Why Kylie Minogue Misses the ‘Freedom’ of the ’90s

Kylie Minogue may be riding high in the current pop scene with the latest dance-ready hits from her latest album Tension II, but the pop icon recently admitted she misses the simpler days of the 1990s.

In a candid interview with The Times, the 56-year-old “Lights Camera Action” singer shared her fondness for an era before social media, when dance music and nights out were the mainstay of her life.

“I miss almost everything about the 1990s,” Minogue said, adding: “There were no phones, dance music was going nuts and I was in it and among it, going to the clubs, going to fashion shows, pounding the pavement, going to markets.”

For Minogue, the absence of social media represented a form of “freedom” that allowed her to immerse herself in the moment without today’s digital distractions. “I wasn’t wasting time scrolling on socials or dealing with, like, adulting. So there’s a lot I miss. Overall just freedom.”

She also offered some sage advice to her younger self, saying, “I’d say, ‘Have fun. There’s a lot to come, there will be a lot of obstacles and if you can’t go over them you’ll find a way under them or around them. You’ll find a way.”

Minogue might be well into her fourth decade in the music industry, but with her latest album release, Tension II, she’s proving that her pop reign is far from over.

The album, released through Mushroom Music, soared to No. 1 on Australia’s Albums Chart and also claimed the top spot on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, marking her tenth U.K. No. 1 and her ninth leader on the ARIA chart.

She’s also soon set to kick off her 2025 global tour, which includes a landmark show at Madison Square Garden in New York City—a first for Minogue. Speaking to Billboard about the Tension tour, Minogue revealed fans can expect songs from both Tension albums and “a taste of each decade.”

That includes her Hi-NRG cover of “The Loco-Motion,” the international smash that launched her career and hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.

“It was the song that started my career,” Kylie told Billboard in October. “Over time there was a period where I was like, ‘I don’t know how to do it. It’s so uncool. How do I do it?’ But now everything has come full circle. I can really with all my heart and enthusiasm do this song.”