Limbo (Kylie Minogue song)

"Limbo"
Song by Kylie Minogue from the album Impossible Princess
Recorded Mayfair Studios, Sarm West Studios, London, England. 1997
Genre
Length 4:06
Label Deconstruction Records
Writer
Producer
  • Dave Ball
  • Ingo Vauk

"Limbo" is a song recorded by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue taken from her sixth studio album Impossible Princess (1997). It was written by Minogue herself alongside Dave Ball and Ingo Vauk, and production was handled by Ball and Vauk. The song was recorded at Mayfair and Sarm West Studios in London, England where Minogue had constantly collaborated with producers and songwriters in that location. Despite primary work their, Minogue had written the track in Spain.

"Limbo" is a drum and bass-influenced track that incorporates schizophrenic rock music and dance music, similar to her album track "Too Far" that was also featured on Impossible Princess. It features lyrical depictions of powerlessness and frustration that was compared to British musician Shirley Manson, and described Minogue's frustration that she could not see anyone outside a certain country due to bureaucracy laws, which was rumored to be about Sednaoui who lived in France.[1] Upon its release, "Limbo" was cited as an album highlight and was praised for its production qualities and standards.

"Limbo" was a strong contender as the lead single for the studio album, but after disagreements with several parties, Deconstruction decided against all decisions and release "Some Kind of Bliss"; the later release attracted negative criticism and was commercially unsuccessful in many countries. The track was served as a b-side to the single. Minogue has performed the track twice on two of her concert tours; Intimate and Live Tour and Fever Tour.

Background

Minogue left London-based record label PWL in 1992 after British tabloids accused the staff of PWL for creating too similar music to other artists who were signed to the label.[2] Minogue signed a three-album deal with British dance label Deconstruction Records in order to achieve further credibility in the music industry.[3][4] Minogue released her first self-titled album through Deconstruction in fall 1994 and received mixed reception from music critics.[5] Commercially, the album peaked inside the top three in Australia and sold over two million copies worldwide as of April 2007.[5][6]

Minogue begun work on her sixth studio album and had greater freedom in both songwriting and composing. Many British tabloids rumored stories that Minogue wanted to establish herself as an indie artist. However, she denied, telling Mixmag: "I have to keep telling people that this isn't an indie-guitar album. I'm not about to pick up a guitar and rock."[7] To promote the album, she released the lead single "Some Kind of Bliss", but was only chosen due to a bias decision by Deconstruction as she personally favored "Limbo".[8] The song received negative reviews from most music critics in 1997.[9][10] The song under-performed in international countries, mainly in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, where it peaked inside the top twenty and top fifty respectively.[11][12]

Composition

Musical styles and recording

"Limbo" is based on drum and bass music that is also influenced by rock music and dance music.[13][14] The song was composed and produced by Vauk and Ball.[1] The drums and percussion were played by Steve Sidelnyk, guitars played Geoff Bird and all other instruments by Ball and Vauk.[13]

"I wrote [Limbo] in Spain but it was bout the time I couldn't see the person I wanted to. It was bureaucracy, I couldn't leave the country, I felt so trapped, right in Limbo. I wrote another song about this before, from a rather polite standpoint, but I didn't feel like it was the right way to treat the subject [...] I used the demo-vocal on this because it was so impatient" .[1]

—Minogue talking about "Limbo".

Nick Levine from Digital Spy had reviewed the parent album in retrospect and said tracks like "Limbo", "Too Far" and "Drunk" are "the toughest club cuts of Kylie's career", while Levine had referenced the album as an all over "dance-pop shop."[15] While reviewing the parent album, Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine said majority off the music was "guant", but remained cohesive and fresh. He compared "Limbo" to the works of The Chemical Brothers and labelled it a "techno/rock hybrid track."[14]

The song was recorded at Sarm West Studios and Mayfair Studios in London, England and was programmed/engineered by Richard Lowe and Sunny Lizic.[13] Minogue used the vocals from the demo version instead of re-recording a fresh version because she felt it was "caught in the moment."[1] According to album director Tom Parker, who had written the key notes towards the re-release off Impossible Princess, he commented that "Limbo" was similar towards album track "Too Far" and felt that the track featured a fusion of "rocky guitars" and "club beats". When the song was featured on her Fever Tour, the song's composition was changed to a more "epic trance style."[13] Sam Upton from Select magazine had compared tracks "Limbo" and "Did it Again" to British musician Shirley Manson and her bad Garbage.[16] The music was also noted for its influences off "moody" electro-funk music which was "layered" with contemporary pop music.[17]

