| Flower | ||
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| Single by Kylie Minogue | ||
| From the album The Abbey Road Sessions | ||
| Released | 25 September 2012 | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road Studios, London, England | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 3:30 | |
| Label | Parlophone | |
| Writer(s) | Kylie Minogue · Steve Anderson | |
| Producer(s) | Steve Anderson | |
| Kylie Minogue singles chronology | ||
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| Music Video | ||
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"Flower" is a song by Kylie Minogue. The song was originally written by Kylie and Steve Anderson for Kylie's tenth studio album X (2007), but it did not make the final cut. However, it was performed in the set list for the KylieX2008 tour.
In 2011, the song was recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios for the orchestral compilation album The Abbey Road Sessions. The song was released as the first single from the album on 25 September 2012 by Parlophone Records. The studio version of the song premiered on BBC Radio 2 on 24 September 2012. The song received positive reviews from music critics, with critics enjoying the lyrical message and the production. A music video was shot for the single which premiered on Kylie's website.
Composition[]
"Flower" was written by Kylie and Steve Anderson from Brothers in Rhythm for her tenth studio album X (2007). However it didn't make the final cut. Kylie wrote the song in 2007, along with many other songs while she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Kylie described the song as "a love song to the child I may or may not ever have." Musically, "Flower" is a pop ballad song, which features instrumentation of pianos, violins, drums and an acoustic guitar. The Quietus had declared the song a "dreamy ballad".
Many music critics had felt that the lyrical content deals with Kylie wanting to start a family and start motherhood, as critics felt the lyric "Distant child, my flower. Are you blowing in the breeze? Can you feel me as I breathe life into you? I know one day you'll amaze me" was a strong meaning to motherhood.
Reception[]
Critical response[]
"Flower" received generally positive reviews from music critics. PerezHilton.com complimented it as a "pretty track". Vibe had also complimented the songs "stunning lullaby". Sarah Deen from Metro.co.uk was very positive towards the song, saying "The song [Flower] definitely falls into the Kylie Minogue love songs category, with its wistful lyrics comparing a loved one to a gentle breeze." Herald Sun had called the song a "romantic ballad". Bradley Stern from MuuMuse said "It’s gorgeous, and as I’ve said before, Kylie’s most vulnerable moment in years." He also noted that due to its low-promoted release, he said the song is "all strictly for the fans of course, but beautiful nonetheless." Jared from AllureofSound was very positive, awarding it 5 out of 5 stars and said "[Flower] is without a doubt one of Kylie’s greatest moments. The gorgeous vocal delivery on the track is perfectly complimented by the lush production."
However, Hitfix were more scathing towards the song, calling it "awful". Katie Hasty from HitFix was reviewing both "Flower" and her soundtrack song "Who We Are" and continued saying "Flower" only seems to refer exclusively to the late-1990s [...] Part of my attraction to her work in Holy Motors is the mix of lush arrangements and that girlish, sultry voice of hers. Maybe it's a good sign for her orchestral Abbey Road Sessions. But then again, previously unreleased "Flower" is on there, too. Quick, key change!"
Chart performance[]
In the United Kingdom, "Flower" was ruled ineligible to chart on the UK Singles Chart. This is because the song was served as a free download when the public pre-ordered The Abbey Road Sessions, and the inclusion criteria insists that song's can eligible to chart if its served as a digital download and CD single. However, when The Abbey Road Sessions was released, the song charted at number ninety-six on 4 November 2012. The song peaked at number thirty-one and thirty seven on the Ultratip Belgium Singles Chart (both Flanders and Wallonia). The song debuted at fifty-one on the Netherlands' singles chart.
Music video[]
Directed by Kylie herself, she stated "I wanted to direct the video as I have always known how I wanted to illustrate the song." The music video was shot in Cornwall, England on 12 August 2012 and filmed in black and white. It featured Kylie lying on a chair with only a long white sheet covering her while looking through a mirror, Walking along a beach, wandering through woods and fields, walking along a tree trunk, playing on a swing, lying and sitting in a meadow of flowers and lying in a pool. Kylie wore a long, sheer white dress for the music video.
It was released on 25 September 2012 on YouTube as part of Kylie's 'K25' celebrations where her Twitter followers had to unlock the video by tweeting the hashtag '#KylieFlower' 25,000 times. In three days, the video got more than 1 million views on YouTube.
DailyMail gave it a positive review stating "Kylie Minogue may be 44-years-old, but she's proved that she can still compete in the steamy video stakes with her younger pop star rivals." Bild noticed the similarities to the music video of "Where the Wild Roses Grow".
Live performances[]
"Flower" was originally heard and performed in the set list for the KylieX2008 Tour, followed by a ballad version of the song, "I Believe in You", and then featured on the live DVD. In September 2012, Kylie performed the song on BBC Proms in the Park.
Lyrics[]
Wrapped in a blanket of hope
Asleep in a bed of dreams
My step into eternity
Is not what it might have been
Or not at all for who knows which way the wind is gonna blow,
I'm waiting for your gentle whisper
Distant child, My Flower
Are you blowing in the breeze?
Can you feel me? As I breathe life into you
In a while my flower, somewhere in a desert haze
I know one day, you'll amaze me
An act of balancing, imagining
The moment I can be
Looking deep into your eyes
For now a mystery
Or not at all for who knows which way the wind is gonna blow,
I'm waiting for your gentle whisper
Distant child, My Flower
Are you blowing in the breeze?
Can you feel me? As I breathe life into you
In a while my flower, somewhere in a desert haze
I know one day, you'll amaze me
Two hearts, in the hands of time
Your love bleeds into mine
I'll be with you forever and
Give you everything I am
Want you to understand
It's you and I together
Distant child, My Flower
Are you blowing in the breeze?
Can you feel me? As I breathe life into you
In a while my flower, somewhere in a desert haze
I know one day, you'll amaze me
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