TURN IT INTO LOVE
Since it was such a hit, Alfa Records then decided to release Kylie’s original version in December 1988 as So, as you already know, this track was recorded at a single instead of « Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi » and the same time and place as « Got To Be Certain » and again, the song was a huge success, reaching number one of the Oricon Japanese International Chart « It’s No Secret ». in January 1989 and staying at the top spot for 10 Written and produced by Stock, Aitken and Water- consecutive weeks (with no promo or video!). man « Turn It Into Love » is definitely a fan favourite and a hidden gem. « Hidden » because unfortuna- It gave Kylie her 3rd number one in less than one year tely, it was never released as a single anywhere else on the international chart and it stayed there for a total of 27 weeks. than in Japan. Indeed, at the time, along with OZ and UK, Kylie’s had a massive and enthusiastic fanbase in the Far East, particularly in Japan and Hong Kong, and even though Neighbours had never been aired on Japanese TV, there was an insatiable demand for new Kylie products there. « Turn it Into Love » was released there to meet this demand.
PWL was unaware of the track’s popularity until after the fact, which explains that no video or 12» mix was ever produced. In 2015 during an interview with Attitude Magazine, Pete Waterman recalled :
« That song is one of our biggest hits ever. Even though it was a B-Side on Kylie’s first album, it had a life of its own and was a massive hit in Japan for Kylie and was covered by a girl band out there. I remember going to Japan and hanging out in a karaoke bar and I heard a song that I recognised. I said “this is my song”. And these business men we were with said “No this is a hit song in Japan by a group called Wink”. I said “No, it’s mine”. Only when the song ended and Stock Aitken Waterman flashed up did they realise it was my song ».
It was the 6th single to be released from Kylie’s debut album. The B-side to the single is « Made in Heaven » which is also the B-side to both « Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi » and « It’s No Secret » in other international territories. « Turn It Into Love » remains to this day one of Kylie’s most famous singles in Asia.
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG In November 1988, Japanese duo Wink (composed of Sachiko and Shoko), who are loved for their interpretations of Western pop tunes, released a Japanese-language cover of the song in Japan. The single, called « Ai ga Tomaranai - Turn It Into Love » was a massive success and reached number 1 in the Japanese charts. It stayed in the charts for 40 weeks and 645 000 copies of the single were sold!
KYLIE / HAZELL: WHO DID IT FIRST ? In September 1988, so prior to Kylie’s version being released in Japan, Hi-NRG singer Hazell Dean (who also worked with Stock Aitken and Waterman) released « Turn It Into Love » as a single in the UK. Hazell’s version was also produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman, but the arrangement was very different from Kylie’s version. Her version is clubbier, the intro is different and the track contains a solo guitar part which doesn’t exist in Kylie’s song.
16 www.kylie-world.com
Isa, March 2K18