Especially For You

Album: Enjoy Yourself (1988)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This duet with Jason Donovan was a tie-in with Scott (played by Donovan) and Charlene's (played by Kylie Minogue) marriage in the Australian TV soap opera Neighbours, which was a massive hit show in the UK. Donovan and Minogue were dating in real life when they recorded the song.
  • This was written and produced by the team of Stock, Aitken & Waterman, who also came up with Minogue's hit "I Should Be So Lucky." It was the biggest-selling single by the songwriting trio.
  • In 1998, Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen recorded this with Steps on backing vocals for the BBC's Children In Need appeal. Their version reached #3 in the UK.
  • Peter Waterman in his autobiography I Wish It Was Me recalled, "Because we were working with both Kylie and Jason, who were romantically linked, there was inevitably a feeling amongst the public that we'd have them do a romantic duet together. We'd known from the beginning that they were going out, but the idea seemed a sickly proposition." Waterman and Matt Aitken flew from England to Sydney to record the song with the duo and sat up all night writing the lyrics. The song took 10 hours to record. Jason Donovan recalled, "We didn't actually sing the duet together. We had to learn the song very quickly and recorded our parts separately."
  • Waterman admitted, "When I heard the finished version, I hated it. It had absolutely no passion. Mike hated it and everybody I played it to in the office hated it. But it was going to be a smash hit because of who was singing it." Mike Stock then Pete Waterman spent time remixing it. Recalled Waterman, "Somehow it came together at the last moment; so we rushed to the pressing plant and got it out in time for Christmas." (quotes taken from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh)

Comments: 4

  • Bevan Sandwich from EnglandQuite good could do with some exercise in the lungs
  • Sarah from Wales, United Kingdomkylie and jason never dated!!! ever
  • Phil from Sydney, AustraliaHave u heard of MYMP's version? It's sick!
  • Terry from Northampton, EnglandBest duet ever made.This was Kylie Minogue at her pinnacle and the song helped Jason to go on and have 3 solo no.1 singles.One of my top 20 favourite songs of all time.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.