Better the Devil You Know

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"Better the Devil You Know"
Kylie Minogue - Better the Devil You Know.png
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Rhythm of Love
B-side "I'm Over Dreaming (Over You)"
Released30 April 1990 (1990-04-30) [1]
Studio London, England
Genre Dance-pop
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Tears on My Pillow"
(1990)		"Better the Devil You Know"
(1990)		"Step Back in Time"
(1990)
Music video
"Better the Devil You Know" on YouTube

"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue with more sex appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona. Her music onwards presented a more independent approach.

Contents

The song's title is a reference to an idiom. Lyrically, the song was claimed by producer Pete Waterman to be about Minogue's relationship with her then-boyfriend, INXS frontman and singer Michael Hutchence. [2] However, that is disputed by the song's primary composer, Mike Stock, who insists he was unaware of Kylie's private life at the time. [2]

After becoming dissatisfied with her minimal creative role in making her first two albums, Minogue demanded creative veto on her new music, which was granted following her decision to work with other producers. [2] She exercised her veto on early mixes of the single, and the track was then extensively reworked according to her stipulations. [2]

The song was lauded by music critics, who noted the imagery change in her music. They also complimented the song itself and felt it was one of Minogue's best - a highlight of not just her studio album but her compilations as well. Commercially, it was successful. The song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and four in her native Australia. In other regions, it managed to peak inside the top forty in all the countries it charted in, including France, Austria, Germany, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland.

The accompanying music video for "Better the Devil You Know" was directed by Paul Goldman and was filmed in Melbourne, Australia. Though its imagery was criticised for her mature look, the video has also been iconic to Minogue's artistry, style and imagery beyond the song. The song has been featured in most of Minogue's concert tours. The song was later re-recorded in 2012 at the Abbey Road Studios for inclusion on Minogue's orchestral album The Abbey Road Sessions .

Background and composition

"Better the Devil You Know" was written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, who also were the only producers and songwriters of Minogue's two albums after her debut. However, this album featured additional production by US producers, after Minogue became determined to exercise more creative control on her new album. Her manager, Terry Blamey, says the move was used to force creative concessions from SAW, who were worried about losing Minogue as an artist. [2]

Originally conceived in a more percussion-heavy, R&B-influenced style, the track was significantly remixed and restructured by Pete Hammond, after Minogue rejected prior versions. [2] He added a new verse by cutting up vocal segments and inserting additional effects. [2] The first verse features notes spanning from A-C♯m-D-D2-Dm-E-Bm-D. [3] When it reaches the chorus, the song spans from A-F♯m-A-D, and repeats everyline. When it reaches the bridge, the songs chords span from A-F♯m-A-F in each line. [3] According to stylist William Baker in the book Kylie: La La La: "The song also featured a more mature sound, a more polished production and a vocal that was less layered than before." [4] He added: "The track transferred well onto the dance-floor and heralded a long reign for Kylie as the new queen of disco... a pop princess". [4]

Critical reception

Initial response

"Better the Devil You Know" is one of Minogue's most famous singles, and ever since its release it has been lauded by music critics. David Giles from Music Week complimented SAW's songwriting, adding that it "seems to be growing increasingly sophisticated." He stated that "musically this is Kylie's best record by a mile, boosted by some invigorating chord changes and strong Seventies soul influence." [5] Mike Soutar from Smash Hits felt that Minogue's voice is in "absolutely tip-top shape - there's no doubt she's a much improved singer these days." [6] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin viewed it as a "knockout" pop single, that "mirrored her evolution from tomboy to dreamboat." [7] Jason Shawahn from About.com said along with "What Do I Have To Do" and "Wouldn't Change A Thing"; "are nothing if not pop masterpieces." [8] Hunter Felt from PopMatters said along with "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" and "Shocked" are pure pop moments. [9] He then described it "as almost soulful rave-ups". [9]

Impact and legacy

"Better the Devil You Know" is credited with maturing Minogue's music career and contributing substantially to ensuring its longevity, [2] and is also noted as a major landmark in her relationship with her gay audience, by earning a place as a gay nightclub staple. [2] In 1998, Australian record company Mushroom Records re-issued the song as part of their 25th Anniversary Celebrations. The re-issue reached number 59 on the Australian ARIA Charts in March 1998. [10]

