Kylie Minogue: Australia's Madonna?

July 7, 2000
Web posted at: 5:42 p.m. EDT (2142 GMT)

In the United States, Kylie Minogue often has been associated with other 1980s artists whose talent did not shine so brightly -- Teena Marie, Tiffany and Paula Abdul, to name a few stars who have all but burned out.

But in England and her native Australia, Minogue has enjoyed consistent celebrity and an ever-evolving image that begs comparison to the U.S.'s favorite chameleon, Madonna.

Born in Melbourne, Minogue began her showbiz career as tomboy Charlene Mitchell on the Australian soap opera "Neighbors." In 1988, she entered the dance-music scene with "I Should be so Lucky," her first of many pop tunes produced by the power trio Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Minogue followed with a memorably syrupy cover of Little Eva's "The Loco-Motion."

Audiences worldwide responded to her wholesome image. "Smiley Kylie" offered teen girls a parent-friendly idol -- an image that quickly dissolved when the tabloids covered her heated relationship with the late Michael Hutchence, former bad boy singer of INXS.

After five full-length releases, 14 hit singles, and a greatest-hits album, Minogue split from the producers who had kept her on the top of the United Kingdom and Australia charts.

In 1994, she collaborated on an eponymous album with the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, Nick Cave and James Dean Bradfiels of the Manic Street Preachers. A commendable attempt, the album nonetheless achieved only moderate success.

She reemerged in 1997 with "Impossible Princess," which found her on the same dance floors that launched her 10 years earlier. The time, though, Minogue's "good girl" image stayed behind.

Now, Minogue -- reincarnated this time as a party diva, an image that's played well in gay circles -- has again risen to the top of the dance charts with a series of high-energy remix albums. Her most recent album, "Light Years," has proven equally popular.

Kylie Minogue at Mushroom Records
Kylie Minogue Official Site: LiMBO
Fan Site: Enlightened

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.