| Tension | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Kylie Minogue |
| Cover: | Kylie - Tension.png |
| Caption: | Standard cover. |
| Recorded: | 2021–2023 |
| Studio: |
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| Genre: |
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| Length: | 35:51 |
| Label: |
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| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Infinite Disco |
| Prev Year: | 2022 |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Next Title: | Midnight Love |
| Next Year: | 2025 |
Tension is the sixteenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released by BMG and Darenote on 22 September 2023, and was distributed in a variety of digital and physical formats. It is her first musical release since Disco (2020), and she began working on it in May 2022, finishing the project the following year. Her team enlisted a number of collaborators for the album, including Richard "Biff" Stannard, Duck Blackwell, Jackson Foote, PhD, and Cutfather.
Originally intended to be influenced by 1980s music and culture, Minogue and her team abandoned the idea and decided to create a record that emphasises each song's individuality rather than a central theme. She used her 2003 single "Slow" to describe the album's sound, which evolved into a variety of electronic dance genres, including synth-pop, disco, funk, R&B, and contemporary dance-pop and EDM. The album's lyrics address themes such as love, lust, having fun, and empowerment, all of which have appeared in Minogue's previous works.
Music critics praised the overall sound of Tension, its production quality, and Minogue's personality and delivery throughout the album. Several publications viewed the album as one of Minogue's best, and it eventually made it onto numerous year-end lists. The album was a commercial success in several countries, reaching number one in Australia, Belgium, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, as well as component charts in Ireland and the United States. It received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom.
Four singles from the album were released: "Padam Padam", "Tension", and "Hold On to Now" as lead singles, and "10 Out of 10" as a promotional recording with Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens. "Padam Padam" was a sleeper hit in multiple regions, earning Minogue an ARIA Award for Best Pop Release and the first Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording. Minogue promoted Tension with a remix album titled Extension: The Extended Mixes, live performances, and her More Than Just a Residency concert residency at Voltaire club in the The Venetian Las Vegas, which was met with critical and commercial success.
On 6 November 2020, Minogue released her fifteenth studio album, Disco.[1] The record marked a musical departure from her country-pop-infused album Golden (2018), as she returned to her signature disco-influenced sound with pop and dance elements.[2] Upon its release, several critics praised Minogue's musical journey, believing it was a return to form for the singer, and was a commercial success in a number of territories.[3] [4] [5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album received limited promotion, including single releases, a one-time special live show titled Infinite Disco, and a repackaging in December 2021. In February 2022, Minogue returned to her hometown of Melbourne in after living in London since the 1990s.[6] Minogue told BBC Radio 2 in May about her plans for 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."[7] She told Vogue in June that her 2003 single "Slow" would be used a template to the album's sound.[8]
Production on the album began in 2021.[9] [10] The initial sessions included longtime collaborators Richard "Biff" Stannard, Duck Blackwell, and Jon Green, as well as Minogue's A&R Jamie Nelson.[11] They had planned to incorporate 1980s music and culture as a central component of the album's sound and vision, but eventually abandoned the idea and decided not to focus on a theme. Minogue reflected on this decision, saying "Initially we were thinking 80s, but it didn't pan out that way [...] we agreed there's no theme [and that] it'd be refreshing not to have a theme after having done Golden and Disco."[11] One of the first tracks Minogue worked on was "Hold On to Now", for which she sent Stannard a "Na-na-na" melody as a voice note and began developing it.[9]
Stannard does not fly, so the five of them travelled to Surrey in August and rented an Airbnb to work on the album remotely. A week-long session in Surrey resulted in ten completed songs.[11] They then collaborated with Anya Jones and Camille "Kamille" Purcell, writing two songs in one day: "Things We Do for Love" and "Tension".[11] According to Minogue, working with Jones and Purcell provided her with the "female energy" she needed for the parent album.[11] Minogue eventually went to Copenhagen, Brighton, Croatia, and Paris to continue recording the album.[8] [12] [13] Nelson sent Minogue a demo recording of "Padam Padam" while she was in Miami, which was written by Ina Wroldsen and Peter "Lostboy" Rycroft.[14] Minogue loved the demo and recorded it in a hotel in London. Despite being one of the easiest tracks to record, it was one of the last songs added to the album.[11] Nelson then sent a demo of "Hands" that featured rap sections throughout. Nelson encouraged Minogue to contribute vocals and rap, which she later described as "refreshing".[15]
Some tracks on the album, particularly "10 Out of 10" and "Story," took longer to complete.[16] "10 Out of 10" began as a demo by Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens and was later offered to Minogue for recording. Despite accepting the offer, she found the production process difficult, which included recording in remote locations, working without Heldens in person, and exchanging song stems via email.[9] [16] After finishing and releasing the song, Heldens described it as his "biggest collaboration to date" and a "pleasure and privilege to work with them."[17] Minogue also admitted that songs like "Tension" were "really out of place" and "wasn't sure it would make the album."[9] However, as the song progressed, "it was softened and finessed".[9] Other songs, like "One More Time," were significantly altered before being included on the album.
