DANNII MINOGUE

DANNII MINOGUE
28 UMM • WINTER 2003
dannii
minogue
AUSTRALIAN FOR HOT!
IT ISN’T EASY FINDING FAULT with Australian singer/actress/fashion designer Dannii
Minogue – because she doesn’t have any (aside from her snake fetish). Check out
her personal ad: Dark hair, blue eyes, phenomenally well-proportioned former
actress seeks laughs and loves in Canada. Willing to disrobe for personal satisfaction
and really, just because it’s a major turn-on. Ok, so we made that up – but look at
her! Her bio reads like a combination of 10 other stars’ careers. She was a child TV
star in Australia, appearing on two Series. Her recording career began at 15, when
she started a 6-year run on an Aussie talent show. She also began designing fashion
lines, something she’s been involved with since. In’88 she began a role on the monster
Aussie soap Home & Away, and the next year was voted Best Female Personality
and Best New Star by Australian magazines. In the early ‘90’s, Dannii left the show
and began releasing a series of hit singles and albums at home and in Europe. By
the end of ’91, Brit magazines had voted her Best new Star and World’s Best
Female Pop Star. Throughout the ‘90’s, Dannii alternated between hit TV appearances,
releasing international party anthems, touring, posing for Playboy, and even theatre
appearances, including her role as Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. And now the UK
chart-topper has dipped her delicious toe into Canada, with singles like “Don’t
wanna lose this feeling.” Dannii has conquered Europe as a singer, soap opera star,
and with her bikini line. And while she’s trying to escape the shadows of her older
sister Kylie’s fame, Dannii is already in Canada’s good books, after all, she dated
hometown hero Jacques Villeneuve. She recently took a break to discuss her spread
in Playboy, vice for danger, appreciation for wild creatures, and passion for
everything Ibiza.
It’s a Vancouver morning in Montreal. After three solid days of rain, the hot sun is
drying up the streets and crowds of university students are taking the opportunity
to fill up every café patio on Crescent Street. Abbis, UMM’s faithful editor, and I,
walk into Dannii’s penthouse at the hotel. Every room has been sectioned off with
eager reporters waiting their turn to lay eyes on the international singing sensation.
Abbis and I are in the midst of an intense debate about the addictive ingredient in
Tim Hortons coffee when Dannii enters the room.
By Aliya Sovani
DANNII MINOGUE
Meeting her for a coffee is a lot like
meeting Cinderella for a drink at a quarter
past midnight. She’s wearing little red
overalls and running shoes – she calls
herself “ a tomboy, always in mud as a
kid and riding BMX bikes, playing with
frogs” – but she has a natural beauty
that is very radiant. She’s pretty, with
striking eyes and a fantastic smile. I turn
on my tape recorder and she instantly
grabs it from my hands “Digital?” she
says with excitement, “I’m a gadget
freak! I like reading those magazines
that are really meant for boys…I’m like
(gasp) omigod!”
A quick Laundry list: She’s hotter than
reality TV. Check. As friendly as a
Subway sandwich maker. Check. Smart.
Check…and mate. Oh, did I mention
that she pours pretty nicely into a
bikini? The two of us are knee-deep in
conversation – sipping on coffee and
having “girl-talk”. I want to know all the
dirt on Jacques, Kylie, and her Playboy
spread. Dannii wants to talk about washing
her car in a bikini. And Abbis looks like
he wants proof that this whole thing isn’t
just the best dream he’s ever had.
ALIYA: When readers see your picture
and think “hmm, she looks familiar”
where do they probably recognize you
from?
DANNII: Probably from my sister
(laughs). I was dating Jacques
Villeneuve at the races, so people from
Canada know me from that. I always get
“you’re the sister of…” or “you’re the
ex-girlfriend of…” I’m never gonna
escape that because he’s a local boy!
ALIYA: Tell me he let you ride in his racecar…
DANNII: I haven’t been in the racecars
because I would have made him slow
down! But he actually liked it when I
would drive him around.
ALIYA: Wait a second… Jacques
Villeneuve let YOU drive him around?
DANNII: No one believes it! He’s not the
kind of guy to be a passenger. But he
totally trusted me and was totally cool
with me driving him, which was really
sweet.
ALIYA: So what’s the naked truth about
your Playboy spread?
DANNII: Oh! That was ages ago. I was a
young girl! They asked me to do it and
I’m a really spontaneous person.
Regardless of the consequences (she
rolls her eyes), I really live in the
moment.
30 UMM • WINTER 2003
“I’ve done many things and been told along the way that I can’t do
them all, that I had to choose. But I have chosen – I’m a performer.”
DANNII MINOGUE
ALIYA: Rumor has it that you posed nude
to get back at your ex-husband for
cheating.
