Word Is Out Explained

Word Is Out
Cover:Kylie Minogue - Word Is Out single cover.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Kylie Minogue
Album:Let's Get to It
B-Side:Say the Word - I'll Be There
Genre:
Label:
Producer:
  • Mike Stock
  • Pete Waterman
Prev Title:Shocked
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:If You Were with Me Now
Next Year:1991

"Word Is Out" is a song written by English musical duo Stock and Waterman for Australian singer Kylie Minogue's fourth studio album, Let's Get to It (1991). Produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, it was released as the first single from Let's Get to It on 26 August 1991. The track aimed to replicate the swingbeat sound, with "New Jack City" by Guy serving as the main plot track.[3] The artwork for the cover was photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth in 1991 for the British edition of Esquire.

Critical reception

Chris True from AllMusic chose the track as one of Let's Get to Its track picks.[4] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Folks who think Kylie Minogue is too light for them may change their minds when they hear "Word Is Out". With a little help from remixer Tony King, she has eschewed the frothy hi-NRG tone of past hits in favor of an easy paced-house sound, replete with disco-flavored strings and percussion."[5] On Michael Wilton's review of the second night of her Anti Tour in Sydney, Australia—where she performed an a cappella rendition of the song—for musicOMH, he stated that "Word is Out" is "wildly underrated." Writing Minogue's biography for her special on Australian music video program Rage, they stated: "While in the past, her material had always been high energy, 'Word Is Out' showcased a far more seductive side to Kylie that many had suspected was there."[6] In another hand, Nick Griffiths from Select called it one of the "odd songs" in the album.[7] Sophie Lawrence reviewed it for Smash Hits, writing, "Sounds like Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" a bit, doesn't it? She's just been brilliant ever since "Better The Devil You Know". You could listen to this 100 times and never get bored."[8] In 2023, Robert Moran of Australian daily tabloid newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald ranked the song as Minogue's 168th best song (out of 183).[9]

Commercial performance

The song was released as the first single in the summer of 1991 and was a top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number 16 and ending Minogue's run of 13 consecutive UK top-10 hits. In Australia, with the more laid back Summer Breeze Mix as the main mix, it peaked at number 10, becoming Minogue's 10th single to chart within the top 10. The Summer Breeze Mix received a UK release on a one-sided limited edition 12-inch vinyl single that has an engraved autograph on the B-side, making it highly collectable for fans.

Music video

Directed by James Lebon, it was filmed in London's famous Camden market and featured British television presenter Davina McCall as one of Minogue's dancers.[10] An Australian version of the video later appeared on her 2002 (also the updated version in 2003) Greatest Hits DVD as one of the bonus features.[11] The video was criticised by both Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, who felt the aesthetic allusions to street prostitution alienated Kylie's fanbase and contributed to the single's underwhelming chart performance.

Live performances

Minogue also did an a cappella "sing-along" rendition of the song as requested by fans on her Anti Tour's concert in Big Top at Luna Park, Sydney, Australia on 20 March 2012.[1] musicOMH's Michael Wilton said the performance was "decent."[12]

Track listings

Australian CD and cassette single[13] [14]

  1. "Word Is Out" – 3:41
  2. "Say the Word - I'll Be There" – 4:00
  3. "Word Is Out" (Summer Breeze 12-inch mix) – 7:41

Australian 12-inch single[15]

A1. "Word Is Out" (Summer Breeze 12-inch mix) – 7:41

A2. "Word Is Out" (instrumental) – 3:31

B1. "Word Is Out" (UK 12-inch mix) – 5:53

B2. "Say the Word - I'll Be There" – 4:00

UK 7-inch and cassette single[16] [17]

  1. "Word Is Out" – 3:34
  2. "Say the Word - I'll Be There" – 4:00

UK 12-inch single[18]

A1. "Word Is Out" – 5:53

B1. "Say the Word - I'll Be There" – 4:00

B2. "Word Is Out" (instrumental) – 3:31

UK and Japanese CD single[19] [20]

  1. "Word Is Out" (7-inch version) – 3:34
  2. "Word Is Out" (12-inch version) – 5:53
  3. "Say the Word - I'll Be There" – 4:00

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom26 August 1991PWL[22]
Japan21 October 1991CD[23]
Australia18 November 1991Mushroom[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Music The Sound - Kylie: Revisited #4: 'Let's Get To It. Nick Levine. Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. 22 May 2010. 12 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Kylie Minogue signs to Roc Nation: What does it mean?. Robert Copsey. Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. 8 February 2013. 15 September 2015.
  3. Web site: A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 71: Happy Together to Word Is Out on Apple Podcasts . 2024-05-06 . Apple Podcasts . en-AU.
  4. Web site: Let's Get to It —Kylie Minogue. Chris True. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. 12 September 2015.
  5. Larry . Flick . Dance Trax: American Record Pool Joins 'L.A. Dance' Benefit . . 28 September 1991 . 37 . 11 October 2020 .
  6. Web site: Kylie Minogue Special. Staff writer(s). 3 August 2002. Rage. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 September 2015.
  7. Web site: Griffiths . Nick . Reviews: New Albums —- Let's Get to It - Kylie Minogue. Select. Emap Metro. December 1991. 16 September 2015.
  8. Sophie . Lawrence . Review: Singles . . 21 August 1991 . 41 . 20 October 2020 .
  9. News: Every Kylie Minogue song ranked . Robert . Moran . Annabel . Ross . . 25 September 2023 . 0312-6315 . Sydney . 28 February 2024.
  10. Web site: Davina McCall: I want Kylie to give me a McCall, we were really good friends. Hannah. Hope. . 21 March 2014.
  11. Web site: Kylie Minogue: Greatest Hits. 18 November 2002. Amazon.
  12. Web site: Live Reviews: Kylie Minogue @ Luna Park, Sydney. Michael Wilton. musicOMH. 20 March 2012. 15 September 2015.
  13. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. Australian CD single liner notes. Mushroom Records. D11046.
  14. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. Australian cassette single sleeve. Mushroom Records. C11046.
  15. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. Australian 12-inch single sleeve. Mushroom Records. X14215.
  16. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. PWL Records. PWL 204.
  17. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. UK cassette single sleeve. PWL Records. PWMC 204.
  18. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. UK 12-inch single sleeve. PWL Records. PWLT 204.
  19. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. UK CD single disc notes. PWL Records. PWCD 204.
  20. Word Is Out. Kylie Minogue. 1991. Japanese CD single liner notes. PWL Records. ALCB-371.
  21. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 8. 38. 25. 21 September 1991.
  22. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 24 August 1991.
  23. Web site: ワード・イズ・アウト カイリー・ミノーグ. Word Is Out Kylie Minogue. Oricon. ja. 11 September 2023.
  24. Web site: New Release Summary – Product Available from: 18/11/91 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 95). ARIA. Imgur. 14 August 2016.