Production of the record finished within 2023.[18] When deciding on the album's final tracks, Minogue stated, "If the song could stand on its own and fit in nicely with the other songs, that's the album."[11] When asked about the album's subject matter, she responded: "There are songs [on ''Tension''] that may appear more superficial, but I feel like I can sing them with more certainty than I may have in the early days, when I was 19, 20, 21, 25."[19] Minogue co-wrote twelve of the album's sixteen songs and served as an additional vocal engineer on nine of them.[13]
Tension incorporates a wide variety of sounds and genres, including pop, dance-pop, electropop and electronic dance. Minogue aimed to make an electro-pop-influenced album, and her single "Slow" served as a template for the album's evolving sound.[20] She described it as a "blend of personal reflection, club abandon, and melancholic highs," and stated that she wanted to "celebrate each song's individuality and dive into that freedom." The majority of the album's lyrics revolve around themes of love, lust, and empowerment, all of which have appeared in Minogue's previous work, according to Jonah Waterhouse of Vogue Australia.[19] AllMusic and Riff have compared the album's sound to Minogue's previous albums Fever (2001) and Aphrodite (2010), while Pitchfork editor Harry Tafoya found the record to be a "compendium of all the sounds she's best known for: confectionary synth-pop, breezy Euro house, and propulsive EDM."[21] [22] Slant Magazine writer Alex Camp, on the other hand, saw a "unambiguous sonic thread [that] link[ed] all 14 of its songs".[23] DIY editor Otis Robinson mentioned music notes of Scandipop, eurodance, and synth-pop.[24]
Tension begins with the album's lead single, "Padam Padam," a "hypnotic" electronic track with synth and dance-pop elements. The song's title and lyrics refer to the heartbeat and is regarded by critics as the album's sonic centrepiece.[25] [21] [20] "Hold On to Now" has a synth-driven sound and "earnest" songwriting reminiscent of Swedish singer Robyn, as well as gospel choir sections performed by the House Gospel Choir.[13] [20] [22] Minogue named the song as one of her personal favourites from the album.[9] "Things We Do for Love" features a "weird structure" with synth, guitar, and drum riffs reminiscent of 1980s synth-pop and power pop, with a subtle nod to the 1984 musical drama film Footloose.[9] [21] [26] Several critics cited "Tension" as the album's only experimental track.[24] [23] It features vocoder on Minogue's vocal deliveries and jangly piano riffs, which are influenced by 1990s house music with elements of dance and electronic music; she described the song's process as a "roller coaster ride, there are little diffusers that balance."[9] [27] [28]
"One More Time" is an uptempo pop-funk-disco hybrid reminiscent of Minogue's previous album Disco, though she herself described the song's themes as "nothing deep", stating that it has "a freedom to it" and "may or may not be romantic."[9] [23] [26] "You Still Get Me High" expands on Minogue's exploration of the 1980s pop-dance sound from "Things We Do for Love" and incorporates a love theme.[21] [26] Minogue, Stannard, and Green handled the original composition, which was much "slower, more indulgent".[9] However, she wanted to improve the track further and invited Blackwell to contribute to the final version.[9] "Hands" is another song that was not written by Minogue, and has a "nostalgic" disco-inspired funky bass line and vocals by Ms Marinade during the verses that were taken and used from the original demo.[13] [23] Minogue found it "easy" to record her vocals because Ms Marinade deliveries as a male vocals were pitched to be similar to a female vocal register.[9] She also called the song "kind of fun" and a "sunny-day song".[9] "Green Light" was compared to the works of British recording artist Dua Lipa, and incorporates early-1980s pop elements and a saxophone solo.[22] [23] [26] Minogue described it as a "cousin" to her single "Spinning Around" (2000), calling it "breezy and chill."[9]
Minogue wrote "Vegas High" in anticipation of her concert residency More Than Just a Residency, which took place at The Venetian Las Vegas Voltaire club.[9] According to Minogue, she, Stannard, Blackwell, and artist Gerald O'Connell aimed to create a "romanticised, cinematic" version of Las Vegas.[9] Musically, it is a high-energy club track reminiscent of 1990s techno music.[21] [29] "10 Out of 10" was not originally planned for Tension, but she "embraced it" and thought it was a "nice addition".[9] According to collaborating artist Oliver Heldens, the song was "inspired by 80s synth-pop and disco, 90s house, and 00s Eurodance, with a modern dance music twist, and of course with a big juicy bassline" and incorporates LGBT culture references, namely ball and drag. Minogue also co-wrote the album's standard closer, "Story," which delves into personal issues she was dealing with at the time.[9] Musically, it returns to 1980s-inspired music and has been described as a fast-paced bubblegum pop-dance track that critics found "athematic".[23] [21]
