Padam Padam (song)

"Padam Padam" is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. BMG Rights Management and Darenote released it on 18 May 2023 as the lead single and opener to Minogue's sixteenth studio album Tension (2023). Written by Norwegian singer-songwriter Ina Wroldsen with her producer Lostboy, "Padam Padam" is a dance-pop and synthpop song with elements of electronic music and Eastern European sound. Lyrically, it touches on the topic of sexual encounter with its title being an onomatopoeia for a heartbeat.

"Padam Padam" received critical acclaim from music critics, with many praising its catchiness and hook. Critics also singled it as a standout from the parent album. It won the inaugural Best Pop Dance Recording award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as Record of the Year at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards and Best Pop Release at the 2023 ARIA Music Awards. Various music publications, including Billboard, The Guardian, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Variety, placed "Padam Padam" on their Best Songs of 2023 lists.

Commercially, the song reached number one on the Israeli Singles Chart, number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and number 19 on the Australian Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in various European countries and appeared on several component charts in the United States and Canada. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Pro-Música Brasil (PMB).

The music video was directed by British filmmaker Sophie Muller. It was visually inspired by the works of The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and elements of Americana culture. Minogue has made several live appearances to promote "Padam Padam" in the United Kingdom, and North America. Since its release, "Padam Padam" has become a viral phenomenon and has been recognised by notable publications for its cultural significance in pop culture. It has been dubbed an anthem within the LGBT community and has been played at pride parades. Furthermore, the track's success has been credited as a pioneer in bridging a generational gap between younger audiences and mature performers through social media and airplay.

Background and development
Norwegian singer Ina Wroldsen and English producer Lostboy met in London in February 2022 to collaborate on new music, and in two days, they wrote "Padam Padam". "I'm married to an Englishman, and my mother-in-law from north London would always go, 'Oh my heart's going ped-ou, ped-ou," Wroldsen said of the song's title. According to her, "It was in my mind when I went to the studio, but 'ped-ou' doesn't sound very nice." So we created 'padam'." After finishing the song, they weren't sure who would record it, and they considered pitching it to British singer Rita Ora or a Eurovision contestant.

Near the end of promotional activities for her album Disco (2020), Minogue appeared on BBC Radio 2 to discuss new music, saying, "Perhaps it's going a bit more electropop. Don't quote me that [...] but that's what's on the boil at the minute." Minogue confirmed this in a June 2022 interview with Vogue, citing her 2003 single "Slow" as inspiration for the album's sound. Minogue's A&R, Jamie Nelson, sent her a demo of "Padam Padam" while she was in Miami. Minogue fell in love with the demo and recorded it in a London hotel; it was one of the last tracks added to the album. She said of the sound itself, "I loved the song, and the bonus is it felt like it was perfect for me".

Composition
"Padam Padam" is a "hypnotic electro"-inspired dance-pop and synth-pop track that lasts two minutes and 46 seconds. The song is written in 4/4 time and is built on a phrygian dominant scale of C (a Mixolydian scale with lowered 9th (2nd) and lowered 13th (6th), which contributes to its tense quality. The title references the heartbeat. According to Sam Franzini of The Line of Best Fit, the song contains lyrical references to a sexual encounter. Franzini used the line "I know you wanna take me home, and take off all my clothes" as an example, but also suggested that the parent album's sex theme is used throughout.

Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic stated that the song "pops through woozy production as a hypnotic groove throbs beneath the surface". Pitchfork writer Harry Tafoya described the track's vibe as "silly", with Minogue "vamping through pounding piano house to deliver some truly ridiculous lyrics". According to George Griffiths of the Official Charts Company, "Padam Padam" is "elastic, Eastern Europe-inspired electro-pop with a bite". Similarly, Quentin Harrison of Albumism identified Eastern-European sounds.

Vera Maksymiuk of Riff writes in their review of the track as part of its parent album that it "sets the tone; mimicking a heartbeat". Guy Oddy of The Arts Desk observed that it was slightly influenced by 1990s music, particularly house and electro music, and said the song features a "sensual groove, fruity lyrics, and slightly autotuned vocals".

Release
BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company, Darenote, released "Padam Padam" on 18 May 2023, as the lead single from Minogue's sixteenth studio album, Tension (2023). Prior to its release, the song and album were announced on 12 May 2023, but no date was given. Three days later, Minogue announced the song's release date and posted a 20-second preview on social media. Studio Moross created two cover artworks for the song, which were taken during the video shoot. The first image features red thigh-high Mugler boots against a red-orange desert backdrop, while the second depicts Minogue in a Mugler catsuit on a red seat in front of the same backdrop.

