“To have her back, it’s made me emotional”: Gudinski’s number one girl Kylie returns home

It’s no secret that Michael Gudinski has been one of the biggest and earliest supporters of Australian export Kylie Minogue.

So it comes as no surprise that his reaction to her return “home” to Mushroom after 15 years is a heartfelt one.

“To have her back, it’s made me emotional,” Gudinski told TMN.

Last year, BMG announced a deal that will see the singer’s forthcoming album released through Liberator Music in Australia and New Zealand.

It appears that Minogue is returning to what she knows best, also reuniting with BMG UK director of A&R Jamie Nelson who had earlier co-signed her to the Parlophone label in 1999.

“Jamie Nelson has been integral,” Gudinski added.

“I’ve got such respect for her, how she developed into such a real artist.”

And it’s the development seen with Kylie’s latest release ‘Dancing’ that has Australianradio sitting up and taking notice more than ever before.

So why does Michael Gudinski think the pop princess is set to reach higher than she ever has before?

Chart Success

“She hasn’t had this sort of airplay for a while, but I think this song should be massive. I really do,” the Mushroom Group founder predicted.

“And that will really open up a whole other door into this album.”

In the past, Kylie has spent a total of 15 weeks at #1 on the TMN Hot 100 Australian Chart, with six contributing songs. Her highest performing airplay singles are ‘Fever’ (#1), ’I Believe In You’ (#1) and ’Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ (#2).

Currently, ’Dancing’ is peaking at #12 at the TMN Hot 100, and scored itself the title of Most Added two weeks ago.

“Nothing would make me happier to see Kylie have a single up the tops of the charts. I think with this song we’ve got every chance.”

“I think a lot of people don’t realise the impact she has. I mean, the Foo Fighters asked me about it and she came to their show!

“She’s the biggest star Australia’s ever had, to be honest with you.”

Album Talk

While ‘Dancing’ certainly has a taste of the pop/country crossover that’s in vogue at the moment, the track is quintessentially Kylie.

“It became a mission for me – I thought the song was so fresh and so different, and I think that’s what makes it special,” Gudinski remarked.

“She’s obviously written the lyrics and the lyrics are strong. Really, to sum Kylie up, dancing is the perfect thing.”

But is the Nashville influence something we can expect to hear more of when her fourteenth album Golden is released on April 6?

Gudinski explained that Kylie’s stint in the country music capital was one of the last recording sessions the artist had.

“Jamie Nelson was keen for her [to record there]… that was the last stuff that was recorded. It’s amazing how many times artists, in the last songs they record, they’re the key songs.”

“She’s recorded with different people – some of the record in Nashville, some in London. But, she’s had much more involvement in this album than perhaps in the past. And look, this album is very important to her. It’s very personal.”

Whether this increased involvement comes as a result of creative freedom, feeling comfortable with the team she’s got around her or a new air of maturity of maturity for Kylie, we will never know.

But one this is for sure, Gudinski has never been more excited for an album release.

“She’s very fired up, very involved and working really hard. We hope to have her out here before the album comes out to do something special, but that’s been worked on currently.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way the single’s started. She’s the queen.”