Tension is Minogue's sixteenth studio album and her third with BMG and Darenote, after Disco and Golden. It was released on 22 September 2023 in two versions: the standard version contains 11 tracks totalling over 35 minutes, while the deluxe edition includes three additional tracks: "Love Train", "Just Imagine", and "Somebody to Love".[30] A digital bonus version featuring two additional tracks, "Heavenly Body" and "Drum", was only available on Minogue's web-store for a limited time.[31]
Haris Nukem photographed the artwork for Tension, while Studio Moross designed the packaging.[13] The album cover shows Minogue holding a large diamond that covers one of her eyes, with the album title above and Minogue's logo below. Her skin colour scheme is green with an orange background. In an interview with French magazine Numéro, Minogue revealed that Nukem based the photo on a sketch he made, and that he came up with the idea of her holding a diamond after telling her, "I don't know why, but I see you holding this diamond."[32] The title Tension references the album track of the same name; initially, Minogue considered calling the record Vegas High, but changed her mind, saying "I hope this doesn't sound depressing - when you watch the news, the word is used negatively - but actually, once we decided that, I was pleasantly surprised that this title was well received. People were excited to listen to the album Tension."[32] She went on to explain that the diamond reflected the title Tension, saying, "The diamond is a subliminal image: that of the creation of beautiful things under pressure. I believe people can feel it through the cover, especially if they understand how diamonds are formed, i.e. under constraint."[32]
Following its release, the album was made available in a variety of formats via digital, physical, and streaming outlets.[33] Minogue's online store sold pre-release versions with a signed autograph. Both the standard and deluxe editions include slipcases and a casebound book, with the standard version featuring alternate artwork in various colours.[34] Eight vinyls were released in various colours and artworks, including black, silver with a gatefold package, transparent orange, transparent pink, transparent green, and a clear vinyl shaped like a coke bottle.[35] White test pressings limited to 50 copies with an autographed cover by Minogue was distributed via her website.[35] In London, a pop-up store sold limited clear vinyls with holographic covers.[35] Five cassettes were also released in a variety of colours: orange, green, blue, pink, and a standard double cassette with the deluxe edition content.[36]
"10 Out of 10" was a promotional single released by Oliver Heldens' label Kangarooli Tracks and RCA on 5 April 2023, and later included on Tension as a stand-alone track; Minogue is credited as a featured artist.[37] [38] It debuted three days earlier on Heldens' YouTube channel, where he uploaded episode 457 of Heldeep Radio.[39] Music critics praised it for combining Heldens and Minogue's distinct sounds, as well as for its production and chorus.[40] However, critics were divided over its inclusion on Tension.[22] Commercially, it peaked at number 19 on the UK Download and Single Sales Charts, as well as charting in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, and Russia, according to TopHit Radio.[41] [42]
On 17 May, "Padam Padam" was released as the album's lead single and was distributed on digital and streaming platforms by BMG and Darenote; additional physical releases were made available on Minogue's web-store at later dates.[43] [44] [45] It also marks Minogue's first single since "Real Groove" in 2020.[46] Music critics praised "Padam Padam" for its production value, catchiness, and overall sound. Several publications cited it as a standout from the album and Minogue's career, as well as qualifying as "Song of the summer" and finishing on various year-end lists. It was a sleeper hit for Minogue, charting several territories, and was certified in her native Australia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.[47] [48] [49] Sophie Muller directed a music video that was aesthetically inspired by The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and Americana culture.[50] Since its release, "Padam Padam" has gained significance within popular culture, with publications describing the song as a viral phenomenon, a pioneer in bridging a generational gap between younger audiences and mature performers, a notable gay anthem, and an attribute to LGBT culture.[51] [52] [53]
"Tension" was released as the album's second single on 31 August 2023.[54] Critics praised its sonic experimentation and overall production value. Commercially, it performed moderately in comparison to its predecessor, reaching the top ten on component charts in Australia, Latvia, Nicaragua, the United Kingdom, Malta, and New Zealand. Muller directed a music video for the song that featured various caricatures of Minogue on a neo-futuristic set.[55] "Tension" was cited by critics as another gay anthem and its contribution to viral and LGBT culture, similar to "Padam Padam".[56] [57] [58] "Hold On to Now" was released on 30 October as the album's third single.[59] Despite being praised for its production quality and athematic qualities, the song only charted in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A music visualiser featuring Minogue was uploaded to her YouTube channel.[60]