"Padam Padam" was distributed in a variety of digital and physical formats. The song was first released digitally, and four remixes were later released: one by HAAi, one by Absolute, one by Jax Jones, and two different extended mixes. On Minogue's webstore, three physical formats were also available: a CD single with the song and the extended mix, a cassette tape with the song and the extended mix, and a second cassette tape with the song and all previously released remixes. A vinyl was later distributed in conjunction with the release of the album's third single, "Hold on to Now".

Critical reception
"Padam Padam" received critical acclaim from most music critics. Upon its release, writing for Stereogum, Tom Breihan described "Padam Padam" as "a sleek, thumping, catchy-as-hell dance-pop jam", adding that "Kylie knows exactly how to deliver a song like that". Retropop magazine described the song as "infectious", as well as "a punchy electronic extravaganza that promises to be 'in your head all weekend,'" citing a lyric from the song. NMEs Hollie Geraghty praised the song's "thumping earworm refrain". Similarly, Jon Stickler of Stereoboard stated that "the catchy pop banger" has an "infectious chorus". The Musics Mary Varvaris wrote that the song "sounds completely 2023 while remaining unmistakably Kylie". The Guardian writer Owen Myers described the song as a "shiny bubble of dance-pop joy", "unburdened by its performer's personal narrative, freeing Minogue up to play sunny showgirl once more". Evening Standard editor David Smyth described "Padam Padam" as a "slinky, Eurovision-style firecracker catchy enough to cause sleepless nights".

Critics praised the song's catchiness and repetition, comparing it to some of Minogue's previous singles. Peter Piatkowski wrote for PopMatters that choosing "Padam Padam" as the lead single "was a smart decision by whoever made that call". He also compared it to Minogue's single "Can't Get You Out of My Head", released in 2001, stating that "Padam Padam" is "just the kind of ear-worm pop hit that "Can't Get You Out of My Head" was. The hypnotic refrain of this song, like the iconic "la-la-la-la" chorus of that song, works its way into the brains of its listeners". Crack magazine writer Michael Cragg called it her best lead single since "Slow" in 2003, describing it as "hot, heavy, and primarily controlled by Kylie's deepest desires".

"Padam Padam" was also mentioned in several reviews from its parent album. Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic chose the song as an album standout, and said it has "her catchiest chorus in decades". Quentin Harrison of Albumism also highlighted the song as a notable mention to the album. Labelling the track as "brilliant", NME writer Nick Levine felt it was an "outlier" to Tension. Alexa Camp from Slant Magazine wrote "Padam Padam" is "an invasive earworm that feels like it could be a cover of a Reagan-era pop hit". Devon Chodzin of Paste felt it was Tension’s "glimmering thesis statement—a bouncy cut under three minutes that recounts a sultry dance floor encounter and the possibilities it presents." Guy Oddy from The Arts Desk wrote "It certainly remains an absolute banger and has been touted as one her best tunes in years – with good reason."

Since its release, "Padam Padam" has received numerous accolades and nominations. It was rewarded as the Record of the Year at the Las Culturistas Culture Award. At the 2023 ARIA Music Awards Minogue and "Padam Padam" won Best Pop Release and were nominated for three other categories, Best Solo Artist, Best Independent Release, and Song of the Year, with the latter decided by public vote. This is the most nominations Minogue has received since the 16th Annual Awards in 2002, when she was nominated seven times. The song won the Best Pop Dance Recording award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. This is her second Grammy win after "Come into My World" won Best Dance Recording in 2004. "Padam Padam" is also nominated for Dance Song of the Year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards and for Best Song at the 2024 Global Awards.

Commercial performance
"Padam Padam" was considered a sleeper hit. In her native Australia, "Padam Padam" debuted at number 39 on the ARIA Singles Chart, her first top 40 single since "Timebomb" in 2012. It peaked at number 19, her first top 20 since "All The Lovers" (2010), and lasted nine weeks on the regional chart. Additionally, the song peaked at number 12 on the Australia Club Chart. The track was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for exceeding sales of 70,000 units. In New Zealand, the song missed the regional chart, but peaked at number 11 on the component Hot Singles Sales chart, lasting for two non-consecutive weeks. It peaked at number seven on the Irish Singles Chart, becoming Minogue's highest-charting single since "Higher" with Taio Cruz in 2011.

In the United Kingdom, the song entered at number eight on both the Singles Downloads Chart and Singles Sales Chart a day after its release, and later peaked at number one. On the regional Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 26, becoming Minogue's 52nd Top 40 single in the country and her highest-charting single since "Into the Blue". It eventually peaked at number eight, making it her first UK Top 10 single since "Higher" in February 2011 and her 35th overall. The track was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), indicating sales of 400,000 units by January 2024 in the country.

