]
Silver (UK)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Celebration"
(1992)		 "Confide in Me"
(1994)		 "Put Yourself in My Place"
(1994)
Music video
"Confide In Me" on YouTube

"Confide in Me" is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her fifth studio album Kylie Minogue. It was released on 29 August 1994, one month before the release of the album. The song was written by Steve Anderson,[2] Dave Seaman and Owain Barton, while production and composing was handled by Brothers in Rhythm. The song was recorded in Chelsea, London in 1993 while being newly signed to British record label Deconstruction Records. Originally, the production of the song was made as a demo recording but was ultimately used as the final piece. Musically, the song is a multi-styled song that includes musical genres of pop music, techno and eastern music. Minogue has performed the song on a number of her world tours including On a Night Like This,[3] KylieFever2002,[4] and The Aphrodite World Tour.[5]

The song was acclaimed by many music critics where some critics labelled it as one of Minogue's best singles to date, and praised it for its commercial release. Commercially, the song was successful, peaking in the top twenty in Australia, Finland, France, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The song was also released in the United States, where it managed to chart on the US Hot Dance Club Songs. An accompanying music video was released as well, where it featured Minogue in six different costumes, and Kylie persuading her audience to confide in her.

The music video received positive reviews, and was very successful commercial wise. At the ARIA Music Awards, "Confide in Me" won three awards at the ceremony, where it won Best Selling Australian Single, Best Selling Australian Dance Single and eventually Best Video. The song also placed seventh for Best Single and third for Best Video at the 1994 Smash Hits Awards. Several cover versions of the single have also been commercially released, by artists such as Hurts, Nerina Pallot and UK rapper Example sampled the song on his song "No Sleep for the Wicked".

Background and composition

In 1993, Kylie Minogue had signed a record deal with British record label Deconstruction Records after finishing her deal with PWL. With her signing to the label, they gave her more creative control despite having only written one song on the following album, Kylie Minogue. "Confide in Me" was chosen as the lead single from Minogue's studio album Kylie Minogue (1994). The song was written by Steve Anderson, Dave Seaman and Owain Barton, while production and composing was handled by Brothers in Rhythm. According to Kylie by Sean Smith, Minogue had recorded "Confide in Me" at her Chelsea, London home in 1994. The recording was a demo tape that producers Brothers in Rhythm had been developed just developed under an hour. Surprisingly, Steve Anderson asserted that the demo would be the final version.[6] Anderson said "Obviously, there were embellishments to it and we spent a lot of time on the whole production, but it was still the original one that we were using."[6]

"'Confide in Me'" without a shadow of a doubt is the best Kylie track we were involved with. It's the thing I am most proud of professionally - the whole process from start to finish. It's the track that really sort of took her to the next level."

-Producers Brothers in Rhythm commenting about the song's production.[6]
“
”

"Confide in Me" is known for its multi-genre style. The song is built inside pop music, but generates different elements of music. Nick Levine from Digital Spy described the song as a "sumptuous, string-swathed dance-pop epic" with acknowledgement of Middle Eastern pop music.[7] According to William Baker, one of Minogue's close friends, said that he could hear influences of techno music.[8] PopMatters had compared the song to previous work by Icelandic singer and songwriter Björk.[9]

The message in the lyrics is that it is she who manipulates the situation by saying "I can keep a secret/and throw away the key". The songs lyrics also represents the respect as the 'power remains hers'.[8] It later explains that, in the bridge part where she sings "Stick or twist/The choice is yours", she teasers her lover that they hold the key to power.[8] According to William Baker, he says that the song "symbolizes internal power struggle that rages beneath her [Kylie's] surface" as he continues "she is both puppet and puppet master".[8]

B-sides

Two songs were released as B-sides to the commercial single release of "Confide in Me". "Nothing Can Stop Us", written by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs and produced by Saint Etienne, was considered as Minogue's Deconstruction single debut, but was withdrawn. Promotional copies of song were released to the media and featured the 7" remix of the song released on the "Confide in Me" single. The original version of "Nothing Can Stop Us" was not released until the Kylie Collection "Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie" on the second CD.

