Pop Extravaganza One

A while ago when people asked what I liked to listen to I used to say "whatever pleases me". I'm still on for that but there's an uncertainty on it that kinds of freaks me. See, as a college kid I'm pro of the specific; a person that knows little about all, knows nothing at all. So nowadays, after dealing with my own prejudices about the term, when a person asks me what kind of music do I like I say "pop".

But if you are one of those who think that Pop means Britney Spears and/or Christina Aguilera... poor you. I'm talking about maturity and art here. Pop Art. Coming from a branch that fully flourished during the late 80's and 90's, after the advent called Madonna, Kylie Minogue showed throughout the years that despite her obvious inspiration on the Queen of Pop she is much more than an industry spin off. Of course that every princess has a queen to shadow her, but Kylie has more light than most people like to ignore.

In 2005 she had to cancel her greatest hits tour, The Showgirl Tour, due to breast cancer; but in 2006 she came back in full throttle with The Showgirl Homecoming, a reworked version of the former. In it Kylie and her partners went beyond the term of campy. Pop music is what can be considered the most kitsch of the styles; since it's a marketing thing [what sells is done] it can suck from all kinds of styles and say nothing at all; that gives credit for the people to diss it, but it's Pop music that provides this mixture of rhythms and textures. One woman is pioneer in transforming this salad in art, but few others after her were able to keep it on the same level; among them Kylie Minogue. With the Homecoming she gave a touch of delightful fashion glamour to the everyday kitsch of Pop Music.

She opens the show with a classic-esque overture resembling the Hollywood Golden Era musicals. And it's not there that the pop culture references stop. She reworked her Folies Bergère inspiration with a gorgeous pink feather outfit; Minogue looks classy and luminous with costumes that not often works for everyone. She's able to wear an over the top wardrobe like Homecoming's leopard catsuit and still look gorgoeus. On the show's second set, the Everything Taboo, she's wearing a sexy 70's-ish mini-dress and a crazy wig that you can't help thinking of Edie Sedgwick in her Wharhol days and all the wildness and effervescent culture of that period. She also performs the classic pop/disco-anthem Vogue's rap not only paying homage to its author but to all those stars that are inspiration sources for the style.

We also see a brilliant sequence of choreography in Confide In Me and Cowboy Style where Minogue proves that obstacles in life are only to make you stronger. She floats on stage times lightly times abruptly but either way she's the perfect combo of body and voice, singing perfectly while doing intricate moves. In Too Far she gives perfect vocal performance attesting that one may not have the best voice in the business, but one can work to do graces with it.

Kylie Minogue is Pop Art with sheer delight. Her "Cher hits the space" and the "dashboard pants" outfits are glamourous and fun fashion statements raising the bar of the forementioned kitsch, making it watchable and commendable due to the historical and cultural references. You might not find social and religious poetry in her work, but depth you sure will.

[Song: I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue]