Express & Star

Kylie, Genting Arena, Birmingham - concert review

From soap star to pop princess to sultry songstress to, well, international galactic treasure.

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Kylie on stage

Tiny Kylie came bouncing back to Birmingham last night with a mission to show she’s seen off her troubles and was out to have F.U.N.

And why not?

Kitsch as kitsch can be and camp as Christmas at times, this glamorous show was a way-out-West winner from the start – providing you didn’t want to take it or yourself too seriously.

Split into six (yes SIX) acts plus an encore, there were costume changes and concept switches galore.

You want the Stock, Aitken, Waterman years? Better the Devil You Know. Tick.

Dance Queen rebirth? Can’t Get You Out of My Head. Check.

Soulful singalongs? All The Lovers. No problem.

That’s a hell of a back catalogue, right there, without getting into the body bending Spinning Around, Confide in Me and Wow.

No wonder Kylie looks so at ease with the way things have worked out.

Kylie on stage

And clues to her frame of mind come up in the titles of the various sections as the evening unfolds.

One is headlined ‘Nothing’s Behind Me, Everything’s In Front of Me’.

It may not be factually correct, but it’s a hell of a positive outlook to have.

Such a feelgood factor is clearly contagious, looking at the audience reaction.

Yes, she’s preaching to the converted and maybe there were one or two men who were squeezed too tightly into their t-shirts.

But when the message is so uplifting and such fun to behold, it’s no wonder they keep coming back.