Lyrical depiction

The song was written by Minogue, Ball and Vauk.[13] Larry Flick from Billboard commented on the lyrical structure as "groove poems" that fuse intelligent and self-examined words "into timely music."[17] "Limbo" was written in Barcelona, Spain, which was one of the tracks written in different countries for Impossible Princess which included "Breathe" (Tokyo, Japan) and "Say Hey" (New York, United States).[18][19] "Limbo" discusses Minogue's frustration that she could not see anyone outside a certain country due to bureaucracy laws, which was rumored to be about Sednaoui who lived in France.[1]

The opening lyrics "I see them all smiling / Those all around me / They tend to my wounds and alert my senses," is how Minogue's friends aided her when she needed help emotionally, but Minogue was reluctant towards the sympathy. She said "People came up to me and said 'Oh don't worry you'll be okay', but I said 'I can't wait a couple of days!'."[1] Despite the sympathy given towards her in the background of the track, she felt it made no difference to her emotionally and physically.[1] According to Minogue, "Limbo" was originally written and composed to be a more softer "pretty" and "polite" track, but re-arranged the lyrics.[1] She also felt that the approach of the lyrics "didn't feel" write through the softer version.[1]

Cancelled single release

"Limbo" was a strong contender in being the lead single from Impossible Princess. A potential single release for January 1997 was postponed because Hadfield feared the lack of single choices Minogue had written.[20] They then re-recorded and composed more tracks to ensure that the album was more "perfect."[20] Minogue wanted "Limbo" to be the lead single.[20] She believed that the sound was powerful and "radio friendly".[20] However, Anderson believed either "Too Far" or "Jump" had "represented" the album more that her decision.[13] Both had disagreed with each others choices and left Deconstruction to decide on the single. Staff at Deconstruction felt "Some Kind of Bliss" was a better single and used "Limbo" as the b-side; Minogue commented that it "wasn't her first choice, but it was a good choice".[8]

The song received negative reviews from most music critics in 1997; one particular music critic, NME was scathing towards the album and commented "[Kylie] belt's out the lyrics like she's reading from an autocue. Any soul is lost in a slurry of bought-in brass and a ropey guitar solo that's be more at home on a Shakin' Stevens record."[9][10] The song under-performed in international countries, mainly in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, where it peaked inside the top twenty and top fifty respectively.[11][12]

Critical response

"Limbo" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Sam Upton from Select magazine was positive towards the track, stating "Limbo [...] hollering out the attitude and sass as opposed to the twee chirruping of old...", referencing her older PWL music.[16] Upton, however, gave the parent album an overall mixed review.[16] Chris True from Allmusic had highlighted the track as an album standout from Impossible Princess.[21] Larry Flick from Billboard was positive towards the entire album, and highlighted "Limbo" and "Say Hey" as the album standouts. He praised the tracks "groove poems" and felt that the tracks were "trend-hopping" and fused perfect "modern pop music."[17] Sputnikmusic called it the most "aggressive track" on the studio album, comparing it to "Too Far" and eventually labelled the song as one of the album highlights.[22]

Adrian Denning felt "Limbo" was the sentimental reason that the second half of Impossible Princess was "listenable" and said that the song was a "noisy yet industrial clatter", with him highlighting the track as an album standout.[23] Gary James from Entertainment Focus praised all her written tracks and had especially praised "Say Hey", "Too Far", "Cowboy Style" and "Limbo" for her being able to portray an "sense of claustrophobia and uncertainty."[24]

Live performances

"Limbo" was featured on two of Minogue's tours; Intimate and Live Tour and Fever Tour. Minogue first performed the track on her first tour in 1998. The song was featured on the opening act for the tour and featured Minogue singing the track on stage, wearing a black singlet shirt and three-quarter pants, with her back-up dancers dancing and moving while stuck in straitjacket. The song also incorporated new instruments, including bongo and synthesizers.[25] Like the rest off the costumes on the tour including the performance off "Limbo", it features Minogue with a lot of "princess"-inspired outfits.[26] The song was featured on the CD and DVD versions off the concert tour.[27][28] True from Allmusic had highlighted the live version as an album standout from the DVD and CD version off Intimate and Live.[29]

