Skirt (song)


"Skirt" is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It premiered on her SoundCloud channel on 28 May 2013—Minogue's 45th birthday— until a digital release was issued by Rising Music on 24 June 2013 via Beatport. The track was written by Minogue, alongside Chris Elliot, Chris Lake, and The-Dream, whilst production was handled under Elliot's stage name, Nom de Strip. Although it premiered as a promotional single for the singer's twelfth studio album, Kiss Me Once, she didn't include it on the album and dubbed it a buzz single. Musically, it is an EDM track that incorporates influences of dubstep, and samples Nom de Strip's composition, "Shake & Bake", with collaborator DJ Bones. Lyrically, it delves into sexual seduction, with Minogue wanting to attract male attention.
"Skirt" received positive reviews from music critics, whom commended the production and Minogue's return to mainstream dance music. Some critics, such as Billboard, listed the track amongst many others on their year-end lists. Commercially, the track experienced success on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, peaking atop. Additionally, it managed to enter the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs at number 18. An accompanying lyric video was published on the singer's YouTube channel, featuring several stills of her inside a hotel room. In order to promote the single, it was included as an interlude featurette for her Kiss Me Once Tour.

Background and development

In March 2012, Los Angeles-based disc jockey, Bones, and producer Chris Elliot, whom used his stage name Nom de Strip, created an instrumental composition titled "Shake & Bake". However, the duo intended to promote the track by requesting vocals to be added onto the final mastering of the track. Subsequently, in February 2013, Minogue announced she had signed a management deal with American-based imprint Roc Nation, handled by rapper and businessman Jay-Z. Following the announcement that same month, British publications reported about Minogue's 12th studio album, which Minogue confirmed. Minogue had attended a meeting with her manager Jay Brown, who then happened to have bumped into producer Chris Lake, whom scheduled a meeting Nom de Strip that same day. After introducing Lake to Minogue, Lake had given a selection of demo tapes to the singer, and selected "Shake & Bake" to record.
Lake was pleased with her decision, stating: "It’s very daring and really challenging for a casual listener. I’m really glad that had the balls to go ahead and choose the record and put it out." Minogue and Lake, alongside American producer Terius Nash and Elliot, finished writing the song during the day, and recorded the finishing product late at night in Los Angeles, California. "I’m really excited that a record like ‘Skirt’ happened", Lake said after the track was recorded. Lake had been starting up his new record company, Rising Music, and requested Minogue and Roc Nation to premiere the track through Beatport, which they both accepted.

Composition

"Skirt" was written by Minogue, alongside Chris Elliot, Chris Lake, and The-Dream, whilst production was handled under Elliot's stage name, Nom de Strip. Lasting three minutes and 29 seconds long, it is an electronic dance track that incorporates influences of dubstep, and samples the aforementioned Nom de Strip's composition, "Shake & Bake". According to Jason Lipshutz from Billboard, the track "squeezes in a generous helping of revved-up dubstep production before its crescendo reintroduces Minogue's fluttering voice." Likewise, Robbie Daw of Idolator labelled it a "slightly dubstep-tinged and somewhat minimal club track". Alexa Camp, writing for Slant Magazine, believed that the track was a hybrid of "over-the-top pop-house" and dubstep music. However, Melinda Newman at Hitfix.com noted several sonic interpretations including "industrial beats" and "heavy stutters". The track opens with electronic beats, which then showcases Minogue's "synthesized" vocals over dubstep–electronic production. Several parts of the track presents instrumentation of keyboards, synthesizers, and a drum machine, and ends with Minogue singing the chorus. Lyrically, it delves into sexual seduction, with Minogue "threatening" to "drop her skirt" to attract male attention.

Release

"Skirt" premiered on Nom de Strips's SoundCloud channel on 28 May 2013, her 45th birthday. It was subsequently distributed as a digital EP by Rising Music 24 June 2013 through Beatport. The six-track remix EP included: the original track, an extended version, plus four remixes, individually produced by Nom de Strip, GTA, Switch, and Hot Mouth. The EP was eventually re-released on the iTunes Store worldwide. The artwork, revealed on Nom de Strip's SoundCloud, depicts Minogue behind a curtain near a slide-door. The Remix EP cover, which was issued through physical promo copies, feature Minogue's name and the song title. The iTunes cover has Minogue's name superimposed on a black "+" symbol, with the Rising Music label on the top left corner.

