On a Night Like This

For the song by the American country music group Trick Pony, see On a Night Like This (Trick Pony song)

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"On a Night Like This"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Light Years
B-side	"Ocean Blue"
Released	11 September 2000 25 September 2000 (Germany) 24 February 2012 (K25 re-release)
Format	CD single Cassette single Vinyl single
Recorded	London, England
Genre	Dance-pop, house, nu-disco[1]
Length	3:31
Label	Parlophone/EMI/Mushroom Records
Writer(s)	Steve Torch Graham Stack Mark Taylor Brian Rawling
Producer	Graham Stack Mark Taylor
Certification	Platinum (Australia)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Spinning Around" (2000) "On a Night Like This" (2000) "Kids" (2000)
Music video "On a Night Like This" on YouTube

"On a Night Like This" is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her seventh studio album Light Years (2000). The song was released as a CD Single on 25 September, 2000, and was released digitally after the physical release date. With the success of "Spinning Around", "On a Night Like This" served as the second single on the album.

The song was given a mixed to positive reception by music critics, with some saying it is a dreamy and elegant song. However, others commented that the song's power and strength was "not at Minogue's best".^{[citation needed]} The song became a success in some parts of the world. The song peaked at number one in Australia, number two in the United Kingdom and in top twenty positions in parts of Europe. The song, as with her previous hit Spinning Around, did not appear on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song was performed in Minogue's concert tours, including the "On a Night Like This Tour, KylieFever2002, Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour and The Homecoming Tour. Then she performed the song on her successful tour KylieX2008 and her Aphrodite World Tour. In 2012, Minogue released an acoustic version of "On a Night Like This" for her upcoming anniversary compilation album, for the celebration of her K25 Anniversary, which is a celebration of a quarter of a century of Minogue's career.^[2]

Background and composition

"On a Night Like This" written by Steve Torch, Graham Stack, Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling, and was produced by Mark Taylor from Metro and Graham Stack. The song was recorded at Dreamhouse in London, England. Minogue also recorded a b-side to the single called "Ocean Blue", written by Minogue and her co-writers. The song was recorded at the same studio in England. "On A Night Like This" is a midtempo dance-pop song. Pandora Radio describes the song as featuring house and nu-disco influences, dancable grooves, acoustic guitar riffs, a prominent use of synthesizers and other vocal harmonies. MusicOMH had described the song as "breezy".^[3]

Pandora (left) was the original artist who recorded "On a Night Like This" first in 1999, until Anna Vissi (right) recorded it in early 2000, before Minogue did in late 2000.

"On a Night Like This" was released in Australia and New Zealand on 25 September, 2000, by Mushroom Records physically, and released worldwide by Parlophone digitally.^[4] Before Minogue had recorded the song, or had signed to Parlophone, Swedish singer Pandora had recorded the song in 1999. However, the recording wasn't released and it was later covered by the Heavy Metal band for their extended play. Thus, it is considered a Minogue original. After 'Light Years' was finished, her On a Night Like This Tour was named after the single, and featured the same artwork, which featured Minogue laying on a patio looking towards the camera, while the sun's golden rays accentuate her positioning.

In 2012, for her K25 music anniversary, she re-released "On a Night Like This" on her youtube channel, as part of an upcoming compilation including reworks of her previous singles. The song was recorded in London, England at Abbey Road Studios in 2012.^[5]

Critical reception

"On A Night Like This" received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Mark Edwards from Stylus Magazine said that it, along with her duet with Robbie Williams on Kids, "cemented her comeback, and then came the aforementioned mega-song."^[6] Jason Shawahn from About.com gave it a positive review, saying that it, along with "Please Stay" and "Spinning Around", are "a blessing for domestic music consumers".^[7]

Although Allmusic highlighted it as an album track, it gave it a mixed review, giving it two-and-a-half stars out of five. Nick Levine from Digital Spy said that the song is a "catchy dance-pop song". One NME reviewer compared it to Spiller's song Groovejet, writing that the song "works because it doesn't revolve awkwardly round a random disco beat".^[8] Another NME reviewer described the song as lacking passion and "unremarkable".^[9] PopMatters gave the album a positive review, but he was disappointed by the record label, and the public, for not releasing the single in the United States, commenting "“On a Night Like This”, a track that is meant to go right to number one on the Billboard Club Tracks list and while being completely ignored by the general public."^[10]

Chart performance

In Minogue's native Australia the single debuted at number one, and spent two non-consecutive weeks there. It spent a total of seventeen weeks in the top fifty, becoming one of Minogue's longest charting singles. As with her previous number one single "Spinning Around", "On a Night Like This" was also certified platinum and became the twenty-seventh most successful single of the year 2000 in Australia.^[11] The song led to Minogue being honoured as the artist having the most singles debuting at number one.^[12] It also gave her a record for having the largest fall from the number one position—falling to number five. It was also successful in the UK where it peaked at number two.

