[ENTERTAINMENT]Can't get Minogue out of our heads

Would her magic work in the local music scene as well? Kylie Minogue, 33, recently released a special repackaged version of her latest album "Fever" for Asian fans.

Being one of the ranking divas in Great Britain and Australia, Minogue has been dubbed as one of the best Australian exports. She started her career as a child actor, then moved into soap operas, making it big as a mechanic on the Aussie drama "Neighbors" (by coincidence, the same soap where Natalie Imbruglia got her start). She made her debut as a singer in 1987, with the song "Locomotion," yet another remake of Little Eva's big hit.

She was mostly a one-hit wonder in the United States, but in her home country and Great Britain, she went on to become popular as a multitalented entertainer, second to none in terms of diva star power. With her alluring image as her major weapon, Minogue is on a par with Madonna or Britney Spears.

In her 15-year career she has had 23 songs make it to the top 10 in Australia and Great Britain. At the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Minogue caught the eyes of pop fans around the world, singing Abba's "Dancing Queen."

Her eighth studio album, "Fever," which came out last year, has once again catapulted Minogue to the top of the pop charts all over the world. The first cut, "Can't Get You Out of My Head," topped the British pop charts for nine consecutive weeks, going platinum in the process. At the 2001 Brit Awards, Minogue won two awards, one for best overseas female singer and the other for best overseas album.

Most significantly, she regained her spot on the U.S. pop scene, selling well and getting solid reviews from record critics. In the very first week of release, "Fever" made its debut at No. 3 on the charts.

It's not always her music that comes to mind when people think of Minogue. Playboy magazine last year offered her $2 million to pose nude in their esteemed pages. She allegedly turned down the offer curtly, saying that that sort of offer is not for her. That's not her only extraordinary offer. The king of Brunei Darussalam reportedly offered her $1.5 million recently, just to sing at his private party.

This summer, a special musical made up of 25 of Minogue's songs will be staged around Australia, and is planned to run later in the West End of London. The special repackaged album available in Asia comes with a video CD. The album carries 12 tracks, including the all-important "Can't Get You Out of My Head," while the video CD has music videos of four of her songs and two unreleased tunes.

Although it looks as if no one will see Minogue appearing as a Playboy magazine centerfold in the near future, readers have the opportunity to vote for her sexiest pictures on her official Web site, www.kylie.com. The Web site asks fans to decide which picture of Minogue is the most attractive of the 32 offered.

by Choe Jae-hee