Say Something (Kylie Minogue song)

"Say Something" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her fifteenth studio album, Disco (2020). It was released as the album's lead single by Darenote and BMG on 23 July 2020. Minogue wrote the song with Ash Howes and its producers Jonathan Green and Richard Stannard. "Say Something" is a disco, dance, electropop, pop and nu-disco song which features synths, drum crashes, a funk guitar and a choir.

"Say Something"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Disco
Released23 July 2020 (2020-07-23)
Recorded2019
StudioBiffco Studios (Brighton, England)
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"On oublie le reste"
(2019)		 "Say Something"
(2020)
Music video
"Say Something" on YouTube

Background and composition

"Say Something" is a disco,[1] dance,[2][3] electropop,[4] pop[5] and nu-disco[6] song which features an electronica intro,[7] as well as uses of "thick" synths, drum crashes, a funk guitar and a choir.[5][8] Minogue sings lines such as "Love is love / It never ends / Can we all be as one again?"[9] and uses whisper vocals on the chorus.[8] "Say Something" was written by Minogue in September 2019 with Jonathan Green and long-time collaborators Ash Howes and Richard Stannard.[10][11] It was recorded in Brighton, England.[12] She stated that the song "is about all of our eternal quest for love" and searching for "something or someone out there that you can relate to."[10] Rolling Stone's Claire Shaffer commented that the lyrics "feel pertinent for our quarantine days".[2] Similarly, Katie Bain from Billboard wrote that the track sees Minogue "hitting the topical nail on the head".[5]

Release and promotion

On 21 July, media outlets reported that Minogue was preparing to release her fifteenth album Disco in the second half of 2020; alongside unveiling the album's cover, outlets also reported that a new single titled "Say Something" was due for imminent release.[13][14] Minogue announced the album release and the single release on 21 and 22 July 2020, respectively.[15][16] The song premiered on 23 July at 08:30 BST on BBC Radio 2, during the The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.[17] The official audio was uploaded to YouTube on the same day, and a lyric video was uploaded on 24 July.[18][19][20]

Critical reception

"Say Something" was met with critical acclaim. Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly called it a "mirrorball anthem", and said that the song is "more than an ode to the lust for human connection in dark times, it's a poetic, surprisingly deep step forward" for Minogue.[21] The Guardian's Kate Solomon described "Say Something" as a "quasi-disco bop with a slightly saccharine post-quarantine sentiment" that Minogue "carries perfectly".[22] Similarly, writing for The Independent, Roisin O'Connor described the song as a "disco banger" with "grinding guitar licks and funky beats".[23] In his review for Variety, Jem Aswad viewed that "Say Something" is one of the "best disco songs in recent memory". He wrote that it has an "irresistible chorus" and a "driving rhythm", as well as "perhaps unintentionally relevant lyrics".[24] Mike Wass of Idolator compared the song to those of Scissor Sisters and St. Vincent, and commended its "majestic, serotonin-raising chorus".[25]

Commercial performance

"Say Something" debuted at number 82 on the UK Singles Chart.[26] Furthermore, it peaked on the UK Singles Downloads and Sales charts at number nine and 11, respectively.[27][28] In the United States, it reached the componential Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart compiled by Billboard, entering at number 3.[29] According to Nielsen Music/MRC Data the track generated 429,000 US streams and 3,000 downloads in its first week.[30]

Music video

Production and concept
Minogue mounted on top of a golden horse sculpture, wearing a dress inspired by actress Marisa Berenson.[31]

The music video for "Say Something" was directed by Sophie Muller.[32] It was filmed at the Black Island Studios in London, England whilst adhering to social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the video features only Minogue and a dancer, Kaner Flex. The fishnet catsuit and black and white dress featured in the video were designed by Ed Marler; the latter costume was inspired by an image of Marisa Berenson that Minogue and Muller found during research into Studio 54.[31]

Portraying Minogue as a Space Age Hollywood actress, the "inter-galactic" video was inspired by 1970s psychedelia and The Great Gatsby (1925).[31] It depicts the singer travelling through the universe whilst mounted upon a golden horse sculpture, shooting lasers from her hands and flying on a hovercraft.[33][34]

Release

Minogue announced the release of the music video on 4 August 2020, sharing an image on social media of her on the horse, writing in the caption, "Time to get GALACTIC!"[35] It premiered on YouTube on 7 August 2020 at 10:00 BST.[36]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[37]

  • Kylie Minogue – lead vocals, writer, backing vocals
  • Louis Lion – programming
  • Jon Green – writer, backing vocals, producer, guitar, keyboards
  • Duck Blackwell – additional producer, keyboards, mixing engineer
  • Dick Beetham – recording engineer
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard – writer, backing vocals, producer, keyboards
  • Ash Howes – writer, programming
  • Adetoun Anibi – backing vocals

Charts
Chart performance for "Say Something"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[38] 18
Australia Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[39] 5
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[40] 35
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[41] 17
Hungary (Single Top 40)[42] 38
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[43] 40
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[44] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 82
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[45] 8
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[46] 19