It revived to have modest success elsewhere. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number forty, until rising to thirty-five where it peaked. The song then debuted at number thirty-three in Sweden, until it rose to thirty-one, staying there for two consecutive weeks.^[13] The song became less successful in other countries. The song survived only one week in Finland, debuting at number twenty. The song also only peaked at number sixty-nine in France and sixty-four in The Netherlands.

Music video

Background

The music video for "On a Night Like This" was directed by Douglas Avery, filmed in Monte Carlo, and was loosely based on Martin Scorsese's 1995 crime drama movie Casino, with Kylie herself portraying a character loosely based on Sharon Stone's bored trophy wife, and Blade Runner actor Rutger Hauer portraying her mob boss partner.^[9][14]

Synopsis

The video starts with a mob-related scene, with the men speaking in French. The video translates with subtitles "Matters are not handled in this way/Here in Monte Carlo/Things are closely watched/The authorities are extremely vigilant/The things you ask of us/Are not so easy". As the song starts, Minogue is on a diving board over a pool; she jumps in with while wearing an expensive Versace. After she sings the chorus, she undresses, becoming almost nude, and looking at the mobsters, throws her dress across towards their window. As the second verse starts, she appears in another Versace costume, with expensive diamond jewellery, in a Limousine. As the chorus arrives, she appears in a Monte Carlo casino, and wins money. She later goes home, where her mob boss lover sees her, as she comes into the hallway and smashes a green glass vase. As the song ends she steps onto a porch, undresses again, and he can only stare. The video ends with her stepping down from the porch, and fades to black.

Reception

On MUZU.TV it was rated five stars, as it was reported a "loved track". As of May 2012, the song had reached over 2.4 million views on youtube. Critics praised the music video for its elegances and style, whereas some dismissed it.^{[citation needed]}

Video controversy

While the video enjoyed moderate success in most of the world, it still managed to attract considerable controversy. According to reports by NME, the original clip supposedly contained scenes that would have resulted in a mass banning. The Directors Cut had been noted to contain Minogue in full-frontal nudity, however, NME reported that plans to release such a music video were scrapped. Despite this, the edited version still turns heads, thanks to a see-through dress sported by Kylie.^[9]

Other versions/singles

Pandora version

The song was first released by the Swedish artist Pandora in late 1999. It was included on her album No Regrets. Pandora claims that the song was written during her recording sessions in the studio.^[15] Months after her release, she began to receive fan mail inquiring about other versions.^[15] Under different contracts with the writers, the song was given to two other singers, Anna Vissi and Kylie Minogue.^[15] In December 2007, Pandora released three new remixes of the song.

Anna Vissi version

The song was released by Greek singer Anna Vissi in early 2000. It was included on her debut English album Everything I Am, which featured additional songs by Stack and Taylor. Vissi performed "On a Night Like This" at the Miss Universe 2000 pageant held in Nicosia, Cyprus on 12 May 2000, watched by a worldwide audience.

In other media

• Kylie had advertised the video and single in a Pepsi advert in 2001.^[16]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "On a Night Like This."^[17]

Australia CD 1 (MUSH019722)

1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
2. "On a Night Like This" [Rob Searle Mix] — 7:58
3. "On a Night Like This" [Motiv8 Nocturnal Vocal Mix] — 7:31
4. "On a Night Like This" [Bini and Martini Club Mix] — 6:34
5. "On a Night Like This" [Video]

• It has two possible covers with different ratings given for the video.

UK CD 1 (CDRS6546)/NZ CD Maxi (8893100)

1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
2. "Ocean Blue" — 4:22
3. "Your Disco Needs You" [Almighty Mix] — 8:22
4. "On a Night Like This" [Enhanced Video]

Europe CD 1/Australia CD 2 (MUSH019725)

1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
2. "Ocean Blue" — 4:22
3. "Your Disco Needs You" [Almighty Mix] — 8:22
4. "On a Night Like This" [Halo Mix] — 8:05

UK CD 2 (CDR6546)

1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
2. "On a Night Like This" [Rob Searle Mix] — 7:58
3. "On a Night Like This" [Motiv8 Nocturnal Vocal Mix] — 7:31

Europe CD 3^{[clarification needed]} (EMI 8893360)

1. "On a Night Like This" — 3:32
2. "Ocean Blue" — 4:22
3. "On a Night Like This" [Video]

Live performances

Kylie performed the song on the following concert tours:

• On A Night Like This Tour
• KylieFever2002
• Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour
• Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour
• KylieX2008
• Aphrodite World Tour

The song was also performed on:

• An Audience with Kylie 2001 TV Special
• Money Can't Buy 2003 TV Concert

Charts and certifications

Chart procession and succession

References

External links

• On a Night Like This — song page on Kylie's official web site.
• "On a Night Like This" official music video on YouTube posted by EMI.