| Padam Padam | |
| Cover: | Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam.png |
| Alt: | A pair of thigh-high red boots in front of a desert landscape and yellow sky, with the song title at the top in red block letters and "Kylie" at the bottom in white, with its letters joined by a white line |
| Caption: | Original single cover |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Kylie Minogue |
| Album: | Tension |
| Recorded: | 2022 |
| Studio: |
|
| Producer: | Lostboy |
| Prev Title: | Kiss of Life |
| Prev Year: | 2021 |
| Next Title: | Tension |
| Next Year: | 2023 |
"Padam Padam" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her sixteenth studio album Tension (2023). It was released on 18 May 2023 through BMG and Darenote, as the lead single from the album. Written by Norwegian singer-songwriter Ina Wroldsen with British producer Lostboy, "Padam Padam" is a dance-pop and synthpop song with elements of electronic music and Eastern European sound. Lyrically, it touches on the topic of sexual encounters, with its title being an onomatopoeia for a heartbeat.
"Padam Padam" received critical acclaim from music critics, with many praising its catchiness and hook. Critics also singled it as a standout from the parent album. It won the inaugural Best Pop Dance Recording award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as Record of the Year at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards and Best Pop Release at the 2023 ARIA Music Awards. Various music publications, including Billboard, The Guardian, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Variety, placed "Padam Padam" on their Best Songs of 2023 lists.
Commercially, the song reached number one on the Israeli Singles Chart, number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and number 19 on the Australian Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in various European countries and appeared on several component charts in the United States and Canada. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Pro-Música Brasil (PMB).
The music video was directed by British filmmaker Sophie Muller. Shot in Los Angeles, it was visually inspired by the works of The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and elements of Americana culture. Minogue has made several live appearances to promote "Padam Padam" in the United Kingdom and North America. The song has become a viral phenomenon and has been recognised by notable publications for its cultural significance in pop culture. It has been dubbed an anthem within the LGBT community and has been played at pride parades. Furthermore, the track's success has been credited as a pioneer in bridging a generational gap between younger audiences and mature performers through social media and airplay.
After wrapping up promotional activities for her fifteenth studio album, Disco (2020), Minogue appeared on BBC Radio 2 to talk about 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."[1] Minogue confirmed this in a June 2022 interview with Vogue, citing her 2003 single "Slow" as inspiration for the album's sound.[2] That same year, Norwegian singer Ina Wroldsen and English producer Peter "Lostboy" Rycroft met in London in February 2022 to work on new music, and in two days, they wrote "Padam Padam".[3] Regarding the song's title, Wroldsen stated, "I'm married to an Englishman, and my mother-in-law from north London would always go, 'Oh my heart's going ped-ou, ped-ou". Furthermore, Wroldsen said, "It was in my mind when I went to the studio, but 'ped-ou' doesn't sound very nice. So we created 'padam'."[3] After finishing the song, they weren't sure who would record it, so they considered pitching it to British singer Rita Ora or a Eurovision contestant.[4] Minogue's A&R Jamie Nelson sent Minogue the demo of "Padam Padam" while she was in Miami, and she fell in love with it.[5] She recorded it in a London hotel and is listed as the track's vocal engineer.[6] [7] When asked about her reaction to the song, Minogue stated, "I loved the song, and the bonus is it felt like it was perfect for me."[8]
Minogue first teased "Padam Padam" on 12 May 2023 via social media.[9] Three days later, Minogue announced the song's release date and shared a preview.[10] It was released on 18 May 2024 by BMG and Minogue's company Darenote and serves as the opening track and lead single for Tension. The cover artwork for the single was created by Studio Moross, who handled the promotional shooting and designs for Tension, and was taken from the "Padam Padam" video shoot; it features Minogue's thigh-high Mugler boots against a red-orange desert backdrop.[11] [12] An alternate digital cover used on Minogue's website depicts Minogue in full from the music video.[13] Remixes by HAAi, Absolute, and Jax Jones were all released on digital and streaming platforms separately. Three formats were available: a CD single, a cassette tape with the single and extended mix, and another cassette with all previously released remixes.[14] A vinyl edition was later released to coincide with the album's third single, "Hold On to Now".[15] The extended mix was later included on Minogue's remix album, (2023).[16] [17]
