KYLIE THE SMILEY SHOWGIRL RETURNS By David Smyth, Evening Standard 03.01.07
Like the rest of us, it was back to work after a huge New Year's Eve party for Kylie. In this case, however, the singer started 2007 as she meant to go on: smothered in pink feathers and surrounded by multiple gyrating beefcakes. Beginning her year with seven spectacular shows in London, where she is adored more than almost anywhere, was a suitably extravagant way to celebrate her recovery from the breast cancer that has marred the past 18 months. Kylie's fans were overjoyed to have her back in fabulous form, chanting her name with such passion that at one point her only choice was to abandon a song introduction and silently soak up the adoration. This "homecoming", as the glittery backdrop put it, was a resurrection of 2005's abandoned Showgirl tour, tweaked to incorporate a few new tracks and setpieces but largely similar. Kylie's loyal gay fanbase will not have complained about the return of the all-male locker room scene, a sweaty riot of almost-nude press- ups and groin thrusting, presided over by our heroine in a leopard- skin catsuit and boxing gloves. Throughout, the eye candy was overpowering. Bursting from the multi- tiered birthday cake that was the arena stage, her height doubled by a fountain of flamingo feathers, Kylie was initially dressed so elaborately that she was unable to dance during Better The Devil You Know and In Your Eyes. Then it was into Day-glo Eighties clubland, all smiley faces and fluorescence, for Shocked and Spinning Around, reworked as vintage piano house. Later she would float about the stage to dramatic eastern strings for Confide In Me, dance within a cage of green lasers for a marvellous I Believe In You and surround herself with Roman centurions for a breathy Chocolate. The one possible concession to her recent illness was a long interval halfway through, an indication that she may no longer be able to keep up the pace of her pop rivals. But she hit some impressive notes when she returned to sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow perched atop a sparkling crescent moon, and the energy from her smile, a genuine beamer rather than a performer's rictus grin, could have powered Wembley Stadium. Ever enigmatic, she never mentioned her health, but she and everyone else in the room had the air of people celebrating for an especially good reason. A single excellent new song, the Scissor Sisters-penned White Diamond, was one more indication that the future looks incredibly bright for one of pop's shiniest stars. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