In Europe, "Padam Padam" entered the Ultratop Singles Chart in Flanders at number 48 and peaked at number 26 during its tenth week. In the Netherlands, the song peaked at number 40 on the Singles Top 100, becoming Minogue's first top 40 entry since "Wow" in 2008. It also reached number two on the regions Single Tip chart, and number 16 on their Airplay chart. It also peaked on the country Dutch Top 40 at number 18. In the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the song peaked at number 34, and in Russia, it peaked at number 42, on the regions TopHit Airplay chart. In Germany, the song missed the Top 100 Singles Chart, but did peak at number 14 on the countries Singles Download Chart. In Hungary, "Padam Padam" peaked inside the top 40 on the Single Top 40 and Dance Top 40, and also reached number 4 on the country's Radio Top 40 chart. Additionally, "Padam Padam" reached the top ten in Croatia, Bulgaria, and Latvia. In Asia, the song peaked at number one on the International Media Forest chart provided in Israel.

In the United States, peaked at number seven on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart, becoming Minogue's first top-10 single on that component chart. By early August 2023, "Padam Padam" had reached number one on the US Dance Radio Airplay chart, her second number one single after "Red Blooded Woman" in 2004. It also became Minogue's first appearance on the Digital Songs chart, peaking at number 18. After the song was sent to Contemporary hit radio in the United States in August 2023, the track peaked on two Airplay charts provided by Billboard: number 33 on the Adult Pop Airplay, and number 32 on the Mainstream Pop Airplay chart, her first appearances since "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (2001) and "Slow" (2003). Moreover, "Padam Padam" peaked at number 190 on the Billboard Global 200.

"Padam Padam" debuted at number 98 on the Canadian Hot 100, making it Minogue's first single to chart in Canada since "Timebomb" in 2012. In South America, "Padam Padam" charted in various territories that collected airplay from Monitor Latino; notably, the song reached the top ten in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Venezuela on their English-speaking chart.

Music video
The music video for "Padam Padam" was directed by British filmmaker and long-time collaborator Sophie Muller. It was filmed in April 2023 at the Pink Motel, a former working motel that is now used for film and television productions in Sun Valley, Los Angeles. The visual was inspired by the works of American director David Lynch and Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). Muller described the music video as conveying "a sense of otherworldliness, a strangeness" that mirrored the track, adding, "There's something unusual about [the song], a darkness and unease." Minogue stated that she would prefer to film the video on location in the United States rather than in the studio.

It starts with Minogue wearing a red dress and lying on a bed, with a static television in the background. It then shows Minogue in a junkyard wearing a custom Mugler catsuit with a cape, as seen in the single artwork, alongside various backup dancers dressed in red. Another shot shows Minogue in a roadside diner, while the dancers perform the song in another red outfit, before Minogue dances with the backup dancers outside the Pink Motel. Extra scenes taken from the original shoot were released on the music video's extended edit, as well as a visualizer featuring the remix by Absolute.

The music video premiered on Minogue's YouTube channel on 18 May 2023. It received favourable feedback from publications; Phoebe Luckhurst of The Australian described Minogue's "vampiric femme fatale" look and the set as a "candy-coloured Americana dreamland". Mollie Davis of Good Housekeeping gave it a glowing review, calling Minogue's performance "incredible". She elaborated, "In classic Kylie style, the music video for "Padam Padam" is racy, electric, and features plenty of dancing."

Live performances and appearances
Minogue has made several live appearances to promote "Padam Padam". Minogue made her first appearance on American Idol in May 2023, performing "Padam Padam" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head" alongside one of the contestants, Nutsa. The following month, she surprised everyone by performing the same songs at Capital's Summertime Ball. At the iHeartMedia KTUphoria 2023 live show, she played a nine-track set that included "Padam Padam". She also performed parts of the song during an interview on Andy Cohen's radio show at Sirius XM as part of the single's American promotion, singing in her own voice and impersonating Siri.

She performed "Padam Padam" twice at the Horse Meat Disco in June 2023 due to technical difficulties with the first performance. A week before the album's release, Minogue co-headlined Radio 2 in the Park with Tears for Fears in Leicester's Victoria Park. She headlined the second and final night of the festival, performing "Padam Padam", "Tension", and "Hold on to Now". Kylie appeared at Lio London for the 2023 London Fashion Week launch, where she performed several album tracks, including "Padam Padam" and "Tension". On 27 September 2023, Minogue performed a free, limited-time concert at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, featuring "Padam Padam" and other songs on the set list.

