Shocked (song)

Last updated

"Shocked"
Kylie Minogue - Shocked single cover.png
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Rhythm of Love
Released20 May 1991 (1991-05-20)
Studio PWL The Hit Factory (London, England) [1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:48 (album version)
  • 3:07 (DNA 7-inch mix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"What Do I Have to Do"
(1991)		"Shocked"
(1991)		"Word Is Out"
(1991)
Music video
"Shocked" on YouTube

"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.

Contents

Lyrically, the song canvasses confusion and understanding of love and relationships. Composer Mike Stock says the track was inspired by the writings of Virginia Woolf and is meant to invoke "a trip". [5] The song has been compared by critics to her previous single "What Do I Have to Do". "Shocked" received mostly positive reviews from critics, with many praising its catchiness. Commercially, the song was successful, peaking in the top ten in her native Australia, the United Kingdom, and several other countries.

An accompanying music video was filmed for the single, shot in London. [5] The video features Minogue entering a mansion-style home, where she is seduced by a mysterious man. The song has been noted to have a close similarity to Minogue's previous single's video "What Do I Have to Do", which featured the same man (her then boyfriend Zane O'Donnell) in a similar atmosphere. The song has been noted as one of Minogue's best singles to date, despite limited success outside her native Australia and the United Kingdom. [6]

Background

"Shocked" was written and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, who had written and produced almost all of Minogue's material to that point, and went on to do the same for her fourth album Let's Get To It (1991), before Minogue parted ways with them. Although not originally intended as a single, the song was released as the fourth and final release from the Rhythm of Love album. [5] The single version of the song was remixed by DNA and features a rap verse from rapper Jazzi P, who says she was only paid £200 for writing and performing the rap, and does not get any publishing royalties. [5]

Critical reception

Initial response

"Shocked" received positive reviews from most music critics. James Hamilton from Record Mirror wrote, "Shocked you will be, by Skinny Minnie's radical new direction." He noted that "'Get Loose' rapper Jazzi P actually kicking off the A-side's almost Betty Boo-type scuffing and scampering hip house 112bpm DNA Mix". [7] Larry Flick from Billboard magazine called it "festive" and "house-inflected", adding that the track "is so catchy that it could be the multiformat hit that Minogue has been after." [3] Nick Levine from Digital Spy misunderstood the lyrics as he said, "On 'Shocked', is she... would she... could she be singing "I was f**ked to my very foundations?". [8] (DNA have denied that the obscenity was added to their mix.) [5] Alan Jones from Music Week stated that it "finds the diminutive Aussie in typically nasal form, but DNA's brilliant Italo house style remix and Jazzi P's cute rapping make it one that even upfront clubs can play." [9] Hunter Felt from PopMatters enjoyed the song, saying that, while reviewing Ultimate Kylie , that they needed "even a little funk [on tracks like 'Shocked']". [10] Mark Frith from Smash Hits praised it as "brilliant", noting that Minogue "goes for a powerful Hi-NRG sound". He also complimented the singer's voice as "strong and insistent". [4] Quentin Harrison from Albumism described the song as "luxuriant electro-pop". [2] Johnny Loftus from AllMusic highlighted "Shocked" as an album standout from Minogue's compilation, Greatest Hits: 87-99 . [11] Also Stylus Magazine gave it a positive review, saying that along with "Give Me Just a Little More Time" and "What Do I Have to Do", they "were great songs and suddenly Kylie was a little bit cool." [12]

Impact and legacy

In 2020, Alexis Petridis of British daily newspaper The Guardian ranked the song at number five in his "Kylie's 30 greatest singles" list, adding that it saw Stock, Aitken and Waterman "abandoning their identikit sound, writing better, classier songs and... commissioning a remix by DNA which is very 1990 – breakbeat, house piano, rap – and a delight". [13] In 2021, British magazine Classic Pop ranked the song number 28 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". They wrote, "It took a DNA remix armed with bustling rhythms and pounding piano stabs and a rap cameo from Jazzi P to bring the fourth and final single from Rhythm Of Love out of its shell, but Kylie's 1991 hit was very much SAW at their songwriting and production best. Sex came to the forefront for the "What Do I Have to Do" video that preceded it, and Kylie continued in that steamy, seductive vein for "Shocked", with snogging, brassieres and even a spot of keyhole voyeurism no doubt helping her to her 13th successive Top 10 UK single." [14] The song's legacy extends to the porn world, with its rap quoted in an American gay erotic video. [5] In 2023, Robert Moran of Australian daily tabloid newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald ranked the song as Minogue's fourth best song (out of 183), describing it a SAW "masterpiece", and added: "A fat bassline and heavy electro beat makes way for acid squiggles, a huge guitar riff, even cowbell... Kylie's delivery is flawless and that chorus is perfect". [15]

Chart performance

"Shocked" received moderate success throughout the charts. In Minogue's native Australia, the song debuted at number thirteen. The song then rose to number seven, where it eventually peaked. The song then fell out the top ten, and stayed in the charts for eleven weeks in total. [16] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number ten on the UK Singles Chart. The song then ascended to number six, where it eventually peaked. It stayed in the charts for a total of seven weeks. Due to the top ten chart performance of the song in the UK, Minogue became the first artist in the history of the UK charts to have their first thirteen releases go top ten. [17] "Shocked" also became a successful top-10 hit in Finland, Luxembourg, Ireland and Israel.

