Butterfly (Kylie Minogue song)

Steve Anderson co-wrote "Butterfly" with Minogue at Real World Studios

Following the commercial disappointment of Impossible Princess (1997), Minogue ended her six-year relationship with Deconstruction Records and signed to Parlophone in June 1999.[1] In an early meeting with Parlophone, the singer decided to return to her pop roots and believed the then-upcoming album was a new beginning for her.[2] Before signing with Parlophone, Minogue spent a week with her frequent collaborator Steve Anderson at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, where most of the production of Impossible Princess was done.[3] "Butterfly" was among the chosen tracks from the session, along with "So Now Goodbye" and "Bittersweet Goodbye".[4] Anderson found the writing of "Butterfly" was easy; he composed the track on a piano and it started off as a ballad.[5] By the time they wrote the chorus, Anderson realized the track's potential and made it more upbeat.[5] "The Brothers in Rhythm in me leaped in and it all went hands in the air very quickly", Anderson recalled.[5] He recorded a demo of the track, which has drums, bass and Minogue's vocals on it.[6]

Through his manager, American DJ Mark Picchiotti received a CD from Parlophone A&R executive Miles Leonard.[7] The disc contains three demo tracks by Minogue for his consideration, including a cover of "Under the Influence of Love" and "Butterfly".[8] He saw the potential of "Butterfly" and agreed to produce it.[7] He flew to Los Angeles to work with Minogue at the Cello Studios from 23–25 January 2001.[9] During the recording, the producer stacked her vocals to create a thicker sound, and layered the chorus several times.[10] Picchiotti was pleased with session and Minogue's performance, saying she was "incredibly professional".[11] He brought the track back to Hutch Studios in Chicago and put the final touches on it.[12] When Picchiotti submitted the complete song, which includes sitars and strings arrangement, he was encouraged by the label to change the production to a more club-friendly sound.[11]

A remix of "Butterfly" made by production group Dillon & Dickins (pictured in 2000), titled "Illicit Mix", was chosen for the US release

Music critics identified "Butterfly" as a contemporary house, dance-pop, and electronic dance track.[13] The song, which has a runtime of 4:09, contains electronic drums, basslines, cascading synths, and a flute performance by Paul Mertens.[14] The track uses the butterfly image to describe the spiritual freedom and joy of life, with lines such as: "You are more than my everything and your love gives me wings — like a butterfly".[15] Picchiotti instructed Minogue's vocals in order to fit the cheerful theme; she can be heard singing harmonies, and delivered lines such as "When I'm in your arms/I am safe from harm" in a light tone of voice in the background.[16]

Parlophone released "Butterfly" on Minogue's seventh studio album Light Years (2000).[17] Prior to the album, two remixes of the track were issued as a test pressing in the UK to measure DJ reaction to Minogue's new material.[18] "Butterfly" had been considered to be the fourth single from Light Years, but was pulled in favour of the Latin-influenced "Please Stay", which was released in December 2000.[19]

Although Light Year was not released in the US, Picchiotti asked permission to released "Butterfly" there through Blueplate Records, an independent label he founded in 1999.[20] He was granted a limited budget and had to commission additional remixes, release and promote the single within six months.[21] Picchiotti additionally produced the Sandstorm Mix, while also picking other remixes and dubs for the single release, including the work by production group Dillon & Dickins (credited as Illicit) and fellow American DJ E-Smoove.[22] In November 2001, "Butterfly" was released as a promotional single in the US through both Blueplate Records and its sublabel Blue² Records.[23] The single was issued in two formats in 2001: a twelve-inch single, and a double twelve-inch single.[24] In early 2002, a CD single and a maxi single were issued; the covers of the 2002 releases are taken from the photoshoot for Light Years, which show Minogue wearing nothing but a towel.[25] Due to a manufacturing error, a replacement cover insert was included in the maxi single release.[26]

Minogue performed "Butterfly" in June 2000 at London's G-A-Y nightclub (pictured in 2014)

The single releases were only available via the website of Blueplate Records, and buyers must contact the label by phone to purchase the item.[22] According to Picchiotti, more than 15,000 double twelve-inch vinyl sets were sold within the first two weeks of release, along with 5,000 white labels shipped to the UK in the first release week.[21] "Butterfly" debuted at number 42 on the Billboard US Hot Dance Club Play in September 2001, her first entry since "Confide in Me" (1994).[27] The single peaked at number 14 in October and spent a total of 12 weeks on the chart, her longest run at the time.[28] Due to its popularity, "Butterfly" was included as a bonus track on the US edition of Minogue's eighth studio album Fever (2002), distributed by Capitol Records.[29]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy and Nick Smith of musicOMH picked "Butterfly" as one of the standout tracks from Light Years.[30] Michael Dwyer of The Age found Minogue gives a "hardcore Mardi Gras" performance, while Mike Wass of Idolator praised the fluttery and memorable sound.[31] Levine and Wass believed "Butterfly" should have been picked as a single due to its catchy tunes.[32] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine stated house tracks "On a Night Like This" and "Butterfly" predicted the rise of EDM music and created the template for Minogue's releases over the next 15 years.[33]

Minogue performed "Butterfly" in June 2000 at London's G-A-Y nightclub, along with other songs such as "Spinning Around", "Better the Devil You Know" and "Step Back in Time".[34] She went on to perform the track on her sixth concert tour, On a Night Like This (2001), in which she caressed and interacted with a group of male dancers.[35] Muri Assunção of Billboard praised the sensual and entertaining performance, calling it a tribute to "the gay leather fetish fans"; while Mike Gee of The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted it as an energetic and "ass-shaking fun" segment.[36] The Sandstorm Dub of "Butterfly" was used as a dance interlude in Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour (2006–2007).[37]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Light Years:[17]

• "Butterfly" on YouTube
• "Butterfly" at Discogs (list of releases)
• "Butterfly" at Kylie.com (archived from 2004)