Better the Devil You Know

"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. The song was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue to a more sexual appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona, while her music onwards present an independent approach. Musically, it is a dance-pop song that features elements of synthpop and disco influences. The song's title is referenced as an idiom. Lyrically, the song was said to be about Minogue's leaving of her TV series Neighbours and her relationship with her then-boyfriend, INXS frontman and singer Michael Hutchence. The song was lauded by music critics, who noted the imagery change in her music. They also complimented the song itself and felt it was one of Minogue's best, along as a highlight to, not just her studio album but her compilations as well. Commercially, it was successful. The song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and four in her native Australia. In other regions, it managed to peak inside the top forty in all the countries it charted in, including France, Austria, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland. The accompanying music video for "Better the Devil You Know" was directed by Paul Goldman and was filmed in Melbourne, Australia. Though its imagery was criticized for her mature-look, the video has also been iconic to Minogue's artistry style and imagery beyond the song. The song has been featured in most of Minogue's concert tours. The song has appeared in commercials, including Coca-Cola and the film If Looks Could Kill, and was later re-recorded in 2011 at the Abbey Road Studios for inclusion on Minogue's orchestral album The Abbey Road Sessions. "Better the Devil You Know" became Minogue's fifth non-consecutive top two single, being blocked by Adamski's "Killer". The song stayed at number two for two consecutive weeks. The single spent a total of 10 weeks in the chart, and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) with sales exceeding 200,000 copies. In Minogue's native Australia, the song debuted at five on the week end of 10 June 1990. The song eventually peaked at number four on the charts and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart. The song was then certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) with sales exceeding 35,000 copies. In New Zealand, the song wasn't a success. The song debuted at thirty-four, but fell out the next week at forty. It re-entered at number twenty-seven, where it eventually peaked and charted for four weeks. In France, the song debuted at number thirty-eight, and after weeks on the chart it peaked at number thirteen for a sole week. The song stayed in the charts for a total of sixteen weeks. In the Netherlands, the song debuted at number ninety-six. The song was very successful in that country, and peaked at number sixteen on that chart. It spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart. It was very successful on the Belgium Singles Chart (Flanders), where it debuted at number twenty-eight. The song then rose and peaked at number five, becoming one of Minogue's most successful singles in that country. It stayed in the charts for a total of sixteen weeks. The song was generally moderate in other European countries, where it peaked inside the top thirty in countries including Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. The song topped the charts in Israel, number four in Malaysia and eleven in Spain. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.