Music video

Minogue and her dancers performing "Shocked" during Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour (2006). Kylie Sydney 7.jpg
Minogue and her dancers performing "Shocked" during Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour (2006).

The music video for "Shocked" was shot in Paris, France as Minogue was finishing her photoshoot in Paris. [6] The video featured Minogue in a number of disguises. It also features rapper Jazzi P. According to Minogue's long-term friend William Baker, her team intended to tie her previous video for "What Do I Have to Do" to this video. [6]

Track listings

  1. "Shocked" (DNA Remix)
  2. "Shocked" (Harding/Curnow Remix)
  1. "Shocked" (DNA 7-inch mix) – 3:10
  2. "Shocked" (DNA 12-inch mix) – 6:20
  3. "Shocked" (Harding/Curnow 12-inch mix) – 7:30
  1. "Shocked" (DNA 7-inch mix) – 3:08
  2. "Shocked" (DNA 12-inch mix) – 6:14
  3. "Shocked" (DNA original 7-inch mix) – 4:11
  4. "Shocked" (DNA backing track) – 3:08
  5. "One Boy Girl" (12-inch mix) – 4:55
  6. "One Boy Girl" (instrumental) – 4:32
  7. "One Boy Girl" (backing track) – 4:32
  8. "Always Find the Time" (instrumental) – 3:35
  9. "Always Find the Time" (backing track) – 3:35

Charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom20 May 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 PWL [34]
Australia17 June 1991 Mushroom [35]
Japan21 July 1991CDPWL [36]

References

  1. 1 2 Shocked (Australian 7-inch single sleeve). Mushroom Records. 1991. K10424.
  2. 1 2 Harrison, Quentin (10 November 2020). "Kylie Minogue's 'Rhythm of Love' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 Flick, Larry (6 July 1991). "Dance Trax: Exciting D'Bora; Fond Of 'Rae'; Soulful 'Sensation'" (PDF). Billboard . p. 30. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 Frith, Mark (15 May 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits . p. 44. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 68: Shocked on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Inner lines: Pg 151 – la la la – Written by William Baker and Kylie Minogue ISBN   0-340-73440-X
  7. ↑ Hamilton, James (25 May 1991). "DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Kylie: Revisited #3: 'Rhythm Of Love' - Music The Sound". Digital Spy. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  9. ↑ Jones, Alan (25 May 1991). "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 10. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Felt, Hunter. "Kylie Minogue: The Ultimate Kylie". PopMatters. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Greatest Hits 87-99 Kylie Minogue - AllMusic.com.
  12. ↑ "Kylie Minogue - Ultimate Kylie - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  13. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (24 September 2020). "Kylie's 30 greatest singles – ranked!". The Guardian . London. ISSN   1756-3224 . Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". Classic Pop . Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  15. ↑ Moran, Robert; Ross, Annabel (25 September 2023). "Every Kylie Minogue song ranked". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney. ISSN   0312-6315 . Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  16. ↑ Australian Singles Chart Kylie Minogue - Shocked. www.australian-charts.com.
  17. ↑ "The Official Charts Company - Shocked by Kylie Minogue Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  18. ↑ Shocked (Australian cassette single sleeve). Mushroom Records. 1991. C 10424.
  19. ↑ Shocked (UK 12-inch single sleeve). PWL Records. 1991. PWLT 81.
  20. ↑ Shocked (UK cassette single sleeve). PWL Records. 1991. PWMC 81.
  21. ↑ Shocked (UK CD single liner notes). PWL Records. 1991. PWCD 81.
  22. ↑ "Shocked". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  23. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Shocked". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  24. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Shocked" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  25. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 25. 22 June 1991. p. 21. OCLC   29800226.
  26. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
  27. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shocked". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  28. ↑ Israeli Singles Chart. 30 June 1991.
  29. ↑ "Radio Luxembourg Singles". umdmusic.com. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  30. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  31. ↑ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 1 June 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  32. ↑ "Indie Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 29 June 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  33. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  34. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 18 May 1991. p. 21.
  35. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 17/06/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 73. 16 June 1991. p. 18.
  36. ↑ "カイリー・ミノーグ | ショック!" [Kylie Minogue | Shock!] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 18 September 2025.
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