Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour


Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour, also known as Aphrodite Live, was the twelfth concert tour by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was launched in support of her eleventh studio album, Aphrodite. The tour was officially announced in September 2010, initially with European venues confirmed. Additional British dates were added in January 2011, alongside North American and Asian dates. Australian dates were confirmed in March 2011, and in May of the same year, Minogue announced she would tour Africa for the first time. The stage of the tour was composed of an Ancient Greek temple wall and two runways leading to a B-stage, which included a three-tiered scissor lift surrounded by water fountains. Thirty water jets created by The Fountain People, a tilted rotating platform and aerial performer displays were also part of the staging, paying homage to Greek mythology and culture. Effects and staging were provided by TAIT Towers, who described the stage as "one of the most technically advanced ever built". Fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana created the costumes for the tour.
Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour was described as a "pop spectacle" and was divided into seven segments. The Birth of Aphrodite featured Minogue emerging from the stage atop of a golden conch shell as a goddess. Pegasus included a large prop Pegasus and displayed the singer being pulled around the B-stage on a chariot. Gladiator began with an instrumental interlude and concluded with Minogue left alone on the stage. Celestial Love featured a giant white bust of the singer, concluding with a jazz-inspired section using a tilted rotating platform. Holograph displayed a series of both electro and rock-inspired numbers, followed by The Good Life; during which, Minogue flew across onto the B-stage on the back of a dancer. Fanfare featured a carnival-themed performance, and the encore featured the use of the water jets, fountains, scissor lift and aerial performances.
The tour received positive reviews from critics. Many praised its high-scale production, as well as Minogue's live vocals and stage presence. Aphrodite: Les Folies tour was also a commercial success, with a total estimated gross of $60 million. This placed the tour 21st on both Billboard's annual "Top 25 Tours" list for 2011, and Pollstar's "Top 50 Worldwide Tours" list. Given the nature of the show, the tour was officially acknowledged by two names; the tour was promoted as the Aphrodite: Les Folies tour in Europe and Australia, and Aphrodite Live elsewhere.

Background

During an interview in June 2010, Minogue was asked if she was going to tour with Aphrodite. She responded, "Oh yeah! Yes, I have show concepts in mind but I can't tell you yet, because it really is in its infancy But come on, with the name Aphrodite as the launch pad, we're going to have a lot to play with! I would like the tour to be like, you're on that sea... and there are the rushes and the dips, and you're just feeling the love. The vibe that I've put out there with 'All the Lovers', and that I'm getting back, is 'feel love, share love'. That's what I want the show to be."
Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour was officially announced via her website on 6 September 2010. By way of introduction, Minogue stated,
"The reaction to 'Aphrodite' has been absolutely incredible and has inspired me and my creative team to develop a new show that will take all of us on a euphoric journey of joy, excitement and glamour. I can't wait to get on the road and see all my fans in 2011."

Minogue later confirmed she would return to the United States to tour. This became the third time the singer has performed stateside since her breakthrough in 2002. She described her previous feat as one of her best decisions in her career. She further commented, "The last couple of years I've really made the effort to visit a lot of places I'd never toured in before and that was so rewarding, fulfilling and inspiring. I'm a glutton for punishment so I want to do it again and I want to take it even further." In January 2011, Minogue expanded the UK leg of her tour from four to fourteen shows. Further dates were added in Japan and the United States. Australian dates were confirmed in March 2011, and in May of the same year, Minogue announced she would tour Africa for the first time.

Development

Staging

At the beginning of 2011, Minogue stated that Aphrodite: Les Folies would be her most "extravagant" tour to date. The staging was described by its designers, TAIT Towers, as "one of the most technically advanced ever built". It consisted of a main stage featuring two water pools with ten integrated fountains; both pools were mostly deep, with deep sections to accommodate submersions of the aerialist dancers. A -diameter rotating platform was built into the main stage, which would rake to a 45° angle whilst Minogue and her dancers performed on it. There was also a pool that acted as a B-stage itself, containing a hydraulic three-tier scissor lift at its centre. The two rings were capable of rotating 360°, with the outermost rising above the stage and the innermost rising. Featuring 24 fountains, the lift was run by a 15hp hydraulic pump.
The B-stage and the main stage were connected by two runways; each containing six vertical water shooters, two cross-stage water shooters and five arching water jets. The runways featured recycled rubber flooring with drainage holes, where the water drained into sheets of plastic and was emptied into tanks via funnels. Eleven water tanks were situated under the runways and two tanks were situated under the stage. The water was reheated and recirculated through approximately 1π mi of hosing. When full with water, the stage weighed.
Valued at over $25 million, the show was transported by a crew of in excess of 100 personnel, using a fleet of 25 trucks.

Themes

Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour payed homage to Greek mythology and culture, with an aerial act inspired by the musical. While promoting the tour, Minogue stated the main inspiration of the tour's name was inspired by the MGM film, Ziegfeld Follies. She further commented, "Ziegfeld Folies – I've been crazy about that movie and that period in music dance and film. My show has a bit of that so it became 'Aphrodite Les Folies'." The arena shows featured the elaborate water production, which was removed for the smaller venues in order for the singer provide an intimate show. In these cases, the show was promoted as 'Aphrodite Live'.
During rehearsals for the tour, Minogue remarked, "Rehearsals are well underway and the show is shaping up to be more than I could have wished for. All departments are doing a stellar job and the combined level of expertise is nothing short of mind blowing. My friends, Dolce & Gabbana have designed an amazing wardrobe for me. I'm overwhelmed with the love and talent that is going into this tour and I can't wait for my fans to be part of it."

