So Under Pressure
Encyclopedia
"So Under Pressure" is an dance pop song performed by Australia
n singer Dannii Minogue
. The song was written by Minogue, Terry Ronald
and LMC, and produced by Lee Monteverde for Minogue's fifth album Club Disco
and was also used as the lead-single for her greatest hits
compilation The Hits & Beyond
(2006). The song's lyrics
discuss the cancer
diagnoses of Minogue's sister Kylie
.
The song was released as a single
on 12 June 2006 in the United Kingdom
. It entered the top forty in Australia, Ireland
and the UK and became Minogue's seventh consecutive Upfront Club Chart number one. The song's music video
, directed by Phil Griffin, features Minogue in a variety of high pressure situations. She has described it as "the hardest video I've ever done".
and British dance group LMC. During one of their sessions, they penned "So Under Pressure", which was inspired by the cancer
diagnoses of her sister Kylie
as well as that of an unnamed friend. Minogue has described the recording of "So Under Pressure" as a "real achievement" as she was "brave enough to put all [her feelings] into words".
Sharon O'Connell in a review for Time Out described the song as a "banal, housed-up aggregate of Madonna
, Duran Duran
and Chic
", writing that the track was "a tart reminder that the pop pool is really only big enough for one Minogue". Allmusic reviewer John Lucas called the track one of "Minogue's more inventive moments".
The music video
was directed by Phil Griffin in mid-2006. The video opens with a scene of Minogue in a white room dressed in a black swimsuit
. She is then shown lying on top of a white platform with a python wrapped around her body. Scenes of Minogue and her three dancers walking a catwalk, posing for photographs and dancing are intercut throughout the music video. The video concludes with Minogue trapped inside a spinning perspex
box.
Minogue described the video as "the hardest video I've ever done". The music video's crew did not believe that Minogue could work with the python, but she said that it did not bother her at all. The music video was released commercially on The Hits & Beyond
special edition companion DVD
, released in June 2006.
on 19 June 2006 at number twenty. The following week, "So Under Pressure" fell to number sixty and exited the chart in its third week of release. The track became Minogue's seventh consecutive Upfront Club Chart number one in the UK. In Ireland, the song reached number thirty-one, remaining on the singles chart
for one week. "So Under Pressure" proved popular in Irish dance clubs
where it reached number six on the Dance Singles Chart.
The track was released in Australia on 29 July 2006. It debuted on 8 August 2006 at number sixteen and became Minogue's eighth top twenty single. The song remained on the singles chart
for five weeks, exiting on 5 September 2006.
UK CD single #1
(CDGLOBE541; Released )
UK CD single #2
(CXGLOBE541; Released 14 June 2006)
UK 12" vinyl single
(12GLOBE541; Released June 2006; Limited edition)
Australian CD single #1
(CSRCD50515; Released )
Australian CD single #2
(CSRCD50517; Released 29 July 2007; Limited edition)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n singer Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
. The song was written by Minogue, Terry Ronald
Terry Ronald
Terry Ronald is a songwriter and producer from London who has worked with a variety of different singers and bands.-Biography:...
and LMC, and produced by Lee Monteverde for Minogue's fifth album Club Disco
Club Disco
Club Disco is the fifth studio album by Australian dance-pop singer Dannii Minogue. It was released by All Around the World as a digital download on 5 November 2007. A double disc was released in Australia on 27 May 2008 which included a bonus CD of remixes and "Touch Me Like That" as the first track...
and was also used as the lead-single for her greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation The Hits & Beyond
The Hits & Beyond
The Hits & Beyond is a compilation album by Australian pop–dance singer Dannii Minogue, released by All Around the World Records on 19 June 2006. It was a compilation of greatest hits and new tracks...
(2006). The song's lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
discuss the cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
diagnoses of Minogue's sister Kylie
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
.
The song was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on 12 June 2006 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It entered the top forty in Australia, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and the UK and became Minogue's seventh consecutive Upfront Club Chart number one. The song's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Phil Griffin, features Minogue in a variety of high pressure situations. She has described it as "the hardest video I've ever done".
Background and reception
In 2005, Minogue began writing and recording material with long time collaborator Terry RonaldTerry Ronald
Terry Ronald is a songwriter and producer from London who has worked with a variety of different singers and bands.-Biography:...
and British dance group LMC. During one of their sessions, they penned "So Under Pressure", which was inspired by the cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
diagnoses of her sister Kylie
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
as well as that of an unnamed friend. Minogue has described the recording of "So Under Pressure" as a "real achievement" as she was "brave enough to put all [her feelings] into words".
Sharon O'Connell in a review for Time Out described the song as a "banal, housed-up aggregate of Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
", writing that the track was "a tart reminder that the pop pool is really only big enough for one Minogue". Allmusic reviewer John Lucas called the track one of "Minogue's more inventive moments".
