Padam Padam (song)

"Padam Padam"
A pair of thigh-high red boots in front of a desert landscape and yellow sky, with the song title at the top in red block letters and "Kylie" at the bottom in white, with its letters joined by a white line
Original single cover.
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Tension
Released18 May 2023 (2023-05-18)
Recorded2022
Studio
  • Neverland, London
  • Infinite Disco Studio, London
Genre
Length2:46
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Lostboy
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Kiss of Life"
(2021)
"Padam Padam"
(2023)
"Tension"
(2023)
Music video
"Padam Padam" on YouTube

"Padam Padam" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released on 18 May 2023 by BMG and Minogue's company Darenote, and serves as the lead single from Minogue's sixteenth studio album Tension (2023). It was available in a variety of digital, physical, and streaming formats. Created as a demo by writer Ina Wroldsen and Peter "Lostboy" Rycroft, the latter also producing it, the track was sent to Minogue while she was in Miami.

Musically, "Padam Padam" is a dance-pop and synth-pop track with electronic music elements, and its lyrics are about sexual desire and attraction, with some lyrics and the title serving as onomatopoeia for the heartbeat. Upon its release, "Padam Padam" received critical acclaim from music critics, particularly for its catchiness and production style, and was regarded as a highlight of Tension and Minogue's career. The song has received numerous nominations and awards, including the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, and has appeared on several end-of-year lists from publications.

"Padam Padam" was a commercial success and sleeper hit for Minogue's career, charting in multiple territories including her native Australia and being certified by associations in Australia, Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom. According to observers, the song marked the singer's commercial renaissance and was credited as a pioneer in bridging a generational gap between younger audiences and mature performers via social media and airplay.

Sophie Muller directed the music video for "Padam Padam" and was visually inspired by The Man Who Fell To Earth (1974) and Americana culture. Critics responded positively to the visual. Minogue has promoted the song through several live appearances and shows, and it was included on the set list of her More Than Just a Residency show in Las Vegas. Since its release, "Padam Padam" has become a viral phenomenon, receiving recognition for its cultural significance in popular culture and scholarly writings, and being dubbed an anthem by the LGBTQ community.