Audio By Carbonatix
Aphrodite Tour 2011 Starring Kylie Minogue
BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Better than: Watching Lady Gaga’s “Monster Ball” on TV
If there’s a god, let’s hope he’s taking notes from Kylie Minogue. After her concert Saturday, I believe in her, and it’s about time the rest of America does too. The reportedly $20 million spectacle that this Australian pop star was brought to South Florida this past weekend — $55 for nosebleed seats — AKA the world’s reigning pop diva’s Aphrodite tour, was simply heavenly.
“You know that I’m magical, I am the original, I am the only one to
make you feel this way,” she sang from the title track of her latest
album, Aphrodite. Beginning the night emerging from a giant golden clamshell — see Botticelli’s Birth of Venus
— Minogue descended a staircase in a golden armor bustier and flowy
white skirt, stepping through rich blue lighting and smoke that
blanketed the BankAtlantic stage. Hunky dancers dressed in skimpy togas
strutted across the stage during the highly choreographed introduction,
and synchronized acrobats spun on high wires. Images from giant screens
behind the, ahem, giant Greek temple, enchanted audiences,
oscillating between mesmerizing pictures of Minogue’s face and aquatic
imagery, which included chiseled men swimming in water or being splashed
by it.
“Aphrodite” really set the tone for the evening, recognizing Minogue
as the reigning pop diva that she is, someone unbelievably popular
everywhere but the United States. She gained some stateside exposure during
the late ’80s with her cover of “Locomotion” and over a decade later
with pop hits like “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” and “Love at First
Sight” but never became the “golden girl” here that she is overseas.
Yet at 42, Minogue’s stage presence communicates the ease of someone who
has it all: beauty, grace, and a magnetism that, despite all the
naughty kitsch around her, maintains a refined charm. If she could sing
with a ball gag, it would probably be most adorable and endearing.
The majority of the two-hour show proceeded in an
over-the-top fashion similar to the introduction: a vision of Vegas-style
Hellenism that made sure Cirque de Soleil dropped by the bondage shop
before the dance party. For instance, during the hypnotic, Grammy-winning
synthpop single “I Believe in You,” Minogue rode in a chariot drawn by
buff brutes who were reined in by something resembling bridles and who
were wearing only tight black briefs. Epic Dolce & Gabbana wardrobe
changes ensued. During “Looking for an Angel,” an angel was lowered on
to the stage. The dance-pop gem “All the Lovers” closed the night and
featured the acrobats pairing for some scary/fancy aerodynamics.
Critic’s Notebook
Personal bias: The last time I went to BankAtlantic
was last month for Iron Maiden. The show was awesome, but Kylie was a
nice counterbalance. Same amount of men, more glitter.
Overheard: “I love your shoes!” from an audience member to Minogue, concerning her supersparkly, gold baby-doll shoes.
The crowd: Gay men, golden boys, toga-wearing beefcakes.
By the way: Despite the arena-sized venue, the show
still felt really intimate. I was actually pretty jealous of the guys in
the outer seats. They had much more room to dance.
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