| "Sexercize" | |
|---|---|
| Promotional single byKylie Minogue | |
| from the albumKiss Me Once | |
| Released | 14 March 2014 |
| Recorded | 2013 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | Dubstep[1] |
| Length | 2:49 |
| Label | Parlophone |
| Songwriters |
|
| Producers | |
| Music video | |
| "Sexercize" onYouTube | |
"Sexercize" is a song by Australian singerKylie Minogue from her twelfth studio albumKiss Me Once (2014). The song was written bySia, Marcus Lomax, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Clarence Coffee and Nella Tahrini, whilst production was handled byThe Monsters & The Strangerz and Kelly Sheehan. Musically, "Sexercize" is adubstep song that incorporates influences ofurban-R&B andelectronic dance music. The song's production was compared to songs by Barbadian singerRihanna and from Minogue's tenth studio albumX (2007). The lyrical content talks aboutsexual intercourse with a male partner, referencing the acts ofsexercising.
Upon release, "Sexercize" polarized music commentators. Some critics applauded the rapping verse and the production, while many dismissed this and criticized the lyrical content and production, with some listing the song as their least favorite fromKiss Me Once. The song's official music video was directed by photographerWill Davidson. The second received favorable reviews from critics but received scrutiny from public commentators.
Following the release ofThe Abbey Road Sessions (2012), Minogue split ways with her long-term manager, Terry Blamey and signed a new management deal with rapperJay-Z's imprintRoc Nation.[2][3][4] Following this new deal, Minogue continued work on her twelfth studio album throughout 2013, with reports emerging in February 2013 that Minogue had been working with singer-songwriterSia.[5]
The song was written by co-executive producer Sia, Marcus Lomax, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Clarence Coffee and Nella Tahrini while production was handled byThe Monsters & The Strangerz and Kelly Sheehan. The song was mastered by Geoff Pesche and mixed by Phil Tan and Daniela Rivera. According to Minogue, she said "I actually blushed when I heard the title and thought, 'Oh, that's wrong'. But that's the genius of Sia. She can made [sic] it cool and make it hot. And I can probably put the little wink into it, so you know it's going to be more fruity than sleazy." She added that the song was one of those the "fun tongue-in-cheek ones" from her album.[6][7]
Musically, "Sexercize" is adubstep song that incorporates elements ofR&B andelectronic dance music. Ryan Lathan fromPopMatters said that, while as a negative response; "The quiveringelectro-harp intro turns out to be one of the biggest come hither teases of the entire album, giving off the impression that some torrid, naughty storm is brewing ahead. It rolls right over. The chorus is negligible, the gauche 'Let's Get Physical' double entendres are eye-rollingly unsexy, and Minogue's delivery is too ladylike to deliver lines like, 'Feel the burn... Let me see you take it down. Let me see you take it up. Let me see you bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce... stretch it out baby.'"[8]Kitty Empire fromThe Observer said that, lyrically, "It's so raunchy, it could just be an in-joke cooked up between Kylie and Sia Furler (who wrote the song, and exec-producedKMO). Lyrics such as 'feel the burn' suggest anSTD, notecstasy."[9] Andy Gill fromThe Independent believed that "Sexercize" was an attempt to enter the American market with the contemporary use of dubstep.[10]
Lyrically, the song talks aboutsexual intercourse with a partner, basically referencing the sexercizing technique. Neil McCormick fromThe Daily Telegraph said that "Sexercize", "Les Sex" and "Sexy Love" had attracted "youth markets still obsessed with dating rituals."[11]Alexis Petridis examined that "'Sexercize', which gets itself into such a muddle trying to find sport-relatedmetaphors for sex that it starts coming up with phrases that convey something other than what you suspect they're supposed to mean. "I want to see you beat all your best times," purrs Minogue: well, if you're absolutely sure that's what you want, I can probably be at the "finishing line", so to speak, in about 90 seconds flat."[12]
