Kylie Minogue’s ‘Tension’ Was the U.K.’s Best-Selling Single Last Week

Kylie Minogue is very much back in fashion in the U.K., where “Tension” cracks the top 20 and outsells all other singles.

“Tension,” the title track from her forthcoming 16th studio album, opened its account at No. 19 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Sept. 8, for the week’s highest debut.

With that feat, Kylie chalks up her 53rd U.K. top 40 single, and her second top 20 hit of the year following “Padam Padam,” which peaked at No. 8.

Written by Kylie with long-term collaborators Biff Stannard and Duck Blackwell, plus KAMILLE, Anya Jones and Jon Green, the clubby “Tension” also finishes the week atop two charts: the Official Singles Downloads Chart and Official Physical Singles Chart.

Everything would appear to be shaping up nicely for its parent album Tension, due out Sept. 22 via BMG in the U.K. and Liberation in Australia.

Its predecessor, Disco, topped the U.K. albums survey, her eighth leader. When it landed at No. 1 in November 2020, Kylie became first ever female artist – and second artist overall – to claim a U.K. No. 1 album in five consecutive decades.

Also, thanks to the success of “Padam Padam,” she’s one of only four female artists to score U.K. top 10 hit singles in five consecutive decades, joining Cher, Diana Ross and Lulu.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Kylie’s new project is making all the right noises.

“Padam Padam” recently earned the Aussie icon her very first top 10 appearance on Billboard‘s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, following its viral spread throughout the summer, and she’s set to follow-up with her first Las Vegas residency.

Across her career, Kylie has amassed sales of over 80 million records worldwide, five billion streams, and scored three BRIT awards, two MTV Awards, a Grammy and, in 2007, became the first female recipient — and first non-Brit — to receive the MITS Award for contribution to music industry.