But who’s most likely to win pop-dance immortality,and who deserves it more? Let the arguments begin. Our critics Robert Moran and Thomas Mitchell go to bat for either side.
Troye Sivan and Kylie Minogue will face off at Monday’s Grammy Awards.Supplied
Why Kylie Minogue’sPadam Padam will win
Once there was darkness,then there was padam.
When it came out last May,Kylie’s earth-shattering single wasn’t just a slithery earworm with an obscure nod to Edith Piaf,a propulsive crunch,and the sort of onomatopoeic gibberish that transcends linguistic boundaries – it was also a cultural moment. You couldn’t open an email without someone padam-ing you,a celebratory gesture of such infectious goodwill.
It ruled social media;it ruled global pop charts.Padam Padam reintroduced Kylie to a new generation,those who were barely around for her slinky,Y2K disco days,let alone her teen-pop debut four decades ago or herImpossible Princess trip-hop makeover in the ’90s.Padam Padam was a proper,organic,pop event.
The Grammys aren’t always good at rewarding songs with such impact,songs that shift the culture so dominantly,preferring to judge music in some staid vacuum of “verse,chorus,middle 8”,etc. But even the Grammys can’t deny the power of padam.
There’s no way Kylie loses this category to Troye Sivan (it will be predictably funny when the prize somehow goes to Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’sMiracle). She already provedPadam Padam’s supremacy over Troye’sRush at last year’s ARIAs,when the pair faced off for the Best Pop Release prize,and she won her first ARIA since 2002.
Also in her favour:Kylie’s old hat at this Grammys category. The Best Pop Dance Recording prize is a new complement to the Best Dance/Electronic Recording award she already won in 2004 forCome Into My World,and which she’s been nominated for three other times withLove at First Sight in 2003,Slow in 2005,andI Believe in You in 2006. The fact she’s getting another stab at it 20 years on is such a feelgood storyline,the sort of glorious comeback the Grammys eat up.
The Grammys’ voting bloc,perennially stuck at a mental age closer to death than clubbing,already know Kylie,too:she’s a veteran,an icon. They don’t even need to hear the track to give her this win and,sometimes,that’s exactly how awards should work. Better luck next time,Troye.Robert Moran
Why Troye Sivan’sRush will win
Frankly,it’s a travesty that a song named after party poppers has yet to win a Grammy,but if anyone can right this wrong,it’s Australia’s very own pop twink,Troye Sivan,with the anthemicRush.
The lead single from Sivan’s third studio albumSomething to Give Each Other,Rush capped off an enormous year for the Perth-born,Melbourne-based musician (we just won’t mentionThe Idol).
Dropping last July,Rushbecame the club anthem for summer (in the Northern Hemisphere),an unapologetic celebration of sex,partying and “the rush”. Meanwhile,the accompanying music video (also nominated for Best Music Video at the Grammys),was released the same day and felt like Benny Benassi’sSatisfaction for a new generation.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to watch it,stop what you’re doing and immediately spend three minutes and 42 seconds watching a bunch of attractive young people dancing around while chanting,“I feel the rush,addicted to your touch.”
While plenty of music lovers (see above) are pushing for the sentimental Kylie Minogue win,sadly,I suspect it isn’t to be. Best Pop Dance Recording is a new category and Our Kylie is old news (please don’t cancel me). It also doesn’t help thatPadam Padam did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100,whileRush did (sure,it only reached 77,but still).
Unlike the other nominees,Rush blends success and acclaim,a sexual siren call from the new crown prince of pop. I feel theRush,and the Grammys will too.Thomas Mitchell
The Grammys will air on Seven on Monday at noon. Follow all the action on the day on our live blog.