Music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by Phil Griffin in mid-2006. The video opens with a scene of Minogue in a white room dressed in a black swimsuit
Swimsuit
A swimsuit, bathing suit, or swimming costume is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.A...
. She is then shown lying on top of a white platform with a python wrapped around her body. Scenes of Minogue and her three dancers walking a catwalk, posing for photographs and dancing are intercut throughout the music video. The video concludes with Minogue trapped inside a spinning perspex
Acrylic glass
Poly is a transparent thermoplastic, often used as a light or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is sometimes called acrylic glass. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
box.
Minogue described the video as "the hardest video I've ever done". The music video's crew did not believe that Minogue could work with the python, but she said that it did not bother her at all. The music video was released commercially on The Hits & Beyond
The Hits & Beyond
The Hits & Beyond is a compilation album by Australian pop–dance singer Dannii Minogue, released by All Around the World Records on 19 June 2006. It was a compilation of greatest hits and new tracks...
special edition companion DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, released in June 2006.
Chart performance
"So Under Pressure" was officially released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 12 June 2006. The song debuted on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on 19 June 2006 at number twenty. The following week, "So Under Pressure" fell to number sixty and exited the chart in its third week of release. The track became Minogue's seventh consecutive Upfront Club Chart number one in the UK. In Ireland, the song reached number thirty-one, remaining on the singles chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
for one week. "So Under Pressure" proved popular in Irish dance clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
where it reached number six on the Dance Singles Chart.
The track was released in Australia on 29 July 2006. It debuted on 8 August 2006 at number sixteen and became Minogue's eighth top twenty single. The song remained on the singles chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
for five weeks, exiting on 5 September 2006.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "So Under Pressure".UK CD single #1
(CDGLOBE541; Released )
- "So Under Pressure" (Radio edit) – 3:20
- "So Under Pressure" (Soul Seekerz remix) – 5:18
- "So Under Pressure" (LMC Extended mix) – 6:43
- "So Under Pressure" (Steve Pitron Crash remix) – 7:13
- "So Under Pressure" (Riffs & Rays Remix edit) – 6:45
- "So Under Pressure" (Thriller Jill remix) – 8:19
- "So Under Pressure" music video
UK CD single #2
(CXGLOBE541; Released 14 June 2006)
- "So Under Pressure" (Radio edit) – 3:20
- "Feel Like I Do" (Danni Minogue, Jean-Claude AdesJean-Claude AdesJean-Claude Ades, also known as Krystal K and J.C.A. is an Italian-working in Germany- electronic music producer, specialising in house and electro music. Particularly noted for his work with pop and dance vocalist, Dannii Minogue, Ades co-wrote and produced Minogue's biggest hit "I Begin To...
, Hannah RobinsonHannah RobinsonHannah Robinson is a British songwriter. Her best known compositions include the "Some Girls", a UK #2 for British pop star Rachel Stevens and Ladyhawke's "My Delirium". She also a vocalist and in 2006 achieved a #1 on the U.S...
) – 3:48
UK 12" vinyl single
(12GLOBE541; Released June 2006; Limited edition)
- "So Under Pressure" (LMC Extended mix) – 6:43
- "So Under Pressure" (Soul Seekerz remix) – 5:18
- "So Under Pressure" (Steve Pitron Crash remix) – 7:13
Australian CD single #1
(CSRCD50515; Released )
- "So Under Pressure" (Radio edit) – 3:22
- "So Under Pressure" (Soul Seekerz remix / Soul Seekerz extended) – 7:47
- "So Under Pressure" (Extended mix / LMC Extended mix) – 6:42
- "So Under Pressure" (Steve Pitron remix) – 7:12
- "So Under Pressure" (Riffs & Rays remix) – 6:47
- "So Under Pressure" (Thriller Jill remix) – 8:02
Australian CD single #2
(CSRCD50517; Released 29 July 2007; Limited edition)
- "So Under Pressure" (Soul Seekerz extended / Soul Seekerz remix) – 7:48
- "So Under Pressure" (LMC Extended mix / Extended mix) – 6:42
- "So Under Pressure" (Express Theory mix) – 5:52
- "So Under Pressure" (Soul Seekerz dub) – 7:48
- "So Under Pressure" (Radio edit) – 3:22
- "Feel Like I Do" – 3:49
- "So Under Pressure" music video
Personnel
The following people contributed to "So Under Pressure":- Dannii Minogue – lead vocals
- Justine Riddock – backing vocals
- Lee Monteverde – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Chris Martin – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Terry Ronald – backing vocals, additional vocal production
- RecordedSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and mixedAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
at AATW Studios
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
16 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
31 |
| Irish Dance Chart | 6 |
| UK Upfront Club Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
20 |
| Russian Airplay Chart | 38 |
External links
- Official website
- "So Under Pressure" lyrics - lyrics to the album version of the song.