Impact and cultural significance
Since its release, various publications and writers have noted "Padam Padam" as a cultural revelation for Minogue's career and contribution to popular culture. George Griffiths of the Official Charts Company coined the term "Padam-ic", which was later used by Laura Snapes of The Guardian to encapsulate the cultural impact of "Padam Padam", describing it as the "cultural moment in which frivolity and lightness seem to be breezing back after the COVID-19 pandemic and after an era in which culture has been taken very seriously". Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic called it a "surprise smash" and stated that the song was part of "this mainstream resurgence that once again connected her to a new generation of fans[...]". With the song becoming an internet meme, Minogue was interviewed by Attitude, and she responded positively to this phenomenon.

The song has been described as Minogue's biggest hit since music streaming became popular, similar to how singers Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and Dusty Springfield made commercial breakthroughs following unsuccessful career periods. Other critics have observed that it is unusual for a middle-aged artist to achieve media success in recent decades. According to Variety, James Masterton, a chart analyst and historian, believes the single's success is significant because Minogue has "bridged a generation gap with a hit record that is reaching out both to her loyal (and ageing) acolytes but also a new generation of music fans", the latter attracted thanks to the TikTok platform that "contributed to the explosion of Kylie's single; [...] bypassing all traditional media avenues".

"Padam Padam" has also become an anthem in the LGBTQ community. David Levesley of GQ wrote an article on how the track became an "unlikely gay anthem" and how the track's title "Padam" influenced the gay community's "catch-all gay communiqué". Similarly, the phrase "Padam" has been recognised as a "gay codeword"; Paul Flynn of the Evening Standard observed it as a "gay codeword for everything and nothing". It is a question, a greeting, an exclamation, an insult, and, in some shady corner of the internet, very probably dubious sex practice by now. One Padam fits all." Furthermore, Karen Tongson, a popular culture and gender studies specialist at the University of Southern California, noted its positive significance in contrast to the violence against LGBT people in America through 2023, saying, "There's something about the release of "Padam Padam" that coincided with this sort of moment of despair and conflict, and that reminded us of the kind of intensity, lightness, and kind of queer joy, the celebratory nature of queerness."

Additionally, "Padam Padam" has been featured at several pride parades, including the NYC Pride March, Pride in London, EuroPride 2023 in Malta, and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The song was also added by William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, to announce their participation at the London Pride. Kamala Harris, the vice president of the United States, shared a video on Instagram of herself dancing to the song during a pride event at the Stonewall Inn.

Despite its popularity, critics questioned radio stations' agendas because the song received insufficient airplay. After receiving fan backlash, BBC Radio 1 and Capital, which cater to a younger audience in the United Kingdom, decided to add "Padam Padam" to their playlists, marking Minogue's first appearance on BBC Radio 1 since 2010's "Get Outta My Way". Following its inclusion on BBC Radio 1's C-List playlist, they responded to criticism by saying, "Each track is considered for the playlist based on its musical merit and whether it is right for our target audience, with decisions made on a case-by-case basis." The track's producer, Lostboy, spoke out on the matter, saying that while its inclusion was a "small victory", the situation was ultimately "a bit of an insult..." Lucy Anna Gray from The Independent wrote a lengthy article about the song, echoing similar concerns about its lack of airplay. Conversely, Guy Oddy from The Arts Desk wrote that "Padam Padam" "managed to persuade some national radio stations to rethink their policies on which tracks should be played on heavy rotation".

Track listing
Digital download / streaming
 * 1) "Padam Padam" – 2:46

Digital download – extended mix
 * 1) "Padam Padam" (extended mix) – 4:04
 * 2) "Padam Padam" – 2:46

CD and cassette single
 * 1) "Padam Padam" – 2:46
 * 2) "Padam Padam" (extended mix) – 4:04

Digital download – Jax Jones remix
 * 1) "Padam Padam" (Jax Jones remix) – 3:24
 * 2) "Padam Padam" – 2:46

'''Digital download – Absolute. Padam All Weekend remix edit'''
 * 1) "Padam Padam" (Absolute. Padam All Weekend remix edit) – 3:05

Cassette – The Mixtape
 * 1) "Padam Padam" – 2:46
 * 2) "Padam Padam" (Jax Jones remix) – 3:24
 * 3) "Padam Padam" (Absolute. Padam All Weekend remix) – 5:10
 * 4) "Padam Padam" (HAAi remix) – 6:32

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tension.

Locations
 * Recorded at Neverland, and Infinite Disco Studio in London.

Personnel
 * Kylie Minogue – lead vocals, engineering
 * Peter Rycroft – writing, production
 * Ina Wroldsen – writing
 * Guy Massey – mixing
 * Dick Beetham – mastering