"If You Don't Love Me", a cover of the Prefab Sprout song, was written by Paddy MacAloon and produced by Steve Anderson. In 2000, the song was included on the budget compilation Hits+. This song has been added to the setlist of Kylie's Aphrodite World Tour.[10]

Included on the Australian edition of the CD single were remixes of the album cut "Where Has the Love Gone; The Fire Island mix", which also served as the album version and the Roach Motel Remix. Upon release, Hits + included a further mix of the track, the Roach Motel Remix, which whilst very similar, is a different mix of the track. Rumored, but until now unreleased, mixes include a Fire Island extended version, which is supposedly included on a cassette promo of the album, Fire Island and Roach Motel Radio Edits and a Roach Motel Dub.

Reception

Critical response

"Confide in Me" received very positive reviews from many music critics, who deemed the song as one of Minogue's best singles to date of her career. According to many critics writing for Allmusic, "Confide in Me" has been highlighted as an album standout on many of Minogue's compilations and albums, including Kylie Minogue, Hits+, Confide in Me, Kylie Minogue: Artist Collection and Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie.[11]

Chris True from Allmusic had reviewed the album, and said that "Confide in Me" "is not the teen pop queen of old."[12] MacKenzie Wilson reviewed Hits+ and called along with "Did It Again"; "standouts".[13] Nick Levine from Digital Spy gave it a positive review saying "How can we plump for anything other than 'Confide In Me'? Fifteen years on, this sumptuous, string-swathed dance-pop epic still caresses the ears like a flirty hair stylist."[14]

Chart performance

In Minogue's native Australia, the song debuted at number thirty-one. The following week, the song dramatically rose to number one, and stayed there for four consecutive weeks, and stayed in the charts for nineteen weeks overall. To date, "Confide in Me" remains Minogue's longest single in the Australian Singles Chart, and was her first number one single since 1988 single "Got to Be Certain". It also was the only single from her Deconstruction era to peak inside the top ten.[15] In New Zealand, the song debuted and peaked at number twelve, staying there for nine weeks in total. "Confide in Me" along with "Some Kind of Bliss" were her only Deconstruction singles to chart there.

In the European market, it was successful. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart. However, the song descended the whole way through the chart, only to stay in the top ten for three weeks. It stayed in the charts for a total off nine weeks. Eventually, the single was certified silver in the UK for shipments of at least 200,000 copies [16] and sold 183,000 copies.[17]

In Sweden, the song debuted at number forty and rose to number thirty-seven, but fell the next week. The song re-entered at number thirty, where it eventually peaked. It stayed in the charts for five weeks. In the Netherlands, the song debuted at number forty-five, and eventually peaked at number thirty-eight, staying in the charts for four weeks. The song experienced a sole week on the French Singles Chart at number forty-five, but then re-entered at number nineteen, and after rising and descending, the song eventually peaked at number ten, and stayed in the charts for eighteen weeks in total. The song debuted at number thirty on the Swiss Music Charts, and rose to number twenty, and stayed in the charts for eight weeks in total.[18]

Although the song failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song did manage to have modest success on the US Hot Dance Club Songs, peaking at number thirty-nine.

Music video

"Confide in Me" featured a colourful music video that was directed by Paul Boyd and filmed in Los Angeles in July 1994. The video features Minogue talking on the phone, urging people to call and confide in her. There are six sequences; all of which feature Minogue in front of different backgrounds exploring and playing on a variety of social evil such as sex, obesity, drug use and war as well as murder and inequality whilst Minogue playfully dances for the camera,. The number "1-555-Confide" is featured at the bottom of the screen during select sequences. As the video concludes, all of the scenes are intercut and gradually fade. Minogue wears six costumes during the course of the video, with each one being accompanied by different hairstyles and makeup. The video is seen as a turning point in Minogues inlustrious videography which marks a credible move away from her bubblegum roots demonstatred in her earlier PWL videos.

Introduced by Davina McCall, the music video received its world premiere on MTV on 6 August 1994, prior to the single's commercial release. The video was a hit, charting at number one on Dial MTV and at number sixteen on MTV Europe's top twenty countdown. The video was released commercially on the Ultimate Kylie companion DVD, released in December 2004.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Confide in Me".[19]