Following the release of Tension, Minogue posted visualisers for five of the album's songs on YouTube: "Things We Do for Love," "You Still Get Me High," "Green Light," "10 Out of 10," and "Story". Minogue appeared in each visualiser, either singing or dancing to the songs. Lyric videos for the album songs "One More Time", "Hands" and "Vegas High" were also released.[61] [62] [63] "Things We Do for Love" achieved commercial success following the album's release; Billboard recognised the track on their now-defunct Hot Trending Songs chart, which was powdered by X (formerly Twitter), reaching number nine.[64] In the United Kingdom, the song spent one week at number 69 on the UK Singles Sales and 67 on the UK Downloads chart.[65] [66]
See also: More Than Just a Residency. Minogue began promoting the album live in May 2023, when she appeared on American Idol and performed "Padam Padam" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head".[67] In June, she appeared as a special guest and performed the same songs at Capital's Summertime Ball.[68] She played "Padam Padam" as part of her nine-track setlist at the iHeartMedia KTUphoria 2023 live show.[69] She also appeared on two shows hosted by American personality Andy Cohen: Cohen's Watch What Happens Live! and the Sirius XM radio show.[70] [71] She also performed "Padam Padam" twice at the Horse Meat Disco event due to technical difficulties with the first performance.[72] Minogue and Tears for Fears co-headlined Radio 2 in the Park at Victoria Park in September, just one week before the album's release. She headlined the festival's second and final night, performing "Padam Padam," "Tension," and "Hold On to Now."[73]
Minogue attended the 2023 London Fashion Week launch at Lio London, where she performed several album tracks, including "Padam Padam" and "Tension".[74] Minogue also opened a Kylie Pop-up Store in London from 22 September to 24 September. Minogue performed a free concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on September 27, 2023, and over 100,000 people applied for the 2,000 tickets.[75] [76] Minogue performed "Padam Padam" at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix on 15 November 2023.[77] The following night, she performed several songs with Mark Ronson on the T-Mobile Arena stage in front of the Las Vegas Sphere.[78] Minogue closed out the F1 weekend on November 18th with a performance at the Monaco Grand Prix's Amber Lounge.[79] Songs from Tension appeared in An Audience with Kylie, a television concert special filmed at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 December 2023 and broadcast on ITV on 10 December and Boxing Day 2023.[80]
On 28 July, Minogue announced that she would begin her first concert residency titled More Than Just a Residency. The announcement came after Minogue hinted about the residency on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Minogue went on to say that the residency had been planned three years in advance and that she would be performing new arrangements of her music as well as tracks from Tension.[81] She later teased the show and the album track "Vegas High", which had yet to be released at the time the residency was announced.[82] The residency started on 3 November 2023, at The Voltaire Club at The Venetian Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada, and ended on 4 May 2024.[83] It was both critically and commercially successful, with all shows quickly selling out.[84] Minogue has hinted at expanding the show with a concert tour that will take her across the United States and around the world.[85]
Two months after the release of Tension, Minogue announced the release of Extension (The Extended Mixes), a remix album featuring extended versions of each album track from the standard format.[86] In addition, the release included a digital version of the original album. The artwork for the album and its packaging are identical to the parent album, but in pink and green.[87] On 8 December 2023, BMG released Extension in three formats: digital, streaming, and a limited double vinyl with paint splatter.[88] [89] [90] Commercially, the album charted in a various countries, including Scotland, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, and France. Variety confirmed in February 2024 that Tension would be repackaged with additional material and released the same year.[91]
Tension received universal acclaim from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average based on ratings from publications, the album scored 86 out of 100 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim", making it Minogue's highest-rated album on the site. On AnyDecentMusic?, which assigns a weighted average based on ratings from publications, the album scored 8.1 out of 10, based on 18 reviews. Many critics considered Tension to be among Minogue's best work.