In 2014, Matt Dunn of WhatCulture ranked the song at number two in his "15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles" list. [11] In 2021, British magazine Classic Pop ranked it number seven in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs", adding, "For many the moment Kylie went from virtuous pop star to racy nubile, Better The Devil You Know arrived in a mist of twirling dance-pop and palms-to-the-sky goodness, giving her a touch of avant class." [12] In 2024, the same magazine ranked the song at number five in its list of "Top 40 Kylie Minogue songs", and noted that the lyric has drawn attention from darker quarters when vampiric Aussie Nick Cave defined it as "one of pop music's most violent and distressing love lyrics". [13]

In 2020, Alexis Petridis of British daily newspaper The Guardian ranked the song at number four in his "Kylie's 30 greatest singles" list, adding that it proves that "Stock Aitken and Waterman could be masterful pop craftsmen" and described it "an effortlessly soaring melody, a perfect updating of disco's cocktail of jubilant music and lyrical heartbreak". [14] In 2023, in the same newspaper, he listed the song at number four in his "Stock Aitken Waterman's 20 greatest songs – ranked!", adding that it "was a luxurious disco homage... The strings on the 12in version are particularly luscious, the lyrics slightly at odds with the utterly jubilant music". [15] In 2023, Robert Moran of Australian daily tabloid newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald ranked the song as Minogue's fifth best song (out of 183), describing it "a classic", and added: "Kylie strains to rise above the wall of sound production (stuttering synths, piano fills, soaring strings and harmonies)". [16]

Chart performance

Minogue performing the song during her Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour in 2011. Kylie Minogue - San Francisco 5-21-2011 (5749154255) (cropped).jpg
Minogue performing the song during her Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour in 2011.

In the UK, "Better the Devil You Know" became Minogue's fifth non-consecutive number two single, being blocked by Adamski's "Killer". [17] [18] The song stayed at number two for two consecutive weeks, and spent a total of 10 weeks in the chart. It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) having sold 340,000 copies. [19] In Minogue's native Australia, the song debuted at five on the week end of 10 June 1990. [20] The song peaked at number four in its third week on the chart and spent a total of thirteen weeks in the Top 50. It was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) with sales exceeding 35,000 copies. However, in New Zealand the song was not a great success, debuting at number thirty-four, but falling out from number forty the next week, then re-entered at number twenty-seven, where it eventually peaked and charted for four weeks. In France, the song debuted at number thirty-eight, and after weeks on the chart it peaked at number thirteen for a single week. [21] The song topped the charts in Israel and reached number eleven in Spain. [22]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Better the Devil You Know" was directed by Paul Goldman and was filmed in Melbourne. The video caused some controversy as it presented Minogue in a much more mature image than videos from earlier years. The making of the video was the first time Minogue "felt part of the creative process". She said: "I wasn't in charge but I had a voice. I'd bought some clothes on King's Road for the video. I saw a new way to express my point of view creatively." [23]

Goldman says that Minogue filmed the video in Australia to escape the creative oversight of her UK label, PWL. [24] In the video, Minogue can be seen dancing more suggestively than in her previous efforts. At the time she was dating INXS singer Michael Hutchence, she is wearing one of his rings in the clip, a large silver 'M'. His mother, Patricia Glassop, a make up artist did the make up. [25] The reaction of some at PWL to the video was strongly negative, with Goldman claiming he was slammed by a senior staff member for "fucking up" the video, damaging Kylie's image and, potentially, hurting her career. [24]

Live performances

Since its debut in the Enjoy Yourself Tour, "Better the Devil You Know" has been performed at almost all of Minogue's tours. In the Enjoy Yourself, Rhythm of Love and Let's Get to It tours, the song was performed as the original as the encore to each show. The song was then performed as the encore on the Intimate and Live tour where Minogue wore a red corset with red devil horns. For the performance, an array of men dressed in red briefs entered the stage for the dance section of the song. On the On a Night Like This tour, a big band version was performed where Minogue was in full white with a tailcoat and a top hat. William Baker stated in the book "La La La" this was due to the recently released Steps version and to avoid post Spinning Around fans thinking Kylie's was the cover. In 2002, Minogue performed the song as the second-to-last song on her Fever tour.