UK CD Single 1
  1. "Confide in Me" (Master mix) – 5:51
  2. "Confide in Me" (Big Brothers mix) – 10:27
  3. "Confide in Me" (The Truth mix) – 6:46
UK CD Single 2
  1. "Confide in Me" (Master Mix) – 5:51
  2. "Nothing Can Stop Us" – 4:04
  3. "If You Don't Love Me" – 2:08
Cassette single
  1. "Confide in Me" (Radio Edit) – 4:27
  2. "Confide in Me" (The Truth Mix) – 6:46
Australian CD single
  1. "Confide in Me" (Master mix) – 5:51
  2. "Nothing Can Stop Us" (7" version) – 4:06
  3. "If You Don't Love Me" – 2:08
Australian Limited Edition CD single
  1. "Confide in Me" (Master mix) – 5:51
  2. "Confide in Me" (Big Brothers mix) – 10:27
  3. "Confide in Me" (The Truth mix) – 6:46
  4. "Where Has the Love Gone?" (Fire Island mix/album version) – 7:46
  5. "Where Has the Love Gone?" (Roach Motel mix) – 8:05
Official remixes[20]
  1. "Confide in Me" (French version) – 5:51
  2. "Confide in Me" (In The Confessional dub) – 6:38
  3. "Confide in Me" (Damien's Confession mix) – 7:21
  4. "Confide in Me" (Bass Change mix/Phillip Damien mix) – 6:25
  5. "Confide in Me" (Bass Change dub/Convibe in Me dub) – 8:04
  6. "Confide in Me" (Justin Warfield mix) – 5:26
  7. "Confide in Me" (Tomer G Club Mix)
  8. "Confide in Me" (Tomer G Radio Mix)
  9. "Confide in Me" (Optimus Club Mix)
  10. "Confide in Me" (Optimus Dub)
  11. "Confide in Me" (Radio Edit)

Live performances

Minogue performed the song on the following concert tours:

Charts

Chart (1994) Peak
Position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[21] 1
Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)[21] 20
Dutch Singles Chart[22] 38
European Hot 100 Singles 9
Finnish Singles Chart 1
French Singles Chart[22] 10
German Single Chart[23] 50
Irish Singles Chart 12
Japan Singles Chart 5
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[22] 12
South African Singles Chart 1
Swedish Singles Chart[22] 10
Swiss Singles Chart[24] 20
UK Singles Chart[24] 2
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 39

End of year charts

Year Chart Position
1994 Australian Singles Chart[25] 22
UK Singles Chart 56
1995 French Singles Chart (SNEP)[26] 75

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[27] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

Example's "No Sleep For The Wicked" from the 2007 album What We Made samples the track heavily.

The song features in the stage musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – the Musical.

References

  1. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Forum - Accreditation awards (General: Awards)". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  2. ↑ "Steve Anderson Biography". Universal Music Publishing Group UK. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  3. ↑ "Kylie – On A Night Like This Tour". Steve Anderson Productions. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  4. ↑ "Kylie – Fever Tour". Steve Anderson Productions. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  5. ↑ "Kylie – Aphrodite Les Folies". Steve Anderson Productions. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Kylie by Sean Smith. Pg. 112.
  7. ↑ Levine,Nick (29 May 2010). "Kylie: Revisited #5: 'Kylie Minogue'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Inner lines: Pg 75 – la la la – Written by William Baker and Kylie Minogue ISBN 0-340-73440-X
  9. ↑ http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/minoguekylie-ultimate
  10. ↑ "Kylie Minogue Launches World Tour".
  11. ↑ All highlighted are under Minogue's compilations and albums
  12. ↑ Kylie Minogue - Kylie Minogue
  13. ↑ Hits+ - Kylie Minogue review Allmusic.com
  14. ↑ Digital Spy Kylie Minogue review www.digitalspy.co.uk.
  15. ↑ http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kylie+Minogue&titel=Confide+In+Me&cat=s
  16. ↑ "The Minography – Charts". LiMBO Kylie Minogue Online (kylie.co.uk). Retrieved 8 October 2006.
  17. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kylie-minogues-official-number-2-singles-sales-revealed-2839/
  18. ↑ Applicable for the rest off the charts
  19. ↑ "Discography 1994–1998". MixKylie.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2006.
  20. ↑ "The Minography – Mixes". LiMBO Kylie Minogue Online (kylie.co.uk). Retrieved 8 October 2006.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "KYLIE MINOGUE - CONFIDE IN ME". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "KYLIE MINOGUE - CONFIDE IN ME". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  23. ↑ "German Chart Information". Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Kylie Minogue - Confide In Me". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1994". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  26. ↑ "Classement Singles - année 1995". Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  27. ↑ NO certyear WAS PROVIDED for AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATION.
  28. ↑ "British single certifications – Kylie Minogue – Confide in Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Enter Confide in Me in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  29. ↑ "Hurts Covers Kylie Minogue’s "Confide In Me," Continues To Be Perfect". MuuMuse. Retrieved 2014-04-30.

External links