"Limbo" and another track "Cowboy Style" managed to feature on her 2002 Australian and European tour Fever Tour.[30] The performance featured Minogue standing on a level of staircases and has Minogue in a bright-pink sleeveless jacket with white cargo pants, which she had performed throughout the setlist off Cybertronica, which also featured the songs "Light Years" and "I Should Be So Lucky".[31] The song was featured on the DVD release off the tour.[32]

Other usage

"Say Hey" has been featured on many of Minogue's compilation albums. The songs first appearance was on her 2002 BMG greatest hits compilation album Confide in Me, a compilation consisting majority off her singles and tracks from her Deconstruction period, and Heather Phares from the publication praised the Impossible Princess tracks including "Limbo".[33] It then appeared on her 2004 compilation album Artist Collection, that consisted majority off her Impossible Princess era.[34] It's most recent appearance was on her second disc off Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie released in July 2007 by UK independent label Music Club.[35]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and the singer's official website.[13]

Song credits

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Liner notes from An Interview with Kylie Minogue. (CAT: KM002). Track 37 'Limbo'.
  2. ↑ Baker, William (7 November 2002). Kylie: La La La. London, United Kingdom: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 71. ISBN 0-340-73439-6.
  3. ↑ "track information | discography". mixKylie.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Second Coming". djmag.com. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie (Album liner notes, provided by Paul Lester). Kylie Minogue. Music Club. July 2007. MCDLX043.
  6. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Kylie Minogue". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  7. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (October 1997). 780074556 "Kylie Chameleon". Mixmag. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "::: Sweet Music ::: Music for Music Lovers - Music news :". Freewebs.com. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Smith, Sean (13 March 2014). Kylie. London, United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster Ltd. pp. 138–139. ISBN 978-147-113-5804. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Willmott, Ben. "Improbable Princess". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Steffen Hung. "Kylie Minogue - Some Kind of Bliss". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Steffen Hung. "Kylie Minogue - Some Kind of Bliss". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Impossible Princess (2xCD) (Liner notes of Special Edition). Kylie Minogue. Deconstruction Records. 2003. 82876511152.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cinquemani, Sal (19 November 2003). "Kylie Minogue: Impossible Princess". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  15. ↑ Levine, Nick (14 March 2015). "Digital Spy - Kylie Revisted: Impossible Princess #6". Digital Spy. p. 1. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Upton, Sam (22 September 1997). "Select Magazine - Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess review.". Select. p. 1.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Flick, Larry (4 April 1998). "Minogue Makes Mature Turn On deConstruction Set". Billboard 110 (14): 18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  18. ↑ An Interview with Kylie Minogue (Question 32: Breathe). Kylie Minogue. Deconstruction Records. 1997. KM002.
  19. ↑ An Interview with Kylie Minogue (Question 33: Say Hey). Kylie Minogue. Deconstruction Records. 1997. KM002.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Baker, William; Minogue, Kylie (7 November 2002). Kylie: La La La. London, United Kingdom: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 109. ISBN 0-340-73439-6.
  21. ↑ True, Chris. "Impossible Princess – Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  22. ↑ Unknown, Author (17 July 2009). "Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess (review)". Sputnikmusic. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  23. ↑ Denning, Adrian (17 July 2009). "Kylie Minogue Albums". adriandenning.couk. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  24. ↑ James, Gary (19 March 2014). "Kylie the Songwriter - Entertainment Focus". Entertainment Focus. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Limbo [Intimate and Live Tour]". Youtube. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  26. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Some Kind Of Bliss [Intimate and Live Tour]". Youtube. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  27. ↑ Intimate and Live (Live album liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Parlophone. 1998.
  28. ↑ Kylie Minogue (2002). Intimate and Live (DVD). Warner Vision.
  29. ↑ True, Chris. "Intimate and Live – Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  30. ↑ http://popdirt.com/kylie-minogue-fever-2002-live-in-manchester-review/11652/
  31. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Limbo [Fever Tour]". Youtube. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  32. ↑ Kylie Minogue (2001). Live in Sydney (DVD). Warner Vision.
  33. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Confide in Me (Album) – Kylie Minogue". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  34. ↑ Kylie Minogue: Artist Collection (CD liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Deconstruction Records. BMG. 1999. BVCM-37560.
  35. ↑ Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie (CD liner notes). Kylie Minogue. Music Club Deluxe. 2007. MCDLX043.