Classic Pop editor John Earls gave it five stars, writing that Tension is "built on confidence" and is a "object lesson in truly memorable pop."[26] Similarly, Otis Robinson of DIY gave it the same rating, noting that "there's enough originality pumped throughout each track that Tension will undoubtedly stand as one of the most favoured contemporary Kylie eras."[24] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic called the album's energy "custom-made for living in the moment and embracing cathartic release", adding that "Tension is a master class in pop wizardry and escapist bliss. Releasing an album this expertly crafted and stunning in her fifth decade in the industry is an absolute marvel to behold." The Line of Best Fit editor Sam Franzini gave it a 9 out of 10 and called it a "knockout", while Clash editor Lucy Harbon said Tension "heralds in a vibrant and fun new era that sees Kylie refreshed and ready to lead again."
Michael Cragg, writing for Crack, called it "quintessential Kylie", describing it as "an album packed full of gleaming choruses, gold-plated melodies, and Kylie's uncanny ability to make love and loss shimmer with possibilities." PopMatters editor Peter Piatkowski called it "powerful, empowering, and, most importantly, fun", while Rolling Stone UK's Hannah Mylrea described it as "brilliantly good fun."[11] Vera Maksymiuk of Riff gave Tension an 8 out of 10, describing it as "purely joyous and alluring", while David Smyth of The Standard called it "impeccable pop."[21] [92] Pitchfork writer Harry Tafoya described it as her "most relaxed album" and best record in recent years.[22] Devon Chodzin, contributor of Paste magazine, wrote: "There is plenty of material for the club to cycle through, and one can expect that the album cuts will gain new vitality on the dance floor, too." Retropop rated the album four stars, praising its sonic diversity and highlighting some of her best vocal performances.[93]
Few critics had a mixture of positive and lukewarm reactions to the album. NME writer Nick Levine gave it four stars, stating that while Tension was not Minogue's "most cohesive or revealing" work, he believed each track was "driven by its own internal logic." Despite praising the album's various sounds, Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine felt Minogue was playing it safe with the record, referring to it as "another Kylie Minogue album."[23] Helen Brown of The Independent expressed similar sentiments about the album's "safe" quality, but added that "there's no denying the twirling pleasures" of Tension.[94] Annabel Ross of The Sydney Morning Herald gave it three stars, saying that while Tension did a better job of "facilitating dance floor euphoria", she thought Minogue's "cheerful guardedness" throughout the album's content was the only "flaw".[95] Guy Oddy of The Arts Desk gave it three stars, praising some of the album's tracks and sounds but criticising others and its lack of "deep intellectual introspection".[96]
Minogue and her work on Tension won Best Pop Release and were nominated for Best Solo Artist, Best Independent Release, and Song of the Year at the 2023 ARIA Music Awards.[97] Minogue has received the most ARIA nominations since 2002, when she won five out of seven.[98] Minogue won Best Australian Act at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards, marking her first nomination and win in the awards show since 2003.[99] "Padam Padam" became the inaugural winner of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording in 2024, becoming the first ever solo female song to be nominated and win in that category, her first Grammy-nominated song since "I Believe in You" was nominated for Best Dance Recording in 2006, her first nomination since 2009, and her first win since "Come into My World" in 2004.[100] [101]
| Accolade | Rank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albumism | The 50 Best Albums of 2023 | 12 | ||
| AllMusic | 100 Favorite Albums of 2023 | |||
| AllMusic | 2023 Favorite Pop Albums | |||
| Billboard | The 15 Best Dance Albums of 2023 | |||
| Daily Record | Top Albums of 2023 | 9 | ||
| Dig | Best Albums of 2023 | 25 | ||
| The 50 Best Albums of 2023 | 24 | |||
| Houston Chronicle | Joey Guerra's 10 Best Albums of 2023 | 2 | ||
| The Best Australian Albums of 2023 | ||||
| GQ Australia | The 23 Best Albums of 2023 | 20 | ||
| Metacritic | The 40 Best Albums of 2023 | 30 | ||
| The Music | The Best Australian albums of 2023 | |||
| NME | The 25 Best Australian Albums of 2023 | 14 | ||
| PopCrush | 30 Best Pop Albums of 2023 | |||