Release history
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 23 July 2020
Single
[47]
United Kingdom 8 August 2020 Adult contemporary BMG [48]
Various 14 August 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Acoustic
  • Darenote
  • BMG
 [49]

References
  1. Wass, Mike (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue's "Say Something" Is A Dreamy Disco Anthem". Idolator. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. Shaffer, Claire (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue Longs for Human Connection on 'Say Something'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. Wass, Mike (25 July 2020). "Kylie Shares 'Infinite Disco' Playlist Featuring Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware & Rina Sawayama". Idolator. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  4. Droke, Carolyn (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue Makes Her Shimmering Return With The Dance Floor-Ready 'Say Something'". UPROXX. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. Bain, Katie (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue Takes Flight on the Wings of Disco With New Single 'Say Something'". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. Harrison, Quentin (23 July 2020). "NEW MUSIC WE LOVE: Kylie Minogue's "Say Something"". Albumism. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  7. Wass, Mike (22 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue Reveals Cover Of "Say Something"". Idolator. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. Curto, Justin (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue returns to the dance floor with new song 'Say Something'". Vulture. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  9. Tom, Skinner (23 July 2020). "Hear Kylie Minogue's sparkling new single, 'Say Something'". NME. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  10. Copsey, Rob (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue unveils new "galactic disco" single Say Something". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  11. "Say Something by Kylie Minogue". Tidal. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  12. Barczyk, Magdalena (31 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue w wyjątkowym wywiadzie dla Radia ZET: "Prawie zamarzłam na Openerze"" [Kylie Minogue in a unique interview for Radio ZET: "I almost froze on Opener"]. Radio ZET (in Polish). Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  13. Kelleher, Patrick (21 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue is about to save 2020 with the joy-filled first single from her disco-drenched new album". PinkNews. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  14. "Kylie Minogue announces new album 'Disco', lead single 'Say Something' out tomorrow". Attitude. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  15. Bain, Kate (21 July 2020). "Rejoice, Kylie Minogue is dropping her 15th studio album, 'Disco', this Fall". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  16. @kylieminogue (22 July 2020). "Lovers! New music is ON THE WAY! SAY SOMETHING is all yours this Thursday. The first play is on @BBCRadio2 and I'll be phoning in to chat with the fabulous @ZoeTheBall. Tune in! 💋#SaySomething" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. Lewis, Isobel (22 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue to release new album Disco in November". The Independent. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  18. "Kylie Minogue announces new album Disco, releases first single". BMG Rights Management. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  19. "Kylie Minogue - Say Something (Official Audio)". Kylie Minogue. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  20. "Kylie Minogue - Say Something (Official Lyrics Video)". Kylie Minogue. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  21. Eli, Enis; Suskind, Alex; Jones, Marcus; Nolfi, Joey (24 July 2020). "Friday Five: Taylor Swift's Folklore love triangle, Drake teams with Headie One, and more". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  22. Solomon, Kate (7 August 2020). "Tracks of the week reviewed: Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  23. O'Connor, Roisin (24 July 2020). "Now Hear This: New music from Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, DijahSB, Drake and Headie One, plus spotlight artist Mai Kino". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  24. Aswad, Jem (24 July 2020). "Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Ski Mask, Kylie and More in Fri 5, the Best Songs of the Week". Variety. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  25. Wass, Mike (23 July 2020). "Kylie Minogue's "Say Something" Is A Dreamy Disco Anthem". Idolator. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  27. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  28. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  29. "Kylie Minogue Chart History (Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  30. "Tame Impala, Kylie Minogue, The Kid LAROI hit career highs in the US". The Music Network. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  31. "PRETTYBIRD director Sophie Muller shoots Kylie in Say Something music video". Shots. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  32. Kreps, Daniel (7 August 2020). "Watch Kylie Minogue's Sparkling 'Say Something' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  33. Curto, Justin (7 August 2020). "Yes, That Is Kylie Minogue Riding a Giant Horse in a New Music Video". Vulture. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  34. Smith, Reiss (7 August 2020). "Kylie Minogue descends from the heavens on a bronze stallion in psychedelically-camp new video for Say Something". Pink News. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  35. @kylieminogue (4 August 2020). "#SAYSOMETHING music video is yours THIS FRIDAY at 10am GMT! Time to get GALACTIC! 🚀❤️️ #DISCO" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. @kylieminogue (7 August 2020). "Premiere ready! #SAYSOMETHING" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. "Say Something by Kylie Minogue". Tidal. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  38. "HOT 100 Issue 1301". The Music Network. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  39. "Kylie Minogue Chart History (Australia Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  40. "Ultratop.be – Kylie Minogue – Say Something" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  41. "Kylie Minogue Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  42. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  43. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  44. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  45. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  46. "Kylie Minogue Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  47. "Kylie Minogue to return with new single 'Say Something' this week". NME. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  48. "#Newto2". BBC Radio 2. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  49. "Say Something (Acoustic) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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