This too featured a dance section, similar to the one performed on the Intimate and Live Tour. Minogue then opened her Showgirl Tour with the song. She wore a blue corset, a showgirl crown and a blue bussel. In 2006 and 2007, Minogue again opened her Homecoming Tour with the song this time dressed in pink. In 2008/09, the song was used in a pre-encore act of her KylieX2008 tour. She performed it wearing a green feather dress. This song was then dropped and placed in the regular encore. In 2009, the same version was then performed on her North American tour as the opening to the encore. The song's most recent performance was on Minogue's Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour in 2011. The song opened her seventh act where Minogue wore a white tank top, blue hot pants and an orange feathery throw over. This version included a dance interlude at the beginning which had a very Latin-pop feel. There was also a dance interlude in the middle with the same sort of feel. Kylie performed an a cappella version of the song in the Kiss Me Once Tour, after a fan request and the album version in Dubai which was later used as an opening for Minogue's Summer 2015 tour. In 2016, a remix of the song was later used as an opening for Minogue's festival shows. The song was performed once again during her Golden Tour in 2018 and her Summer 2019 Tour. The song was also performed on:

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [56] Platinum70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [57] Silver340,000 [19]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Steps version

"Better the Devil You Know"
Single by Steps
from the album Buzz
A-side "Say You'll Be Mine"
Released13 December 1999 (1999-12-13) [58]
Recorded1999
Studio PWL (Manchester, England)
Length3:48
Label Jive
Songwriter(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s)
Steps singles chronology
"After the Love Has Gone"
(1999)		"Say You'll Be Mine" / "Better the Devil You Know"
(1999)		"Deeper Shade of Blue"
(2000)
Music video
"Better the Devil You Know" on YouTube

British pop group Steps had recorded a cover version of "Better the Devil You Know" for their second studio album Steptacular ; however, it was later included as the opening track on their third studio album Buzz . The song was released as a double A-side single with "Say You'll Be Mine" in December 1999, the third single from Steptacular. A limited edition of the single was released as a digipack that included a doubled sided poster in the sleeve; one side was the group pictured in their dance outfits and the other side shows the group in their costumes and the different scenarios that are shown throughout the music video.

Though it did not manage to match the success of the original version, it did chart in some markets, including Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium. The song features Claire, Lisa and Faye on lead vocals.

Track listing

  1. "Say You'll Be Mine" – 3:32
  2. "Better the Devil You Know" – 3:49
  3. "Better the Devil You Know" (2T's 2 Go Mix) – 5:53

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [61] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [61] 42
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [61] 47
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [61] 93
UK Singles (OCC) [62] 4

Other cover versions

Australian singer Penny Flanagan recorded a cover version for the 1997 film Dust Off The Wings. [63]

In 2009, European pop group Village Boys made a version of the song. [64] In 2010, Miss Fitz, from Eurovision: Your Country Needs You , sang this song. Miss Fitz was also in X Factor the year before but only made it to bootcamp stage.

Related Research Articles

Stock Aitken Waterman are an English songwriting and record production trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s through to the early-1990s. SAW is considered one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time by the Guinness World Records, scoring more than 100 UK Top 40 hits and earning an estimated £60 million in royalties. The trio had thirteen UK No. 1 singles including three consecutive UK No. 1's and three US No. 1 singles. They also had at least one record in the UK Top 100 Singles Chart every week between March 1986 and October 1990.

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<i>Enjoy Yourself</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 1989 studio album by Kylie Minogue

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<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 1990 studio album by Kylie Minogue

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<i>Lets Get to It</i> 1991 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Let's Get to It is the fourth studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was the final studio album with Pete Waterman Limited (PWL), being released by the record label in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991. Mushroom Records distributed the album in Australia on 25 November 1991. After Matt Aitken left the trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) in early 1991, the remaining producers wanted to make another album with Minogue, although it was not a contractual obligation for her. Mike Stock and Pete Waterman agreed to share their songwriting credits with Minogue for the first time on six tracks. They spent months recording at PWL Studios, more time than any of her previous studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Should Be So Lucky</span> 1987 single by Kylie Minogue

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je ne sais pas pourquoi</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (English: "I Do Not Know Why"), also known as "I Still Love You (Je ne sais pas pourquoi)" in Australia and New Zealand, is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released as a single on 10 October 1988 by PWL, the song has subsequently appeared on most of Minogue's hits compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and, most recently, Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection, released in 2019. Like most of Minogue's material between 1988 and 1992, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Especially for You</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan

"Especially for You" is a song performed by Australian recording artists Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan from Donovan's debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989). The song was released as his album's second single on 28 November 1988 and was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn It into Love</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand on Your Heart</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Hand on Your Heart" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989), and released as its lead single on 24 April 1989. Much like her previous releases up to Let's Get to It (1991), the song was written and produced by English songwriting and record production trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW). Referenced tracks during composition included "This Old Heart of Mine" by the Isley Brothers and "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got to Be Certain</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Step Back in Time</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Step Back in Time" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 22 October 1990, and distributed by PWL and Mushroom as a CD single, cassette tape and 12-inch and 7-inch singles. The track was written, arranged, and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, who are collectively known as Stock Aitken and Waterman, and was recorded in London, United Kingdom. Musically, it is a disco song that lyrically pays tribute to 1970s' culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Do I Have to Do</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"What Do I Have to Do" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Originally, the song was planned to be released after the single "Better the Devil You Know", but instead "Step Back in Time" was released and this was released as the third single on 21 January 1991 by PWL and Mushroom. The song received positive reviews from most music critics, who thought the song was an instant rave classic. Its music video was directed by Dave Hogan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shocked (song)</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"Shocked" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). Written and produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman, "Shocked" was released as the album's fourth and final single in May 1991 by Mushroom and PWL. The song later appeared on most of Minogue's major compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection (2019). The DNA 7-inch mix of the song also includes a rap in the bridge by Jazzi P.

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"If You Were with Me Now" is a song by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue and American R&B singer Keith Washington. It was written by Minogue, Washington, and British songwriting team Mike Stock and Pete Waterman for Minogue's fourth studio album, Let's Get to It (1991). The song was produced by Stock and Waterman. The song was released as the second single in October 1991 and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, as well as the top 10 in Ireland and the top 30 in Australia. The song is Minogue's first hit single to feature her as a co-writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)</span> 1992 single by Kylie Minogue

"What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)" is a song recorded by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, released as the lead single from her first greatest hits album Greatest Hits (1992). The song was written by Mike Stock, Minogue and Pete Waterman, and produced by Stock and Waterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Many Broken Hearts</span> 1989 single by Jason Donovan

"Too Many Broken Hearts" is a song by Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan, released on 20 February 1989 as the third single from his debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989), and 1991's Greatest Hits album and again on a later collection in 2006. The song reached number-one in the United Kingdom and Ireland in March 1989. The song additionally peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. British magazine Classic Pop ranked "Too Many Broken Hearts" number 19 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs" in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You'll Never Stop Me Loving You</span> 1989 single by Sonia

"You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" is the debut single of English pop singer Sonia. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, the song was included on Sonia's debut album, Everybody Knows (1990). The single became Sonia's only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart and reached number 10 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't Change a Thing (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Wouldn't Change a Thing" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, recorded for her second studio album Enjoy Yourself (1989). The song was written by Stock Aitken Waterman, and was released on 24 July 1989 by Mushroom and PWL Records. The song was released as the second single off the album.

References

  1. ↑ "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for "Better the Devil You Know" (from bpi.co.uk)". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2 May 2017– via Imgur.
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  3. 1 2 Better The Devil you Know Chords.
  4. 1 2 Inner lines: Pg 35 – la la la – Written by William Baker and Kylie Minogue ISBN   0-340-73440-X
  5. ↑ Giles, David (12 May 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 27. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Soutar, Mike (2 May 1990). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits . No. 298. p. 53. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
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  9. 1 2 Hunter Felt >> Kylie Minogue: The Ultimate Kylie. Retrieved 22 March 2005.
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  39. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 26 May 1990. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  40. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
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  42. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Better the Devil You Know". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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  48. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Better the Devil You Know". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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  57. ↑ "British single certifications – Kylie Minogue – Better The Devil You Know". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  58. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 13 December, 1999: Singles". Music Week . 11 December 1999. p. 23.
  59. ↑ Steptacular (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1999. 0519112.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  61. 1 2 3 4 "Steps – SAY YOU'LL BE MINE / BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW" Archived 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Hung Medien. hitparade. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
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  63. ↑ "Dust off the Wings (1997) - IMDb". IMDb .
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