KYLIE Minogue is top of the pop world again at the age of 55 — with a song initially snubbed by some radio stations.
Her tune Padam Padam topped Capital’s Big Top 40 charts on Sunday and is set to break the top 20 in the Official charts this week.
It is the Australian singer’s biggest seller in more than a decade — and comes 37 years after her debut hit Locomotion.
But Padam Padam was originally not played on stations including BBC Radio 1 and Capital FM — instead initially being targeted at older audiences on BBC Radio 2 when it was released on May 18.
Radio 1 was accused of “ageism” in 2015 by Madonna for not playing her music at a time when she was still headlining the Brit Awards.
But Kylie, who was at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, has broken the mould for ageing stars making an impact with younger audiences.
Her electronic dance track has built up a fanbase on social media — with memes of reactions to the song rife.
Reactions range from praising to the tune to debating what the title means.
One fan of the tune wrote: “Kylie Minogue saving pop music once again”.
While another said: “I think “Padam Padam” is a hilariously Australian way to pronounce a heartbeat.”
Of the social media interactions, Kylie said: “What is happening with Padam Padam – the memes and the videos are cracking me up.”
The impact of becoming an online hit was recognised in top spot in the Capital Top 40 — which ranks radio airplay.
But she is also flying in the charts for sales and downloads — she is currently No 26, but is set to break the top 20 for the first time in nine years this week.
The former Neighbours actress is grateful for the impact the web has had in revitalising her music career — which has had seven UK No1s.
She said: It’s been a little tricky trying to navigate and to understand it. Now I think it is amazing and I do wonder what it would have been like if it had started with my career.
“I feel like I have one foot in the old world and one foot in the new. I do marvel at people who are really good at it.
“I do my best but I have guarded my private life so you don’t see me on Instagram posting wherever.”
Padam Padam’s success is not limited just to the UK charts – it is set to see her make a return to America’s Billboard Top 100 for the first time in almost two decades
The song is the first single from her 16th album, Tension, which is scheduled to be released in September
She then is set for her biggest tour in five years next year — with arena concerts being performed across the UK.
