Can you imagine singing a love song with your ex? When Kylie Minogue performed a rendition of her 1988 hit single, “Especially For You,” in London’s Hyde Park in 2018, she did exactly that – stunning fans by bringing out her ex-boyfriend and the song’s original co-vocalist Jason Donovan for a rare, reunited performance that had been over 30 years in the making.
Kylie and Jason’s duet has gone viral on YouTube, topping eleven million views to date. Music Man readers can watch the magic unfold in the video below.
Kylie takes on the first verse alone, dress glittering beneath the stage lights and singing with a smile, her voice practically unaged despite the decades passed. As the chorus is unleashed, Kylie’s live crowd sinks deep into the moment, chanting the lyrics louder than Kylie and her cluster of backing vocalists sharing the stage. It’s enough to give any ’80s pop fan chills.
But just after slaying the second chorus, Kylie sends her audience feral, exclaiming, “Well, now I need a dance partner,” and cueing Jason Donovan to hit the spotlight. The Hyde Park crowd screams deafeningly as Jason twirls Kylie across the stage in a ballroom dance with a lift and spin, before joining her in song for their hit’s remainder. Their chemistry is impeccable, and when their live band drops back for an a cappella chorus, the crowd’s love is absolutely radiant.
Weren’t around for Kylie and Jason’s late-80s heyday? These two Aussie stars share a fair bit of history together. They paired on the set of Neighbours, cast as an on-screen couple before making their relationship official and dating “irl” from 1986 to 1989. Both embarked on solo musical ventures through the late ‘80s, ‘90s, and beyond.
The pair released their duet single “Especially For You” in 1988, making it Kylie Minogue’s sixth solo single and Jason Donovan’s second. It was a supersonic hit here in the UK, peaking at #1 on the UK charts and at #2 on their native Australian singles charts.
Kylie and Jason’s live reunion and spectacular duet have been moving countless vintage pop fans to tears. Wholesome, nostalgic, and like a flashback to another era, YouTube commenters have been busy sharing their thoughts on the impact this song still has on them. As one top commenter highlighted: “Why am I crying. I’m 46, for God’s sake. I guess it’s that feeling of still loving someone you have to live without. You can see the love he has for her in his eyes. Wonderful song.”