| PopMatters | The 80 Best Albums of 2023 | 16 | ||
| PopMatters | The 20 Best Pop Albums of 2023 | 2 | ||
| Retropop | Top 10 Albums of 2023 | 10 | ||
| Riff | 45 Best Albums of 2023 | 20 | ||
| Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Albums of 2023 | 45 | ||
| Rolling Stone Australia | The 25 Best Australian Albums of 2023 | 7 |
Tension debuted at number one on the Australian Albums Chart, marking Minogue's fourth consecutive number-one album and eighth overall. Annabelle Herd, CEO of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), congratulated Minogue on her achievements, saying, "It's a thrill to see an ARIA Hall of Fame artist continue to dominate, reinvent and represent Australian music on such a global scale. We can't wait to celebrate her success at this year's awards." In New Zealand, the album debuted at number five on the regional albums chart, her highest-charting album since Fever and the week's second best-seller. In Ireland, the album debuted at number two on the regional albums chart and was her third consecutive album to top the Independent Albums Chart.
Tension debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, marking Minogue's ninth number-one album and fourth consecutive entry since Golden. According to the Official Charts Company, Tension outsold the rest of its top-20 competitors four days after its release, with total first-week sales of 53,239 album-equivalent units.[102] [103] This was the fifth highest opening sales for a record in the UK in 2023, and the third best-selling vinyl of the year.[104] [105] Minogue also became the tenth solo act with the most UK number one albums, tying Bob Dylan, and the third female artist, following Taylor Swift (10) and Madonna (12).[106] Tension also debuted at number one on the Scottish Albums Chart, making it her fifth time there. As of 9 March 2024, Tension spent 19 weeks on the UK Albums Sales Chart.[107]
Tension debuted in Japan on two Oricon component charts, at 19 on the digital chart and 20 on the Western chart. It also debuted at 65 on Billboard Japans Hot Albums chart.[108] [109] [110] Tension became her best-charting album in the Netherlands, debuting at number three on the Dutch Album Top 100. In Belgium, it became Minogue's first number-one album on the Wallonia Ultratop Albums Chart and her highest-charting record on the Flanders Ultratop Albums Chart. Tension debuted at number two on the Swiss Albums Top 100 and the Spanish Top 100 Albums charts, matching Minogue's highest charting peak in Switzerland and Spain, Aphrodite (2010). The album debuted at number 31 in the Danish Albums Chart, her first appearance since Kiss Me Once (2014).
Tension debuted at number 21 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, making it her third highest-charting album there. It sold 24,500 total album-equivalent units in its first week, with 19,500 of those being pure sales, making it Minogue's best first-week sales since Body Language in 2003, when she sold 43,500.[111] It also debuted at number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart, becoming her second consecutive album to do so following Disco, and peaked at number four on the Independent Albums chart, also sharing the spot with Disco. In Canada, Tension debuted at number 23 on the regional albums charts.
Notes
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tension.[13]
Visuals
| Peak position | |
| Australian Independent Albums (AIR)[112] | 1 |
|---|---|
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[113] | 31 |
| Irish Independent Albums (IRMA)[114] | 1 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[115] | 12 |
| Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon) | 19 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) | 65 |
| Japanese Western Albums (Oricon) | 20 |
| Swiss Albums (Les charts Romandy)[116] | 2 |
| Peak position | |
| Australian Independent Albums (AIR)[117] | 1 |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| Australian Artist Albums (ARIA)[118] | 6 |
|---|---|
| Australian Vinyl Albums (ARIA)[119] | 10 |
| UK Cassette Albums (OCC)[120] | 3 |
| UK CD Albums (OCC)[121] | 12 |
| UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[122] | 11 |
| Date | Format | Editions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 22 September 2023 | Standard | [123] | ||
| Deluxe | |||||
| 25 September 2023 | Digital download | Bonus edition | |||
| 6 November 2023 | Bonus deluxe edition | ||||
| 8 December 2023 | Extension: The Extended Mixes | ||||
| 23 August 2024 | CD | Tension: Special Edition (Limited) |