Sponsors

The Harmonix game Dance Central were announced to be the official sponsors of the European leg of the tour. According to the press release, booths were staged in the lobby areas of the arenas, giving spectators the opportunity to play the game to Minogue's song "Can't Get You Out of My Head". Additionally, a crew were assigned to record both the audience and backstage footage for Minogue's official Facebook page.

Critical response

The tour received acclaim from entertainment critics. Ed Power from The Daily Telegraph gave the concert a four star rating stating that "Kylie Minogue takes retro chic to dizzying extremes on her new tour. Channelling a hitherto unhinted at passion for Ancient Greece and Rome". Power said that "Through a stunning series of set-pieces Kylie proved herself a peerless conjurer of pop spectacle and demonstrated that, when it comes to the classier brand of arena kitsch, she, not Lady Gaga, remains supreme authority."
Elisa Bray from The Independent gave the concert four stars and said that "Minogue's authenticity and down-to-earth persona has always made her the most likeable pop diva. From her earliest fame days as Charlene in Australian soap Neighbours, girly though she remains, Kylie has made the successful transition to show-woman." Ian Gittins from The Guardian commented that "there is no denying the scale of the production. From the moment Minogue rises from the stage reclining in a golden conch shell in a tableau based on Botticelli's Birth of Venus, it's evident that understatement is not on the menu tonight." He praised her live vocals, describing Minogue's voice as "oddly endearing" and concluded by saying that "it is unfortunate that mainstream America has never taken Minogue to its heart. On this flamboyant evidence, nobody is more ready for a Las Vegas residency."
James Reed from The Boston Globe gave the Aphrodite Live 2011 concert a favourable review by saying that "all eyes were on Minogue, 42, and she was in regal form as both entertainer and singer." Jason Lipshutz from Billboard gave the concert a positive review saying that "Minogue is still an under-appreciated musical force, and one that should not be missed on an all-too-rare U.S. trek."
Santiago Felipe from The Village Voice said that "at the center of it all was Kylie, who was by turns bashful and jokingly chiding and absolutely in command, changing dresses as quickly as some people change their mind, flirting with the audience through performances She might be a bit of a cult popstar in the U.S., but she radiated at maximum wattage throughout the evening".

Concert synopsis

The show was divided into seven segments; The Birth of Aphrodite, Pegasus, Gladiator, Celestial Love, Holograph, The Good Life, Fanfare and an encore. It began with an overture dubbed "The Birth of Aphrodite", which incorporated elements of "The Carnival of the Animals". Minogue then emerged from the set atop a golden conch shell to sing "Aphrodite". This was followed by "The One", featuring harps rising from the stage and the dancers treating Minogue as though she were a goddess. The singer then performed "Wow", surrounded by dancers dressed as Roman centurions. The second section, Pegasus, began with an instrumental interlude. Minogue then rose from the stage riding a giant golden Pegasus to perform "Illusion"; the song features a breakdown after the bridge where the singer and the dancers perform a dance routine. Following this, "I Believe in You" was performed, where she was pulled around the B-stage on a chariot by four dancers trussed up in leather straps. Gladiator began with Minogue emerging wearing a black crinoline and top hat to sing "Cupid Boy"; this was followed by "Spinning Around" and "Get Outta My Way". Minogue was then left alone to perform a new remix of "What Do I Have to Do". "Everything Is Beautiful" commenced the fourth section, Celestial Love, during which she emerged in front of a white bust of herself. This was followed by a jazz version of "Slow" using the rotating platform, where the singer was surrounded by female dancers fanning her with large feathers.
Holograph, the fifth section, began with "Confide in Me". Minogue wore an asymmetric holographic "Bacofoil ball gown". This was followed by a rock-oriented performance of the hit single "Can't Get You Out of My Head". "In My Arms" was performed next and closed the section. The sixth section, The Good Life, began with "Looking For An Angel". "Closer" was then performed, where Minogue flew to the B-stage atop of a dancer dressed as an angel, which was followed by Minogue covering the Eurythmics song "There Must Be an Angel ". After this, Minogue talked with the audience and introduced the band before performing a mash-up of "Can't Beat the Feeling" and "Love at First Sight", which was followed by a performance of "If You Don't Love Me". Fanfare commenced with "Better the Devil You Know" with Minogue wearing hot pants and an orange jacket. "Better than Today" was performed next, although at some shows it was omitted. Minogue then took requests from the audience and went on to close the main body of the show with "Put Your Hands Up ". The encore began with an instrumental intro dubbed "Million Dollar Mermaid", which featured projections of swimmers. This leads into a new remix of "On a Night Like This", which featured water jets. "All the Lovers" closed the show; the water jets, fountains, scissor lift and aerial performances were used.

Set list

This set list represents the 11 April 2011 show in London, England. It does not represent all dates throughout the tour.
  1. "The Birth of Aphrodite"
  2. "Aphrodite"
  3. "The One"
  4. "Wow"
  5. "Illusion"
  6. "I Believe in You"
  7. "Cupid Boy"
  8. "Spinning Around"
  9. "Get Outta My Way"
  10. "What Do I Have to Do"
  12. "Everything Is Beautiful"
  13. "Slow"
  14. "Confide in Me"
  15. "Can't Get You Out of My Head"
  16. "In My Arms"
  17. "Looking for an Angel"
  18. "Closer"
  19. "There Must Be an Angel "
  20. "Love at First Sight" / "Can't Beat the Feeling"
  21. "If You Don't Love Me"
  22. "Better the Devil You Know"
  23. "Better than Today"
  24. "Put Your Hands Up "
Encore
  2. "Million Dollar Mermaid"
  3. "On a Night Like This"
  4. "All the Lovers"
;Notes

Leg one

Leg two

Leg three

Leg four

Leg five

Leg six

Broadcasts and recordings

Citations