Success (song)

For another song called Success, see Success (The Weather Girls album).
"Success"
Single by Dannii Minogue
from the album Love and Kisses
Released September 1990 (Australia)
6 May 1991 (UK)
Format CD single, Vinyl single, Cassette single
Recorded New York City, United States
Genre Pop, dance, freestyle
Length 3:42
Label MCA, Mushroom, Savage
Writer(s) Dannii Minogue, Alvin Moody
Producer(s) Moody, Vincent Bell
Dannii Minogue Australian chronology
"Love and Kisses"
(1990)		 "Success"
(1990)		 "I Don't Wanna Take This Pain"
(1990)
Dannii Minogue European chronology
"Love and Kisses"
(1991)		 "Success"
(1991)		 "Jump to the Beat"
(1991)
Alternative covers
Australian artwork

"Success" (also known as "$ucce$$") is a dance-pop song performed by Australian singer Dannii Minogue. The song was written by Minogue and Alvin Moody, and produced by Moody and Vincent Bell for Minogue's debut album Love and Kisses (1991). It was released as Minogue's second single in September 1990 in Australia. It was remixed and released on 6 May 1991 in the United Kingdom. The song's lyrics discuss the highs and lows of being a celebrity.[1] It entered the top forty in Australia, Ireland and the UK.

Background and reception

Six months after signing a recording contract with Mushroom Records in Australia, Minogue traveled to New York City to begin recording songs for her debut album.[2] While in the United States, she worked with record producers Alvin Moody and Vincent Bell. The recording studio, located in Brooklyn, had been the site of several shooting. This made it difficult for Minogue to get to it because taxicab drivers would not drive her there.[3] Minogue found the recording experience in New York City both "awesome" and "terrifying".[3] "Success" was the first song Minogue co-wrote and its lyrics discuss the highs and lows of being a celebrity.[1]

In a review for Allmusic, John Lucas called the song "rather dated" and wrote "its aspirational lyrics became something of an albatross for Minogue given her struggle to achieve the career momentum of her sister".[1][4]

Dannii performed this song when she was invited to perform on The Royal Variety Show in front of the Queen.

Music video

The music video for "Success" was directed by Paul Goldman and Craig Griffin and filmed in Australia.[3][5] The video features Minogue dancing and having her makeup done. It begins with Minogue dancing in a studio with four male dancers. She is then shown dancing by herself in front of a red background. Scenes of Minogue having her makeup applied, a young boy dressed as a boxer and her dancers practicing are intercut throughout.

Minogue wanted the video to incorporate visual ideas from the Australian nightclub scene. While conducting research for the video, she saw "these brilliant kids dancing" and asked them to be a part of the video.[3] The video was released commercially on The Videos in 1996 and The Hits & Beyond special edition companion DVD in 2006.

Chart performance

"Success" was officially released in Australia in September 1990. The song debuted on the singles chart at number thirty-six on 23 September 1990.[6] It reached number twenty-eight four weeks later and remained on the singles chart for seven weeks.[6]

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, "Success" was released on 6 May 1991. It debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number twenty-one. Two weeks later, the song reached its peak position at number eleven,and it was still number eleven the following two weeks.[7] In Ireland, the track reached number fifteen.[8]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Success".

Australian Cassingle
(C10187; Released in September 1990)

  1. "Success"
  2. "Success" (Instrumental)

Australian Maxi-Cassingle
(C14882; Released in September 1990)

  1. "Success" (Filthy Lucre mix)
  2. "Success" (Rich'n'Real mix)
  3. "Success" (Expensive mix)
  4. "Success" (Instrumental)

Australian CD single
(D10187; Released in September 1990)

  1. "Success"
  2. "Success" (Instrumental)
  3. "Success" (Filthy Lucre mix)
  4. "Success" (Rich'n'Real mix)
  5. "Success" (Expensive mix)

Australian 7" vinyl single
(K10187; Released in September 1990)

  1. "Success"
  2. "Success" (Instrumental)

Australian 12" vinyl single
(X14882; Released in September 1990)

  1. "Success" (Filthy Lucre mix)
  2. "Success" (Rich'n'Real mix)
  3. "Success" (Instrumental)

UK CD single
(MCSTD1538; Released on 6 May 1991)

  1. "Success"
  2. "Success" (12" version)
  3. "Success" (Funky Tony dub)

Charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[6] 28
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[8] 15
UK Singles Chart[9] 11

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Success":

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lucas, Josh. "Love and Kisses - Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  2. ↑ Valent, Dani. "The Real Dannii". The Age (Melbourne) Magazine. Issue #24. 6 October 2006.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Hits & Beyond (CD Liner Notes). All Around the World. June 2006.
  4. ↑ Lucas, Josh. "The Hits & Beyond > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  5. ↑ "Dannographii: Success". DanniiMusic.com. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Discography Dannii Minogue". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  7. ↑ "Chronology". DanniiMusic.com. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Search Charts". IrishCharts.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  9. ↑ "UK Top 40 Hit Database". everyHit.com. Retrieved 15 April 2008.

External links