Padam Padam (song)
"Padam Padam" is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. BMG Rights Management and Darenote released it on 18 May 2023 as the lead single and opener to Minogue's sixteenth studio album Tension (2023). Written by Norwegian singer-songwriter Ina Wroldsen alongside their producer Lostboy, "Padam Padam" is a dance-pop and synthpop song with elements of electronic music and Eastern European sound. Lyrically, it touches on the topic of sexual encounter with its title being an onomatopoeia for a heartbeat.
For the Édith Piaf song, see Padam, padam..."Padam Padam"
"Padam Padam" received critical acclaim from music critics, with many praising its catchiness and hook. Critics also singled it as a standout from the parent album. It won the inaugural Best Pop Dance Recording award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as Record of the Year at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards and Best Pop Release at the 2023 ARIA Music Awards. Various music publications, including Billboard, The Guardian, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Variety, placed "Padam Padam" on their Best Songs of 2023 lists.
Commercially, the song reached number one on the Israeli Singles Chart, number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and number 19 on the Australian Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in various European countries and appeared on several component charts in the United States and Canada. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Pro-Música Brasil (PMB).
The music video was directed by British filmmaker Sophie Muller. It was visually inspired by the works of The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and elements of Americana culture. Minogue has made several live appearances to promote "Padam Padam" in the United Kingdom, and North America. Since its release, "Padam Padam" has become a viral phenomenon and has been recognised by notable publications for its cultural significance in pop culture. It has been dubbed an anthem within the LGBT community and has been played at pride parades. Furthermore, the track's success has been credited as a pioneer in bridging a generational gap between younger audiences and mature performers through social media and airplay.
Background and development[edit]
Norwegian singer Ina Wroldsen and English producer Lostboy met in London in February 2022 to collaborate on new music, and in two days, they wrote "Padam Padam".[3] "I'm married to an Englishman, and my mother-in-law from north London would always go, 'Oh my heart's going ped-ou, ped-ou," Wroldsen said of the song's title.[3] According to her, "It was in my mind when I went to the studio, but 'ped-ou' doesn't sound very nice." So we created 'padam'."[3] After finishing the song, they weren't sure who would record it, and they considered pitching it to British singer Rita Ora or a Eurovision contestant.[4]
Near the end of promotional activities for her album Disco (2020), Minogue appeared on BBC Radio 2 to discuss new music, saying, "Perhaps it's going a bit more electropop. Don't quote me that [...] but that's what's on the boil at the minute."[5] Minogue confirmed this in a June 2022 interview with Vogue, citing her 2003 single "Slow" as inspiration for the album's sound.[6] Minogue's A&R, Jamie Nelson, sent her a demo of "Padam Padam" while she was in Miami.[7] Minogue fell in love with the demo and recorded it in a London hotel; it was one of the last tracks added to the album.[8] She said of the sound itself, "I loved the song, and the bonus is it felt like it was perfect for me".[9]
Release[edit]
BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company, Darenote, released "Padam Padam" on May 18, 2023, as the lead single from Minogue's sixteenth studio album, Tension (2023).[11] Prior to its release, the song and album were announced on May 12, 2023, but no date was given.[20] Three days later, Minogue announced the song's release date and posted a 20-second preview on social media.[21] Studio Moross created two cover artworks for the song, which were taken during the video shoot. The first image features red thigh-high Mugler boots against a red-orange desert backdrop, while the second depicts Minogue in a Mugler catsuit on a red seat in front of the same backdrop.[22][23]
"Padam Padam" was distributed in a variety of digital and physical formats. The song was first released digitally, and four remixes were later released: one by HAAi, one by Absolute, one by Jax Jones, and two different extended mixes.[11][24] On Minogue's webstore, three physical formats were also available: a CD single with the song and the extended mix, a cassette tape with the song and the extended mix, and a second cassette tape with the song and all previously released remixes.[25] A vinyl was later distributed in conjunction with the release of the album's third single, "Hold on to Now".[26]
Live performances and appearances[edit]
Minogue has made several live appearances to promote "Padam Padam". Minogue made her first appearance on American Idol in May 2023, performing "Padam Padam" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head" alongside one of the contestants, Nutsa.[122] The following month, she surprised everyone by performing the same songs at Capital's Summertime Ball.[123] At the iHeartMedia KTUphoria 2023 live show, she played a nine-track set that included "Padam Padam".[124] She also performed parts of the song during an interview on Andy Cohen's radio show at Sirius XM as part of the single's American promotion, singing in her own voice and impersonating Siri.[125][126]
She performed "Padam Padam" twice at the Horse Meat Disco in June 2023 due to technical difficulties with the first performance.[127] A week before the album's release, Minogue co-headlined Radio 2 in the Park with Tears for Fears in Leicester's Victoria Park. She headlined the second and final night of the festival, performing "Padam Padam," "Tension," and the album track "Hold on to Now."[128] Kylie appeared at Lio London for the 2023 London Fashion Week launch, where she performed several album tracks, including "Padam Padam" and "Tension".[129] On September 27, 2023, Minogue performed a free, limited-time concert at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, featuring "Padam Padam" and other songs on the setlist.[130]