Kylie Minogue Reveals that it Took a Decade to Create Her Holiday Single 'XMAS'

Pop superstar Kylie Minogue has finally released the Christmas song she has kept private for ten years. Her new single, XMAS, was inspired by the Village Peoples classic YMCA and was first conceived during the summer of 2015.

The track is part of the 10th anniversary edition of Minogues holiday album. Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) will return on December 5, featuring four new songs alongside the original collection.

Minogue shared with The Sun that the concept originated while she was in Berlin after releasing her first Christmas album. I was at Soho House in Berlin on a summer terrace, just after the first Christmas album, she said. After a few glasses of wine, it came to us: like YMCA but XMAS. Ive been holding onto the chorus for ten years.

The single is accompanied by a video in which Minogue performs the iconic flying lift from Dirty Dancing. Despite her extensive stage experience, she described the stunt as a bold step. I was nervous as Id never tried it before. It was a fantasy moment, she explained. We practiced a couple of times before the main take. The first lift overshot, the second was fine, and the third worked perfectly. The bruises the next day were worth it.

Regarding the songs potential as a holiday hit, Minogue said she isnt placing expectations on chart success. Im not counting on it. It would be amazing, but thats not my main focus. Im just thrilled ten years have passed since my last Christmas album and were still going strong.

The release comes after a busy period in Minogues career. Over the past two years, she has released two albums, including 2023s Tension, and completed a 66-date global tour. Despite the workload, she expressed excitement about continuing music creation. Its been a massive year, but Id happily spend most of my time in the studio. Making music is deeply satisfying, she said.

Minogue acknowledged that recording a holiday album during tour breaks was challenging but emphasized that her creative drive remains strong. Maybe I should focus more on the groundwork and let releasing come naturally, she added.

Her 2023 album Tension topped charts in the U.K. and Australia, reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200, and produced the international hit Padam Padam, which won a Grammy for Best Pop Dance Recording. Its follow-up, Tension II, also led charts in multiple countries and entered the U.S. top 100.

Author: Sophia Brooks