Pop music beauties Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Valance added their own touch of glam to the Australian Record Industry Awards (ARIA) this week, but singer Kylie Minogue was undoubtedly the star of the show, taking home a total of five gongs.
“It wasn’t so long ago that ‘pop’ was a dirty word, but not anymore,” said the triumphant vocalist as she picked up one of her many trophies at Sydney’s Superdome. The star won highest selling single for Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, which also scooped single of the year, and her album, Fever, won both highest-selling album and album of the year.
In light of the tragic terrorist attack in Bali over the weekend, there were sombre moments during the event, which was dedicated to “the Australian spirit”. As Kylie accepted a special award for outstanding achievement, she remarked: “Outside, the world we’re living in has become a slightly different place. It makes me think of what’s important to you, and what’s important to me, is people.”
Holly Valance, who left empty-handed despite three nominations, provided a rousing rendition of her debut hit, Kiss Kiss. Best group Silverchair provided another highlight of the evening by performing live for the first time since January. The rock band’s front man Daniel Johns – boyfriend of fellow singer Natalie Imbruglia – was back from the US, where he has been receiving treatment for arthritis.
In addition to Silverchair, whose Diorama also won best rock album, other winners of the night included The Vines, who took home the best new artist single for Get Free, and veteran artist Olivia Newton John, who was inducted into the ARIA hall of fame.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
It was definitely the petite pop singer's night, as her four gongs made her the ARIA's top winner
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Three-time nominee Holly Valance went home empty-handed, but performed a memorable rendition of her hit Kiss Kiss
