Kiss of Life (Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware song)

"Kiss of Life" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue and English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. The song was released on 29 October 2021 as the second single from Disco: Guest List Edition, the reissue of Minogue's fifteenth studio album Disco (2020).[1]

"Kiss of Life"
Single by Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware
from the album Disco: Guest List Edition
Released29 October 2021 (2021-10-29)
Recorded2021
Studio
GenreDisco
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • James Ford
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"A Second to Midnight"
(2021)
"Kiss of Life"
(2021)
"Padam Padam"
(2023)
Jessie Ware singles chronology
"Hot N Heavy"
(2021)
"Kiss of Life"
(2021)
"Free Yourself"
(2022)
Music video
"Kiss of Life" on YouTube

Background and release

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In September 2020, Minogue appeared on Ware's Table Manners podcast co-hosted with Ware's mother Lennie. In the episode, the pair spoke about writing together. Ware later joked that she'd "bullied" Minogue into a duet as the two further discussed a collaboration.[2]

On 5 October 2021, Minogue announced the forthcoming reissue of Disco and revealed that the album's tracklist, including "Kiss of Life".[3]

Production and composition

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"Kiss of Life" is written by Minogue, Ware, Danny Parker, Shungudzo and James Ford, with the latter also handling the track's production and mixing.[4][5] Ware is a frequent collaborator with Ford, Parker and Shungudzo, with all having credits on her fourth studio album What's Your Pleasure? (2020).[4] The song was recorded in London, with Minogue recording her vocals remotely in Melbourne.[5]

Music video

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The music video for "Kiss of Life" premiered on YouTube at 6pm GMT on 4 November 2021.[6] Directed by Sophie Muller, the video was shot in London's Ave Mario restaurant and features both Minogue and Ware, alongside dancers from the Theo Adams Company and Princess Julia.[7] The video is inspired by the works of Pedro Almodóvar and 1980s telenovela. The video incorporates elements of farce, with Ware appearing as a busy restaurateur and Minogue as a troublesome food critic wreaking havoc among the guests, hence Ware's distress as the video progresses.[7]

Ware is dressed in Saint Laurent, while Minogue first appears on screen wearing Valentino haute couture and later wears Saint Laurent.[8] Remarking on the video's bold fashion and comedic themes, W writer Kyle Munzenrieder described it as a "high fashion fantasy version of Looney Tunes" and a "designer clothing-filled camp fest".[8]

Live performances

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On 13 November 2021, Minogue and Ware performed "Kiss of Life" together for the first time on The Jonathan Ross Show.[9] Ware performed her What's Your Pleasure? tour at O2 Academy Brixton on 28 May 2022, the same day as Minogue's 54th birthday, and Minogue was brought out as a special guest for a performance of "Kiss of Life".[10]

On 17 September 2023, Ware joined Minogue to perform the song as part of Kylie's headlining set at the Radio 2 in the Park festival at Leicester's Victoria Park.

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Disco: Guest List Edition:[5]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Kiss of Life"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Airplay (Radiomonitor)[11] 15
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[12] 30
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[13] 49

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Kiss of Life"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 29 October 2021
[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Harrison, Quentin (29 October 2021). "Listen to Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware's disco floorfiller 'Kiss Of Life'". NME. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "UK pop star Jessie Ware talks pregnancy, Kylie Minogue duet and return to the charts". 7News. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  3. ^ Griffiths, George (5 October 2021). "Kylie Minogue announces Disco: Guest List Edition featuring Dua Lipa, Years and Years and Jessie Ware". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b Billy, August (2 November 2021). "Kylie Minogue Keeps 'Disco' Flame Burning On New Single Ft. Jessie Ware". Musicfeeds. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Disco: Guest List Edition (Liner notes). BMG Rights Management. 2021. LC19813.
  6. ^ "Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware – Kiss of Life (Official Video)". Youtube. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Kylie Minogue And Jessie Ware Reveal The Hilariously Over The Top Video For "Kiss Of Life"". Shorefire Media. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b Munzenrieder, Kyle (4 November 2021). "Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware's "Kiss of Life" Video is a Full-on Fashion Camp Fest". W. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  9. ^ Qureshi, Arusa (14 November 2021). "Watch Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware perform 'Kiss Of Life' on 'Jonathan Ross'". NME. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  10. ^ Lavin, Will (29 May 2022). "Watch Jessie Ware bring out Kylie Minogue to perform 'Kiss Of Life' at London show". NME. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  11. ^ "UK Airplay Chart of January 07, 2022". UK Airplay Chart. Radiomonitor. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Kylie Minogue Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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