Critical reception

"Skirt" received positive reviews from music critics. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard commended the production and composition of the single, labelling it a "slithering club" anthem. Robbie Daw, writing for Idolator, compared its themes to the singer's 2003 single "Slow", but believed "Skirt" "delivers with a truly delicious chorus — something we’ve come to expect from Minogue over the years as one of the world’s reigning pop forces." Likewise, Slant Magazine's Alexa Camp commended the track's composition and production, but felt disappointing that it was left off Minogue's Kiss Me Once album. In the review, she noted that the only recording on the record that was reminiscent of "Skirt" was "Sexercize", both "sonically and thematically" similar to each other. Matthew Jacobs of The Huffington Post gave it a positive review, saying it was "a pulsating new song that blends electronic beats with her reverb-heavy vocal effects". A member at Paper labelled it a "synthy banger", whilst Complex editor, Edwin Ortiz, called the track "hot". Labelling it "fabolous", a member at Arcadey.net felt "Skirt" was "both quintessentially Kylie and brand new territory for the pop diva. The new Kylie is hipper and harder-edged, and for the first time in a long time,".
Conversely, "Skirt" received mixed and negative remarks nevertheless. Although Sal Cinquemani, writing for Slant Magazine, was equally positive towards Minogue's move to dance music and the production of the track, he was critical towards the composition, labelling the dubstep breakdown as "ugly". A member at Radio Creme Brulee was negative, awarding it one star out of five. The review remarked, "Kylie has to give us something substantial enough to make us forget that “Skirt” ever saw the light of day." The website also criticized the production and composition of the track, believing it was too different to Minogue's previous offerings from Aphrodite. Despite this, it was named as one of the "Top 50 Game-Changing EDM Tracks of 2013" by Billboard, ranked at number 36 by members Zel McCarthy and Kerri Mason.

Commercial performance

Commercially, "Skirt" experienced success on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It debuted at number 37 during the week end of 27 July 2013, and subsequently reached the top 25 positions the following week. By its fifth week, on 17 August, it reached the top ten by charting at number seven, and rose to number two in its seventh charting week. Having been blocked by the song "Wake Me Up" by Swedish DJ Avicii, "Skirt" reached atop of the charts and stayed there for a sole week—during week end of 14 September—and became her 10th number one, and seventh consecutive number one in that competent chart. The following week, it slipped at number six, having been replaced by the track "Turn the Night Up" by Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias. Overall, it was present on the chart for 13 weeks. It peaked at number 18 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, and spent 5 weeks there, marking it her most successful release in that competent chart. By the end of 2013, "Skirt" was ranked at number 23 on Billboard's annual Dance Club Songs chart.

Visuals

An accompanying lyric video was published on Nowness.com, and subsequently on Minogue's YouTube channel. According to the video's director and editor, Will Davidson, the lyric video consists of over 1,000 still photos of the singer in a hotel room behind a curtain, wearing a small black dress. Some shots feature Minogue in the middle of the room or posing against a wall, whilst modelling for Davidson. Melinda Newman, writing for Hitfix.com, gave the visual a B grading, stating "It may be just a fancy lyric video, but it's hot." Beth Hardie of Mirror.co.uk jokingly commented that Minogue "is definitely not letting down with her new very dirty single, Skirt...".
A second visual was used as an interlude featurette for Minogue's Kiss Me Once Tour, which was included in the set list after the 80's Medley. The video has Minogue in a Rolls Royce, wearing suspenders and fish net stockings, whilst being driven around by a male figure. As the track progresses, rain starts falling onto the car as Minogue gazes out the window. The visual was only used during the European leg of the tour, and was omitted from the Australian part; however, a two-minute version was included on the live DVD as a bonus feature. Despite not being used, "Skirt" was performed at a one-off MasterCard Priceless concert gig in London in March 2014.

Format and track listing

  1. "Skirt" – 3:29
  2. "Skirt" – 4:47
  3. "Skirt" – 4:48
  4. "Skirt" – 5:10
  5. "Skirt" – 5:33
  6. "Skirt" – 4:43

    Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the digital notes from Beatport;
;Recording
;Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end chart

Release history