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"Sexercize" received generally mixed reviews from most music critics. Joe Sweeney fromSlant Magazine said that while "Sexercize" and album track "Les Sex" were forgettable, "but none that truly ruin the party. Even the dubstep outlier 'Sexercize' works as a counterpoint to the album's deeper themes; as Minogue's maniacally digitized voice repeats the dumb/wonderful portmanteau over and over, her commitment to sounding temporarily insane is admirable."[13] Tim Sendra fromAllMusic exclaimed that "Sexercise" rises above some really dorky lyrics to actually sound kinda sexy in a robotic R&B kind of way."[14] Chris Bosman fromConsequence of Sound listed it as an "Essential Track", describing it as a "low-key dubstep seduction".[15]
Negatively, Joe Muggs fromFact Magazine said that the song was a thumpy filler and said that "the ridiculous single – full of exhortations to 'feel the burn', 'stretch it out', 'beat all your best times' and well-oiled US dubstep gurgles and slithers – is low camp of the most glorious sort, turning every bro cliché into pure muscle Mary flex."[16] Marc Hirsh fromThe Boston Globe was very negative, exclaiming that "Sexercize" could be the worst song Minogue has put out in well over a decade and felt it was the misstep of the album.[17] Kitty Empire fromThe Observer said "[Kiss Me Once]'s contemporary American slant adds up to a handful of anonymous R&B filler tracks with 'sex' in the title. Case in point: rubbery sub-bass on the misfiring Sexercise, which belies a need to keep up with EDM's digital libidinousness."[9]Annie Zaleski fromThe A.V. Club described the song as "cringe-worthy".[1] Kevin Ritchie fromNow found the song "weirdly-dated dubstep".[18]
The official video for the song, anhomage to the video forOlivia Newton-John's song "Physical", was directed by photographer Will Davidson and filmed atCarmel College inOxfordshire, England.[19] For the second video, Minogue's label spruiked the song in a statement which read: "In what can only be described as the hottest workout video ever, Kylie introduces her fans to the hot and steamy world of 'Sexercize'. Director Will Davidson, who also shot the viral video for 'Skirt', takes the viewer on a voyeuristic journey working out, sweating it up in the steam room and scenes that will no doubt see gym memberships soar."[20] It was released onYouTube on 19 March.[21]
Although the track was not well received by critics, the music video received favourable reception from music critics. Brett Malec fromE! Online said "In the video (which contains a parental advisory warning at the start!), Minogue flaunts a super-fit and skinny bod in a skintight gymnastics leotard and stiletto heels. She runs her hands over her curves and poses seductively over a pummel horse."[22] A reviewer fromThe Sydney Morning Herald described it as "X-Rated" and that "Kylie Minogue is set to stun her fans by releasing an X-rated new promo in which she writhes with four women during a sex workout."[23]The Huffington Post compared it to "Spinning Around", writing "Ever since Kylie Minogue's perfectly formed derrière and a pair of now-legendary gold hot pants helped catapult her back onto the pop scene back in2000 in the video for 'Spinning Around', we've been wondering when her bottom would next be putting in an appearance - and the wait is finally over."[24]
On 20 March 2014, Minogue launched the sexercize.tv website, created to showcase "Sexercize" through the eyes of other collaborators such asHattie Stewart × Chandelier, VFiles × Cody Critcheloe, Starsky + Cox,Mat Maitland ×Jean Paul Gaultier, Gregoire Alexandre ×Le Specs, Reilly ×Dolce & Gabbana,National Geographic × Chandelier, andRoman Coppola ×Maserati.[25]
In March 2014, Minogue performed "Sexercize" on the French TV showLe Grand Journal inParis,France.[26] Minogue performed the song on herKiss Me Once Tour in the fourth section, "Lick Kiss", following a cover of "Need You Tonight".
Credits below are adapted from the liner notes onKiss Me Once fromDiscogs.[27]
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| CIS Airplay (TopHit)[28] | 167 |
| USHot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[29] | 30 |