DANNII: Well, I had not long been thru a
marriage breakup and that had made an
impact on me; there’s no way that I can
deny that. But it was definitely not to get
back at him. It had to do with confidence
in myself, and to do my own thing, and
yeah it got a lot of publicity – and it still is!
ALIYA: You have appeared on numerous
TV shows, designed a line of bikinis, and
recorded four hit albums – what has
been your biggest achievement?
DANNII: The longevity that I’ve had. Its
very unusual for someone to be a child
star and go on into an adult career.
Logistics say it doesn’t happen often
because it’s not uncommon that by the
time you’re an adult you’re too fucked
up from it, you’re in rehab or something
or people just remember you as a kid
star. I’ve done many things and been
told along the way that I can’t do them
all, that I had to choose. But I have chosen
– I’m a performer. It’s good to see girls
our there like J.Lo who are doing the
music, the acting, the designing.
ALIYA: How would you describe your music?
DANNII: It’s ultimately pop music with a
dance edge. Because I’ve written and
produced it in Europe I’m sure it has
some Euro sound to it.
ALIYA: How did Madonna contribute to
your new album?
DANNII: I co-wrote “Don’t wanna lose
this feeling” with some producers from
Paris, and then they bootlegged that
song with the instrumental from
Madonna’s old song “Into the Groove.”
So the new version of my song is “Don’t
wanna lose this Groove.” We sent it to
(Madonna) and she called and said if I
wanted to release it on a single it’d be
cool by her. I don’t know any other artist
who she’s let use her stuff.
ALIYA: Wow, that’s great. First a kiss from
Britney, now a song from Dannii – she’s
doing well for herself.
DANNII: I’ve followed her since her first
song and I still can’t believe – like, I
perform it whenever I do my gigs and it’s
really exciting.
ALIYA: I hear that you fancy Justin
Timberlake?
DANNII: I like Justin’s stuff a lot, he’s
such a genius at what he’s done. And I
love a guy who can dance – and he can
dance!
32 UMM • WINTER 2003
“When I actually
go out I go
absolutely nuts.
I’ll be dragging
myself out when
the birds are
tweeting...”
ALIYA: And he recently performed with
your sister (Kylie Minogue) at the Brit
awards didn’t he?
DANNII: Yeah. Loved that. That was really
good, I mean, she was calling me from
the rehearsals going, “there’s a bit where
he touches my bum!” and I’m like,
“That’s cool! Keep going!”
ALIYA: What’s the craziest thing you’ve
ever done?
DANNII: I’ve done a skydive, I’ve got my
motorbike license, recently swam with
sharks, and I love snakes! But I’m very
scared of spiders.
ALIYA: Your music is very popular in the
club scene, do you actually have a
chance to hit the dance floors?
DANNII: I don’t go clubbing that much,
but I do have lot’s of friends that are DJ’s
so they’ll send me stuff that’s cool and
happening. DJ’s in the UK are Gods of
music – it’s a really different scene.
When I actually go out I go absolutely
nuts. I’ll be dragging myself out when
the birds are tweeting and I’m putting
my sunglasses on. I have no control over
myself! (giggles) The best place to party
is Ibiza, I don’t know if you’ve ever been
there.
ALIYA: Not yet, but after seeing pictures
(see article this issue) I definitely want to
go.
DANNII: THEN GO!! GO! GO! There’s this
one little place called San Antonio that is
just Club Mecca. It’s the most amazing
place ever.
ALIYA: Are you planning on pairing up
with your sister to do any songs?
DANNII: It’s a tough one because we don’t
want to turn into ABBA. We are going to
do some songwriting together, maybe do
a single together or something. We’re
kinda weary of doing it because we like
our solo careers and we don’t want to
perform together for the rest of our lives.
And the pressure that you do that and
suddenly everyone goes, Do it again! Do
it again!
ALIYA: What’s a sexy secret that not many
people know about you? Do you sleep
naked for example?
ALIYA: Hidden Talents?
DANNII: I’m really good at touch typing. I
love cooking, and gardening. Gardening
is the new Rock’n Roll…Oh! I know what
my Sexy Secret is now. I was talking to
this girl Claudia in England and told her
I wash my car in my bikini…and she’s
like, you what? I have so many friends
that want to come watch!
ALIYA: Canadian cars get really dirty in
the summer, you should come back.
DANNII: (Laughs) I didn’t think that was
not normal, maybe it’s an Australian
thing because you’re always in your
swimwear at home, by the pool, or out
sun baking and it’s a hot day so you
wash your car and don’t change.
ALIYA: What’s next for Dannii Minogue?
DANNII: I started writing the next album
and I’d love to come back here and do
some shows.
ALIYA: Any last message to UMM fans?
DANNII: You’ve got to go to Ibiza!
DANNII: Sexy secret? I’ve got to think hard
on this…let me think of something good.