Better the Devil You Know

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“Better the Devil You Know”
“Better the Devil You Know” cover
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Rhythm of Love
Released April 1990: Worldwide
April 1998: Australia Re-release
Format CD single: Worldwide
Vinyl single: United Kingdom
Cassette single: Australia & U.S.
Recorded London, England
Genre Pop-dance
Length 3:54
Label PWL/Mushroom
Writer(s) Stock, Aitken & Waterman
Producer Stock, Aitken & Waterman
Certification Silver (UK)
Gold (ARIA)
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Tears on My Pillow"
(1990)		 "Better the Devil You Know"
(1990)		 "Step Back in Time"
(1990)
“Say You'll Be Mine/Better the Devil You Know”
“Say You'll Be Mine/Better the Devil You Know” cover
Single by Steps
from the album Steptacular
A-side "Say You'll Be Mine"
Released December 13, 1999 (UK)
January 7, 2000 (Netherlands)
February 7, 2000 (Australia & Scandinavia)
March 8, 2000 (Japan)
2000 (Germany)
Format Single
Genre Pop
Length 4:35
Label Jive Records
Writer(s) Say You'll Be Mine:
Frampton
Waterman
Better Than the Devil You Know:
Stock, Aitken, and Waterman
Producer Frampton
Pete Waterman
Certification Silver (UK)
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)

"Better the Devil You Know" is a dance-pop song written by Stock, Aitken & Waterman for Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue's third album, Rhythm of Love.

Contents

[edit] Background

"Better the Devil You Know" was released as the album's first single in April 1990, and its music video helped Minogue break out of her early "girl-next-door" image.

Backing vocals for the song were provided by Minogue, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock, and Miriam Stockley.

[edit] Continued popularity

The song is played at 12.30 a.m. every Saturday night at the "G.A.Y" club in London's Astoria. The song has become an all-time favourite amongst many people and is often considered a 1990s classic. It is also considered as one of the first non-1980s influenced pop songs and videos.[1]

[edit] Track listings

[edit] Kylie version

CD single

  1. "Better the Devil You Know" - 3:52
  2. "Better The Devil You Know" (Mad March Hare Mix) - 07:09
  3. "I'm Over Dreaming" (Over You) [7" Remix] - 03:21

7" single

  1. "Better the Devil You Know" - 3:52
  2. "I'm Over Dreaming" (Over You) [7" Remix] - 03:21

12" single

  1. "Better The Devil You Know" (Mad March Hare Mix) - 07:09
  2. "I'm Over Dreaming" (Over You) [Extended Remix] 04:54

[edit] Steps version

  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

[edit] Chart performance

[edit] Kylie version

Chart (1990)[2] Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 4
Austrian Singles Chart 27
European Singles Chart 6
French SNEP Singles Chart 13
UK Top 40 2
Belgium Singles Chart 3
Netherlands Top 40 22
Finnish Singles Chart 5
German Singles Chart 24
Irish Single Chart 4
Israel Singles Chart 1
New Zealand Singles Chart 27
South African Singles Chart 2
Swedish Singles Chart 13
Swiss Singles Chart 21
Spanish Singles Chart 11

[edit] Steps version

Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Top 40 4
Netherlands Top 40 47

[edit] Music video

A scene from the music video
A scene from the music video

The video for "Better the Devil You Know" featured Minogue in very mild sexually suggestive scenes with a black man, who played the role of her lover. It caused some controversy as it presented Minogue in a much more mature image than videos from earlier years, for example "I Should Be So Lucky" (1987), that portrayed her as more innocent.[3]

[edit] Cover versions

The song was covered by the Australian singer-songwriter Penny Flanagan in 1997, pop group Steps in 1999, peaking at #4 in the UK charts as a double A-side with "Say You'll Be Mine", and by Atomic Kitten in early 2000.

[edit] X Factor performance

On 15 December 2007 Minogue performed the song with X Factor contestant Leon Jackson in the show's final. Jackson, who was mentored by Minogue's sister Dannii, went on to win the X Factor and its £1 million recording contract.

[edit] Sample

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Comic Relief does Fame Academy. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  2. ^ "Better the Devil You Know", in various Singles Chart Lescharts.com(Retrieved February 10, 2008)
  3. ^ Baker, William; Minogue, Kylie (2002). La, La, La. Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., 48-49. ISBN 0-340-73439-6. 
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