"Padam Padam" is a dance-pop and synth-pop song that includes electronic music and lasts two minutes and 46 seconds. Shore Fire Media stated: "From the euphoric vocals, to the ridiculously infectious chorus and the heart-thumping electronic drum beat - this is an instant Kylie classic."[18] The song is written in 4/4 time and is based on a phrygian dominant scale of C (a Mixolydian scale with lowered 9th (2nd) and lowered 13th (6th), which contributes to its tense quality.[19] [20] Lyrically, it explores sexual desire and attraction, with certain lyrics and the title serving as onomatopoeia for the heartbeat.[3] [21] Sam Franzini, a writer from The Line of Best Fit, honoured this example by comparing its themes to the "Padam Padam" and Tension tracks, which share similar themes throughout.[21] Other music critics cited various inspirations and elements for the track. According to Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic, the song "pops through woozy production as a hypnotic groove throbs beneath the surface", while Pitchfork writer Harry Tafoya found the track's vibe to be "silly", with Minogue "vamping through pounding piano house to deliver some truly ridiculous lyrics."[22] [23] George Griffiths of the Official Charts Company describes "Padam Padam" as "elastic, Eastern Europe-inspired electro-pop with a bite", and Quentin Harrison of Albumism also notices Eastern-European sounds.[24] When it appeared on Tension, Vera Maksymiuk of Riff wrote that it "sets the tone; mimicking a heartbeat".[25] Guy Oddy of The Arts Desk observed that it was slightly influenced by 1990s music, particularly house and electro music and that the song features a "sensual groove, fruity lyrics, and slightly autotuned vocals".[26]
“Padam Padam” garnered critical acclaim from music critics. Padam Padam" was described by Stereogum as "a sleek, thumping, catchy-as-hell dance-pop jam" upon its release, adding that "Kylie knows exactly how to deliver a song like that". Retropop called the song "infectious" and "a punchy electronic extravaganza that promises to be 'in your head all weekend'".[27] NME editor Hollie Geraghty praised the song's "thumping earworm refrain", while Jon Stickler of Stereoboard described it as "the catchy pop banger" with a "infectious chorus."[28] [29] Mary Varvaris of The Music wrote that the song "sounds completely 2023 while remaining unmistakably Kylie".[30] The song was described as a "shiny bubble of dance-pop joy" by Owen Myers of The Guardian, "unburdened by its performer's personal narrative, freeing Minogue up to play sunny showgirl once more."[31] According to David Smyth of The Evening Standard, "Padam Padam" is a "slinky, Eurovision-style firecracker catchy enough to cause sleepless nights".[32]
Its inclusion in Tension drew widespread praise. Noting it as Minogue's "catchiest chorus in decades", Yeung of AllMusic it as one of the album's top picks and career highlights, saying "listeners won't soon be able to get "Padam Padam" out of their heads."[33] Similarly, Harrison of Albumism chose it as one of the standout tracks from Tension.[24] Peter Piatkowski wrote for PopMatters that selecting "Padam Padam" as the lead single "was a smart decision by whoever made that call".[34] He also compared it to Minogue's single "Can't Get You Out of My Head," stating that "Padam Padam" is "just the kind of ear-worm pop hit that "Can't Get You Out of My Head" was", noting its catchiness.[34] Michael Cragg of Crack dubbed it her best lead single since "Slow", describing it as "hot, heavy, and primarily controlled by Kylie's deepest desires."[35] NME writer Nick Levine called the track "brilliant" and thought it was an "outlier" to Tension.[36] Guy Oddy of The Arts Desk described it as an "absolute banger and has been touted as one of her best tunes in years - with good reason."[26]
Jeremy Allen, writing for The Quietus, identified key elements to the success of "Padam Padam", including "red herring, borrowed judiciously and tethered to some icy electro in a minor key, adorned with subtle musical arabesques", and how those qualities worked for her with her singles "Confide in Me" in 1994 and "Can't Get You Out of My Head" while "keeping things fresh by always being adventurous."[37] Helen Brown of The Independent called the track an "Advance slam-dunker", while Devon Chodzin of Paste saw it as the album's "glimmering thesis statement—a bouncy cut under three minutes that recounts a sultry dance floor encounter and the possibilities it presents."[38] Despite its lack of personal depth, Harry Tafoya of Pitchfork praised its "charm" and called it one of the album's "camp highs", while Loud and Quiet writer Orla Foster thought the song was about "jumpstarting the pulse of your nightclub conquest."[39] [40] According to Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine, "Padam Padam" is "an invasive earworm that feels like it could be a cover of a Reagan-era pop hit".[41]
Since its release, "Padam Padam" has received numerous awards and nominations. It was named Record of the Year at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards..[42] At the 2023 ARIA Music Awards, Minogue and "Padam Padam" won Best Pop Release and were nominated for three other awards: Best Solo Artist, Best Independent Release, and Song of the Year, with the latter decided by public vote.[43] Minogue has received the most nominations since the 16th Annual Awards in 2002 in 2002, where she was nominated seven times.[44] At the IHeartRadio Music Awards, she and "Padam Padam" were nominated for Dance Artist and Dance Song of the Year.[45] At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the song received the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording.[46] It was her first Grammy nomination since "I Believe in You" for Best Dance Recording in 2006, her first since 2009, and her first win since "Come Into My World" in 2004.[47] [48] [49] It also received Anthem of the Year at the 2024 Queerties Awards.[50] "Padam Padam" has also been nominated for Dance Song of the Year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards and Best Song at the 2024 Global Awards.[51] [52]
| List | Rank | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Songwriter | Top 12 Songs of 2023 |