Can't Get You Out Of My Head

Album: Fever (2002)
Charted: 1 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • True to the title, this is a song you can't get out of your head. It's sometimes known as "The La La Song" because the chorus is Kylie singing "La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la" over and over, which combined with the irresistible groove makes it an effective earworm. The song even starts with that chorus.

    The verses are an afterthought on this one, there to support the music. The lyric finds Minogue crazy in love, hoping she can spend a lifetime with this lucky guy.
  • This was written by Cathy Dennis and former Mud guitarist Rob Davis. Dennis had a few hits as a solo artist in the early '90s, including "Just Another Dream" and "Too Many Walls." Regarding "Can't Get You Out Of My Head," she told Songwriting magazine: "It was organic, we didn't try and do anything contrived, so when something did spark we were both able to embrace it and jump on it and go with it. I thought the song is very 'left of center' for pop."
  • Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis originally wrote this for S Club 7 after their manager, Simon Fuller, asked the duo to come up with a song for the British pop group. After Fuller heard the demo, he felt it wasn't right for S Club 7 and rejected it. It was then offered to Sophie Ellis-Bextor, but she turned it down. Davis then met with Minogue's A&R executive Jamie Nelson who, after hearing the demo cassette of the song, booked it for Minogue to record.
  • For most Americans, this was the first they heard from Minogue since 1988, when her cover of "The Loco-Motion" hit #3. She became an international sensation that year, but in the '90s her support was concentrated in the UK and in her home country of Australia. "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" put her back on the charts in many more territories.
  • This song fits into the disco revival timeline, bringing the boogie back in the '00s after Madonna, Daft Punk and Jamiroquai flew the flag in the late '90s. Minogue stuck to the sound and had a number of Dance hits in America as disco crested again in the '10s. Her 2020 was even titled Disco.
  • The year before this was released, Minogue played the Green Fairy in the movie Moulin Rouge. In Australia, she's a huge celebrity thanks to her role on the soap opera Neighbours and her high-profile romance with INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence.
  • In the UK, this song was huge, staying in the Top 40 for five months. This song's first week on the UK chart was Kylie's personal 262nd week on chart, making her the most successful chart act not from the US or UK. "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" is her biggest seller in the UK, selling 1,037,235 copies. It was the biggest single and the most played song of 2001 there (it was aired 45,577 times on UK radio).
  • At the 2002 Brit Awards, Kylie performed a version of this to the beat of "Blue Monday" by New Order. This remix was released as the B-side of her 2002 hit "Love At First Sight."
  • The song was accompanied by a state-of-the-art video directed by Dawn Shadforth, who had Kylie dressed in various futuristic fashions on a virtual set. The look evoked the '60s sci-fi renditions of Utopia.
  • This was the most-played tune of the 2000s in the UK, according to PRS for Music, which collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and composers. The track received the most airplay and live covers in the first decade of the 21st century whilst Britney Spears' single "Toxic" was the second most played song. The same songwriter, Cathy Dennis, penned both tunes.
  • Charlotte Grey and Spooks actor Rupert Penry-Jones was dating Kylie when she recorded this song. He gave the Daily Mail a clue why their relationship didn't last. "I wasn't really into her music," he recalled. "And, once, I stupidly said to her when she played me 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head,' 'Yeah, it's good. But I'd rather hear you do some sort of rock, acoustic thing.' I was in the studio when she was recording it. And she got very annoyed with me. And then - obviously - it turned into this huge hit."

Comments: 12

  • Songwriting Police from Orange CountyPossibly the greatest ever played on pop music audiences. How anything about this could be taken seriously is perplexing
  • Susan from Illinois Chloe from Hampshire, England-
    I don’t know if this song was about Michael Hutchence, but for many of us, it’s true! “Can’t get you out of my head”, Michael!
  • Luke Lee from London, UkIt's always interesting when you hear about artists turning down songs that go on to be HUGE hits. Sophie Ellis Bextor must have been kicking herself for a long time! Still, it's a good thing she passed on it, because Kylie nailed it.
  • Megan from Stevenson, AlI actually love this song. It's catchy, with the beat and the lyrics. Great song to listen to!
  • Geoff from Adelaide, AustraliaThis song makes my ears bleed.
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Ca"i hate it when songs try to pass la las, na nas, and doot dos as legit lyrics"- strong bad
  • Kieran from D.c., Vashe's also in "bio-dome" with pauly shore, kylie is so hot
  • Alex from Gatineau, Canada"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" debuted at #1 UK in September 2001, selling an amazing 313,000 copies in its first week. The song remained #1 for the whole of September, and was still in the Top 40 when its follow-up single "In Your Eyes" debuted at UK #3 in February 2002.
  • Vladimir from Novi Sad, SerbiaThis Kylie's single made it to #1 on every European chart except Finland, where it reached #2
  • Pinky from Wellington, New ZealandThe Flaming Lips did a cover version of this song and it's very tripy.
  • Chloe from Hampshire, EnglandI heard that this song is about Michael Hutchince from INXS and how she "can't get him out of her head."
  • Joseph from Manteca, CaShe also appeared in the movie "Street Fighter"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Booker T. Jones

Booker T. JonesSongwriter Interviews

The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.