Can't Get You Out Of My Head Kylie Minogue A club hit with D Mob marked the pinnacle of Cathy Dennis's performing career but her writing for Kylie, Britney, Cher and others has earned her enough bucks to place 37th in The Mail on Sunday's Britain's Highest Paid Women list.
Song facts
Composer
Cathy Dennis/ Rob Davis
Genre
Pop
Album
Fever
Year of Release
2002
Can't Get You Out Of My Head was written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis, formerly lead guitarist of '70s glam rock band Mud. It catapulted Kylie to the top of the charts across half the planet and won its writers a trio of Ivor Novello awards. But it's not all red carpet and accolades, even if you are part of a hit production line. Pop princess Kylie recorded the vocal for Can't Get You Out Of My Head in Rod's shed/studio at the bottom of the garden.
Cathy Dennis seems to have discovered a winning formula for writing hits. "Most of my inspiration comes from my own life, stuff that's happening to me. Not normally what's happening to someone else. I turn the roles around so I'm on the receiving end of what I would normally be giving out."
She believes the lyrics are the most important part of a track. "Hopefully you've got a point that you're trying to get across. And you can do it in an original way." Can't Get You Out Of My Head may only have 14 unique lines but it hammers the message home. If repetition makes a catchy chart-topper then Cathy Dennis hits the spot every time.
Susan McFarland
Interview with Cathy Dennis, July 1996
Back in the day, Cathy performed her own music. Here, she talks to Simon Mayo about writing material with Ray Davies of The Kinks.
It's rarely wise to cover a song so soon after the original. Especially if you're a boy band attached to a Saturday morning TV show. Listen to Stamford Amp here.
I was singing that nah nah nah for EVER. Now you've put it back in my head, swines.
Songwriting tips Playing live is a good way to get yourself noticed. Read our tips on Performing. Getting the recording and the production right is crucial. Find out more about working in a Studio.
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